ENGLISH TECH LATEST NEWS.: Sony Ps4 new 2017 Full Detail.

Sony PS4

The PS4 was a great piece of hardware with an even better library of games, but after a few years its started to look a little tired and fat.

Cue the arrival of the new slimmer PS4, which sheds a significant amount of height from the console, as well as bringing with it a nice reduction in price.

Best of all it does this without any real compromises, aside from the loss of the optical audio jack from the rear of the machine.

We still have the 4K PlayStation 4 Pro to look forward to in November, but until then we've got the new slimline PS4 to dig our teeth into, which retails at £259 / $299 / AU$599.99 for the 500GB model, with a 1TB model expected further along down the line.

The PS4 Slim might have entered the fray as Sony's budget PlayStation offering, but that doesn't mean it's scrimping on its specs. In all key areas it matches the original PlayStation 4 console, and at many points outperforms it too.

It's also a far smaller console, shrinking the machine down by almost a third in volume, knocking 16% off the original's weight and offering notable improvements in both power draw and noise output.

The best PS4 games are among the finest available on any platform at the moment, with showstoppers like Uncharted 4 and Bloodborne the envy of PC and Xbox One gamers alike. They'll all be compatible with the new PS4 Slim, as will every game going forward - Sony made it explicitly clear that every game for the PS4 Pro will work here, too.

On top of the games themselves, the PS Plus network offering is as good a deal as it's ever been, allowing you to partake in competitive or cooperative online multiplayer play and offering up a selection of three free games on a monthly basis too.

In terms of competition, the PS4 Slim really only has two rivals - the existing PS4 and the Xbox One S . Nintendo can't really compete with its Wii U (though it'll be interesting to see what the so-called Nintendo NX brings to the table).

And it's against the Xbox One S where the PS4 Slim has its toughest fight. Only a tad more expensive, the Xbox One S looks great, has a fine selection of its own games, and comes packing a killer 4K Blu-ray player built in, making it a far more rounded media player than the PS4 Slim. For the time being, the Xbox One S has the edge with HDR color support too, though a firmware update will bring this to all PS4s shortly, levelling the playing field.

But what's on show here is still very, very cool. Should you buy the PS4 Slim? Read on to find out.

Design

It may be hard to remember now, seeing how much joy gamers have gotten out of the original PS4, but its off-kilter shape was met with some raised eyebrows when it was first revealed three and a half years ago.

2016's slim PS4 more-or-less retains the core visual identity of the first PlayStation 4, but shrinks everything down into a more dinky parallelogram package, with newly-rounded edges.

Whereas the original PlayStation 4 measured 27.5 x 30 x 5.3 cm, the PS4 Slim is just 26.5 x 26.5 x 3.8 cm. That's roughly a third smaller than what the original measured up as, and its weight is comparably lighter, too.

PS4 Slim
PS4 Slim
Whereas the first PS4 had a finish that mixed shiny plastics with matte ones, the PS4 Slim goes with a simple matte black finish all over. It also drops the top-mounted colored light bar indicator - showing sleep, wake and off statuses - in favor of small illuminated dots over the power button. These are more difficult to see, so be careful to check them carefully before unplugging the console from the wall, or risk corrupting your data.

The disk drive slot remains front-facing, sitting above small, physical power and eject buttons. More recent revisions of the PS4 also featured physical buttons on the console, but it'll be a marked difference for gamers used to the launch edition PS4, which favored touch-sensitive controls instead.

Two USB ports sit on the front of the console, as was the same on earlier PS4 models. But they're now spaced much further apart, making them slightly easier to plug into, and possibly making space for the PS VR headset's processing unit.

PS4 Slim Front
PS4 Slim Front
Though a 1TB model is on the way, the PS4 Slim launches with a 500GB hard drive. That's pretty small considering all games require a mandatory install, some tens of gigabytes in size. But move around the back of the 2016 PS4 Slim and you'll find a dedicated panel for opening up the console, allowing a user to manually install a larger hard drive in a much more convenient way than the original PS4 did.

Also on the back you'll find the power plug socket (no need for an external power brick here), a HDMI port, the PlayStation Camera's expansion port (set to get more use once the PS VR virtual reality headset launches) and an Ethernet network jack socket.

The only casualty of the slimmed-down design is the Optical Out port on the rear. While HDMI will suit the needs of many gamers when it comes to carrying audio signals, the Optical Out port will be missed by those hooking up older home cinema receivers, or souped-up gaming headsets.

PS4 Slim Rear
PS4 Slim Rear
The slim PS4 has lots of nice design touches dotted around its chassis though. The iconic Square, Triangle, Circle and Cross symbols of the PlayStation brand are stamped into the side of the console (with the Circle acting as a fixture for those wishing to stand the console upright with a base accessory). And those same symbols are found stuck to the bottom of the new PS4, acting as feet to raise the machine off a surface for improved airflow.

All in, it's a well considered design the complements the existing range, markedly justifying its "Slim" street name.

Setup

Setting up the slim PlayStation 4 is very easy, especially if you're upgrading from the original PS4, or even a PS3 since you can use the same cables, removing the need to stretch behind your TV.

Simply plug in the included HDMI and power cables and connect to the internet to download the console's various patches and updates.

Alternatively, you are able to skip Wi-Fi or ethernet altogether and just pop in a game. Unlike the Xbox One, you can get to the homescreen without initially connecting to the web and patching.

Once you do connect to the internet, you'll need to let the PS4 update before you can make purchases from the store or play online.

Media

Since the very first PlayStation, Sony's home consoles have led the charge when it comes to media playback support. The PS One made for a great CD player, the PS2 was many gamers' first DVD player, and the PS3 their first Blu-ray deck and USB playback device.

The PS4, while not introducing a new format of its own, picked up the baton passed by the PS3, offering wide-ranging streaming service support, Blu-ray and DVD playback, USB media functionality and even banging out the tunes with its own Spotify player.

What the PS4 Slim doesn't do, however, is offer an answer to the Xbox One S's 4K Blu-ray player. It instead sticks with the original PS4's standard full HD Blu-ray player. It's still a strong deck, but anyone looking to show off their 4K TVs with the new PS4 will be disappointed. It's a feature that's set to be notably absent from the PS4 Pro, too.

Need a player for your physical media? Check out our guide to the best 4K Blu-ray players .
You could argue that, with 4K TVs a relative luxury for gamers at the moment, it's not a desperately needed feature, especially if it keeps the overall cost down. But it will age the console, preventing it from being fully future-proofed. What's perhaps more annoying is the complete removal of the optical out audio socket, which could cause headaches for those with older AV equipment.

However, one upgrade that is coming to the entire range of PS4s along with the PS4 Slim is HDR support. It adds greater detail to light sources in an image, and is considered the next big thing in TV tech. The roll out is still in the pipeline, so we've not been able to test it yet. But rest assured that the PS4 Slim will support high dynamic range shortly.

All other streaming services and apps featured on the PS4 return for the PS4 Slim. They include (but are not limited to) Netflix , Amazon Prime Video , as well as BBC iPlayer and TV from Sky in the UK, and HBO Go and Hulu in the US. Sony's own movie rental platform is available too if you're looking for the latest Hollywood releases. YouTube is available, as is Twitch game streaming, and a Spotify Connect-enabled version of the popular music streaming service, letting you control tunes on your telly from the comfort of your smartphone.
The 2016 PS4 Slim edition debuts alongside a brand new DualShock 4 pad - though you'd be excused for failing to spot the difference.

In the hand, it's practically identical to its predecessor, which was easily the best pad Sony had ever made, and up there with the best of all time.

