The PlayStation 5 is undeniably one of the most powerful gaming consoles on the market today. Its unrivaled graphics and stunning displays make it a top choice for gamers.
However, with such a powerful machine, the question of power consumption arises. Understanding just how much your PS5 console consumes will go a long way, not just in planning your electricity bills but also in ensuring an uninterrupted gaming experience.
The PS5 is available in two variants: the Standard Edition and the Digital Edition. While both editions share many features, including the processor, they also have some differences. The Standard Edition consumes more energy than the Digital Edition. This is because of the energy needed to run discs.
Secondly, keep in mind that how much power your PS5 will consume will also depend on how you use it. Playing games at high resolutions and frame rates will consume more power than streaming.
By understanding such factors, gamers can maximize their gaming experience while ensuring that the console's energy consumption is in check.
In this post, we take a look at the PS5 power consumption in different scenarios and see how we can minimize electricity usage without necessarily compromising on the gaming experience. If you are ready, let's dive straight in!
How much power does the PS5 use?
How much your PS5 consumes in terms of power will very much depend on the mode you choose. Some modes will consume more than others. Gamers can make the most of their experience by understanding such information.
Power usage breakdown
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Idle mode: During small tasks or left on the home screen, the console will consume about 40-50 watts of power.
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Gaming mode: Playing AAA titles, which of course will demand a lot of graphics and will cause the console to consume about 200-300 watts of power.
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Downloading and updates: If you are downloading updates, you can expect the PS5 to consume anywhere from 70 to 100 watts.
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Standby mode/rest mode: The PS5 will use less power in this mode and can consume around 0.5–3 watts of power. Note that this will also depend on settings, i.e., controller charging and background downloads.
|
Mode |
Power Consumption (Watts) |
Description |
|
Idle mode |
40-50 |
When browsing menus or left on the home screen. |
|
Gaming mode |
200-300 |
Playing AAA titles, especially at 4K 60fps. |
|
Downloading/Updating |
70-100 |
While downloading game updates or patches. |
|
Standby mode |
0.5-3 |
When in rest mode with background features (controller charging, downloads, etc.). |
Compared to other gaming consoles
Comparing the PS5 to its predecessor, the PS4, there is a huge difference in power consumption. The PS4 will use around 150 watts of power during gameplay. Then again, the PS5 boasts better graphics and responsiveness.
The power consumption of the PS4 Pro is around 180–220 watts, similar to that of the PS5. However, what about the Xbox Series X? During gameplay, it also consumes approximately 180–220 watts, making it comparable to the PS4 Pro.
Portable Power Compatibility
Getting a portable power station for your gaming console is a great idea, as you won’t worry about an outage suddenly stopping your gaming. However, if you are going to get a portable power station, make sure to account for the PS5 power consumption.
This means checking the capacity of the power station. A 500 Wh power station, for instance, will provide around 2-3 hours of continuous gameplay. A 1000 Wh power station, on the other hand, could extend this to around 5 or 6 hours.
The BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station offers 2073 Wh capacity and up to 2600 watts of output and allows you to charge up to 9 devices simultaneously. This unit can provide you with hours of uninterrupted gaming.
|
Power Station Capacity |
PS5 Runtime (Hours) |
Notes |
|
300Wh |
1-1.5 |
Ideal for short gaming sessions. |
|
500Wh |
2-3 |
Suitable for moderate gameplay duration. |
|
1000Wh |
5-6 |
Extended gaming with accessories like external monitors. |
|
2000Wh (e.g., BLUETTI) |
10+ |
Best for uninterrupted long gaming sessions or powering multiple devices. |
Don’t forget that if you are going to connect the TV and other gadgets to the power consumption, this will also drain the power station and reduce game time.
By keeping these factors in mind, gamers will be able to make plans accordingly, whether they are doing this on the go or at home, helping to optimize the gaming experience while efficiently managing energy use.
Factors Affecting PS5 Power Consumption
By now it should be clear that the PS5 consumes power at different rates depending on various factors such as type of game, user habits, as well as extra hardware configurations. Knowing this can help you make better decisions about energy consumption and efficiency.
1. Game types: High intensity vs Low intensity
Not all games are created equal, and some demand more processing power than others. Games that feature advanced graphics and high frame rates will demand more resources, thus leading to high power consumption. Titles that are 4K 60fps will easily push power consumption to 200-230 watts. These are called high-intensity games.
