PS4 vs. PS5 in 2023: What You Need to Know

Since its release in 2020, the Sony PlayStation 5 has sold 40 million consoles. Still, the PlayStation 4 era seems far from over, with big titles launching in 2023 and expected to launch in 2024. 

Sony has released many iterations of the PS4 since 2013, even launching a Pro version in 2016. However, as the PS5 console shortage comes to a close, does the PS4 stand a chance in 2023? Let’s compare them.

Before diving into our in-depth review, let’s compare the two consoles at a glance:

Criteria	PlayStation 4 (PS4)	PlayStation 5 (PS5)
Price	Launched at $399 (base) or $399 (Pro model)Now $300 brand-new	Launched at $499 (standard) or $399 (digital)
Graphics and Performance	AMD Radeon graphics; 1080p resolution	AMD RDNA 2 GPU; 4K resolution with ray tracing
Storage	500GB or 1TB HDD; upgradeable	825GB ultra-fast SSD; expandable with NVMe SSDs
Games	Extensive library of games, including exclusives	Exclusive titles and backward compatibility
Extra Features	Share Play, Remote Play, PlayStation Now, multimedia apps	DualSense controller features, 3D audio, new UI
Specs	CPU: Custom 8-core AMD x86-64 Jaguar CPU GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS AMD Radeon GPU RAM: 8GB GDDR5	CPU: Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU GPU: 10.28 TFLOPS AMD RDNA 2 GPU RAM: 16GB GDDR6

Price

A standard PlayStation 5 will set you back roughly $500, whereas its digital version without a disc drive costs $400. By comparison, a brand-new PS4 will cost $300, while refurbished models cost around $220.

The PS4 Pro with 4K capabilities cost $400 when it was in production, but it’s no longer sold online. You might find listings for about $200.

Winner: PS4, especially if you’re on a budget

Graphics and Performance

Naturally, the PlayStation 5 came with an impressive graphics upgrade, supporting 4K resolution, ray-traced lighting, and a video output of 120 frames per second (FPS). 

Graphics-wise, the PS4 pales in comparison, with resolutions of only up to 1080p and a maximum FPS of 60. While the PS4 Pro can run games in 4K, it can’t support frame rates of over 30.

Another stark difference between the two consoles is the teraflops, which dictate how well they process details and fast movements. The PS5 can process up to 10.3 teraflops, while the PS4 can only process 1.84. 

Winner: PS5, though PS4 graphics are still top-tier

Storage

If you thought graphics and performance were the most significant differences between the PS4 and PS5, you thought wrong. The PS5’s internal storage is unlike any other console, eliminating load times almost completely. 

The PS5 has an internal solid state drive with 825GB, while the PS4 has 500GB. The PS4 Pro can support up to 1TB, albeit with impeccably slow load times that occasionally exceed 60 seconds between cutscenes. 

Naturally, PS5 games take up more space than their PS4 counterparts, but you can upgrade storage for both. Unfortunately, you can’t use external drives to play PS5 games, but you can do this with PS4 games.

Winner: PS5, unless you game using an external drive

Games

While the PS5 supports backward compatibility, there are only a few dozen exclusives—it just so happens that whatever you play looks far more attractive on a PS5. However, not all PS4 games have an upgrade patch and may look the same on a PS4.

Winner: PS4, if you’re not that interested in the PS5’s exclusive titles 

Extra Features

The PS5 has an obvious leg up on extra features, boasting DualSense controller features, 3D audio, and a new UI. However, it does offer nearly identical home entertainment features, such as streaming Netflix, Spotify, and HBO Max. 

Of course, unlike the PS4, the PS5 provides a more exciting and well-rounded home entertainment experience, as you can stream in 4K. 

Winner: PS5 for the full theatrical experience

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, the PS5 provides a substantial upgrade from the PS4 that may be worth the additional $200 (or $100 if you purchase the console without a disc drive). In addition, the PS4 Pro is obsolete and not of much consideration for serious gamers. 

If you plan to upgrade from a PS4 in 2023, the leap in performance is worth the money. However, the PS4 remains a perfectly reasonable option for casual gamers who want a good bang for their buck.