DualShock 4
DualShock 4
Though its analogue sticks succumb to wear and tear a little too easily, the DualShock 4 is wonderfully ergonomic, with a responsive D-Pad and comfortable triggers and face buttons. A criminally-underused touchpad sits in the middle of the pad (which also houses barely-used motion control capabilities), while a light bar sits on the rear, indicating player status and soon to be used as a tracking aid for PS VR.

It's this lightbar that marks one of the notable changes to the new controller. There's now a slight translucent strip in the touchpad, letting you see the color your controller is set to. It's a small convenience, saving you from twisting the pad upwards to see which player color you are set as.

A more significant addition, especially for pro gamers, is the option to switch between the controller's Bluetooth connection and a wired USB data connection with the PS4. Previously, the USB connection would only supply charge, leaning on the Bluetooth connectivity regardless of whether it was plugged in or not.

This won't mean much to many players, but Bluetooth introduces an infinitesimal degree of lag to your controls. For a pro gamer, that can be the difference between a win (and a pot of e-Sports prize money) or a loss. So they'll no doubt be very pleased.

The feature should also make a welcome addition for PC gamers who want to use the DualShock 4 who will no longer need to buy a Bluetooth dongle to do so
With a whole host of streaming services built in, as well as online play and a digital download store, the 2016 PS4 Slim is very reliant on its network connection. So thankfully, it's getting a fresh lick of paint for the new model, too.

The new PS4 Slim introduces a 5GHz IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac connection to the console, alongside ol' faithful, the trusty Ethernet jack. Current PS4s only feature 2.4GHz bands. While Ethernet is still your best bet for a consistently stable connection, the 5GHz band is less likely to suffer from interference from the menagerie of products hogging the 2.4GHz space. In effect, you're less likely to suffer lag and drop out as a result.

The 5GHz connection should improve the quality of the PS4's Remote Play function. With a PS Vita handheld, a PC, Mac or compatible Sony Xperia mobile device, you can beam games from your PS4 to a second device, freeing up the TV set.

Though we've had no problems with Remote Play over the 2.4GHz connection of our original launch PS4, the PS4 Slim has so far offered up stable connectivity when using the second screen function. It must be noted however that 5GHz connections can struggle beaming through thick masonry, so line of sight with the console is still recommended when using Remote Play.

PlayStation Store

The PlayStation Store has been around since the PS3, and naturally remains your source of downloadable games on the slim PS4.

The ability to pre-load games makes a return so you aren't left waiting for downloads to complete on launch day, and you can also start playing a game before the download has fully completed by instructing your console to prioritise certain parts of the game.

With games now happily filling up 50GB Blu-ray discs, this ability is pretty essential if you want to not have to leave your games downloading overnight.

You can also use the PlayStation app on iOS or Android to remotely purchase games and set them to download when you're away from your console, or you can always avoid the download process entirely by making use of Sony's ever-expanding PlayStation Now service.

Sharing gameplay images and videos

It should come as no surprise when I say that online gaming video is big, and Sony has embraced this in a big way with the ability to share videos of gameplay baked right into the console.

Simply press the 'Share' button on the DualShock 4 and you're console will immediately save up to the last fifteen minutes of gameplay. You are then free to save this to a USB stick, or you can share it to YouTube, Facebook, or even Sony's own PSN.

Alternatively you can hold the same button to share a screenshot.

Livestreaming is also supported on the console, if you want to allow others to watch you as you play on Twitch. The process is remarkably easy to set up, but make sure you have a fast enough internet connection to upload video in real-time.

PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Plus

When the PS4 launched, Sony took the decision to make its users pay for online multiplayer.

The practice had previously been exclusive to Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold service, while Sony kept its Plus service for optional extras.

If you've already purchased a PS Plus subscription for another Sony device it will automatically carry over to the new console, and will bring with it discounts on PSN, a monthly selection of free games, and occasional early access to DLC.

Cloud saves are a great inclusion for when you need to switch between consoles for any reason, and automatic downloading and installation of game updates is also helpful.

Sony's PlayStation Plus is a great service for anyone who owns a PS4, and brings so many more benefits than just online play.

Share Play
Share Play
Share Play

Share Play is an interesting feature that allows you to have friends remotely control your PS4 gameplay, even if they don't own the game in question. This works as a cooperative tool, or a competitive one, depending on how you want to use it.

This functionality is accessed through the same 'Share' button mentioned above, at which point you can choose to send out a share play invitation from the menu that pops up.

Unfortunately both players will need to be PlayStation Plus subscribers for the functionality to work, and each session can only last a maximum of an hour. It's also limited to 720p resolution rather than the PS4's maximum 1080p.
Unlike the PS4 Pro or Xbox One S, the new 2016 PS4 Slim is at its best a resolutely 1080p gaming machine. It can't compare to the 4K-capable Microsoft rival or its forthcoming premium Sony sibling in this respect. But it's a match for existing PlayStation 4 consoles - and in some respects out performs them too.

Performance increases lay primarily with power draw and energy efficiency, which Sony claims reduces power consumption by 28% compared to earlier models.

Though unable to test the precise power draw, even to the naked eye (or ear, at least) the improvement is palpable. Fan noise is a great indicator of how much power a gadget is using as, generally, they'll speed up and get louder as a component draws more power and begins to heat up. Compared to a well-used launch edition of the PS4, the PS4 Slim fan noise was noticeably quieter when in use, which would suggest Sony's claims are true.

What doesn't seem to have been made any quieter however is the disc drive itself, which spins up very noisily when a either game is installing, or a Blu-ray or DVD is playing. You might have to crank your speakers up a bit to drown that out.

PS4 Slim
PS4 Slim
In pretty much every other performance aspect however, the PS4 and PS4 Slim consoles are identical. There's no perceptible difference in loading times or frame rates for games, which have so far ran all-but identically across all tests. There may be a slight improvement in UI responsiveness, but that could equally be down to our reviewer's older console having been jammed full of games and years of use whereas the newer machine was relatively box fresh.

Sessions with a wide range of games, from indies like Rogue Legacy to colorful platformer LEGO Jurassic World to the chilling first-person frights of Alien Isolation all saw the slim PS4 hitting the same frame rates you would expect from a standard PS4. In other words, it's a top-notch gaming machine, running most games at a tight 1080p/30ps, and many at 1080p/60fps. Though it's not quite a fair comparison given the myriad build options, in PC gaming terms, the PS4 Slim would sit towards the middle of the market in terms of performance. But in reality, it's really like comparing apples and oranges.

Check out our guide to the best PS4 games available right now.
While the PS4 Slim stands tall against its predecessor then, it doesn't compare as favorably against the Xbox One S, which offers upgraded 4K upscaling alongside its likewise slimmer proportions. However, a firmware update will bring a degree of parity to all PS4 models, including the slim, when HDR visuals hit the console. We'll let you know how they look in 1080p once the feature rolls out.
The PS4 is a great console, and the PS4 Slim does nothing to dampen that enthusiasm. Where it takes away an optical port, it gives back with improved power efficiency, networking capabilities and a sleek new form factor.

Launching at a relatively affordable price, and now boasting a superb catalogue of games, it's easy to recommend, even if its Xbox One S rival boasts flashier specs equally worthy of your attention.

We liked

No one likes to waste power and deal with insane energy bills, so it's reassuring to see Sony dialling back the PS4's power consumption. Though the original PS4's looks have become comfortingly familiar, the new smaller, more reserved design will make it an easier fit for many AV set-ups.

Networking improvements make the PS4 Slim a more stable online gaming machine, and the new DualShock 4 even gives a nod to pro-gaming e-sports players. It's also easier than ever to install a new hard drive (though a 1TB drive really should come as standard now).

PS4 Slim harddrive
PS4 Slim harddrive
We disliked

When sat next to the Xbox One S, which isn't massively more expensive than the 2016 PlayStation Slim, it's hard not to feel a little jealous of Microsoft's machine's 4K Blu-ray player. It's a luxury, for sure, but it's a future proofed one that may mean the PS4 Slim is relegated before its time.

