PS5 visual output: Will you need a 4K TV for PS5, or will a HDMI 1080p connection be enough for the PlayStation 5? Does the PS5 run in 120 FPS?
If you’re wondering whether a 4K TV is essential to enjoying a PlayStation 5, here’s everything you need to know.
What is the optimum PS5 visual output setup? Will you need a 4K TV for PS5, or will an HDMI connection to a 1080p HD TV be enough?
This is exactly the kind of question that you might be asking yourself at the moment. Especially if you’re among the lucky few to secure a PlayStation 5 amid the seemingly neverending stock shortage.
Whichever version you received, the PS5 is a monstrously powerful console. It enjoys the kind of specs that used to be reserved for the highest-end PCs, not a home console.
As such, it comes equipped with a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive and will be able to do 4K with a vast array of other visual flourishes that help games look better than they ever have. Even the Share Factory video editing tool allows you to render 4K videos. This is a huge jump up from the PS4’s 720p videos we all-too-often saw shared via Twitter.
It’s the kind of thing that sounds like a dream come true. You can be whisked away on clouds of fluffy visuals, drenched in fantastic-looking rain, and cook in-game food that looks so good you can almost taste it. Then you realise you don’t own a 4K TV.
So, will you need a 4K TV for PS5, or will your old CRT be good enough?
Will I need a 4K TV for the best PS5 visual output?
Obviously, a CRT won’t be able to handle the PS5, so don’t use that. The good news is that you won’t need a 4K TV to use a PS5. The chances are your current TV will do just fine. But is ‘just fine’ good enough?
In its Ultimate FAQ’s Sony confirmed that the “PS5 does not require a 4K TV. Supported resolutions are 720p, 1080i, 1080p, and 2160p.”
The main thing to look for is the HDMI connection. The PS5 has an HDMI 2.1 cable in the box, so you’d get the best resolution if your set-up matches that quality.
Now, TVs that have HDMI 2.1 are still very high-end. So that would be a cause for concern were it not for the backwards compatibility of the technology. As long as your TV has an HDMI 2.0b connection, then it should be fine for PS5.
If you’ve got a Full HD TV with 1080p resolution, and somewhere to stick an HDMI cable, we imagine you’ll be just fine and don’t need to upgrade. But you won’t be seeing the graphics in their full glory!
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Should I buy a 4K TV for PS5?
This is the bigger question, and the answer is entirely down to your circumstances. You’ll be able to notice a visual improvement whether on a 2.0b or a 2.1 connection, so you’re always going to see some impressive changes.
To fully enjoy the power of the PS5 you’d need a 4K TV. But the difference will only be visual, so it’s not an essential purchase. If you feel like splashing out and you can afford it then go for it. But equally, don’t feel like you need to at all. We’ve got a rundown of the best TVs to buy for PS5 right here, if you are tempted to upgrade.
It might be worth waiting for 8K if you really want to see the difference. But yeah, don’t expect the PS5 to take a SCART lead! Otherwise, you should be fine if you have a relatively modern telly that can run at 60 Hz.
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Does the PS5 support 1440p?
1440p is often seen as the midway point between 1080p and 4K, and is the desired resolution for many PC gamers on a medium budget.
However, if you don’t want to splash out on a 4K TV or monitor, we’d suggest holding off on a 1440p device just for now, as the PS5 does not currently support 1440p. This means that if you use a 1440p monitor, you’ll likely receive a worse resolution than you would with a PC.
However, some PS5 owners are reporting that even though Sony officially stated its console does not support 1440p specifically, they are getting resolutions above 1080p.
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Does the PS5 support 8K visual output?
While many are still getting around to upgrading their setup to 4K from 1080p, 8K is slowly gaining traction in the market. Owners of these 8K devices are wondering if they will be fully utilised by the PS5.
In the Ultimate FAQ’s mentioned above, Sony explained that the “PS5 is compatible with 8K displays at launch, and after a future system software update will be able to output resolutions up to 8K when content is available, with supported software.”
From this, it appears the PS5 will support 8K content. Just not at launch, given the small proportion of games, media and applications that support the 8K display. Until 8K becomes more popular, and developers start supporting the display, those with 8K monitors or TV will play the PS5 with a 4K output.
For those wondering, this is also the exact same policy that Microsoft has implemented for its Xbox Series X console. This is also compatible with 8K, they just haven’t enabled the feature yet. It seems both console manufacturers are looking to future-proof their products.
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How to enable 4K visual output on PS5
While the PS5 may run in 4K, there are often times when the resolution or performance may look slightly lower than what it should be. If you want to use 4K on the PS5, here are some things we’d suggest checking/changing:
- Make sure your TV supports 4K.
- Use the PS5 version of a game rather than the PS4 version- the next-gen console has a habit of downloading PS4 games when you insert the disc, even when a PS5 version is available.
- Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and select your desired resolution.
PS5 4K Blu-Ray player
Alongside 4K gaming, the PS5 also supports 4K Blu-Ray discs, allowing you to watch all your favourite films with stunning high-quality visual fidelity.
There are a few minor issues, however, as the PS5’s Blu-Ray player does not support the more premium HDR formats of Dolby Vision or HDR10+, meaning it won’t provide the best possible Blu-Ray experience.
Given the Blu-Ray players is simply an addition to an already powerful console, however, we’re still impressed.
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Does the PS5 visual output support 120 FPS?
A stable 60 FPS would mark a significant improvement to console gaming. But PC setups can easily reach 120 FPS. Many gamers expected an even better frame rate on their next-gen consoles.
In the early days, only a selection of titles have confirmed they can run at 120 FPS, which are: DIRT 5, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Devil May Cry 5, Rainbow Six Siege and Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom. Destiny 2’s Crucible PvP will also run at 120 FPS on the PS5. More recent releases have added to this group.
Expect this number to grow as developers get to grips with the new technology. Indeed, Call of Duty fans are avidly awaiting a Warzone update for the PS5 that could include 120FPS support.
However, it appears that the Xbox Series X may feature more 120 FPS games than the PlayStation 5. This follows comments from the developer Psyonix – the developers of Rocket League.
Speaking to Eurogamer ahead of Rocket League’s next-gen upgrade, Psyonix explained why the Xbox Series X will support 120 FPS while the PS5 will not.
“Enabling 120Hz on Xbox Series X|S is a minor patch, but enabling it on PS5 requires a fully native port due to how backwards compatibility is implemented on the console, and unfortunately wasn’t possible due to our focus elsewhere,” the developer explained.
READ MORE: Does the PS5 support cross-play with the PS4?
Sony BRAVIA TVs are ‘ready for PlayStation 5’
Sony has announced a line of BRAVIA TVs that, in partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) are ‘ready for PlayStation 5’.
With these TVs, the PS5 can run in 4K at up to 120FPS, as well as supporting 8K should this be enabled on the PS5.
However, the assertion these TVs have unique/exclusive features for the PS5 because they are made by Sony is more of a marketing gimmick, with all 4K compatible TVs, so long as they have a high refresh rate, can run at the same levels.
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Interestingly enough, the range of BRAVIA TVs alleged to be ‘ready for PlayStation 5’ were not, in fact, ready for PlayStation 5. The 4K/120Hz promised was not available on these TVs when the PS5 launched in November and is only available now following an update.