PS4 vs. PS5: Which console is the better choice in 2024?

The PlayStation 5 has been on the market for quite some time now, and it has become increasingly convenient to locate it in stock at various retailers. The latest hardware brings significant improvements compared to its previous version, allowing gamers to experience enhanced graphics, reduced loading times, and compatibility with the advanced DualSense controller. It is worth noting that the PS5 comes with a higher price tag compared to the PS4. While the PS5 does offer improvements in various aspects, it may not be the most budget-friendly option for thrifty shoppers.

Which is the superior option in 2024: the PS4 or the PS5? Is it worth buying the aging PS4 at this point, or would it be better to go for the PS5? Let’s take a closer look at these two popular consoles, examining factors such as pricing, available games, storage, and resolution.

PS5 vs. PS4 vs. PS4 Pro specs

Just a quick look at the specifications of the PS5 reveals that it operates on a whole new level compared to the PS4 (and even the PS4 Pro). Sony has made significant enhancements to its platform, incorporating more efficient storage, faster compute parts, expanded disk capacity, and improved resolution support. There are two versions of the PS5: the Standard Edition and Digital Edition. Both versions have the same specs, except the Digital Edition does not have a disc drive.

It’s worth noting that Sony has recently introduced the PS5 Slim lineup. Although the consoles have a slightly different appearance compared to the original PS5 lineup, their specifications remain largely unchanged.

We will delve into the details of most of these specifications throughout this comparison. It is crucial to take into account the context of these specifications. The PS5 is a more recent console constructed with a distinct architecture, which means that direct comparisons of certain specifications may not be appropriate.

As an illustration, the PS5 and PS4 Pro possess an equal number of compute units (CU). However, the PS5’s CUs exhibit a significantly higher transistor density, resulting in a greater level of power compared to the PS4 Pro’s CUs. However, it is possible to directly compare other specifications. The PS5 boasts an enhanced optical drive and superior resolution support, for instance.

PS4 vs. PS5 graphics

The PS4 and PS5 both utilize custom AMD Radeon chips, with the latter offering significantly more power. Sony is highlighting the increased number of CUs on the PS5, along with a notable boost in clock speed. Nevertheless, the most significant distinction between the two arises with the crucial TFLOPs.

“Teraflops” is a highly relevant and significant term for console developers. TFLOPS may not provide a complete picture of performance, but it’s a reliable metric for making comparisons. The PS4 has 18 CUs running at 800MHz, resulting in a clock speed of 1.84 TFLOPS. This allows it to handle an impressive 1.84 trillion floating-point operations per second. In comparison, the PS5’s GPU has a rating of 10.3 TFLOPs.

In terms of computational power, the PS5’s GPU outperforms the PS4 by a factor of eight and surpasses the PS4 Pro by two and a half times. Sony achieves impressive performance with the PS5 thanks to its 36 CUs and increased clock speed. The PS5’s cores operate at a frequency of 2.23GHz on the PS4, with the ability to vary.

As computer scientists, we prioritize variable frequency over a higher clock speed. The speed is limited to 2.23GHz, but it can be adjusted depending on the demands placed on the GPU. The PS4 operates at a fixed frequency of 800MHz and adjusts its power usage according to the workload in order to maintain this clock speed. Higher-end games necessitate greater power, while the speed consistently remains at 800MHz.

In the world of technology, power remains a constant while clock speed becomes the variable for the next generation. In the PS5 technical reveal, system architect Mark Cerny provided an explanation for this phenomenon. He pointed out that while a graphics core with 36 CUs running at 1GHz would generate the same number of TFLOPs as a 48 CU core running at 750MHz (4.6 TFLOPS), the gaming performance would not be equivalent.

The overall concept is that a higher clock speed is considered more advantageous than having more computing units, since additional, slower units may not be able to contribute significantly to the computing workload. With the ability to adjust frequency, the PS5’s GPU can reach impressive clock speeds, as long as the power budget can handle it.