Likewise, the audio optical out connection's removal is annoying. Though it was probably only used by a small percentage of PS4 gamers with the original console, those that rely on it in order to get the best sound from their dedicated AV speaker systems will now have a tough choice to make - upgrade to a PS4 Slim, meaning the additional cost of upgrading their audio receivers too, or sit tight with the existing PS4? It's a choice they shouldn't have to make.

Final Verdict

If you've been patiently waiting for the right time to grab a PS4 console, the hour has come. Affordable, newly-shrunken and with a stonking back catalogue of excellent games, the PS4 Slim is a great entry point into Sony's current gaming world.

However, after a slow start, Microsoft has come out swinging, with the Xbox One (especially with the Xbox One S console revision) a mighty gaming machine in its own right, worthy of your attention. It's a decision that may not even be made for you - with both consoles so closely matched (4K Blu-ray players notwithstanding), it may well come down to which machine has already embraced most of your friends for online play sessions.

Go down the PS4 route, and you've another question to ask - should you hold fire and wait for the pricier, but more powerful, PS4 Pro? It'll come at a premium, but has support for 4K resolutions - the next graphical frontier in gaming.

Should you side with the PS4, and pick up a PS4 Slim, you can't really go wrong though. It may only hold the title for a few brief weeks, but right now the PS4 Slim is the best PlayStation ever.
PLAYSTATION 4
THE REVIEW
In the seven years since the introduction of the PlayStation 3, we've seen our gaming consoles transform into living-room hubs through constant evolution and software updates. Those updates weren't always smooth – though on PS3, they were always happening – but it's easy to see just how far the platform has come.

Meanwhile, the designers of the PlayStation 4 were taking notes and designing a console that, feature by feature, sought to address the failings of its predecessor. The PS3 was notoriously difficult to program for, thanks to its proprietary silicon. So the PS4 was built to be developer-friendly, with a familiar, PC-like architecture. The PS3 was announced with a bizarre, boomerang-shaped controller, and launched with the rumble-free Sixaxis controller before settling into the never-great DualShock 3 controller. So the PS4 comes with the DualShock 4, inarguably the best controller Sony's ever made. And the PS3 launched at an abnormally high price point, costing $200 more than its competition. So the PS4 carries a far more aggressive price, asking $100 less than the competition this time around.

While Sony in 2006 was focused on driving adoption of the Blu-ray standard, envisioning another home media boom that never quite materialized, Sony in 2013 has no such distractions. The PS4 isn't built to sell 3D TVs, or Blu-ray discs or any other corporate mandate. It's a gaming console, a clear message that Sony has been quick to repeat.

That focus has resulted in a console that's better positioned than the PlayStation 3 was in 2006 to compete in an expanding turf war for the living room. But that same focus has also kept Sony from taking the kinds of chances that make generational leaps so exciting.

VIDEO REVIEW
THE CONSOLE
HARDWARE & DESIGN
The PS4 is Sony's most attractively designed piece of hardware. It's a beautiful system, with a sharp, slightly angled profile accented by a light bar that acts as a console status indicator.

On the back, PS4 has gone digital-only with HDMI/optical ports, and no analog audio or video outputs. We appreciate the internal power supply — it sounds like a small thing, but it's one less object to sit on the shelf next to or behind the PlayStation 4.

Rear
Front
In the bad column, it's a collection of moderate to minor annoyances. The PS4 doesn't support the new 802.11ac wireless standard, instead relying on an 802.11b/g/n radio at 2.4 GHz — no 5 GHz support here either, all of which is disappointing to see on a consumer device in 2013. More annoyingly to many on staff, the PS4 doesn't include an IR port for universal remotes, nor does it support Logitech's PlayStation 3 Bluetooth Harmony adapter or the PS3 Bluetooth Blu-ray remote. This omission seems to signal Sony's abandonment of the media aspirations that drove much of the PS3's basic design.

Players who want to game privately on their consoles might be temporarily annoyed at the absence of Bluetooth headphone audio support for the PS4 at launch.

This is offset somewhat: the PS4 can broadcast all game audio (and voice chat) to the audio/mic jack on the DualShock 4, which is compatible with all headphones and mobile headsets using 1/8 inch audio adapters — though enabling game audio output on the DualShock 4 disables all audio via HDMI and optical out.

Despite these problems, Sony nails the fundamentals with the PS4 hardware. The half-gloss, half-matte finish is a pleasant visual compromise. It's a grown-up machine, designed more like a stylish DVD player than a gaudy video game console. It's a small, attractive system, and one that also happens to pack more powerful hardware in its diminutive frame than any other console.

The PS4 is Sony's most attractively designed piece of hardware.

It's an impressive technical achievement. It's also compact enough to fade into your entertainment center without being distracting or ostentatious, and we appreciate that it retains the PS2's and PS3's ability to stand vertically. Those of you with frisky pets or children may want to invest in the vertical stand, sold separately, for some added stability.

Oh, and it will charge controllers over USB while in standby mode. Finally.

CONTROLLER
DUALSHOCK 4
We can say this unequivocally: The DualShock 4 is the best controller Sony has ever made.

Now that the PlayStation 4 and a new console generation are upon us, a contingent of Polygon's editorial staff feels free to finally admit a deep, unbridled hatred of the DualShock 3. The sticks were too close together, too squishy; the triggers weren't triggers; those of us with bigger hands had difficulty using the controller for very long.

DUALSHOCK 3DUALSHOCK 4
DUALSHOCK 4

Sony has solved every one of these problems with the DualShock 4. Its sticks are farther apart, with semi-concave pits in the middle designed to hold the tips of your thumbs in place. The shoulders feature actual concave triggers with pull similar to an Xbox 360 controller.

The controller is just a little heavier, just a little bigger. It's much more comfortable to hold over long periods of time. Making even die-hard DualShock 3 haters on the Polygon staff converts, the DualShock 4 is the most immediately apparent improvement offered by the PS4.

The DualShock 4 is the best controller Sony has ever made.

There are several small touches that, as with the console itself, underscore a sense of general hardware quality and polish. The DualShock 4's front-facing light glows blue for the primary connected player and changes colors based on the order in which it's synced to the console. Games can also take over the light and change its color, but the most practical use is the amber glow the DualShock 4 emits while it's charging.

While Sony has seemingly done nothing to expose or surface it, the DualShock 4 also introduces refined gyroscopic and accelerometer-based motion control. It's an incredible improvement from the Sixaxis and the DualShock 3.

Rear
Front

IMPERFECTIONS

The DualShock 4 isn't without some minor issues: the new options and share buttons are far too flush with the face of the controller and take too much pressure to use. It quickly proved easier to use the PlayStation button — now situated between the controller's analog sticks — to suspend a title to take quick breaks.

But our biggest complaint for a controller that some at Polygon otherwise consider the best they've ever used: the battery life.

The new touchpad works well for certain functions, like selecting weapon modes in Killzone: Shadow Fall. But it proved a poor mouse substitute in Assassin's Creed 4's map screen, with slow, latency-prone movement. We'll need more opportunities to use it in more titles before we can determine whether this is a hardware or software problem.

But our biggest complaint for a controller that some at Polygon otherwise consider the best they've ever used: over the course of 100-hundred plus hours with the DualShock 4, the battery life appears to sit somewhere in the 7- to 8-hour neighborhood, a fraction of the 30-hour battery life on the DualShock 3. As the system only includes one micro USB cable 1.5 - 2m in length, marathon sessions might happen on your floor near the PS4. As with the DualShock 3, the DualShock 4 battery isn't intended to be replaced, though enterprising users may be able to find replacements online in the coming years.

