Sony’s PlayStation brand is one of the most recognizable in gaming, bringing high-powered hardware and exclusive titles to millions of devoted fans worldwide.
Despite supply shortages in its first two years of sale, Sony’s current flagship platform, the PS5, has established corporate records with 40 million PS5 units sold in less than three years. The PlayStation 5 is available in two configurations: normal and digital (no disc drive). For a complete comparison, see our PS5 digital vs. disc guide.
On its path to dominating the previous console generation versus the Xbox One and Nintendo’s Wii U, the PS4 sold at a comparable rate. Sony upgraded the PlayStation 4 several times after its initial debut in 2013, and even introduced a significantly more powerful PS4 Pro in 2016. PlayStation 4 systems are still available new, but they’re becoming increasingly difficult to locate as retailers load up on PS5 units.
Many developers continued to create new games on the PS4 in the early years after its release in order to target the millions of users who had yet to update their console. However, with Sony officially proclaiming the end of the PS5 hardware scarcity and highly awaited titles such as Final Fantasy XVI and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 coming exclusively to the PS5, there’s now little need to invest in a PS4, and more reasons than ever to upgrade.
PS4 vs. PS5: Price
A conventional PS5 costs $500, whereas a digital PS5 without a disc drive costs $400. PS5 packages including titles like Final Fantasy XVI and God of War Ragnarök are also available for $560, but they are occasionally on sale for $509. For the most recent reductions, see our compilation of the top PS5 bargains.
A brand-new PS4 costs $300, and used or reconditioned ones cost roughly $220. New PS4s on the market right now are often the “slim” model, which has a more compact construction than the original design.
The PS4 Pro, a more powerful version of the PS4 with 4K gaming capabilities, costs $400 new and is no longer widely available online or in shops. There are secondhand PS4 Pro ads for around $200.
PS4 vs. PS5: Graphics and performance
The most noticeable difference between the PlayStation 5 and its predecessor is the vastly increased graphics performance. The console can play games in 4K resolution and supports modern graphic technologies like as ray-traced lighting. In addition, the PS5 can produce video at up to 120 frames per second, resulting in crisper animations and more responsive controls.
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The regular PS4 is limited to 1080p output and a maximum frame rate of 60 frames per second; the upgraded and more costly PS4 Pro can output select 4K games but lacks the ability to run most 4K games beyond 30 frames per second or tackle features like ray tracing.
The PS5 also boasts new features that make games seem more immersive than on the PS4. When using headphones to play approved titles, the console supports Tempest 3D Audio, which creates a spatial surround sound experience. The DualSense controller for the PS5 provides more realistic rumbling effects as well as haptic feedback for improved sensitivity. Pulling the DualSense triggers makes movements like pulling a rifle trigger, squeezing a gas pedal, or readying a bow seem different.
PS4 vs. PS5: Storage space
While the visual quality difference between the PS5 and PS4 is noticeable, the PS5’s internal storage may be the most important distinction between the two machines. The solid state drive of the PS5 is extremely fast. In fact, it’s quick enough to nearly eliminate loading times in games like Marvel’s Spider-Man and Ghost of Tsushima, which may take up to 60 seconds to load new scenes on PS4.
The internal solid state drive on the PS5 starts at 825GB, but the current PS4 and PS4 Pro models have far slower hard disk drives with 1TB of storage. Older PS4s came with 500GB SSDs, however those versions were discontinued; nonetheless, secondhand and reconditioned units are still available for purchase.
The amount of storage available on both systems differs slightly, especially since PS5 titles can take up more space than PS4 games, but the enhanced speed of the PS5 is a big gain. Both systems allow you to increase storage capacity by updating internal drives or adding external storage, although external drives cannot be used to play PS5 games. However, PS4 games may be stored to an external device for usage on PS4 or PS5.
PS4 vs. PS5: Games
Previously, the release of a new platform, such as the PS5, meant the end of games made for an earlier machine, such as the PS4. However, more than two years after the PS5’s introduction, only roughly a dozen titles are exclusive to the PS5.
While numerous new game releases continue to come on both platforms, PlayStation 5 titles look and perform better. Horizon: Forbidden West and God of War Ragnarok PS5 editions feature significant visual and frame rate upgrades over their PS4 predecessors.
Furthermore, PS5 exclusives such as Final Fantasy XVI, Returnal, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart make extensive use of the PS5’s solid state drive and graphics capability, rendering them incompatible with PS4. More exclusives are on the way, including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which is set to release later this year.
The PS5 is also backwards compatible with PS4 titles, allowing gamers to transfer their existing collection to the PS5 without having to repurchase games. The sole exception is if you possess PS4 games on physical discs and purchase the PS5 Digital Edition without a disc drive; in that instance, you won’t be able to play your hard copy on the new system. People who own PS4 discs may simply upgrade to the slightly more costly basic PS5 to maintain access to their entire library.
PS4 vs. PS5: Home entertainment
When it comes to streaming and media playback, the PS5 and PS4 have comparable functionality and media apps such as Netflix, HBO Max, and Spotify.
The greatest difference is that the PS5 can broadcast at 4K resolution, but the PS4 can only stream at 1080p unless you have the PS4 Pro, which also has 4K output. The base PS5 also has a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive, whereas PS4 versions can only play conventional 1080p Blu-ray discs. If you don’t have a 4K TV, this won’t affect your experience, but having the choice for better quality is nice.
The PS5 does provide a few major changes to the console’s user interface, allowing users to bounce in and out of games and applications more quickly and monitor accomplishments from the console’s dashboard. Navigation to important areas such as audio settings and social functions is also simplified.
PS4 vs. PS5: Specs
Spec | PlayStation 5 | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 4 Pro |
Disc drive | Ultra HD Blu-ray (standard model only) | Blu-ray | Blu-ray |
Storage | 825GB NVMe SSD | 500GB or 1TB HDD | 1TB HDD |
CPU | 8-core, 3.5Ghz | 8-core 1.6GHz | 8-core 2.1GHz |
GPU | 36 CUs at 2.23 GHz, 10.3 TFLOPs | 18 CUs at 800Mhz, 1.84 TFLOPS | 36 CUs at 911 Mhz, 4.2 TFLOPS |
Ports | 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C, 1 HDMI | 2 USB ports, 1 HDMI, 1 AUX port | 3 USB ports, 1 HDMI, 1 Optical, 1 AUX port |
Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR5 | 8GB GDDR5 |
HDMI Out | 4K at 120Hz, 8K (via future update) | 1080p at 60Hz | 4K at 60Hz |
The bottom line
The PS5 is a significant advance above the basic PS4, which is over ten years old. The PlayStation 4 Pro is also out of date, with the PS5 Digital Edition costing $400. The PS5’s game quality, full support for 4K video, quicker loading times, and new features like haptic feedback make the PS5 an excellent upgrade for current PS4 users.
If you’re in the market for a new console in 2023, there’s no reason to go with the PS4 over the basic or digital edition PS5. The increase in performance is well worth the extra cost, and PS5 systems are already widely accessible. A used PlayStation 4 at a discount, on the other hand, isn’t a terrible alternative for young and casual players who don’t want to invest in a more costly PS5.