Up until now, we have only examined the graphics of the PS4 and PS5 based on their raw numbers. However, we have yet to consider the more advanced architecture of the latter system. Each CU in the PS5 contains approximately 60 percent more transistors compared to a CU in the PS4. According to Cerny’s presentation, the 36 CUs of the PS5 deliver a performance equivalent to 58 PS4 CUs.

Simply put, the graphical capabilities of the PS5 far surpass those of the PS4. The GPU of the PS5 will feature an increased number of cores, which will deliver enhanced speed and efficiency.

PS4 vs. PS5 resolution

Presumably, the heightened graphical fidelity of the PS5 aims to propel games towards unprecedented resolutions. The PS5 offers impressive output capabilities, including support for 4K at 120Hz and 8K resolutions. These high-quality visuals are enhanced by a variable refresh rate, which is determined by the advanced HDMI 2.1 technology. In comparison, the standard PS4 is capable of outputting at 1080p, occasionally adjusting the in-game resolution depending on power usage, while the PS4 Pro can deliver a 4K output.

It’s impressive that Sony has included an HDMI 2.1 output, showing their forward-thinking approach, despite the fact that most TVs currently lack an HDMI 2.1 port. The new standard enables higher resolutions and frame rates, but the significance of these upper limits may not be relevant for many years, or even decades. Of great significance to gaming, HDMI 2.1 provides support for a variable refresh rate, effectively eliminating screen tearing.

As we enter the current console generation, it is expected that resolution will play a significant role in marketing. Both Microsoft and Sony have emphasized the capabilities of their consoles, boasting about their ability to support 8K resolutions. While this is indeed true – and quite thrilling, I must say – it does not guarantee that you will be able to enjoy games at 8K resolution.

It is highly probable that 8K displays will become increasingly prevalent as the PS5 approaches the end of its life cycle. Currently, the primary emphasis is on 4K. One notable feature of the PS5 is its compatibility with 120Hz displays, which is quite significant considering the wide range of TVs and monitors already available that support 4K and higher refresh rates. If the GPU is powerful enough to achieve a frame rate of 60 frames per second or higher, you will be able to make use of a high refresh rate TV with the PS5.

PS4 vs. PS5 price

Given the significant enhancements in specifications and the integration of the SSD, it is logical to expect that the price of the PS5 will surpass that of the PS4. The Standard Edition is priced at $499.99, while the Digital Edition comes in at $399.99. The PS5’s impressive speed and its compatibility with 99% of your PS4 games make it an excellent value. Once you acquire a PS5, a PS4 would become redundant.

Curiously, the price of the PS4 is not significantly lower than that of the PS5. Currently, you can get your hands on a PS4 Slim model with a generous 1TB of storage for approximately $299.99. This price is slightly lower than that of the PS5 Digital Edition. If you’re considering it, getting a PS5 would be a wise choice as it offers enhanced performance and functionality compared to the PS4. It’s quite intriguing to observe such a minimal disparity in price between the two options. Given the current state of the video game industry, console manufacturers are compelled to maintain a competitive edge in terms of pricing.

Given the significant enhancements in specifications and the integration of the SSD, it is logical to expect that the price of the PS5 will surpass that of the PS4. The Standard Edition is priced at $499.99, while the Digital Edition comes in at $399.99. The PS5’s impressive speed and its compatibility with 99% of your PS4 games make it an excellent value. Once you acquire a PS5, a PS4 would become redundant.

Curiously, the price of the PS4 is not significantly lower than that of the PS5. Currently, you can get your hands on a PS4 Slim model with a generous 1TB of storage for approximately $299.99. This price is slightly lower than that of the PS5 Digital Edition. If you’re considering it, getting a PS5 would be a wise choice as it offers enhanced performance and functionality compared to the PS4. It’s quite intriguing to observe such a minimal disparity in price between the two options. Given the current state of the video game industry, console manufacturers are compelled to maintain a competitive edge in terms of pricing.

