Six years in, the Sony PlayStation 5 isn’t just surviving – it’s still setting the pace.
When the Sony PlayStation 5 launched in November 2020, most people couldn’t actually buy one. In fact, stock vanished in seconds, and “restock alerts” became a hobby in their own right.
However, fast forward to late 2026 and the picture looks very different. More than 95 million consoles have shipped worldwide, the family has grown to include Slim, Digital and Pro models, and a steady stream of system updates has added features many early owners were shouting for.
So, how good is the Sony PlayStation 5 today? To be absolutely honest, it’s a far more polished machine than the one that launched. Below, we look at how it has evolved, how it performs, how it has sold, and answer the questions people keep asking online.
How the Sony PlayStation 5 Has Evolved
The Sony PlayStation 5 you buy today is the fourth main hardware version, and each step has fixed something.
| Model | Arrived | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| CFI-2100 revision | Late 2025 | Matte finish all over; Digital Edition storage set at 825GB in many regions |
| PS5 Pro | November 2024 | Faster GPU, stronger ray tracing, AI upscaling (PSSR), 2TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, no disc drive in the box |
| PS5 Slim | November 2023 | Around 30% smaller, 1TB SSD, detachable disc drive option for the Digital Edition |
| Original PS5 | November 2020 | 825GB SSD, Standard and Digital Edition, that “love it or hate it” tall design |
The Big Change: The Detachable Disc Drive
Since the Slim, the Digital Edition is no longer a dead end. Instead, you can buy the add-on drive later and it clicks into place, so you’re not locked out of discs forever. What’s more, the latest CFI-2100 models work with the same covers and disc drive as the earlier Slim.
Software Has Done Just as Much Heavy Lifting
Sony has steadily patched in features early owners were asking for:
- 2021: The M.2 SSD expansion slot was switched on, so you can add fast storage yourself.
- 2022: Variable refresh rate (VRR), 1440p output for monitors and “gamelists” (folders, essentially) arrived.
- March 2026: An upgraded version of PSSR rolled out to the Pro, with a system-level toggle that applies it to supported games without waiting for a patch.
- Autumn 2026: System update 14.0, beta-tested in September, makes the enhanced PSSR the default on the Pro and tweaks Bluetooth accessory handling for every model.
Performance: What the Sony PlayStation 5 Is Like to Play On
First of all, the headline is speed. The custom SSD reads at 5.5GB/s raw, and in practice that means games load in a few seconds rather than “go and make a cuppa” minutes. As a result, fast travel in big open worlds feels almost instant.
Meanwhile, under the hood sits an eight-core AMD Zen 2 processor, a 10.28 teraflop RDNA 2 graphics chip and 16GB of GDDR6 memory. That’s enough for 4K at 30fps in most “quality” modes, or a smoother 60fps “performance” mode at a slightly lower resolution. In addition, some games push 120fps if your TV supports it.
The DualSense Is the Real Party Trick
Haptic feedback lets you “feel” rain on an umbrella or gravel under your tyres, while the adaptive triggers stiffen as you draw a bow or brake hard. Because of this, going back to a standard pad soon feels flat.
3D Audio Is Quietly Brilliant Too
Sony’s Tempest 3D AudioTech works through any stereo headphones, and footsteps behind you genuinely sound like they’re behind you.
What the PS5 Pro Adds
The PS5 Pro is aimed at players with a big 4K TV who don’t want to choose between sharpness and smoothness. Sony quotes up to 45% faster rendering and two to three times the ray-tracing speed of the standard console.
However, the real secret sauce is PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution). It renders a game at a lower resolution, then uses machine learning to rebuild a crisp 4K image. Admittedly, the first version could “shimmer” or ghost in some titles, but the 2026 upgrade has tidied that up considerably. Over 100 games are now Pro Enhanced.
If you play on a 1080p screen, though, the Pro’s gains are much harder to spot.
Games: Playing PS4 and PS5 Games on the Sony PlayStation 5
One of the biggest strengths of the Sony PlayStation 5 is that you don’t have to leave your PS4 library behind. Sony says the overwhelming majority of the 4,000-plus PS4 games are playable on PS5, whether you own them on disc or as downloads.
Playing Your PS4 Games on PS5
- Disc games: pop the PS4 disc into a PS5 with a disc drive. On a Digital Edition or PS5 Pro, you’ll need the add-on disc drive.
- Digital games: anything you bought on PS4 is already in your library. Sign in with the same account and download it.
- Game Boost: many PS4 games load faster and run at a higher or steadier frame rate on PS5, without any update.
- The small print: a handful of PS4 games don’t work, and some features of others may not be available.
- One way only: PS5 games won’t run on a PS4.
Cross-Gen Games and Upgrades
Plenty of games were released on both PS4 and PS5, including a free-to-play racing game we covered. Moreover, some let you upgrade from the PS4 version to the PS5 version, with better graphics and faster loading. However, whether that upgrade is free or paid is up to the publisher.
To upgrade a disc copy, insert the PS4 disc into a PS5 with a disc drive and choose the upgrade offer in the game’s hub. You’ll then need the disc in the console to play. Likewise, for a digital copy, find the PS5 version in PlayStation Store and the upgrade offer appears if you’re eligible.
