PS5 vs. PS4: Should you buy now or wait?

(Image credit: Sony)

The PlayStation 4 has done exceptionally well for Sony over the last six years. But by around Nov this yr, it will exist forced into retirement by the PS5. While we don't know all of the side by side-gen PlayStation'southward secrets withal, Sony's told usa a lot already virtually the tech beneath the new console'southward black-and-white exterior, and what games you'll exist able to play on information technology. That's why nosotros've put together this PS5 vs PS4 showdown to aid new buyers figure out whether they ought to wait for the new panel on the cake, or get with the older, more established auto.

Watch blocked streaming sites and avoid network throttling with a PS4 VPN

PS5 vs. PS4 release date and price

In case you oasis't been paying attending to console gaming since 2013: The PlayStation 4 is currently available in a Slim configuration with 1 TB of storage. The panel costs $290 past itself, but you can also go information technology every bit part of a few dissimilar game bundles. Then in that location's the 4K-capable PlayStation 4 Pro, which likewise includes 1 TB of storage, for $349.

With the PS5 announced in Jan, and the console itself revealed in June, we'll likely see the console finally hit shelves in fourth dimension for the 2020 holiday season. Sony hasn't announced how much the PS5 volition toll yet. But rumors propose the price could be around $499 for the normal version, with the Digital Edition maybe costing $450 instead, which is considerably more expensive than the PS4 has e'er been.

PS5 vs. PS4 design

The PS4, especially the Slim variant introduced in 2016, is a shrinking violet in its standard black plastic chassis. Information technology doesn't draw much attention to itself. The same cannot be said near the PS5.

After many weird and crazy-looking concepts for the PS5, Sony finally revealed a pretty exuberant body for its new console in June. Breaking from PlayStation tradition by introducing white every bit the master color was radical enough, merely the curved design is besides a large deviation from the directly lines of the PS4, harking back to the PS3 a generation before.

There are rumors that the PS5 is a pretty large and heavy console, which raises concerns of people non being able to fit it nether their TVs. This is something the PS4, particularly the Slim version, doesn't have any problem doing.

PS5 vs. PS4 specs

The PS5 employs an AMD Zen two processor, which will enable features like 3D audio, 4K video at 120fps and up to 8K video output. It'due south a straight improvement to the AMD Jaguar chip that is in the PS4.

As for storage, Sony has a custom-made 825GB SSD, which will apparently be the console'due south near potent weapon, according to developer testimony. The PS4 only has a slower HDD by default, but you can get a 1TB version of the console, which ways more storage space than the PS5, plus in that location'south the option to install an SSD yourself, something that doesn't look like the PS5 offers.

The PS5 uses a custom version of the AMD Radeon Navi GPU: an upgrade of the AMD GCN Radeon GPU found in the PS4. This new graphics menu enables ray-tracing, amidst other graphical improvements

The PS4 used a Blu-ray disc bulldoze for its physical media input, and the PS5 will likely practice the same. However, the PS5 has changed this to a 4K-compatible Blu-ray drive, assuasive for UHD gaming and multimedia, as long as you have a 4K TV or 4K monitor to back up it. The PS5 Digital Edition doesn't have a disc drive at all, which should mean a cheaper pricetag, but a loss in versatility compared to the normal PS5 and the PS4.

PS5 vs. PS4 controller

Sony has ended its DualShock line of controllers after four generations, presenting u.s. now with the DualSense controller, a new design focused effectually haptic feedback.

Aside from the new color scheme and revised shape, the DualSense offers improved rumble feature and tactile triggers, which will permit for more than immersive control of the game you're playing. There'due south also a born microphone for in-game conversation features, and a new version of the PS4's Share button, named the Create button, for taking screenshots, video clips and more than.

The DualShock 4 that the PS4 uses is a groovy and familiar controller, just with fewer high-tech features. Its features, beyond Sony's usual suite of face up buttons and dual analog sticks, include Sony's showtime trigger buttons, the introduction of the central touchpad (likewise present on the DualSense for more versatile controls), and the Share push button that the PS5 has taken and iterated upon.

PS5 vs. PS4 interface

Sony made a big jump in interface design when moving from the PS3 to the PS4, but a leaked paradigm from Slashleaks suggests a much smaller series of changes incoming on the PS5.

Nosotros'll probably still go a horizontal main bar with vertical sub-menus. The only major deviation seems to be that Sony will split apps and games into divide sections. On the PS4, you accept to sort through a single menu to carve up upward your games and media apps. If this leaked info is reliable, it would exist a prissy quality-of-life modify.

PS5 vs. PS4 games

Before looking to the hereafter of games, we should wait at the existing ones first. The PS4 tin evidently play all of the all-time PS4 games and beyond, but volition the PS5 practice the same? Well, according to Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, "near all" PS4 games volition work on the PS5. That's skilful news for early PS5 adopters, since consoles don't usually launch with many defended titles.

As for PS5 games, we can look forward to titles like Horizon 2: Forbidden West, Godfall, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Some of these may come up to the PS4, too, especially if they come up out inside about a year of the PS5's launch. The overlap won't last forever, only information technology'south non like you'll be starved for corking games to play if you stick with the PS4. You simply won't be able to enjoy the latest and greatest experiences with all the graphical bells and whistles.

PS5 vs. PS4 special features

The PSVR headset will work with the new console as well as the PS4, so at that place's no reason to stick with the old console if you're a VR fan. There may be a new version called the PSVR2 nevertheless, which will likely only work at its full potential with the PS5.

Cloud gaming is growing in calibration. While the PS4 has PlayStation Now, the announced partnership between Sony and Microsoft to better their cloud streaming capabilities could hint at something bigger on the PS5.

The PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro (Image credit: Mike Andronico/Tom's Guide)

Cloud gaming is growing in scale. While the PS4 has PlayStation Now, the announced partnership between Sony and Microsoft to better their deject streaming capabilities could hint at something bigger on the PS5. Sony's kept tight-lipped for now though.

Similar Xbox'south compatibility with Alexa and Google Banana, PlayStation has patented a digital assistant called "PlayStation Assist". This could come to the PS5 as an expanded method of controlling the console with your voice. (This feature already exists in a limited capacity on the PS4.)

Outlook

There will exist some strong enticements for yous to buy the PS5 in one case information technology launches, even if you already own a perfectly good PS4. In that location won't be annihilation incorrect with the PS4, per se, simply with the hardware advancements, new features and some exclusive games on the way, the reasons for holding off on a PS5 are limited to price, total game library size and any potential holes in backwards compatibility. These drawbacks should all diminish in size or importance as time passes.

If you lot're drastic for a new panel correct now, then obviously your only choice is a PS4. But if you're prepared to wait for some more than powerful hardware and endure a slightly smaller game library, then saving your money for the PS5 might be the smarter bet.

Richard is a Tom's Guide staff writer based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, gaming, audio and whatever else people need communication on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the Academy of Sheffield, he'south besides written for WIRED U.Yard., The Register and Creative Bloq. When non at piece of work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty java.