OPERATING SYSTEM
USER INTERFACE & EXPERIENCE
At first glance, it may appear that the PS4's user interface shares little in common with the PlayStation 3's "XrossMediaBar" interface, a familiar sight for owners of Sony's 2006-era televisions. But the PS4's interface is again similar to Sony's current televisions and with use, a clear evolution of the XMB is apparent. It retains its predecessor's speed, while adding a flexibility that the rigid XMB hierarchy never allowed.

IMPROVEMENTS

Little things stand out. You can temporarily suspend a game at any time by hitting the PlayStation button and, say, change your display or audio settings without quitting the game in question. After seven or eight years of the Xbox 360 and PS3, navigating the PS4's menus and UI quickly and with little lag is one of the more refreshing elements of the next-gen console experience.

One major, appreciated change: the bifurcated User/PSN ID system of the PS3 is gone. You can now skip the PS3's user ID/PSN ID association process and directly download your profile onto the PS4. The PS4 also supports greatly improved user switching, and its guest feature allows you to temporarily download a PSN profile onto a friend's PS4 and delete it when logged out. Other small touches delight — like double-tapping the PlayStation button to toggle between active apps and games.

The legacy of the Playstation 3's operating system remains in the PS4's often confusing hierarchy of menus, sub-menus and hidden options. For example, the console's Notifications menu includes Notifications, Invitations, Game Alerts, Downloads and Uploads, all as distinct inboxes. The Friends menu includes separate inboxes for Friend Requests and Name Requests, both of which also appear under Notifications. Perhaps the utility of these discrete areas will become more clear with more time spent using the system.

After seven or eight years of the Xbox 360 and PS3, navigating the PS4's menus and UI quickly and with little lag is one of the more refreshing elements of the next-gen console experience.

Local media playback, a major feature of the PS4's predecessor, isn't supported. The PS4 also lacks any meaningful digital library management. Games are listed in an endless horizontal line with no organizational options whatsoever. Every single PS4 disc that you insert into the drive automatically installs and slots itself into that list, surely an impediment to finding what you're looking for quickly.

Other advertised PS4 features haven't made it in time for even the system's day one update. The console lacks a sleep feature, meaning it requires a full reboot whenever it's shut down — and active game sessions are closed. We also hope that Sony takes a second crack at the PS4's native video capture and sharing. It's a cool idea, and the implementation works, but the video we've seen is heavily compressed and muddy. It robs games on the platform of some of their wow factor

It's also worth pointing out that while the interfaces of the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita are both well-suited for their respective mediums, a television and a touch-controlled portable, respectively, the differences between them provide a curious contrast for two current products bearing the PlayStation brand name.

PLAYSTATION NETWORK
ONLINE PLAY
The PS4 makes some fundamental improvements to basic network functionality. You can now join friends' games from your friends list. The PS4 also introduces game-independent party chat for up to eight people, a godsend for multiplayer gamers hoping to avoid toxic public lobby audio.

IMPROVEMENTS

The PS4's home screen includes a feed of your friends' activity called "What's New," and this demonstrates quite a bit of potential. It shows what games your friends started to play, when they're livestreaming and … maybe too much stuff, actually. The What's New feed is a wall of informational text and from a distance, it's difficult to parse. This is indicative of a general tendency toward too many options, and an excess of surfaced information throughout the PS4's PSN functions.

There are other additions that seem beneficial, but have strange oversights that make them potentially problematic. The PSN friends limit has been increased to 2,000, which is great — but there's no way to organize them. Narrowing your friends or joining larger groups remains outside the abilities of the PlayStation 4 at present, despite system-wide Facebook integration, and sharing options that include Facebook groups. The PS4 also supports real names for friends, which could be a lifesaver — but it requires two-way authorization between both people to activate.

PSN is full of small examples of a system that badly needs reorganization and some cleanup. But make no mistake: Sony seems determined not to get left behind or leapfrogged in online this time around, and the basic functionality that eluded PSN on PS3 is now present.

The day-one inclusion of Twitch integration works well, and it's a good thing — the PS4 encrypts its entire HDMI signal in HDCP, which prevents it from working with most capture devices out of the box. For most users, the Twitch streaming is all you'll need, though we have concerns about general video quality via the system's internal hardware.

Trophies work similarly to the way they did on PS3, but now also include trophy rarity — something we hope everyone everywhere steals as quickly as possible.

PLAYSTATION STORE

Meanwhile, the PlayStation Store is very similar to the current PS3 store, which has made enormous strides over the last few years — but it shares the discoverability and organization problems of the existing store as well. It's not fair to crucify Sony over this, as every online marketplace shares these issues to some degree or another. But we're still waiting to see if anyone can address these problems.

And if multiplayer gaming isn't your thing, the PS4 doesn't lock any of its media apps behind the PS+ gate.

After seven years, Sony is joining the competition by charging for multiplayer gaming on the PlayStation 4. Players will need a subscription to Sony's PlayStation Plus service, which thankfully provides much more than unfettered access to multiplayer gaming; it also provides regular discounts on digital releases and a regular stable of free games. For the right player, it's a tremendous value. And if multiplayer gaming isn't your thing, the PS4 doesn't lock any of its media apps behind the PS+ gate. Netflix, perhaps the most prominent example, requires nothing more than its own subscription to watch on the PS4.

Perhaps as a signal to how seriously Sony is taking online multiplayer, it's included a headphone jack on the controller and a headset with every PlayStation 4. That inclusion, coupled with a new party chat system, brings PlayStation 4 to feature parity with existing competition and sets it up for continued innovation in the online gaming space.

CAMERA
FEATURES & CAPABILITIES
While Sony nixed plans to include the PlayStation Camera with the PS4 by default, it is still for sale, and adds some options to the system. Sony has touted the addition of voice commands to the PS4, though our limited time with this feature yielded mixed results. Commands were limited and poorly explained, and frequently went unanswered.

The easiest comparison would be with the early feature set of the Xbox 360's Kinect. The PlayStation Camera is a higher-definition device, and is likely more advanced, but there is a distinctive "first attempt" feel to the camera that seems at odds with the PlayStation 4's efforts at broader platform streamlining and refinement. But worse for Sony, its capabilities and functionality look downright primitive in comparison to the Xbox One's Kinect.

The PlayStation Camera's overall place within the PlayStation 4 ecosystem and Sony's intentions for the camera are unclear at this time.

There's no IR component, which forces users to maintain a minimum amount of light. The PlayStation Camera adds facial recognition to PS4's account system, with the procedure for adding biometric data requiring a short setup for each user. At the login screen, the camera scans the scene and, as long as it's well-lit, identifies faces it recognizes. If a user wants to log in, they simply raise the controller to match a box on the screen. The catch is, if you're using a controller here, it's easier to perform the same task with the controller.

The PlayStation Camera's overall place within the PlayStation 4 ecosystem and Sony's intentions for the system are unclear at this time. While there were elements of the new console that were clearly designed with the camera's capabilities in mind — the somewhat vestigial indicator light on the DualShock 4 comes to mind — most traces of the potential future are difficult to find in the system as it exists now.

At least it's unassuming. Whether with its stand or alone, it's a small device that doesn't occupy the same kind of real estate as the original Kinect or its hefty successor. But that's also sort of the problem. This is Sony's third attempt at a camera peripheral for a PlayStation system.

Each previous attempt was marked by an initial burst of enthusiasm and software support, something the PlayStation Camera lacks outside of the cute but minimal Playroom application included on every PS4. More damning, every previous camera was quickly abandoned, with little software support and zero official acknowledgement of its relevance.

SETUP & PERFORMANCE
PATCHES & INSTALLS
We found the initial setup of the PlayStation 4 to be a relatively painless process. Upon first booting up the system, we had to download an initial patch to connect the system to PSN.

