After a planned collaboration with Nintendo back in the days of the Nintendo 64 fell through, Sony went on to inevitably form its own video game empire known the world over as the PlayStation. Across five iterations of home consoles and two handhelds, the PlayStation has become the most successful series of consoles in the gaming market, despite some rocky launches and a few missteps along the way.
While PlayStation controllers have stayed virtually identical in terms of their outward design, the same can’t quite be said for the consoles. A wide variety of looks and sizes have donned the PlayStation name, and every console has had multiple versions over each of their lifespans. PlayStation holds a lot of weight in the video game industry, so it’s only fair to see how each and every console weighs up against each other.
14 PSP Go (0.40 Pounds)
The lightest console in the PlayStation lineup, the PSP Go was made for great portability and to emulate the feeling of a cell-phone with its slide design to reveal the buttons of the console. Barely weighing in at half a pound, this console truly put the “portable” back in PlayStation Portable. It was so similar to a slide phone that early morning texters would realize they were playing God of War instead of texting their moms.
13 PS Vita (0.62 Pounds)
Weighing in at little more than half a pound, the PS Vita is one of the sleekest and most slender portable consoles ever created. Its shape and button placement combined with its gorgeous screen made the Vita something to behold.
Games like Killzone Mercenary and Uncharted: The Golden Abyss were unbelievable looking games for the handheld market. It was an absolute shame that this under-appreciated little featherweight console ended up getting knocked out in the handheld ring against Nintendo’s more popular 3DS model.
12 PSP (1.14 Pounds)
The most popular (and the heaviest) portable Sony console, the PSP was the edgy alternative to the Nintendo DS. Having many classic PlayStation franchises playable on the go was something special, and the UMD discs were odd but very innovative.
Weighing in at just over a pound, the console wasn’t exactly made for a pocket, but it was definitely the best choice for mobile PlayStation fans.
11 PS One (1.32 Pounds)
Remember the days when consoles were nearly weightless? The second iteration of the PlayStation (eloquently self-referred to as the PS One, heavily implying that future consoles would be a thing) released in 2000 and reduced the size of the original disc-based console. The PS One was perfect for shoving into a book bag to bring to a friend’s place for an amazing all-nighter of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
10 PS2 Slim (2 Pounds)
The second edition of the massively popular sequel console, the slim iteration of the PlayStation 2 drastically reduced the size of the original model.
This system became one of the most portable home consoles/DVD players of all time. This variant of the PS2 sat at roughly 2 pounds; a gust of wind could blow it away if someone wasn’t careful.
9 PlayStation (4.29 Pounds)
The one that started it all, the PlayStation brought many unforgettable franchises like Tomb Raider and Crash Bandicoot to life, and in glorious (for the time) 3D. The console weighed in at just over 4 pounds, and while the future variants would reduce this by more than half, it was still a manageable weight and the actual size of the console made it easy to fit anywhere.
8 PS2 (4.42 Pounds)
The base model of the PlayStation 2 weighed in at roughly 4.5 pounds, and it carried much more in the hearts of gamers. The PlayStation 2 is one of the longest-running consoles of all time and pioneered the now commonplace feature of having multi-media capabilities with its legendary DVD player.
God of War, Jak & Daxter, and Ratchet & Clank are just a taste of the majesty that this console brought to gamers, all in a box that weighed as much as a small cat.
7 PS3 Super Slim (4.6 Pounds)
The lesser-known final edition of the PS3, the Super Slim model presented a smaller version than its hefty predecessors. This system had an awkward and questionable sliding door on the top that revealed the disc tray.
The design was absolutely bizarre and the release time was even more so, with the Super Slim coming out close to the dawn of the PS4. Still, players wanting a more reasonably sized PS3 ought to look for the Super Slim.
6 PS4 Slim (4.6 Pounds)
Jumping to one of the most intense gaming generations in history, the PS4 brought forward games and graphical capabilities that would’ve blown the minds of PS1 owners back in the day.
Released a few years after the launch of the initial console, the Slim weighed in at just under 5 pounds, which was perfect for fitting into that one stubborn shelf that the original model just couldn’t budge.
5 PS4 (6.2 Pounds)
Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part 2, Spider-Man, this console seemed to have it all and delivered it with a graphical sheen that was hard to top. The PlayStation 4 launched with a relatively quiet lineup of releases (Knack, anyone?), but it quickly grew into the most successful console of the last generation.
While on the heavier side, the console’s design is still quite easy to handle. That said, the PS4 does admittedly look like someone left two stacked rectangles out in the sun too long, causing them to melt.
4 PS3 Slim (7 Pounds)
The PlayStation 3 is most likely the definitive success story of Sony’s gaming department: launching at a ridiculously high price, weak launch titles, and a less than stellar UI. Over time everything was adjusted properly, and it ended up beating its competitors by the end of the generation.
The Slim model helped its success, providing a smaller version of the beast that was the launch model. However, the PS3 Slim was still quite chunky, coming in at roughly 7 pounds.
3 PS4 Pro (7.3 Pounds)
In order to add increased storage space, 4K support, and better running games, Sony had to do only one thing to the PS4: add a third rectangle to the tipping console. The PS4 Pro is a magnificent console that every gamer deserves to upgrade to, especially if they have access to a 4K TV.
The additional storage space is always a plus, and the PSVR tends to work even better on the Pro. Adding another layer made the console a touch heavier, but it was all for the greater good.
2 PS5 (9.9 Pounds)
The gigantic new console (both literally and figuratively) in Sony’s repertoire was hard to ignore. The design was bright and modern feeling, the size was more immense than people believed, and the weight was nearly 10 pounds.
Unfortunately, not many players have been able to get a hold of this console due to the lower number of stock and the rampant scalpers who have bought out many of them. Hopefully, players will be able to experience this mammoth of a console soon, and it is too early yet to know what great things the PS5 will accomplish.
1 PS3 (11.02 pounds)
The base PS3 model (sometimes referred to as the “fat” model) reigns supreme over its Sony brethren when it comes to size. This huge console weighed in at 11 pounds, and constantly hauling this system to your friend’s house would take care of your workout routine for the day.
Some base models of the PS3 are backward compatible with PS1/PS2 games, although many aren’t. Nevertheless, the games this heavy console brought to the table cannot be ignored.
