Both consoles are still worth buying, and the right one depends on your budget and the games you want. This guide compares them without hype so you can decide.
The short answer
- Choose the PS4 if you want the widest, cheapest library of games and you are happy with the previous generation.
- Choose the PS5 if you want games made for the new generation, faster loading and the newer controller, and your budget allows it.
Side by side
| PS4 | PS5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Game library | Very large, with many titles available used | Growing, and it also plays most PS4 games |
| Plays PS4 games | Yes | Yes, most of them |
| Plays PS5 games | No | Yes |
| Storage | Hard drive, size depends on the model | Built-in SSD, so games load faster |
| Controller | DualShock 4 | DualSense, with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback |
| Disc drive | Yes | Yes on the standard model, none on the Digital Edition |
| Cost of entry | Lower, especially used | Higher |
Games matter more than hardware
Look at the games you actually want to play. If they are PS4 titles, a PS4 does the job, and a PS5 plays most of them too. If you want games made only for the PS5, you need a PS5. Used PS4 discs are where the savings are: many good titles cost far less than a new release. Browse our PS4 games and see how prices depend on title and condition.
Disc or digital?
A PS5 Digital Edition cannot play discs, so you can only buy games from the online store, and you cannot buy used games, trade them in or lend them. If you like to buy used, sell games when you finish them or swap them with friends, get a console with a disc drive.
Storage and updates
New games take a lot of space and often need updates. Whichever console you choose, plan for enough storage and a decent internet connection for the first day of a new game.
Buying a used console
Used consoles save money, but check them carefully. Follow our used console checklist before you pay. When you buy from CyberGaming Lebanon, every item is inspected before it is listed, and delivery starts at $5 in local areas and $6 elsewhere.
Who should buy which?
- First console on a budget: a PS4 with a few used games goes a long way.
- Playing with friends: buy the console your friends play on, so you can join the same online games.
- Want the newest games: a PS5, ideally with a disc drive.
- Buying for a child: a PS4 is often enough, and used games keep the total cost down.
Already have a console?
Play the games you own, sell the ones you have finished, and put the credit toward the next one. Our trade-in calculator shows what your games are worth in store credit (50% of the shop price, before condition).