On the other hand, retro games, indie titles, and 2D platformers have fewer processor requirements and thus will cause the console to consume around 120-150 watts. These are called low-intensity games.
2. User habits: Operation Hours & Energy Costs
The more time you spend gaming, the more power consumption for the PS5 console. For instance, let’s say player A spends 4 hours playing. If the energy consumption of the console is 200 watts, then that will be 0.8 kW per day. This will translate to 24 kWh per month. If say the electricity rate is $.15 per kilowatt-hour, then this would translate to $3.60 a month.
3. Hardware Configuration and Auxiliary Devices
If you connect additional accessories, then you may expect your PS5 power consumption to rise as well. For one, you might consider connecting:
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Virtual Reality Systems (VR): Examples include PlayStation VR2, which will require extra processing power of around 30-50 watts.
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External Storage Devices: SSDs and HDDs that are USB-powered will consume around 5-10 watts, even though many would consider these to have minimal impact.
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Charging controllers: The Sony DualSense controllers, cameras, and headsets may add a small amount to the power consumption.
To be mindful of such factors is the first step towards optimizing energy efficiency during gaming.
Energy Saving Tips for PS5 Users
By now it's clear that PS5 is a power-hungry gaming console thanks to its graphics. However, there are still some clever ways that you can use to reduce power consumption. Thus, you can minimize your power bills while also extending the life of your PS5 console.
Reducing Power Consumption During Inactive Periods
One of the fastest and easiest ways that you can use to reduce your PS5 console's energy consumption is when you are not playing. Let’s take a look at a few ways to achieve this:
Enable Rest Mode efficiently: Rather than leaving the PS5 powered on when you are not playing, why not put it in rest mode? You will reduce power consumption down to 0.5–3 watts while still enabling you to charge the controllers and do background downloads.
Set Auto Power Off: Go to power saving settings. You can set your PS5 console to turn off automatically after a certain duration of inactivity, such as after every 30 minutes or 1 hour of inactivity.
Turn off when not in use: If you are not playing for an extended period, you can opt to shut down the console completely to eliminate any power consumption.
Optimizing Power Efficiency in Device Settings
The great thing is that Sony has added several ways to optimize power consumption within the console settings. You can achieve better power efficiency by making adjustments to these settings. Let’s find out how:
Lowering screen brightness: Bringing down the brightness of the UI while you navigate menus will conserve a small amount of power.
Disable unused features: The PS5 controller comes with plenty of features, including the HDMI Device Link. This feature turns on the TV automatically whenever you start the gaming console. By disabling this feature, you can lower power consumption.
Adjustment performance mode: The performance mode, which comes with higher resolution and FPS features for smooth visuals, will also consume more power. By choosing power saver mode, you can save energy while also enjoying great visuals.
Portable Battery Backup: A Cost-Effective Gaming Solution
One excellent way which you can take advantage of to manage your electricity costs is by using a portable power station. For one, you can enjoy your gaming without the worry of interruptions caused by power outages. Here are some ways you can benefit from a portable power station:
Saving on electricity costs: You can use the portable power station during peak hours when electricity rates are higher, and recharging it during low peak hours when the electricity rates are lower can help keep overall electricity costs low.
Uninterrupted gaming: Perhaps one of the great features of the portable power station is the fact that it can help run your gaming console even during times of blackout. You can run a PS5 for 5-6 hours with a 1000Wh portable power station.
Eco-friendly gaming: Some portable power stations, like the Bluetti AC70 Portable Power Station, feature solar charging and come with solar panels. This means that gamers can run their gaming using renewable energy and play their part in reducing the carbon footprint.
By implementing such energy-saving tips, PS5 users can enjoy their favorite games while keeping electricity costs low, all while helping to contribute to a sustainable gaming experience.
Conclusion
While the PlayStation 5 is a great and highly powerful gaming unit, its unique graphics also mean that it consumes quite an amount of power. However, by choosing the right edition, optimizing power usage, and enabling rest mode, you can help bring down the PS5 console's electricity consumption. That said, the portable power solution can help provide you with backup power, ensuring a more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and enjoyable gaming experience.
