Since its official reveal over the summer, I was curious how Sony’s next-gen console, the PlayStation 5, would look and feel.
While the various previews gave a sense of the direction Sony is taking in terms of design—the system’s sleek, unique design will likely make it a trendy piece of tech—I was more concerned about the actual size.
The PS5 looked massive compared to other gaming consoles, and figuring out where and how to fit it in a New York City apartment was something I was constantly thinking about.
A few weeks before the official launch, Sony gave a few of us at Newsweek the next-gen console to try ourselves. And while we can’t talk about the UI or the gaming experience just yet, we are able to give our first impressions on the look and feel of the console. Overall, we’re impressed.
My initial thought when unboxing the PS5 was not just how wide or tall it was, but that it was heavier than I expected. I don’t think I would ever feel comfortable placing it on anything that isn’t supported.
The hard plastic casings—the white parts—that cover the console are sturdy, but they’re also malleable enough to cushion the piece of tech if you happen to bang it on the sides of your television stand or entertainment system.
But the big question remained: Should I set it up vertically or horizontally?
I honestly would have preferred to put it vertical as the top of my stand has plenty of space for the overhead, but with the sides of my television currently being occupied by the Nintendo Switch and a router, there wasn’t enough space for me to feel comfortable.
So I had to go with horizontal. My stand has three 23-inch sectionals with my PS4 currently in the center slot. The PS4 fits in that cupboard easily with plenty of room to spare, but with the PS5’s frame, it’s a tighter fit. Not to say that there isn’t room, just not as much.
Phillip Martinez/Newsgeek
The plastic circular stand that comes with the PS5—which is necessary if you want to place it horizontally—wraps around the back of the console with two small hooks and slides underneath it. The stand doesn’t feel as sturdy as I would like, but my fear of dropping expensive things is constant, so it could just be me. The stand does keep the PS5 from sliding, and it isn’t wobbly, but I have noticed that the console moves a bit off the stand when I readjust the wires in the back. Not ideal, but I don’t have a fear of it sliding off on its own from heavy-footed kids or dropping something that would shake the floorboards.
I asked a colleague to give me their initial thoughts on the PS5’s design and setup, and here’s what Newsweek‘s Rocco Marrongelli had to say:
“The PS5 looks like a work of art. The design is very inviting with its unique curves and design. Hopefully, you have an entertainment center that can support its size and weight. When displayed horizontally, the design prevents you from really stacking your cable box or any other peripheral you may have. The PS5 really does need to stand on its own.”
The PS5 is set to release worldwide on November 12.