As of the time of this review, that patch is about 300 MB and took less than 15 minutes to download and install (though more crowded servers on launch day could slow that considerably).

Once the system is up to date, connecting to an existing PlayStation Network ID is a smooth process, taking just a few minutes. This brings in all the friends and trophies lists from the PS3 and Vita.

The console will also ask you if you'd like to make your real name accessible to specified friends. This Real Name functionality is a great addition and doesn't feel overly cumbersome, despite essentially requiring both parties to accept.

When PlayStation Network is humming along and working as expected, it's smooth and downloads games quickly.

If you find yourself at a friend's house, you can opt for a "guest" account. This will let you sign into your own PSN account, but not have to worry about leaving secure data behind when you log off. A handy addition, especially for dorm dwellers with cagey roommates.

Installing our first games, both from disc or through PSN, was mostly painless, though we did run into some connectivity issues that resulted in downloaded games being inaccessible until the console re-connected to the network. But when PlayStation Network is humming along and working as expected, it's smooth and downloaded games quickly. It's just not terribly easy to navigate and will definitely take some getting used to, with vague iconography to guide you.

SECOND SCREEN
PS VITA & REMOTE PLAY
Remote Play of PS4 titles on the PlayStation Vita has been one of the system's most anticipated features.

Remote Play works well via wireless LAN in supported titles; several third-party releases have gone above and beyond basic support, including full Vita control in games like Battlefield 4 and Assassin's Creed 4. Sony's own first-party games like Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack also support the feature.

However, dreams of universal access to PS4 content from anywhere via the Vita will have to wait, as even locally, Remote Play suffers from issues similar to those encountered by Wii U users. Players who move too far away from their routers may lose their connection to the PS4 or otherwise render their game unplayable.

We are somewhat confused at Sony's aggressive pairing of the Vita and PS4's fortunes with the emphasis on Remote Play, as the former device has struggled to establish a sustainable install base outside of Japan after almost two years of availability. But the potential is there for Remote Play to present a meaningful differentiation from the PS4's competition.

The Vita also presents an avenue for second-screen functionality for PlayStation 4, but Sony has smartly expanded beyond their own handheld with this week's release of the PlayStation App. The app allows message and friends list management as well as trophy options, but the primary functionality seems aimed at providing augmented app experiences for PlayStation 4 software. Sony's current showcase for the app happens through their Playroom software, where players can draw shapes and flick them out to entertain their goofy robot minions.

It remains to be seen whether developers will capitalize on the PlayStation App with any regularity, however. Even studios that are embracing second-screen functionality on the PlayStation 4 are relying on their own, dedicated applications on Android and iOS. But at the very least, Sony has multiple means of achieving feature parity with the Wii U and the Xbox One's new version of SmartGlass. The near-ubiquity of second-screen availability will hopefully encourage developers to add it to their games, which can only be a good thing.

GAMES
LAUNCH LINEUP
After we've spent approximately four weeks with the PS4 at review events and with review hardware, Sony's primary goal for the system is clear.

There are pros and cons to this approach. This drive toward games first will in all probability lead to a strong ecosystem of exclusives and multiplatform titles on the PS4. The emphasis on powerful hardware dedicated to gaming software is already yielding tangible advantages over the competition, with games like Battlefield 4 running in higher resolution on the PlayStation 4 than the Xbox One.

Make no mistake: the PS4 is demonstrably more powerful than the competition.

However, at launch, the PS4 has failed to muster a software library that sells that hardware.

Downloadable shooter Resogun is a beautiful bright spot in the PlayStation 4's lineup, and even better, it's free for PlayStation Plus subscribers. But Sony's major AAA launch exclusives are impossible to recommend. Killzone: Shadow Fall is gorgeous but poorly designed and boring for the duration of its campaign. Sony Japan's Knack is a surprisingly difficult grind, which drags on for too long with too little to say or do.

Worse for Sony, the delta between most next-gen and current-gen releases this fall has proven minimal beyond superficial visual improvements. While games like Assassin's Creed 4 look better on PlayStation 4, they aren't enough to recommend stepping onward and upward to a new console.

This is an enormous challenge for the PS4. As a system focusing on games, that's where it currently lives or dies. Just as problematic, Sony's currently announced slate of platform exclusives is thin — shy of Infamous: Second Son, there's little to carry the PS4 through the spring and summer of 2014. This is a notoriously precarious period for new consoles, as demonstrated by the software struggles of both the PlayStation Vita and the Wii U in the year following their release, and we're not sure what bridges Sony intends to build between release and holiday 2014.

Sony's repeated emphasis on indie titles has borne little fruit for launch outside of the disastrous Contrast, which appears for free on PlayStation Plus. We expect that 2014 will be dotted with some of the titles that Sony brought to this year's E3 and Gamescom stages — but their absence from view has us wondering what happened and, more specifically, why they couldn't make it for launch.

To be clear, we're not saying there won't be good, interesting software for the PS4. We think that's inevitable. But we don't know what that software will be, or when it will see release.

CONCLUSION
NEXT-GEN IS HERE
The PS4 hints at plenty of other possibilities. Local network play via the PS Vita has an enormous amount of potential. The PlayStation App and even the Playstation Camera may provide opportunities for developers to broaden the appeal of the PlayStation 4 beyond the hardcore audience it currently seems so intent on courting. Unlike the PlayStation 3, Sony's latest effort was built to evolve.

But the PlayStation 4's focus on gaming — and only gaming — is undermined by a distinct lack of compelling software. That failing is sure to improve — better games and more of them will appear on the PlayStation 4 — but right now, this is a game console without a game to recommend it. Early adopters of the PS4 this fall are buying potential energy. We're just waiting for a place to spend it.
THE GOOD The PlayStation 4 serves up dazzling graphics, runs on a simplified and logical interface and boasts a fantastic controller. It has the upper hand in indie games and can stream a constantly growing list of legacy titles via PlayStation Now. The PS4 makes it super-easy to capture and broadcast gameplay online and generally delivers a zippier performance than its direct competition. It also doubles as a Blu-ray player and solid media-streaming box.

THE BAD The Xbox One has a slight edge in non-gaming entertainment features such as streaming content and media portal apps.

THE BOTTOM LINE The PlayStation 4's beautiful graphics, smart interface, blazing performance, near-perfect controller and better indie offerings give it an edge over the Xbox One -- though that edge is ever-shrinking.

8.6
OVERALL
DESIGN 9.0
ECOSYSTEM 8.0
FEATURES 8.0
PERFORMANCE 8.0
VALUE 9.0
REVIEW SECTIONS
Review
Prices
Specifications
User Reviews
facebook
0
twitter
more
CNETGamingConsolesPlayStation 4
As the PlayStation 4 quickly approaches its third birthday, let's reassess the current state of Sony's flagship game machine.

When the competing consoles were first released, we gave the edge to the PS4 over the Xbox One. And at this point in time, the PS4 is still looking good. It continues to improve thanks to regular system firmware updates and a consistent stream of console-exclusive independent games. Exclusive AAA-titles are less frequent, but the PS4 has some promising titles coming down the pike, including The Last Guardian and Horizon Zero Dawn, both scheduled to arrive in 2016. But if you're concentrating more on the exclusives 2015 has to offer, the Xbox One wins that immediate holiday battle.

The majority of games are available on both platforms and PC. We call these multiplatform games. In our testing, we've found that a handful of titles perform better on a PlayStation 4. The most recent example of this is Call of Duty: Black Ops III.

To be clear: The PS4 and the Xbox One are very closely matched. Both offer a growing library of third-party games -- mainstays like the Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed series, as well as newer titles like Fallout 4 and Rainbow Six Siege. And both double as full-service entertainment systems, with built-in Blu-ray players and streaming services like Netflix, YouTube and Hulu Plus.

