Tag Archives: PS5

Fan-made PlayStation 5 ‘Mini’ is 70% smaller than Sony’s Original PS5 and fits in backpacks

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Even tinier than the PS5 Slim that launched in October last year, this fan-made gaming rig is small enough to slide into a backpack, has a glowing PS logo on the front, docks and charges two DualShock controllers on either side, and has a thermal performance that almost matches up to the regular PS5. Designed by YouTuber NFC, this ‘PlayStation Mini’ relies on a reimagined architecture and an external disc drive that helps cut space by nearly 70%, giving you a final console that’s merely 30% the size of its original self. No Ozempic was involved…

Designer: Not From Concentrate

When rumors of the PS5 Slim began making rounds on the internet, YouTuber NFC (short for Not From Concentrate) hoped that Sony would radically shrink the console and make the disc drive external instead of detachable. Instead, we got a marginally smaller console that had a disc drive that could only be used by snapping it onto the side of the vertical console. Not that anything’s wrong with the PS5 Slim, we think it’s an iteratively improved console, but NFC definitely found himself wanting more. The journey he embarked on is one that not all of us can take – it involved deep designing, engineering, and using CNC machines and 3D printers to build everything from new outer housings to inner thermal architectures, and even adding a logo and backlight to make it something so professional it looked like it came out of Sony’s own headquarters.

The resulting PS5 Mini is probably a one-off unit that NFC built for the YouTube video (you can watch the entire thing above), but it’s a sheer work of art and engineering. Anyone can rip circuitry off from the existing PS5 and cram it into a new plastic body… but only a few of them can do such a great job that the resulting PS5 Mini has a performance that rivals its bigger sibling. In fact, the tinier console is nearly 3.3 liters in volume, making it significantly smaller than the 10.5-liter PS5. It’s so small it fits into most backpacks and is no larger than a thick book.

The PS5 Mini comes with a construction featuring metal, plastic, and even carbon fiber parts. It has a completely new heat sink, a new chassis, outer body with massive grills on the side for air flow, a new fan, and even backlit plastic components that glow blue when the machine’s on. It also features not one but two DualShock controller docks that also charge your controllers when put in place, doing something that even the OG PlayStation couldn’t.

The new build features up to 20 redesigned components that were either made in NFC’s studio workshop on his CNC machine or 3D printer, or ordered from a fabrication website. The size of the new PS5 Mini was determined by the motherboard, which was a compact rectangular little component that served as the starting point for the console’s design. NFC uses a Black-Ridge CPU Cooler heat sink, and even a new fan and fan controller because the original PS5’s fan is a massive component that played a major role in what made the original console so big. NFC explains that Sony prioritized console ‘quietness’ with the old design, owing to the large fan size (larger fans move more air at slower speeds, creating less noise). The power supply was replaced with a smaller 250W GaN one, the front was capped off with carbon fiber that contrasted the white outer body beautifully, and NFC used the original PS5’s status LEDs to light up a new PS logo that now adorned the front.

The stand charges the controllers even when it’s switched off.

An external disc drive made sense, allowing the PS5 to be web-based when needed, and disc-based when plugged in.

Surprisingly, even the thermals match up to the original, with idle temperatures being a mere 1°C hotter, and gaming temperatures hitting a marginal but impressive 4°C hotter than the original. The way NFC did this is by literally wiring temperature probes into the different parts of the console to get a holistic reading of the console’s temperature at all times. The new fan works in theory, but NFC does point out that making everything smaller means having a marginally noisier fan. Luckily, this could easily be taken care of by placing the console near some speakers, that would wash out the fan’s sound.

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DIY PlayStation 5 Tablet almost makes the PlayStation Portal moot

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Although the handheld gaming trend has been going strong recently, especially with the likes of the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck leading the market, major console makers haven’t taken the plunge completely yet. Granted, Xbox isn’t too concerned because every Windows gaming handheld PC can theoretically run some of its titles, but Sony introduced a rather odd and quite unsatisfying version of this idea. The PlayStation Portal isn’t being “portable” for a reason, since it basically just streams games from the PS5 sitting somewhere in your house. Take it to more enterprising creators to bring the PlayStation 5 Portable dream to life, like this rather impressive gigantic PlayStation 5 “Tablet Edition” that is very much worth all the hard work involved.

