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PlayStation 2 vs PlayStation 5
Full specification face-off between the PlayStation 2 and the PlayStation 5 — photos, scored categories, verdict and every spec side by side.
PlayStation 2
Sony · Game Console · 2000-03
The best-selling video game console of all time (over 155 million units), powered by the Emotion Engine CPU.
Full specs →
Overall edgePlayStation 5
Sony · Game Console · 2020-11
Sony's current-generation console with a custom RDNA 2 GPU, ultra-fast NVMe SSD and the DualSense haptic controller.
Full specs →Verdict
PlayStation 5 edges this matchup on balanced specs, with strongest showings in performance. The newest device in the set is the PlayStation 5 (2020-11).
- ▸Performance: PlayStation 5 leads (AMD RDNA 2, 10.28 TFLOPS).
Scores are derived only from the structured specs shown below (not paid reviews or scraped third-party sites). Use them as a guide, not a purchase guarantee.
Performance
- 1. PlayStation 5AMD RDNA 2, 10.28 TFLOPS127
- 2. PlayStation 2Graphics Synthesizer @ 147 MHz72
Display
- 1. PlayStation 2—15
- 2. PlayStation 5—15
| Specification | PlayStation 2 | PlayStation 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| CPU | Emotion Engine @ 294 MHz (later 299 MHz) | 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5 GHz |
| GPU | Graphics Synthesizer @ 147 MHz | AMD RDNA 2, 10.28 TFLOPS |
| Floating point | 6.2 GFLOPS | — |
| Ray tracing | — | Hardware-accelerated |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 32 MB RDRAM | 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Storage | 8 MB memory cards | 825 GB custom NVMe SSD (5.5 GB/s) |
| Expandable | Internal HDD bay (early models) | M.2 NVMe slot |
| Video Output | ||
| Max resolution | 480p (1080i in select titles) | 4K @ 120 Hz, 8K supported |
| HDR | No | HDR10 |
| Port | AV Multi Out, component | HDMI 2.1 |
| Media | ||
| Disc drive | DVD-ROM / CD-ROM | 4K UHD Blu-ray (disc edition) |
| Backwards compatibility | PlayStation 1 library | PS4 library |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | No (network adapter add-on) | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Ethernet | Via network adapter | Gigabit |
| USB | 2× USB 1.1 | USB-A + USB-C |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.2 kg (original), 0.9 kg (slim) | 4.5 kg (disc) |
| Power draw | ~50 W | ~350 W max |
| Controller | ||
| Included | DualShock 2 — analog sticks, pressure-sensitive buttons | DualSense — adaptive triggers, haptics |
More comparisons
PlayStation 2 vs PlayStation 5 — quick answers
Q.Which is newer, the PlayStation 2 or the PlayStation 5?
The PlayStation 5 is the newer device (released 2020-11), while the PlayStation 2 launched 2000-03.
Q.Who wins PlayStation 2 vs PlayStation 5?
PlayStation 5 edges this matchup on balanced specs, with strongest showings in performance. The newest device in the set is the PlayStation 5 (2020-11).
Q.What are the biggest differences between the PlayStation 2 and the PlayStation 5?
Performance: PlayStation 5 leads (AMD RDNA 2, 10.28 TFLOPS).