At this stage in the game we're still partial to the PlayStation 4. Our reasoning is below -- along with a few caveats about areas where the PS4 can improve.

Editors' note, November 16, 2015: This review has been updated to reflect the PS4's ongoing maturation, including new firmware features and software offered on the platform. We've raised the overall rating of the PS4 from an 8 to an 8.3 and have added one point each in the design, ecosystem and value subcategories. This review covers firmware version 3.11.

PS4, UNBOXED (PICTURES) SEE FULL GALLERY

PS4, PlayStation 4
Sony_PS4_35618167_09.jpg
35618167-3.jpg
35618167-headphones.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_14.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_11.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_12.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_13.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_02.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_06.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_03.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_07.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_05.jpg
35618167-7.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_04.jpg
Sony_PS4_35618167_08.jpg
1 - 5 of 16NEXTPREV

PS4 consoles and bundles
No matter how you purchase a PlayStation 4, it'll ship with an HDMI cable, a DualShock 4 wireless controller, a USB charging cable and an earbud headset for game chat. The standard console goes for $350 though it seems like at almost any given time a PS4 bundle is being offered by Sony or another retailer. After a recent $50 price cut, the PS4 and Xbox One are nearly identically priced.

PS4 bundles usually provide the best overall value if you're looking to get started from scratch. Some franchise titles get exclusive PS4 consoles included in their bundles, most recently seen with the Star Wars: Battlefront PS4 SKU.

View Full Gallery
Sarah Tew/CNET
Major PS4 exclusive games (available now or soon):
- Bloodborne
- Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
- Infamous: Second Son
- LittleBigPlanet 3
- Until Dawn

Major PS4 exclusive games due by 2016 and beyond:
- Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
- The Last Guardian
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- No Man's Sky (console exclusive)
- Dreams
- Street Fighter V (console exclusive)
- Ratchet and Clank reboot

View Full Gallery
Sarah Tew/CNET
PS4 ecosystem
The PlayStation ecosystem includes various products with some shared functionality. For example, the PS Vita can stream PS4 games via "remote play" mode. The PlayStation TV (PSTV) can also stream PS4 games as well as play Vita games and legacy PlayStation titles. Select phones from Sony's Xperia line can also stream gameplay from the PlayStation 4.

Sony also offers PlayStation Vue, a cable TV alternative starting at $50 a month available on the PS3 and PS4. PlayStation Now, the company's legacy game-streaming service, is available on every PlayStation platform and lets subscribers play games from the Sony vault. If you purchase in three-month increments, it works out to around $15 a month.

Firmware updates
Sony regularly updates the PS4's firmware -- as of this writing it's currently at version 3.11. Recent updates to the console have brought along features like:

- YouTube live game broadcasting

- Party chat

- Game communities and events sections

- Suspend/resume: The console can be put into "rest mode" and then woken up to resume gameplay without needing to relaunch a game.

- Share Play: Now PS4 owners can "host" a play session and "hand off" the game controller for up to 60 minutes to one of their friends on the PlayStation Network. At the end of the session players can simply restart. Share Play can also work with co-op games that let two players engage at the same time. Share Play works with any PS4 game and only the host player needs a copy of the game and a PlayStation Plus membership.

- Restore: You can now back up data stored on a PS4 and restore it.

View Full Gallery
Sarah Tew/CNET
The 2.00 firmware had some notable bugs, but Sony has addressed them with a recent 2.01 update. Firmware version 2.02 (also a forced update) brought along more universal stability to the system.
PS4 Pro vs PS4: How are they different and should you upgrade?

Andy Vandervell
by Andy Vandervell
01 March 2017

0sharesRead Comments
PS4 Pro vs PS4
PS4 Pro vs PS4: Which PS4 should you buy and is it worth upgrading to the PS4 Pro? Here’s everything you need to know.

Sony launched two new PS4 versions in late 2016. One is the PS4 Pro – a bigger, more powerful version of the original console that's been upgraded to play games on 4K High Dynamic Range TVs.

The other, unofficially known as the PS4 Slim, is a smaller version and replaces the old model. Sony calls this the ‘PS4’ as it’s phased out the launch console.

That’s the basics, but in our PS4 Pro vs PS4 guide I’ll explain the details in simple terms – and complicated ones for those who like numbers – and answer common questions, including:

How powerful is the PS4 Pro?
How do the graphics compare?
What is HDR and should I care?
Do you need a 4K HDR TV?
Is the PS4 Pro better for PlayStation VR?
And if you just want the short version of this article, scroll to the end for the definitive verdict on the PS4 Pro vs PS4 debate.

Update 01/03/2017: We've added Horizon Zero Dawn to the list of best games as it's the first to truly use the PS4 Pro to its fullest, and it looks outstanding.

HOW MUCH MORE POWERFUL IS THE PS4 PRO?

The graphics processor (GPU) in the PS4 Pro – that’s the bit that generates the 3D graphics in games – is just over twice as powerful as that in the PS4. Sony’s also upgraded the processor, which handles things like physics and artificial intelligence in games.

Sony claims the new PS4 Pro can run at 4.2 teraflops, compared to the 1.84 teraflops of the original PS4 – teraflops is a simple measure of computer performance, a bit like horsepower in cars. We’ll get onto how that power is used a little later.

In addition, while the PS4 Pro has the same amount of memory as the original PS4 – 8GB GDDR5 – it runs at a higher speed to improve performance. The PS4 Pro also has an extra 1GB of memory for non-gaming applications like Netflix. This means they won’t waste space games can use and means you can switch between apps faster.

Here are the PS4 Pro specs compared to the original and PS4 'Slim' versions:

PS4 (2013) PS4 (2016) PS4 Pro
CPU 1.6GHz 8-core AMD Jaguar 1.6GHz 8-core AMD Jaguar 2.1GHz 8-core AMD Jaguar
GPU 1.84 TFLOP AMD Radeon 1.84 TFLOP AMD Radeon 4.2 TFLOP AMD Radeon
Memory 8GB GDDR5 8GB GDDR5 8GB GDDR5 & 1GB
HDR

Yes Yes Yes
4K

No No Yes
Storage 500GB 500GB & 1TB 1TB
USB 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.1 3x USB 3.1
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (2.4GHz only) 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5.0GHz) 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5.0GHz)
Bluetooth Bluetooth 2.1 Bluetooth 4.0 Bluetooh 4.0

PS4 PRO VS PS4 GRAPHICS COMPARISON: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

It depends on the game. Developers can use the extra power for anything they want within reason. Most will increase the resolution – the number of pixels that make the picture – of their games, so they appear sharper on 4K TVs, but that’s not all.

Developers can also use the more powerful PS4 Pro GPU to improve the quality of textures and lighting effects, leading to more realistic graphics and smoother performance with fewer slowdowns. The only demand Sony makes is games must play as well on the PS4 Pro as they do on the PS4, and vice versa.

But beware watching YouTube videos that compare the two. Unless you’re viewing videos in 4K on a 4K TV, it’s really hard to tell the difference. In this case, still images are often the best comparison. Look closely at the examples below:

PS4 ProHere’s a shot of a demo running on the PS4.

PS4 Pro 3And now the same demo running on the PS4 Pro.

The most obvious difference is the lighting. The ‘god rays’ give the scene a new dynamism, lighting up the rocks and enhancing the contrast in the scene.

Another benefit is the foliage. There’s copious extra greenery, such as extra plants, grass and vines. The PS4 version has simpler, flatter textures that add little.

The PS4 Pro isn’t just about making things look sharper. More power allows developers to render more items in the game, which helps create worlds that are packed with more interesting details to enjoy.

As for upcoming games, if you’re lucky enough to own a 4K HDR TV, this 4K demo of Mass Effect: Andromeda is a good taste of what’s to come.

