Sony launched its PlayStation brand back in 1994. From the original PlayStation to now the PlayStation 5, the brand has had an amazing journey, changing the way gaming used to be. In this article, we are going through each generation and model, taking a close look at their specs and what made each one unique:
PlayStation (1994)
We start with the first one – the OG PlayStation
Launched in 1994, PlayStation launched in Japan after the release of its rival Sega Saturn and the sales began with a stunning success with long lines in stores, selling 100,000 units on the first day, and then two million units after six months on the market.
Specifications:
| CPU | RISC MIPS R3000A (32-bit) – 33 MHz |
| GPU | R800A (32-bit) – 33 MHz |
| Memory | 2 MB EDO DRAM |
| Storage | Memory Cards of 1 MB |
| Optical Drive | CD-ROM |
| Video Output | S-Video, SCART (RGB) |
| Resolution | 256×224, 640×480 (SD) |
| Audio | 16-bit, 24 Channel ADPCM, Stereo |
| Release Date | December 3, 1994 |
| Status | Discontinued, March 23, 2006 |
| Release Price | $299 |
PS One (2000)
In the millennium year, PlayStation released a redesigned, slim version was released under the name PS One, having the same hardware specifications. It was the highest-selling console through the end of the year, outselling all other consoles. Sony also released a version with a 5″ LCD screen compatible with the console, calling it a Combo pack.
Specifications:
| CPU | RISC MIPS R3000A (32-bit) – 33 MHz |
| GPU | R800A (32-bit) – 33 MHz |
| Memory | 2 MB EDO DRAM |
| Memory Cards | 1 MB |
| Optical Drive | CD-ROM |
| Video Output | S-Video, SCART (RGB) |
| Resolution | 256×224, 640×480 (SD) |
| Audio | 16-bit, 24 Channel ADPCM, Stereo |
| Release Date | July 7, 2000 |
| Status | Discontinued March 26, 2006 |
| Release Price | $299 |
PlayStation 2 (2002)
Announced in 1999, the PlayStation 2 offered backward compatibility for its predecessor’s DualShock controller, as well as for its games. There were many games that were released exclusively for the console, such as Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, PlayStation 2, Kingdom Hearts, God of War, and Devil May Cry.
Specifications:
| CPU | MIPS R5900 (64-bit) – 294 MHz |
| GPU | Graphics Synthesizer – 147 MHz |
| Memory | 32 MB RDRAM |
| Hard Drive | 40 GB HDD (Released on July 19, 2001) |
| Memory Cards | 8 MB |
| Optical Drive | CD-ROM, DVD-ROM |
| Video Output | AV Multi Out |
| Resolution | 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD) |
| Network | PlayStation 2 Network Adapter |
| Audio | 5.1 Surround Sound, Stereo |
| Release Date | March 4, 2000 |
| Status | January 4, 2013 |
| Release Price | $299 |
| Units Sold | 155 million |
PS2 Slim (2004)
In late October 2004, a smaller, thinner, and quieter slim version of the PlayStation 2 was released with a built-in Ethernet port. Due to its thinner, this version did not support the internal hard disk drive.
Specifications:
| CPU | MIPS R5900 (64-bit) – 294 MHz |
| GPU | Graphics Synthesizer – 147 MHz |
| Memory | 32 MB RDRAM |
| Hard Drive | 40 GB HDD (Released on July 19, 2001) |
| Memory Cards | 8 MB |
| Optical Drive | CD-ROM, DVD-ROM |
| Video Output | AV Multi Out |
| Resolution | 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD) |
| Network | Ethernet |
| Audio | 5.1 Surround Sound, Stereo |
| Release Date | October 29, 2004 |
| Status | Discontinued January 4, 2013 |
| Release Price | $299 |
PlayStation 3 (2006)
PS 3 was the first console to use Blu-ray Disc as its primary storage medium, integrate social gaming services, and to be controllable from a handheld console, through its remote connectivity with PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita.
Specifications:
| CPU | Cell Broadband Engine 6-core – 3.2 GHz |
| GPU | Nvidia/SCEI RSX – 550 MHz |
| Memory | 256 MB XDR |
| Hard Drive | 2.5” Serial ATA 80 GB HDD |
| Optical Drive | Blue-ray, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM |
| Video Output | HDMI (Up to 1080p), AV Multi Out |
| Resolution | 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) |
| Network | Ethernet, Wireless |
| Audio | Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound |
| Release Date | November 11, 2006 |
| Status | Discontinued October 2016 |
| Release Price | $499 |
| Units Sold | 87.4 million |
PlayStation 3 Slim (2009)
The slim version of PlayStation 3 did not provide the hardware ability to run PlayStation 2 games. It was, however, lighter and thinner than the original console and featured a redesigned logo and marketing design. It had an upgradeable 120 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB or 320 GB hard drive.
