PLAYSTATION 5

Speed and power in a boldly designed package. The next generation of games consoles starts now

SPECIFICATION

CPU AMD Zen 2, eight-core, 3.5 GHz

GPU 2.23 GHz custom AMD RDNA 2 (10.28 TFlops)

RAM 16GB GDDR6

Storage 825GB SSD (667GB available)

Optical Drive 4K Blu-ray

Network Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6

Dimensions 390×104×260mm

Weight 4.5KG

Here it is, the number one product this winter holiday season and, as such, the console gamers the world over are currently really struggling to land.

The PlayStation 5 is an absolute beast of a console in terms of proportions. This is a system that tops out at just under 40cm in height and is 26cm deep, and 10cm wide - though the all-digital edition, which eschews the 4K Blu-ray drive, is a little slimmer. If you want something that’s compact and easy to conceal in your entertainment setup, the PS5 isn’t it.

It comes in a compartmentalised white cardboard box, which as well as securely holding the hardware, also delivers its base, DualSense controller, cables and paperwork. The base can be affixed to the console either in its vertical or horizontal orientation, although it’s obvious that the primary usage is for when positioning vertically. The base screws into the PlayStation 5 in the vertical position, and just clamps on to one of its flared case wings when displayed horizontally.

Those wings have divided opinion, but we think that both its size and futuristic, flared design, generate a sense of awe and power. This is a special portal to another world of mind-blowing experiences, and it should be treated with respect as the piece of futuristic, almost alien technology it is.