Compare Sony PlayStation 3 vs Sony PlayStation 4
In this technical comparison between the Sony PlayStation 3 and the Sony PlayStation 4, we analyze the key features to help you choose.
Choosing between these two Home Consoles models often comes down to your budget, with prices around $499 (20 GB) / $599 (60 GB) and $399 USD / £349 GBP.
| Specifications |
Sony PlayStation 3 |
Sony PlayStation 4 |
|---|---|---|
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|
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| Launch | ||
| Release Version | November 2006 | November 2013 |
| Performance | ||
| CPU | 3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine (7 Synergistic Processing Elements) | 8-core semi-custom AMD Jaguar @ 1.6 GHz |
| GPU | 550 MHz NVIDIA RSX 'Reality Synthesizer' | Custom AMD Radeon (GCN 1.1) @ 800 MHz |
| GPU Power | ~230 GFLOPS | 1.84 Teraflops |
| RAM | 256 MB XDR Main RAM / 256 MB GDDR3 VRAM | 8 GB GDDR5 (176 GB/s bandwidth) |
| Storage | 20 GB or 60 GB HDD (Later 40 GB, 80 GB, 160 GB) | 500 GB HDD (Standard) / 1 TB (Later models) — User replaceable |
| Expandable | User-replaceable 2.5" SATA HDD | External USB 3.0 Hard Drive support (Added via software update) |
| Disc Drive | 2x Blu-ray / 8x DVD / 24x CD / SACD (Super Audio CD) | Standard Blu-ray / DVD drive |
| Video Output | ||
| Image Resolution | 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p | 1080p (Full HD), 720p, 480p |
| Max FPS | 60 FPS | Up to 60 FPS |
| HDR | No | HDR10 support (Added to all models via Firmware 4.0 in 2016) |
| VRR | No | No |
| Ray Tracing | No | No |
| Audio | ||
| Formats | LPCM 7.1, Dolby Digital, DTS, SACD support | Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Linear PCM 7.1, Optical Out (S/PDIF) |
| Headphones | Bluetooth or USB (No jack on controller) | 3.5mm jack on controller |
| Connectivity | ||
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 1.3 | 1x HDMI 1.4 out |
| USB | 4x USB 2.0 (On 20GB/60GB/early 80GB models; later reduced to 2) | 2x USB 3.0 (Front) |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000 Gigabit | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 b/g (Note: 20GB model did not have Wi-Fi) | Single-band 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) | Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR) |
| Services | ||
| Online Multiplayer | PlayStation Network (Free) | PlayStation Plus required |
| Cloud Saves | Added later via PS Plus | Included with PS Plus |
| Subscription | PlayStation Plus (Introduced in 2010) | PS Plus (Essential, Extra, Premium) |
| Remote Play | Yes (with PSP) | Supported (PS Vita, PC, Mac, Mobile) |
| Controller | ||
| Included | Sixaxis (No vibration) / Later DualShock 3 (With vibration) | 1x DualShock 4 (V1) |
| Features | Motion sensing (Six-axis), Bluetooth, Internal Battery | Front touchpad, integrated light bar (hidden from player view), built-in speaker, Mono headset jack, Share button |
| Compatibility | ||
| Backward | Full Hardware Support for PS1 and PS2 (20GB/60GB models only) | No native disc support for PS1/PS2/PS3; select digital "PS2 Classics" available |
| VR Support | No | Full support for PlayStation VR (PSVR) |
| Physical | ||
| Body Dimensions | 12.8" x 3.8" x 10.8" (325 x 98 x 274 mm) | 10.8 x 2.0 x 12.0 inches (275 x 53 x 305 mm) |
| Weight | ~11 lbs (5 kg) | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) |
| Color | Piano Black (with chrome/silver trim) | Jet Black (standard), Glacier White (later) |
| Power | ||
| Consumption | ~180W–200W (A heavy power draw compared to later slims) | 250W Max (External power brick NOT required; internal PSU) |
| Misc | ||
| Inside the Box | Console, Sixaxis Controller, Mini-USB Cable, AV Cable, Ethernet Cable (60GB), Power Cord. | Console, DualShock 4, Mono earbud headset, HDMI cable, USB charging cable, Power cable |
| Price | $499 (20 GB) / $599 (60 GB) | $399 USD / £349 GBP |
| Full Details | PlayStation 3 - Full Specifications | PlayStation 4 - Full Specifications |