PS5 unboxing: everything in the box

Update, November 6: Read our PS5 review.

The PlayStation 5 is coming soon. How long? Way soon enough that we have one last retail unit to unbox and examine in detail. Sorry, no hands on games or UI yet, that will have to wait a bit longer. But now we can get a closer look at what’s in the box and what’s not, and learn more about the look of the console itself.

Here’s what’s in the box (as pictured above):

• Playstation 5 console
• DualSense wireless controller
• hdmi cable
• AC power cable
• USB-A to USB-C cable
• Console bracket

Looking at our 2013 first-gen PS4 unboxing, the setup was similar, but back then the controller cable was USB-A to Micro-USB, and the PS4 included a simple headset mic in the box. It’s not included here, but the new controller has a built-in mic.

Here’s what I learned unboxing the new hardware and comparing it with the previous generation.

It’s much bigger than the PS4. When placed vertically, the original PS4 was 11.5 inches tall, while the PS5 is 16 inches tall. As I found out when Ikea multimedia furniture test with Xbox Series X and S-seriesconsoles are getting bigger, and the PS5 easily dominates its predecessors, as well as the Series X.

Yes, you can place it horizontally, but there is a catch. Like the PS3, the PS5 has a curved surface that can make it difficult to fit into your media cabinet. I suspect this is to discourage you from piling other components on top of it. But unlike the PS3, the new console isn’t flat either. The PS5 was clearly designed to stand vertically, and nearly all promotional photos show it in that orientation.

To place the PS5 horizontally, you need to slide a plastic bracket underneath, where it clips loosely onto the rear spoiler. It levels the system, but doesn’t actually attach, so if you push or pull the console to move it, the bracket will usually dislodge. You are also supposed to use the support in the vertical direction. For this you need to rotate part of the plastic bracket about 45 degrees and then literally fix it to the bottom with a screw. So no, not easy to go from vertical to horizontal on the fly.

The new DualSense wireless controller is a big step forward. While the new Xbox controller is a slightly modified version of the classic Xbox gamepad, the new PS5 controller has evolved far beyond the PS4 version, both in design and functionality. The controller is bold but minimalist, with the retro-futurism of a Space: 1999 prop mixed in with a spooky Ghost in the Shell killer robot.

The biggest improvements are the adaptive triggers (which can offer resistance), the built-in mic, and better haptic effects. I was able to try out these features in a short session with Astro’s Playroom, a game that comes preloaded on the PS5 and is partly intended as a demo reel for the new controller. It’s a cute platformer that’s so Nintendo-like that you literally collect big, floating coins. The simple graphics don’t necessarily show off the PS5 hardware, but the controller feels great in the hand, and the motion controls and force feedback are solid so far.

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The only thing I don’t like about the new controller so far is the home button, which is now a cut-out PlayStation logo, rather than a circular button. It’s hard to tap on and it’s too close to the microphone button, which can make it easy to accidentally activate your mic when you don’t want it.

More information on the PS5 and Xbox Series X coming soon, including a full review and detailed buying advice.