It’s the dawn of a new generation.

As #PS5 begins to launch around the world, a message from PlayStation President & CEO Jim Ryan: https://t.co/SeyMmfoA3y pic.twitter.com/lDM0l6Ska9

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) November 12, 2020

PS4 vs. PS5 storage

The storage capacity of the PS5 is not being increased compared to the PS4, or at least, the PS4 Pro. If you happen to own an original PS4, you’ll notice a slight difference in storage capacity. The base PS4 model comes with 500GB of storage, while the newer PS5 offers a larger capacity of 825GB. The PS5 Slim now offers an impressive 1TB of available storage space.

The main differentiating factor lies in performance. The PS5 comes equipped with a custom SSD that boasts an impressive raw read bandwidth of 5.5GB/s. The new storage medium from Sony is designed to cater to the needs of the PS5, enabling seamless communication with the PS5’s architecture. That’s why the 825GB capacity might appear a bit unusual initially.

Compared to the PS4’s 5400RPM mechanical disk, even a regular SSD would deliver significantly faster performance. In addition to the performance boost provided by flash-based storage, the PS5 features a brand new SSD controller. This controller has the capability to perform hardware decompression for ZLIB, which is great. However, what sets it apart is its support for Oodle Kraken.

Kraken is a cutting-edge compression and decompression algorithm developed by RAD Game Tools. It excels at compressing files to sizes smaller than ZLIB and boasts faster decompression speeds. Practically speaking, game files can be swiftly accessed, decompressed, and seamlessly integrated into the system on the PS5, resulting in significantly faster performance compared to the PS4.

PS4 users have already experienced the advantages of efficient decompression. Recent games such as Marvel’s Spider-Man and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order optimize rendering by focusing on what the player can actively see, eliminating unnecessary data from the game world. Until now, developers had no choice but to keep certain assets in the game world due to the limitations of the PS4’s hard drive speed, which resulted in issues like texture pop-in.

Games will load faster with the new SSD, which is quite evident. Additionally, developers now have greater flexibility in how they showcase assets. With the lightning-fast storage of the PS5, game files can be seamlessly read and delivered to the system in a matter of milliseconds. This revolutionary feature unlocks a whole new realm of possibilities for displaying game assets.

The PS5 has a solution for the biggest bottleneck, which is capacity, which is quite reassuring. Similar to the PS4, the storage of the PS5 can be easily upgraded using readily available parts. Instead of including a 2.5-inch hard drive, however, you can find instructions on how to do that here. Instead, you will be inserting an NVMe SSD.

If you compare it to the PS4, you’ll notice a considerable increase in performance when using a PCI-e NVMe SSD instead of a 2.5-inch mechanical drive or even standard SATA SSDs. However, the PS5 does not offer the same level of openness as the PS4 when it comes to its medium. In order to expand the capacity of the PS5, you will have to wait for the availability of PCI-e 4.0-based drives in the market.

PS4 vs. PS5 games

The PS4 boasts an impressive lineup of exclusive games, such as Bloodborne, God of War, Until Dawn, Uncharted 4, and many others. Fortunately, you can still enjoy playing those games on your PS5 (more details coming up) and, in most instances, they will run and appear even better on the new console. That’s one of the advantages of the new system. Rest assured, your collection of PS4 games will seamlessly carry over to the PS5, ensuring a smooth transition.

Of course, the games are the real highlight of getting a PS5, and this fall promises to deliver an abundance of them. Impressive titles to look forward to are Demon’s Souls, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Horizon Forbidden West, and God of War Ragnarok. And the list of games doesn’t stop there, as it continues to expand.

Backward compatibility

Despite the PS4 having an extensive lineup of top-notch exclusives, it’s important not to underestimate Sony’s latest console. In a recent post on the official PlayStation Blog, Hideaki Nishino, Senior Vice President of Platform Planning, provided a detailed explanation of how the backward compatibility feature will function between the PS4 and PS5. Nishino began by stating that the vast majority of the 4000+ games on PS4 will be compatible with the PS5. Now, we have gained insight into how this compatibility will function.

