Sony released a surprise teardown video of the upcoming PlayStation 5. Fans won't be able to get their hands on it until November 12, but the video provided our first in-depth look at the console itself. Here are some takeaways:
The PS5 is Huge
There has been a lot of talk about the size, but we finally got to see it next to a person. It's really big! The console is almost one-third the size of Yasuhiro Ootori, Sony's VP of the mechanical design and hardware department, who performs the breakdown. The actual dimensions are 15.35 inches in height, 10.23 inches in depth, and 4.09 inches in width, making it the biggest console of the modern era. Even without the disc drive, it's only a few millimeters smaller.
The PlayStation 5 has quicker USB and Wi-Fi ports than the Xbox Series X
The console features a lot of connectivity options. There are two USB ports in the front. One is a high-speed USB Type-A port and the other is a SuperSpeed USB Type-C port. On the back, there are two more USB-A ports, along with a Gigabit Ethernet port and an HDMI port.
The console's Wi-Fi antenna supports the latest standard, Wi-Fi 6, at a maximum speed of 9.6 Gbps, which doubles the 3.5 Gbps capacity of Wi-Fi 5 – the one used by the Xbox Series X. The USB Type-C port supports 10 Gbps transfer speeds, as do the Type-A ports. The Xbox Series X doesn't have any Type-C ports.
The PS5 design is thoughtful, and the side panels come off easily
One of the biggest concerns with the new console is how it's going to stand up. Turns out, there's a stand that can be easily removed and reattached depending on whether the console is standing upright or on its side. Just use a large screwdriver to remove the base, and place the screw in a little hole made to store it. The base also has a cover for the screw hole on the console. To place the console on its side, rotate the base and insert it into indents on the console. Voila!
The console's signature white panels can also be easily removed, making it easy to customize in the future. It also has dust catchers and a special place to easily vacuum collected dust.
The PS5 storage capacity can be easily upgraded
The PS5 has a spot next to the fan with a removable panel. This SSD bay will allow the installation of a PCIe 4.0-based M.2 drive. The console's base storage has a fairly large 825GB SSD, with a custom controller meant to help with transfer rates. Sony said it will eliminate loading screens once and for all.
The PS5 uses liquid metal and fans to manage hot temperatures
One of the coolest things about the design of the PS5 is the addition of a liquid metal compound solution to help regulate temperature. The liquid sits on the board between the SoC and the heat sink. Sony said it spent over two years preparing to use the liquid in the console.
The console also has a big fan. It's double-sided, about the size of a hand, and has a cover that looks like a metallic spider web. In tandem, these two features will help keep the console cool during marathon gaming sessions.
In an unprecedented new video posted on the official PlayStation YouTube channel, we get a detailed look at the internals of the PS5, as well as full details of its available ports.
