PlayStation 5 review: Not just a more-powerful PS4

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  The PS5 will stand vertically on its own without the stand, but it can easily be bumped over.

Back in 2016, when the mid-generation hardware upgrades of the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro were still just mere announcements, we publicly wondered if we had seen the last truly distinct break between console generations. Instead of releasing completely new console platforms-with exclusive games and features that just don't work on the previous model-Microsoft and Sony at the time both seemed to be leaning towards a smartphone-style model, with regular releases of more powerful consoles that share a common software platform with what came before.

This seems to be the direction Microsoft is heading with the Xbox Series X and S, two console options that serve as baseline hardware power upgrades in a consistent Xbox ecosystem. But Sony is going for more of a hard break with the PS5. In addition to the usual horsepower boost (and standardization of quick-loading NVMe storage), Sony has put extra effort into a new controller and system-level features that try to make the new console more distinct from PlayStations past.

After a few weeks with the console, there's a lot to like about the PS5's new vision for the PlayStation line. Whether those improvements are worth $500 at the moment, though, is a harder question to answer.

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