Specifications:
| CPU | Cell Broadband Engine 8-core – 3.2 GHz |
| GPU | Nvidia/SCEI RSX – 550 MHz |
| Memory | 256 MB |
| Hard Drive | 120 GB HDD |
| Optical Drive | Blue-ray, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM |
| Video Output | HDMI (Up to 1080p), AV Multi Out |
| Resolution | 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) |
| Network | Ethernet, Wireless |
| Audio | Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound |
| Release Date | September 1, 2009 |
| Status | Discontinued October 2016 |
| Release Price | $299 |
PlayStation 3 Super Slim (2012)
The Super Slim version of PlayStation 3 was released in late 2012, refined and redesigned. One of the obvious changes was the sliding disc cover, instead of the traditional slot-loading drive.
Specifications:
| CPU | Cell Broadband Engine 8-core – 3.2 GHz |
| GPU | Nvidia/SCEI RSX – 550 MHz |
| Memory | 256 MB |
| Hard Drive | 250 GB HDD |
| Optical Drive | Blue-ray, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM |
| Video Output | HDMI (Up to 1080p), AV Multi Out |
| Resolution | 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) |
| Network | Ethernet, Wireless |
| Audio | Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound |
| Release Date | September 1, 2009 |
| Status | Discontinued October 2016 |
| Release Price | $299 |
PlayStation 4 (2013)
The PlayStation 4 was the eighth-generation console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was the most powerful APU developed to date, capable of reading Blu-ray Discs at speeds of up to three times that of its predecessor.
Specifications:
| CPU | AMD Jaguar 8-core – 1.6 GHz |
| GPU | AMD Radeon, 1.84 TFLOPS – 800 MHz |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR5 |
| Hard Drive | 500 GB HDD |
| Optical Drive | Blu-Ray, DVD |
| Video Output | HDMI |
| Resolution | 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) |
| Network | Ethernet, Wireless |
| Audio | 7,1 Surround Sound |
| Release Date | November 15, 2013 |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Release Price | $399 |
| Units Sold | 102.8 million |
PlayStation 4 Slim (2016)
The PlayStation 4 Slim is the smaller version of the original console, which features an upgraded GPU and a higher CPU clock rate to support enhanced performance and 4K resolution in supported games. The addition of 5GHz Wi-Fi was added, and a UHD Blu-ray drive.
Specifications:
| CPU | AMD Jaguar 8-core – 1.6 GHz |
| GPU | AMD Radeon, 1.84 TFLOPS – 800 MHz |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR5 |
| Hard Drive | 500 GB HDD, 1 TB HDD |
| Optical Drive | Blu-Ray, DVD |
| Video Output | HDMI |
| Resolution | 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) |
| Network | Ethernet, Wireless |
| Release Date | September 16, 2016 |
| Status | Released |
| Release Price | $299 |
PlayStation 4 Pro (2016)
The Pro design is a complete copy of the original PS4 console, there are a lot of similarities such as the flat parallelogram. Although, the Pro version is a little wider and a little taller than the original, and a bit heavier, too.
Specifications:
| CPU | AMD Jaguar 8-core – 2.1 GHz |
| GPU | AMD Radeon, 4.2 TFLOPS – 911 MHz |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR5, 1 GB GDDR3 |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB HDD |
| Optical Drive | Blu-Ray (UHD), DVD |
| Video Output | HDMI, 4K support |
| Resolution | 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) |
| Network | Ethernet, Wireless |
| Audio | 7.1 Surround Sound |
| Release Date | November 10, 2016 |
| Status | Released |
| Release Price | $399 |
PlayStation Classic (2018)
The PlayStation Classic was a deliberate model of the original PlayStation console for the system’s 24th anniversary. It was announced in September 2018.
Specifications:
| CPU | ARM Cortex-A35 8-core – 1.5 GHz |
| GPU | Power VR GE8300 |
| Memory | 1 GB DDR3 |
| Hard Drive | 16 GB eMMC Flash |
| Video Output | HDMI |
| Release Date | December 3, 2018 |
| Status | Released |
| Release Price | $99.99 |
PlayStation 5 (2020)
In August 2020, Jim Ryan, President & CEO of PlayStation, announced that the next console will be called PlayStation 5, sharing also some exciting details such as that it features a Haptic feedback that simulates touch, meaning the controller will output vibrations or movements to replicate a real-life touch experience. This aims to improve the controller’s feedback and the player’s immersion.
Specifications:
| CPU | AMD Zen 8-core – 3.5GHz |
| GPU | Custom RDNA 2 – 2.23GHz, 36 CUs, 10.28 TFLOPs |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6 – 256-bit |
| Hard Drive | Custom 825GB SSD |
| Video Output | HDMI 2.1 |
| Release Date | TBA 2020 |
| Status | TBA |
| Release Price | TBA |
If you are looking to play some old-school arcade games, consider taking your family, friends, or co-workers to one of the places that still have these available, whether it’s online or in person. Take some time in your busy schedule to reignite your inner child, play some games and have some fun.