Designer: Matthew Perks

The PlayStation 5 diverges from generations of console design with a sleek, futuristic, yet also alien aesthetic that some have compared to a trophy. But it’s especially thanks to that new design, especially the improvement Sony quietly made after launching the console, that makes this creative endeavor even possible. In a nutshell, Sony trimmed the PS5 motherboard down to a smaller size that could be made to fit inside a thick and hefty 14-inch tablet. That, however, was the least of the project’s problems, considering the things inside that actually make the bulk of the PS5’s, well, bulk.

The PlayStation 5 generates around 200W of heat at full power, so the majority of the console’s internals are actually devoted to thermal management. These include bulky fans and a strange-looking heatsink that would never fit any portable design. That’s why the majority of the effort around this PS5 tablet was spent on figuring out an equally efficient thermal management system that didn’t take up too much vertical space. Thanks to some creative thinking and a lot of research, that problem was eventually solved to much satisfaction.

With the biggest engineering hurdle out of the way, putting the rest of the giant tablet was relatively easier. A 3D-printed shell had to be made that matched the black-and-white aesthetic of the PS5. The screen of choice for this project was a 14-inch OLED salvaged from a broken laptop, allowing game graphics to really shine. Finally, an external power source had to be designed since the original PS5 power supply was just too large and too weird to use as is.

After much work, the PS5 Tablet Edition, a.k.a. PS GO, was ready to be put to the test, and the end result is truly impressive, both from the thermal aspect and especially in performance and visual quality. It’s a truly portable system that can fit inside a backpack, though you’ll have to plug it somewhere to actually use it. Then again, the idea was to create a more social console that you can take to your friend’s or relative’s house so that you can enjoy the experience together, rather than sitting in a corner, alone in the dark, mashing the buttons on your handheld PC.

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PS5 DualSense charging stand from HyperX lets you conveniently dock and charge your game controllers

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It’s the perfect blend between compact, effective, and synergistic with the PlayStation 5’s own design language.

The HyperX ChargePlay Duo might sound like a handful, but it’s shorter than saying Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense controller charging dock, now isn’t it?! With a design that’s much more compact than its name, the ChargePlay Duo lets you dock not one, but two DualSense controllers on its easel-like design, effectively charging both of them while giving you a place to rest them.

Designer: Jimmy Huynh (HyperX)

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At just 3 inches tall, 5 inches wide, and 4.6 inches long, the ChargePlay Duo is fairly compact, occupying roughly the same footprint as one single controller. Designed by HyperX, which was acquired by HP just two years ago, the ChargePlay lets you dock two controllers at the same time, with a 5V input and an 18W output that charges both controllers at the same time. Unlike Sony’s official charger which tends to be a little finicky, the ChargePlay Duo does a pretty remarkable job of always lining up your DualSense controllers so they charge all the time, every time.

The dock itself is modeled to match the PS5’s aesthetic, with a similar Stormtrooper color scheme that lets it blend in with your table setup rather seamlessly. It comes with a weighted base that clocks in at a sizeable 13.8 ounces (391 grams), putting it on the heavier side but also keeping it fairly stable. This allows you to easily dock or un-dock controllers without worrying about knocking anything around or causing the other controller to fall off its stand. The ChargePlay Duo comes with a Type-C charging cable that you can hook into a power strip or wall socket, or connect directly to the USB-A port in your PlayStation 5 to eliminate clutter and keep your gaming setup clean while keeping your controllers perpetually charged and ready to go!

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PS5 Customized Into Miniature Dwarven Kingdom

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The Playstation 5 console has a certain design aesthetic to it. One that doesn’t really match the rest of my interior design motif. Now, a dwarven kingdom-themed PS5? That will fit right into my rumpus room! Customized by Martina of YouTube channel Nerdforge, this PS5 console features a miniature diorama of a dwarven kingdom/forge, complete with lava and light effects. My own PS5 has never looked so lackluster.

If you look closely, you can see the Sony logo and lips of the PS5 at the top, with the lava flow passing between them. It’s a thing of beauty, isn’t it? Martina says she had to experiment with making silicone molds for the lava flow, then making a resin cast of it, but she’s pleased with the result. Probably because it looks so good.

Will I be trying something similar? Of course not, I recognize the limit of my own capabilities, and they’re certainly far from being able to produce something of this caliber or anywhere close. No, the closest I’m going to come to customizing my PS5 is scratching the 5 into a 6, then trying to sell it on eBay for a million dollars.