BUT I HEARD THE PS4 PRO DOESN’T ACTUALLY RUN GAMES AT NATIVE 4K...

Well, this is technically true. Some games will run at a native 4K Ultra HD resolution – that’s 3,840 by 2,160 lines pixels by the way – but the most demanding games won’t.

Why? Because it’s very hard to render games smoothly at such a high resolution, even with the additional power of the PS4 Pro. A gaming PC that can run games at 4K would cost several times more than the PS4 Pro, after all.

Instead, many games will run at a resolution close to 4K – often but not always 3,200 by 1,800 lines – and then be upscaled to 4K. Sony has employed a clever technique that improves this process, so much so that’s it’s very hard to tell the difference between its upscaled visuals and native 4K ones. There is a difference, but it’s hard to spot.

And this practice is nothing new. Many games already run below 1080p on existing consoles and are upscaled to it. And while the Xbox One S can upscale 1080p games up to 4K, there’s no serious comparison between the two consoles.

The closer to 4K you get the better the upscaling will appear, so the Xbox One S can’t match a PS4 Pro running the same game.

Related: Xbox One S vs PS4 Pro

WHAT IS HDR AND WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

HDR, which is short for High Dynamic Range, is about making films, TV and games appear brighter, more colourful and closer to real life.

For years TVs have been hamstrung by decades old standards designed for CRT TVs and cinema screens. HDR defines a new standard that allows TVs to exploit their full potential.

What this means in practice is higher peak brightness and brighter, more vibrant colours throughout, leading to a more realistic and immersive picture.

Again, it’s hard to appreciate this unless you already have an HDR TV, but this example from The Last of Us: Remastered gives you a good idea of the difference.

PS4 Pro 2This is a shot of the game running on a normal PS4.

PS4 Pro 1And this is same game running on the PS4 Pro. HDR support transforms the mushy white sky into a deeply detailed and textured sky.

On the opposite extreme, imagine a shot of the sun in a game. On a non-HDR TV, it would look unremarkable. On a good HDR TV, it would feel more like staring at a bright light – not as bright as staring at the real sun, obviously, but bright enough to dazzle you.

Related: HDR TV Explained

DO YOU NEED A 4K HDR TV TO USE THE PS4 PRO?

No, but we do recommend you have one. Some games use a method called Supersampling to improve the graphics for players on 1080p TVs, but not all games will. Right now, I don’t I think it’s worth upgrading from your existing PS4 if you don’t own a 4K TV.

PS4 update 4.50 will also introduce a new feature known as "Boost Mode" that can dramatically increase performance of some games. It won't enhance then to 4K, but it will provide you with a noticeable improvement in frame rate of up to 40 percent. Finally, those without a 4K TV have reason to invest in PS4 Pro.

IS THE PS4 PRO BETTER FOR PLAYSTATION VR?

Not conclusively. Games won’t be any smoother in VR on the PS4 Pro compared to the PS4. And while a few add visual upgrades, there aren’t enough examples to justify the extra expense. The difference could become more significant in future, however.

It’s worth noting the PlayStation VR has an compatibility issue with the PS4 Pro, too. The PlayStation VR uses a version of HDMI incompatible with 4K and HDR, so PS4 Pro users have to unplug the VR system to play games on their TV as intended. It’s an odd oversight from Sony that makes using the two together kind of annoying.

HOW MUCH LARGER IS THE PS4 PRO COMPARED TO THE PS4?

Quite a bit, which is worth considering if space is an issue, though the PS4 Pro’s still smaller than the notoriously huge original Xbox One.

PS4 Pro vs PS4 Size Comparison (WxDxH):

New PS4 Slim: 26.5 x 28.8 x 3.9cm
Original PS4: 27.5 x 30.5 x 5.3cm
PS4 Pro: 29.5 x 32.7 x 5.5cm
So the PS4 Pro is a good three centimetres wider, four centimetres deeper and close to two centimetres taller. That doesn't sound like much written down, but the PS4 Pro is actually 78% larger in volume than the PS4 ‘Slim’ model – it’s 20% larger than the launch console.

Sony PS4 Pro 11

WILL MY PS4 GAMES RUN ON THE PS4 PRO?

Yes. There’s no such thing as a ‘PS4 Pro Exclusive’ game. Games must be enhanced for PS4 Pro, but Sony won’t allow any game to only run on PS4 Pro.

WHAT ARE THE BEST GAMES FOR PS4 PRO?

All PS4 games must now support a PS4 Pro mode with improved graphics and performance, but some games do this better than others.

Horizon Zero Dawn: This is the first PS4 exclusive designed specifically with the PS4 Pro in mind. It looks stunning, so it's must-have for any PS4 Pro owner.

Resident Evil 7: An excellent game that really benefits from HDR, adding to the already creepy feeling throughout the game.

Rise of the Tomb Raider: One of the best examples of PS4 Pro upgrades. While it doesn’t support HDR, visual improvements in both ‘4K’ and 1080p make this is a visual treat.

The Last Guardian: Supports both 4K and 1080p high performance modes on PS4 Pro and the HDR. HDR works on the existing PS4 as well, however.

The Last of Us Remastered: Probably the best game for HDR in the PS4 Pro line-up, it supports native 4K at 60fps and looks great.

Hitman: No HDR support, but both performance and textures are improved on PS4 Pro.

Battlefield 1: One of the best PS4 Pro upgrades around. There’s more terrain detail and you’ll even get a performance advantage in busy multiplayer games.

Watch Dogs 2: Looks great in the 4K and 1080p supersampled versions thanks to improved anti-aliasing.

Related: Best PS4 Games

DOES THE PS4 PRO PLAY 4K BLU-RAY DISCS?

Sadly, no. While the Xbox One S supports Ultra HD Blu-ray, the PS4 Pro doesn’t and won’t in future. It does support 4K HDR content from the likes of Netflix, however.

If you do want to play Ultra HD Blu-rays, read our guide to the best Blu-ray players, or buy an Xbox One S.

Video: PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S

PS4 PRO VS PS4: CONCLUSION

Don’t upgrade if you own a PS4 and have a 1080p TV. Until you decide to upgrade to a 4K TV, I see no sense in spending more to buy a PS4 Pro. The cost outweighs the benefits. It’s worth upgrading if you’re buying a new 4K TV, but if you can’t afford both then buy the TV first. Our best 4K TV guide is a good place to start.

Seriously consider upgrading if you own already a 4K TV. I can’t outright recommend you buy a PS4 Pro, but there are plenty of compelling reasons to do so. Games look great on a 4K TV on a PS4 Pro and upcoming releases like Mass Effect: Andromeda and Horizon: Zero Dawn are showing great promise. Only reconsider if you want but don’t already own an Ultra HD Blu-ray player, or if you own a budget 4K TV that lacks HDR support. Head to best Blu-ray players for our top picks.

Buy a PS4 Pro if you don’t own a PS4 already. Provided you can afford it, of course. Even if you don’t own a 4K TV, a PS4 Pro will give you faster and better looking games and is future proof should you upgrade your TV in future. And if you can’t afford a PS4 Pro, the existing PS4 will play all the same games and remains a great console. If you're ready to buy, head on over to the best PS4 deals page.
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim) review

0sharesRead Comments
By Brett Phipps
Updated: 22 November 2016

Awards
Recommended by TR
1 OF 77
PS4 (Slim) review
PS4 Slim
PS4 Slim
PS4 Slim
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
Sony PlayStation 4 (Slim)
PS4 What's New
PS4 Slim
ps4 slim power consumption
PS4 Slim
PS4 Slim
PS4 Slim
PS4 Slim
SUMMARY
OUR SCORE:

PROS

Incredibly quiet
Much more energy efficient
Looks lovely
Easier to expand HDD space
CONS

Controller analogue sticks still not durable enough
The PS4 Pro makes this a tough sell to dedicated fans
KEY FEATURES

HDR Gaming via software patch
Redesigned controller
40% slimmer than original PS4
Available in 500GB and 1TB models
Manufacturer: Sony
Review Price: £259.00
PS4 (SLIM) – WHAT IS IT?

