Sony's PlayStation 5 had seven years of technological advancement on the PlayStation 4. That meant obvious performance upgrades, like its much-hyped SSD's faster load times, but also several subtler, PS5 quality-of-life improvements over PS4 that make using the system a more enjoyable experience.
Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X boast improved in-game load times and the capability to produce other gameplay enhancements, like 4K resolution and 60fps. The PS5's DualSense controller comes packed with a few other neat features, like advanced haptic controller rumble and tension-adjustable "adaptive triggers."
These elements of the PS5 are the bulk of what makes it feel "next-gen," but the system also has minor features and changes from the PS4 era that stand out during everyday use. Here are some of the best quality-of-life improvements the PS5 has to offer.
PS5 vs. PS4: Small Improvements That Make PlayStation 5 Better
Picture-In-Picture Gameplay Sharing
PlayStation 5's screen-sharing capability is possibly its coolest new feature. Players on different consoles can simultaneously play a game and watch each other's gameplay with the PS5's picture-in-picture Share Screen option. This makes gaming sessions where friends play separate games more social, and it can turn any game into a split-screen experience.
DualSense Controller Mic & Mute Button
The PS5's DualSense controller microphone itself is only just serviceable; it works, but in an effort to cut out background noise, it has a tendency to cut off the ends of s' sentences if they aren't being careful to not trail off. But what it lacks in finesse, it makes up for in utility. It's convenient to always have a mic ready in case a friend starts a voice chat unexpectedly, and the controller's onboard speaker even allows it to function like a speakerphone for conversations between more than two people.
The DualSense's mute button is even more useful. On PlayStation 4, players using a headset without a mute button (a simple, $20 pair of headphones with a mic, for example) would have to fumble with in-game options or the PS4's Party menu to mute themselves. On PlayStation 5, they can simply hit the controller's mute button, preventing the mics on their controllers and headsets from picking up audio.
Faster UI Menu Load Times
The PlayStation 5's SSD-enabled faster load times are great in-game, but they also make browsing the console's UI much smoother than on PS4. Hopping from submenu to submenu results in fewer stutters, and the PlayStation Store loads faster. The short waits on PS4 could add up to a lot of lost time, so navigating the PS5's menus is far less frustrating.
Quieter Noise Levels
The PS4 and PS4 Pro are notorious for the loud noises their cooling fans can produce during gameplay, likened by many to the sound of an airplane taking off. While obviously an exaggeration, the comparison says a lot about how obnoxious and disruptive the consoles can be. The PS5 largely fixes this problem. Although the system isn't completely silent all the time, and some s have reported notable PlayStation 5 humming and buzzing noises, it's generally much quieter than the PS4, allowing for more immersion, especially in the quiet moments of story-based titles like The Last of Us Part 2.