[via TechEBlog]

Razer Wolverine V2 Pro controller brings offset keys + expansive customization for e-sports gamers

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Razer has just hopped onto the PlayStation 5 hype with an advanced gamepad for high-end gaming targeted towards casual as well as competitive gamers. Dubbed Wolverine V2 Pro, the gaming controller is a worthy addition to the Wolverine console lineup. The premium components and customization options make the controller worth owning but at a demanding value.

It looks similar to the V2 Chroma controller, albeit in a slightly larger size. The gaming accessory is going to work for the Xbox too, but being an official PS5 and PC accessory, the lack of Adaptive Triggers, internal speaker and haptic feedback is going to bite dedicated gamers.

Designer: Razer

Click Here to Buy Now!

Everything aside, let me tell you, this controller has a steep price tag of $250, and I hope it delivers up to the expectations. There are perks that’ll keep buyers interested, for instance, the Xbox-styled analog stick orientation, wherein, the sticks are positioned diagonally rather than sitting adjacent to each other. Like some of the cool concept gaming controllers we’ve seen so far, this one has a couple of swappable stick caps. One of them is short and convex while the other is tall and concave.

Add to this the six remappable buttons – (on each side near shoulder buttons and four back paddles) and we are basking at strategic gaming advantage. For this function, Bluetooth connection is required via iOS or Android devices, to get all the customization done via the Razer Controller Setup app. Additionally, the macro buttons can be mapped to be a sensitivity clutch by increasing or lowering the analog stick sensitivity.

Razer Wolverine V2 Pro has HyperTriggers that bring customized FPS shooting prowess to a controller just like a mouse or keyboard controls. What I like are Razer’s Mecha-Tactile buttons that emulate the touch and responsiveness of high-end mouse clicks. Also, the eight-way D-pad brings microswitches for each input to get precision accuracy in supported gaming titles.

Coming from Razer’s camp, this controller was destined to get the Chroma RGB lighting effects that can be toggled via the app. The cool lights run along the handles and add X-factor to the controller design. Overall a cool gamepad to own for gamers who want to try out different setups to gain a lasting advantage in e-sports gaming.

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Gaming aside: PlayStation 5 Controller Alarm Clock lets you set time, day, date from the D-pad

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I’m not sure how many people still use alarm clocks but if you know a gaming fanatic, he would love to trade his smartphone for the PlayStation 5 Controller Alarm Clock by the bedside. If PlayStation rings a bell and you have a gamer in mind, level up to them with the PS controller-shaped alarm clock; a great gift to consider for Christmas!

The clock, designed to look like the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, is officially licensed and sold by Firebox. The entire contraption comprises a PS5 controller, which sits atop a charging dock and offers a gamer or an occasional Sony fan an option to station memorabilia by the bed; getting up every morning to the sight of a D-pad.

Designer: Firebox

Click Here to Buy Now!

While the PlayStation 5 Controller Alarm Clock is a sight to behold, it is not a functional game controller. Perhaps, it is a functional alarm clock embedded with a 6.2-inch backlit LED display and D-pad controller buttons to set the alarm, date, and time.

With a fantastic semblance to the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, the digital alarm clock is powered using a USB port. Arguably, the alarm sound is the biggest feature of a table clock, however, there is no information (at the time of writing) about how the PS controller alarm clock sounds. You can have your own assumptions!

While you’re at it, go ahead and give a gamer in your like the option to wake up on time for ‘Call of Duty’ with the PlayStation 5 Controller Alarm Clock always by the bedside. Or else, if you’re growing bored of the same old table clock, here’s your chance to make a fun upgrade your little one is going to praise you for. And then don’t forget to tell us the experience each one of you has had with the wake-up alarm – don’t like the sound, hit the snooze on the D-pad!

 

 

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Playstation 5 Controller Alarm Clock: Wake Up to Game

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Filed under products I never knew existed and would probably be fine if that were still the case, Firebox is selling an officially licensed Playstation 5 Alarm Clock, which looks like a PS5 controller atop a charging dock. It’s not a functional controller, though, just a functional alarm clock. Do people still use those things? I just assumed everybody used their phones.

Previously seen in a PS4 version, the USB-powered clock features a backlit LED display, and the D-pad and controller buttons are used to set the alarm. That’s cool, but what’s the alarm sound like? I feel like that’s one of the most important features of any alarm clock, but they never include that information in the product description. Is it a blaring BEEP BEEP BEEP that’ll make me wish I were dead, or the Playstation startup sound that’s too calming to even wake me up? My guess is the former.

Admittedly, you’d have to be one heck of a Playstation fan to buy a PS5 controller alarm clock. I mean, I’m ranked #2,344 in the entire world, and even I would have a hard time putting this by the side of the bed, and that’s not even taking into consideration my wife’s strong opinions!