The PS5 will offer backward compatibility with the PS4, PSVR, and games accessible through PS Now and PS Plus, with only a handful of exceptions.

It’s interesting to note that there are only 10 games that won’t be compatible with the PS5. Here is the list:

• DWVR
• Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One
• TT Isle of Man — Ride on the Edge 2
• Just Deal With It!
• Shadow Complex Remastered
• Robinson: The Journey
• We Sing
• Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
• Shadwen
• Joe’s Diner

Regrettably, the scope of backward compatibility is limited to PS4 games. Unfortunately, backward compatibility is not supported for PS1, PS2, and PS3 games. However, there is an option to access a limited selection of titles through PlayStation Extra and Premium for download and streaming.

Not only does the PS5 offer a range of new games, but it also has the capability to support larger games compared to its predecessor, the PS4. Both the PS4 and the PS4 Pro come equipped with a standard Blu-ray drive. Blu-ray discs have a maximum storage capacity of 25GB on a single layer. While it is technically possible to have up to six layers, most Blu-ray discs typically have no more than two layers.

The PS5 comes equipped with an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive, similar to the Xbox One X. The new optical drive bay has the capability to utilize the capacities provided by Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, allowing you to play UHD movies directly from a disc. UHD Blu-rays currently offer three different capacities: 50GB and 66GB with two layers, and 100GB with three layers. In games, the higher capacities should be present, unlike standard Blu-rays.

PS4’s DualShock 4 vs. PS5’s DualSense

In addition to the significant distinctions between the two machines, the PS5 will introduce a fresh approach to the PlayStation 4 controller by completely abandoning the DualShock name. On the other hand, the PS5 will be equipped with the DualSense, a controller that boasts improved battery life, adaptive triggers, and notably, haptic feedback. Adaptive triggers provide different levels of resistance based on your in-game actions. Take note that the experience of firing a bow is quite distinct from that of firing an automatic machine gun or a shotgun.

The fluctuating level of tension aims to enhance the player’s sense of immersion. The haptic feedback operates in a similar manner, utilizing the vibration of the controllers. Dynamic vibrations can be utilized to portray various surfaces or even simulate recoil when using weapons. Developers should prioritize designing games with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback in mind to ensure continued support on PS5. From the early previews of the PS5, it’s clear that the DualSense controller is stealing the spotlight.

However, the DualSense and DualShock 4 share numerous common features. Both have the same button layouts, as expected. There has been a recent change where the Share button has been replaced by the Create button. This new button enables users to live stream games and easily share screenshots and videos with other users. You can fully appreciate the impressive built-in mic and headset jack, along with the sleek integrated speaker, motion sensor, and convenient touchpad.

PS4 vs. PS5 editions

Just like any informed consumer, you have a range of choices available to you when it comes to purchasing a PS5. There are two versions available – one that is disk-compatible and another that allows for the storage of digital game copies purchased online. Choosing the right model ultimately depends on your personal preferences — whether you prefer a physical disk or a digital version. Upon analyzing the systems during the reveal, it was observed that the controllers perfectly complemented the color scheme and design style. The next-generation console showcases a sleek design with a combination of white and black colors, complemented by a subtle curve in the middle. With its absence of a built-in disk drive, the Digital Edition stands out as slightly shorter, smaller, and boasting a more contemporary design.

The new PS5 Slim models have effectively taken over the original PS5 launch lineup. They have a sleeker design compared to the previous models, but apart from that (and a slightly bigger SSD), they share almost identical features.

The PS5, with its two versions, presents a significant departure from the 2013 PS4, which had a sole hard drive system. In the past, we have witnessed the release of other models such as the PS4 Pro and the PS4 Slim, although they were introduced at a later time. It has been observed that Sony has introduced the PS5 Slim alongside the initial release of the PS5, and there may be additional models in the pipeline.