Amidst the chaos of next generation console pre-orders, fans have been debating which of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X is the right choice for them. While exclusive titles and specifications will be the main battleground, there is one factor in which PlayStation 5 has been found to be considerably ahead of not just its competitors, but its predecessors and past competitors: size.
Shortly after announcing the PlayStation 5, Sony released detailed specifications and sizing, revealing just how gigantic its new machine is. New photos from the Taiwan's National Communications Commission give gamers the first chance to see the machine up close, and demonstrate exactly what that sizing will mean for cabinets and entertainment centers across the world.
If laid flat, PlayStation 5 has a width of 39 cm, a height of 10.4 cm, and a depth of 26 cm, these already significant measurements even exclude the edges of the white fins and the optional stand. The unit will also weight 4.5 kg, or just under 10 pounds, which positively is less than half of the weight of the PlayStation 3, the heaviest game console of all time.
While fans would be right to point out that the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will be smaller, the difference is surprisingly insignificant, reducing just 1.2 cm from the height when laid flat, although the digital edition does also reduce the weight down to 3.9 kg, or 8.6 pounds. Both editions of the console are significantly larger than the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, with huge VCR style proportions, excluding the fins. Indeed, the sheer width of the PlayStation 5 means that when standing up it is nearly the height of a mid tower PC.
While big consoles are nothing new, the huge dimensions have surprised gamers, even those who had been making memes about how big the PlayStation 5 appeared to be. Considering the stated specifications are lower than the Xbox Series X, gamers would have been forgiven for expecting a console with a smaller size. However, Sony has stated that the PlayStation 5 hardware is designed to be customizable, as well as featuring the ability to upgrade storage capacity, which may explain some of the additional sizing.
Whether "customizable hardware" will mean just cosmetic, or potentially specification upgrades in the future is unknown, though the latter would provide a route for PlayStation 5 to keep up with its competition without the need for PlayStation 4 Pro style variants after a few years. It would also justify having a case the size of some PC's.
PlayStation 5 is available for pre-order now, though initial allocations have sold out.
Source: Via The Verge