This PS5 Keyboard attachment unlocks new possibilities for players who livestream or chat while gaming

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An absolute paradise for Twitch-streamers looking to engage with their audience while playing PS5 titles.

A keyboard on the PS5 makes quite a lot of sense once you think of how much username/email/password typing you have to do when you’re actually not gaming. You could be buying a game, logging into an account, chatting, commenting, or even performing in-game tasks like inputting a player name. Designed to save you the trouble of manually inputting each character with a joystick, this slick keyboard plugs right into your PS5 controller, giving you a full QWERTY layout and a bunch of other useful features that will absolutely upgrade your gameplay.

Designer: Klipdasse

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What really sets this keyboard apart is the fact that it was designed to perfectly complement your PS5 DualSense controller’s design. Made to plug in perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle piece, the wireless keyboard fits snugly in the negative space of your controller, between the palm-rests. In doing so, it gives you a full keyboard right under your thumbs, letting you type as you would on a phone… or more accurately, on a BlackBerry.

The wireless keyboard fits into the DualSense controller by plugging into its lower 3.5mm jack. The keyboard comes with a pretty nifty built-in speaker that feeds off this 3.5mm connection… although if you’ve got a pair of headphones, there’s a jack too, letting you connect your headphones to the PS5 controller via the keyboard. Heck, there’s even a built-in microphone on this thing, allowing you to voice-chat while gaming.

The keyboard itself connects to your PS5 via Bluetooth, giving you a relatively lag-free input that’s absolutely faster than using a joystick to manually select each key on a virtual keyboard. Sadly though, it only works for typing text, and the PS5 doesn’t let you map different controls onto the keys – wouldn’t that be absolutely game-changing, though??

The wireless keyboard attachment comes with its own built-in 500mAh battery and an LED indicator that lets you know your battery level. A USB-C port on the base lets you juice up the keyboard whenever you’re running low on power – although considering most gameplays, chances are you won’t be exclusively using the keyboard all along, and therefore won’t rapidly drain the battery.

Although a relatively lesser-known accessory, the wireless keyboard proves to be an incredibly handy addon when it comes to doing things like logging into your account, searching the online store, and making purchases… and that’s ONLY one aspect of the gaming experience. Having a keyboard just underneath your thumbs can be quite the game-changer for people who do a lot of chatting while gaming. Sure, there isn’t emoji support on this keyboard just yet, but hey… let’s be grateful for what we have, right??

Click Here to Buy Now

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Customizable gaming controller switches D-pad and thumbstick position on demand for an ergonomic design

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Gaming sector is overtaking the movies and music industry – with even more rise in the graph expected in the coming years. PC and console gaming has been perfectly mirrored by mobile gaming and handheld consoles, which in turn has led to more users becoming aware of the high-end gaming titles on offer on the big screen. Add to that the cloud gaming option, and we are talking of expansion into a userbase who could not play graphics intensive titles due to hardware limitations on their PC.

Gaming controllers have consequently gained popularity as well, since players always want to have the right set of tools to gain a tactical advantage in-game. The more platforms a gamer has, the more he/she has to invest in the right gaming controller for the different options like Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, high-end PC, Stadia, GeForce Now, and many more. General wisdom suggests, you have one configurable gaming controller that can change its character depending on the platform it is being used with.

Designer: Crivty Design

For example, the thumbsticks on the DualShock 4 are placed adjacent to each other while on the Xbox One controller it’s asymmetrical. The directional pad on the Xbox’s controller is adjacent to the right analog stick, and on the DualShock, it is placed on the flipside to the Xbox’s offering. As a player, you might prefer one controller for an RPG and another for a racing sim due to the setup of these buttons. Having the freedom to switch the D-pad and joystick depending on which title you are playing, is much wanted. Crivty Design’s compact multi-platform game controller brings this functionality to the fore.

Unlike the current generation gaming controllers, this one is compact, and also comes with the promise of ergonomic comfort which is very important for gamers. The minimally designed controller has a dynamic curving form that aesthetically seems right on point. Just with the push of a swap button, the configuration can be toggled in the blink of an eye. The buttons on the left-hand side of the controller display the indicators depending on which platform you are playing on currently. Even the guide button (for Xbox) or the PS button (for PlayStation) displays the respective logo based on the platform this controller is being used for. Essentially it is a completely customizable experience that’s the USP of the gaming controller.

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