The PS4 Slim (given the technical title of CUH-2000) represents the new standard PlayStation 4 console. It’s a hardware revamp that incorporates a makeover of both console and controller.

Physically, it’s a big change, but functionally this PS4 is the exact same as the console that you either already own or was thinking about buying before Sony gave it a makeover. That’s not a terrible thing, though: while there’s no 4K Blu-ray player or bump in game performance to shout about (unlike with the Xbox One S), it’s quieter, leaner and less power hungry than its older brothers, making it a decent upgrade.

However, consumers now also have the choice of buying the PS4 Pro, which boasts a significant boost to performance, 4K gaming and even frame rate improvements for existing games, making the Slim the lesser (but cheaper) console.

PS4 – PRICE AND RELEASE DATE

The new PS4’s pricing is similar to that of the older model.

Related: PS4 Pro vs PS4 – What's the difference?

The console is currently sold with two different storage capacities: 500GB and 1TB. The 500GB unit retails with an RRP of £259, but with retailers offering competitively priced bundles, you could add more value to the mix for not much more, and the same is true of the 1TB model, which retails at £309.99.

PS4 (Slim) Video Review

The 500GB and 1TB models are available in stores now.

PS4 – DESIGN AND CONTROLLER

When leaked pictures of the PS4 ‘Slim’ began surfacing online, I didn’t think it looked particularly good. However, getting to see the new model in person, I can confirm my initial reservations proved unfounded: it’s a really cool-looking console.

Sony’s removed the beam of light running atop the console, leaving the slim with a simple matte black top and small PS4 logo. I always found the light bar on the console to be a massive eyesore and an outright annoyance when playing games with the lights off – which is why I’m happy Sony’s ditched it.

In its place you have a very simple, elegant (and also welcomingly dim) line of light on the power button.

Related: Nintendo Switch preview

PS4 Slim

The vertical power and eject buttons have also been removed and replaced with small, “clicky” buttons on the lower half of the console. It’s a simpler, more elegant look that makes mis-presses, which were a regular occurrence on the first PS4, a thing of the past.

The angled design is maintained from the older models, though in this smaller and thinner form factor it’s not nearly as prominent. The snazziest change actually comes on the bottom of the unit, with the face button symbols used for its feet. It’s a very cool bit of design.

On the front of the hardware the two USB 3.0 ports have been spaced out, with one sitting on the far right and the other just next to the disc tray. It’s annoying that there’s still no rear-facing USB port, as having devices such as an external storage drive or PSVR headset plugged in permanently will make the new, slimmer PS4 look untidy.

The right side of the console once again features the iconic square, circle, triangle and cross, but the circle is hollow to allow for the vertical stand needed if you want to place the console upright.

Related: PS4 Pro vs Xbox Scorpio

PS4 Slim

Around both sides of the unit there’s far less ventilation than on the launch PS4, which will hopefully mean far less dust entering the machine, thus preventing it becoming much noisier after a few months.

On the back of the unit we have all the same ports – HDMI, power, aux for the PlayStation Camera and Ethernet – but the optical output has been scrapped. This is presumably because Sony reckons most mid-range-and-above TVs have optical ports built in, but anybody who’s using the output on their current PS4 will have to rethink their home cinema setup.

There’s also a new slot on the back-right of the console that allows much easier access to the hard drive, for those wishing to upgrade. A simple pinch on the cornered slot will reveal a small piece of tape – which looks like film leaking from a camera – and by unscrewing a single screw, you can effortlessly slide out the pre-installed SATA hard disk and replace it with another. For those picking up the 500GB model – and anyone who already has a 500GB PS4 will know how quickly space runs out – being able to easily upgrade is a big plus.

The new controller has had some minor visual tweaks, but functionally it remains very much the same beast. The analogue sticks, face buttons, Options/Share buttons and D-pad have been given a new grey tone to contrast with the black of the controller. The grey used is reminiscent of the PlayStation 20th Anniversary Edition controllers, though a couple of shades darker.

The touchpad is also now translucent at the top to allow a slither of light to pass through from the lightbar on the back of the controller. The tweak makes it easier for players to see which colour they are in multiplayer matches. Considering the initial disdain for the light bar in the first place, it feels like a strange thing to include, and not something many players were screaming out for. It may, however, find greater use in the weeks and months to come, via the impending launch of PSVR.

Related: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Review

PS4 Slim

A big disappointment is something that remains unchanged: the analogue sticks. Vulnerable to rapid wear and tear, it would’ve been nice if Sony produced better materials that would last longer, like on the Xbox One’s excellent controller. I’ve already shelled out for new thumb pads for my original controller, and I’ll have to do the same with the new one.

PS4 – SPECIFICATIONS AND PERFORMANCE

The slim PS4 has the exact same specifications and offers the same performance as the original PS4. It is, however, noticeably quieter.

My launch PS4 screams like a vacuum cleaner working overtime these days, despite several (unsuccessful) attempts to clean and remove dust. The constant whine of the machine is present whether I’m playing a game from a disc or the hard drive, or when I’m simply streaming Netflix. However, this new PS4 is absolutely whisper-quiet.

Related: Best PS4 Games 2016

PS4 Slim

Playing games on mute I could barely hear the console. The only time noise was noticeable was when a disc was spinning. In these instances the console was admittedly still pretty loud, but it remained quieter than my other unit.

Thanks to a patch, the PS4 Slim will also be getting HDR gaming support. While it may lack a 4K Blu-ray drive, you’ll still be able to enjoy some HDR visuals if you own a 4K TV with that functionality.

PS4 – POWER CONSUMPTION

Not only is the console smaller and better looking, but it’s also less power hungry. I put the PS4 Slim to the test against my launch unit, comparing it by using three games: The Witcher 3 (on disc), PES 2017 (on disc) and Paragon (digital). You can see below the difference in peak power usage across all three titles. All of the games were monitored across approximately an hour of gameplay, with the highest wattage level recorded.

Peak power consumption: PS4 Slim CUH-2000/Original PS4 CUH-1000

PES 2017 – 81W/147.6W

The Witcher 3 – 88.9W/146.2W

Paragon – 85W/144.7W

ps4 slim power consumption

As you can see, the energy efficiency of the new hardware compared to my launch console is pretty drastic. In fact, the launch PS4 uses as much energy in the main menu of the system as the Slim does playing games, averaging in the mid-80s.

If you included the mid-life refresh, the CUH-1200, that machine’s power consumption would be somewhere in the middle of the two.

SHOULD I BUY THE PS4 (SLIM)?

The new design won’t be for everyone, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction and grew on me during my time with it. It’s smaller, whisper-quiet and sips electricity, making it the best PS4 currently on the market.

The one giant elephant in the room is the forthcoming PS4 Pro. With the launch of a new high-end machine capable of delivering 4K and HDR gaming, plus upscaled resolution and improved framerates for 1080p, it’s tough not to ask: is it worth grabbing a Slim now?

Related: PS4 Pro vs Xbox Scorpio

PS4 Slim

If you already have a PS4, probably not, as the Pro would make more sense as your next big investment. But for those without a 4K/HDR TV or a PS4, and who aren’t interested in the very ‘cutting edge’ of console performance, this is the console to buy.

If you’re debating whether to buy the Slim or the Xbox One S, the question really comes down to your intended use. If your main interest is 4K movies on your snazzy new TV, then the S is the way to go, but with the Slim still outshining Xbox as a games console, then Sony is the way to go for gamers.