We’re just a month away from a new console generation and the hype is bigger than it’s ever been.

Both PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles sold out their pre-order allocations almost instantly, with all that’s left to do is be patient and wait for the early Christmas that is a new console launch in early November.

If you’re a die hard fanboy of one system or another the choice of your next-gen purchase (or non-purchase if you’re a PC guy) will be obvious, but for the millions of enthusiastic gamers who regularly switch allegiance, now may be the time to make your mind up.

So, we thought it prudent to compile a series of handy guides that make the case for each system, starting here with the PlayStation 5, followed by Xbox Series X|S and of course, sticking with a gaming PC.

So without further ado, here are 5 reasons to purchase a PS5 during it’s launch window.

1) The best AAA exclusives

Sony’s lead in this category is undeniable and for us it’s the single best reason to stick with PlayStation.

Ever since the later days of the PlayStation 3 Sony’s first party studios have been consistently churning out superb AAA experiences. Whether it’s The Last Of Us, The Uncharted series, Horizon Zero Dawn, Detroit Become Human, God of War, Gran Turismo Sport and most recently Ghost of Tsushima, there’s no end in sight to the juggernaut of excellent exclusive titles for the brand.

That may change in the future of course, but for now and purely from the games perspective, there isn’t a better place to play in the high-end console space.

2) An incredibly fast SSD

Microsoft may boast a slightly larger hard drive in their Xbox Series X, but the custom SSD controller Sony has designed for the PS5 give Sony a potentially significant advantage in the years to come as developers start to really stretch the hardware of these new machines.

TweakTown has said of the drive design “The SSD can deliver uncompressed data to other system components at up to 5.5GB/sec via its new proprietary hardware, which is over twice that of an Xbox Series X. And like the Xbox Series X, the PS5 also has dedicated hardware-based decompression to reduce CPU overhead. The new custom-designed I/O unit is the heart of making all this happen.”

While we’re in the phase of cross-gen development that occurs at the start of a new console generation, we’re highly unlikely to see this feature utilised to it’s fullest potential. But once PS5 only experiences are crafted from the ground up, we may start to see a major difference in capability compared with the new Xbox, as assets will be able to be streamed in at such a fast rate that certain types of gameplay experiences may simply not be possible on Microsoft’s’ machines.

As an example, Unreal Engine 5 was demoed on PlayStation 5 utilising Cutting edge techniques that allow for incredibly fast game space traversal. Possible on Xbox? Probably. But more than likely best on PS5…Even if Sony paid Epic for the plug!

3) The DualSense controller

Controller preferences are very individual so it’s difficult to give a blanket win here, especially as many would argue for the Xbox design being best (as we will in the Xbox version of this article!) but there are some innovations in the DualSense controller that mark it apart from the competition.

The first is adaptive triggers, which is the ability for the controller to map differing degrees of tension in order to simulate various effects, such as pedals in a car or tension on a bow as you’re about to shoot your bolt. We absolutely love the sound of this and can’t wait to try it come November 19th.

Then there’s haptic feedback, which replaces bog-standard rumble, promising to make the feel of a game in your hands that more nuanced and high-fidelity.

The controller also retains one of our favourite PS4 Dual Shock controller features, a built-in speaker, that not only is great for additional audio delivery in games but now includes a microphone that can act as a very effective device for in-game chat, with sophisticated noise-cancelling and enhancement technology that if done right, could make an expensive headset optional than mandatory for the system.

4) Cutting-edge internal technology

As we saw in the flesh just a few days back in Sony’s teardown video, the PS5 features some extremely exciting and cutting edge technologies, such as WiFi 6 and the Tempest 3D audio engine – an engine that makes use of SPUs (Synergistic Processor Units) not seen since the Cell processor in the PS3.

But the greatest of all is the mind-blowing thermal solution, that utilities a liquid-metal shroud to cool the CPU. This tech has enormous promise for keeping internal temperatures down and judging by the feedback from the few lucky Japanese YouTubers who got their hands on PS5 early, results in a very quiet and cool system.

Not only does that make the experience of gameplay more pleasant as the unwanted distractions of heat and noise are absent, but gives peace of mind that the components are not being taxed to their thermal limit, which should keep performance consistent and ensure greater longevity for crucial components.

5) Digital Only console is the cheapest way to get the full-fat next-gen experience

In addition to the main PS5 system, Sony is releasing a digital-only console that costs nearly £100 less, at a very reasonable £359. And despite the much cheaper cost, the only difference is that it doesn’t include a 4K Blu-ray drive. And for a lot of people, this is no bad thing, as they have no interest in buying physical discs anymore.

That means you get the full next-generation gaming experience at a hefty discount. We also think the digital edition looks the more handsome of the two PS5 systems, with it’s symmetrical and sleek profile.

So that’s it for our reasons to buy a PS5 at launch, be sure to check out our same guides for the Xbox Series X|S and PC, and what do you reckon are the best reasons to buy (or not to buy) a PS5 this holiday season? Tell us in the comments below.