In many cross-gen online games, PS4 and PS5 players can still play together. Some games also let you carry your save from the PS4 version over to the PS5 version.
Storage: How Much Space the Sony PlayStation 5 Really Gives You
Part of the built-in SSD in every Sony PlayStation 5 is reserved for system software, so you get less than the number on the box.
| Model | Advertised storage | Usable space (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Original PS5 | 825GB | 667GB |
| PS5 Slim (before CFI-2100) | 1TB | 848GB |
| PS5 Digital Edition (CFI-2100) | 825GB | 667GB |
| PS5 Pro | 2TB | Around 1.85TB |
Since big releases regularly pass 100GB, that space fills up quickly.
Adding More Storage to Your Sony PlayStation 5
- Internal M.2 SSD: the Sony PlayStation 5 has a slot for a PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD from 250GB up to 8TB, ideally with a heatsink. You can install and play both PS5 and PS4 games straight from it.
- USB extended storage: an external drive of 250GB to 8TB. PS4 games play directly from it, but PS5 games can only be stored there and must be moved back to the internal or M.2 drive to play. Plug it straight into the console (no USB hubs), and only one can be active at a time.
Online (Cloud) Storage
Yes, it’s a thing, but it’s for your saves rather than whole games. With a PlayStation Plus membership, you get 100GB of cloud storage for PS5 saved data and another 100GB for PS4 saves.
First, turn on auto-sync, and your PS5 saves upload when you close a game or put the console into rest mode. PS4 saves upload automatically too, but you download them to the console yourself. Then, if you ever get a new console, just sign in and download your saves.
The top tier of PlayStation Plus also lets you stream selected games from the cloud instead of downloading them, which is handy when your SSD is full.
Sony PlayStation 5 Specifications
| Spec | PS5 (Standard / Digital) | PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core AMD Zen 2, up to 3.5GHz | 8-core AMD Zen 2, up to 3.85GHz |
| GPU | AMD RDNA 2, 10.28 teraflops | Upgraded AMD RDNA GPU, up to 45% faster rendering |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 + 2GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 1TB (Standard), 825GB (Digital, CFI-2100) | 2TB |
| Expansion | M.2 NVMe SSD slot | M.2 NVMe SSD slot |
| Disc drive | Built in (Standard), add-on (Digital) | Add-on |
| Video output | Up to 4K at 120Hz, VRR, HDR | Up to 4K at 120Hz, VRR, HDR, PSSR upscaling |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Controller | DualSense with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers | DualSense with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers |
Conclusion: The Sony PlayStation 5 Today
The Sony PlayStation 5 has grown up. Indeed, what started as a powerful but hard-to-find box is now a tidy family of consoles, backed by years of useful updates and a library that keeps getting bigger.
For most players, the standard PS5 with a disc drive is the sweet spot. Alternatively, go Digital if you buy everything online, and pick the Pro only if you’ve got a big 4K TV and want the very best image. Either way, you’re buying into a platform Sony plans to support for years yet. If you’re comparing consoles, take a look at our Nintendo Switch 2 guide too.
Questions People Ask About the Sony PlayStation 5
Buying and Choosing a Model
Is the PS5 still worth buying in 2026?
For most people, the Sony PlayStation 5 is still worth buying. Sony says the console is only in the middle of its lifecycle, the library is huge, and the biggest releases of the year are still arriving on it. If you’ve been holding off, it’s a much more refined machine than the launch model.
Is a PS6 coming soon? Will it make the PS5 obsolete?
Sony hasn’t announced a PS6. Industry analysts now expect it later than first thought, possibly after 2028. Even when it does arrive, PlayStation has a long history of supporting the previous console for years afterwards.
What’s the difference between the Standard and Digital Edition?
In short, performance is identical. The Digital Edition simply has no disc drive, so you buy and download games from PlayStation Store. On current models it also has less storage (825GB against 1TB) in many regions.
Can I add a disc drive to the Digital Edition or PS5 Pro?
Yes, on the Slim, CFI-2100 and Pro models. The add-on disc drive attaches to the console, but it needs a one-time internet connection to pair the first time.
Is the PS5 Slim any faster than the original?
No. It’s smaller and lighter with a bit more storage, but the processor and graphics are the same. As a result, games run identically.
Is the PS5 Pro worth it over the standard PS5?
It is if you play on a large 4K TV and care about image quality and steadier frame rates. On a 1080p TV or monitor, however, the standard PS5 is the smarter buy.
Games and Storage
Does the PS5 play PS4 games?
Yes. The vast majority of PS4 games run on the Sony PlayStation 5, and many get a boost such as faster loading or a higher, steadier frame rate.
How much storage do I actually get, and can I add more?
Some of the drive is reserved for system software, so you get less than the number on the box. You can add an M.2 NVMe SSD (with a heatsink) inside the console, or use a USB drive to store PS4 games and park PS5 games.
Connectivity and Features
Does the PS5 need to be online all the time?
No. Disc games and installed digital games can be played offline, though you’ll want a connection for updates, online multiplayer and downloads.
Does the PS5 support 120Hz, VRR and 1440p?
Yes to all three, as long as your TV or monitor supports them and the game offers the mode.
How many PS5s have been sold?
Sony had shipped 95.3 million PS5 consoles worldwide by 30 June 2026.
