As the mid-November launch of the PlayStation 5 nears, Sony continues to provide more and more information about the console for prospective buyers to consider. The most recent example was a teardown of the console itself. First, the PS5's inputs, buttons, and outer shell were detailed, followed by an in-depth look at the components that make up the console's inner workings. Surprisingly, not every detail was previously known, with the most interesting and exciting example being the PS5's M.2 interface for NVMe SSDs.
The confirmation was made mid-way through the PS5 teardown video once the console's outer shell had been snapped off. Once the shell was off, it was shown that a small cover could be removed with a screwdriver to reveal the console's M.2 interface. An example of an NVMe drive slotted into the M.2 interface was not provided, but it was easy to imagine how it would work. Using an M.2 drive is reasonably simple, after all.
An M.2 expansion drive will allow PS5 buyers the opportunity to expand their storage with relative ease. NVMe drives are widely available and often quite affordable. As such, PS5 users will be able to expand the storage of their console with relative ease without having to purchase a proprietary drive directly from Sony. NVMe SSDs can run as low as around $50 for 500GB, though faster drives understandably cost quite a bit more. Sony hasn't clarified whether there are speed requirements for its NVMe expansion drives.
The reason why the M.2 expansion slot for the PS5 is hidden away also hasn't been explained, though it is understandable. Accessing the M.2 slot will require PS5 owners to detach at least one of the console's side panels and then unscrew the slot's cover. This is far enough out of the way that it's both protected from environmental problems and that any inserted NVMe drive won't be touched or dislodged. It's a complicated enough technical effort that just putting a plug somewhere on the outside of the PS5 wouldn't be appropriate.
There's some discussion online regarding whether Sony or Microsoft's approach to storage expansion is better. Microsoft is opting for a proprietary card that's expensive, but plugs right into the Xbox Series X and S like a memory card. Microsoft also says that this card is guaranteed to be as fast as the Xbox Series X or S' internal storage, so there are no worries about slowing. Sony using NVMe drives is definitely more accessible, and very likely more affordable too. However, they may result in slowing compared to the PS5's internal storage.
Clearly, quite a few remaining questions need to be answered, like whether Sony will provide PS5 owners with recommended specifications for the NVMe SSD, or whether many (or all) NVMe drives plugged into the PS5 will ultimately be slower than the console's internal storage. Answers may not be readily available until the console launches.
The PS5 releases November 12.