Next-gen performance, unfortunately, doesn’t come for free. Not only is there a relatively hefty price tag on the PS5 – although it’s no more than we should expect to pay for such a powerful machine, and some are paying double its asking price – but it’s also got to accommodate lots of different components. With that in mind, we perhaps shouldn’t be surprised that the PS5 is a chunky machine, and that it’s not necessarily going to fit underneath your TV no matter how you orient it.
So, with that in mind, the million-dollar question is thus: what exactly are the PS5 dimensions? How big is the machine really, and will you be able to find a slot for it on your TV table? The answer is, as you might expect, complicated. It depends on your setup and how much space you’ve got underneath your display. If you’ve got a roomy TV table, then the relative size and weight of the PS5 dimensions shouldn’t bother you too much. However, if your space is limited, you might want to reconsider picking it up.
Alright, we’ve beaten around the bush long enough. Here are the exact PS5 dimensions for your consideration. Naturally, the dimensions are different; the PS5 Disc Edition dimensions will differ considerably to the PS5 Digital Edition dimensions, so we’ve collected both sets of measurements for you here.
PS5 Disc Edition dimensions
Width: 390mm
Height: 104mm
Depth: 260mm
Weight: 4.5kg
PS5 Digital Edition dimensions
Width: 390mm
Height: 92mm
Depth: 260mm
Weight: 3.9kg
As you can see, the PS5 Disc Edition and Digital Edition are virtually identical in terms of dimensions. The only major difference is in the height; one machine is 104mm, and the other is 92mm. So, why this discrepancy in PS5 dimensions between models? The answer is simple: one of them has a Blu-ray drive built in, while the other does not. This accounts for the discrepancy between the dimensions, and also the fact that the Disc Edition is slightly heavier than its Digital Edition counterpart.
So, why is the PS5 so big? For a start, the internal components are much larger than those of the PS4 or even the PS4 Pro. The main culprit is the cooling fan; since the PS5’s components run pretty hot during an intense gaming session, the machine also needs some seriously impressive cooling to keep everything running smoothly, and that’s why the fan inside needs to be much bigger. The PS5’s low noise level is also thanks to this fan, which keeps everything whirring along with minimal fuss.
If the PS5 dimensions weren’t quite as impressive as they are, then you might run into a problem similar to the notorious Xbox 360 Red Ring of Death. While Microsoft has never released information as to why this problem occurred, hardware engineers have suggested that components in the GPU were heating up to unacceptable levels, causing irreparable damage to the console’s components. Be thankful your PS5 is so chunky; if it wasn’t, it might overheat and you might not get to play your games anymore.
With that said, there’s still a good chance Sony will come up with a way to reduce the PS5’s rather intimidating size somewhere down the line. Many simply don’t have room for it on their TV tables, and while the PS5 is equally at home in a vertical or horizontal orientation, there will be many who can’t accommodate it either way. It’s definitely in Sony’s best interests to create a console with a lower overall size, but how they accomplish that remains to be seen.
In the meantime, you might have to turn to more creative ways to make space for your PS5 in your entertainment centre. Moving other consoles, removing ones you’re not currently using, or simply standing the PS5 somewhere else so that it doesn’t need to compete for space are all great ways to do this. Despite marketing materials suggesting otherwise, you can have your PS5 in either orientation and it’ll perform just fine, so don’t think it needs to be vertical for the optimal experience.
It’s also worth considering that your PS5 needs quite a lot of room around it in order to ensure optimal ventilation. It won’t do to cramp the machine into a small shelf or cubby-hole; doing so could mean that the hot air escaping from the console has nowhere to go, thus meaning that the machine heats up more than necessary. In this sense, the PS5 actually requires significantly more space than it initially seems to, so free up as much as you can.
If previous Sony timelines are anything to go by, we could be a couple of years away from a potential PS5 Slim (or whatever it ends up being called), so the size issue is here to stay. If it’s going to be a dealbreaker, then you might actually want to consider picking up a new TV table if possible; the PS5 is a very exciting machine, and we wouldn’t want you to miss out on the gaming experiences it offers. If, however, you simply can’t accommodate its admittedly massive size, then you have our condolences.
Have you managed to pick up a PS5 and find space for it in your entertainment setup? Have you bought an entirely new table or storage system to accommodate the somewhat unruly PS5 dimensions? Let us know!
