PS5 already getting a redesign?

They PlayStation 5 is getting a redesign for 2022, according to a report by Taiwanese news outlet Digitimes.

The console will apparently see its AMD Ryzen based SoC shrunk down to a 6nm process from its current 7nm. So far there has been no word on any additional changes other than the shrink. Nor is it likely to result in any performance boosts. So those who have been lucky enough to acquire the console’s current iteration need not worry about it becoming obsolete.

However, the question remains as to why Sony is already working on reducing chip sizes. Smaller transistors usually equate to lower power losses and greater efficiency for processors. The PS5 is known for running a bit on the hot side due to its higher GPU clock speeds compared to the Xbox Series X. While the shrink itself is pretty small, through some loose extrapolation based on an Anandtech article, it should equate to a 15% improvement in power efficiency over the current 7nm chips. Which should allow the SoC to run cooler and quieter. Likely improving the life of the console while resulting in an more silent gaming experience.

PlayStation 5 SoCs are currently manufactured by Taiwanese chip maker TSMC. The company is currently facing a massive backlog due to high demand for chips across a wide variety of vendors. Aside from AMD, they also make processors for Nvidia, Apple, and Qualcomm. The shortages of consoles are largely due to their inability to make enough chips to meet the recent spike in demand. However, these shortages are expected to begin easing by 2022, when Sony intends to push out the hardware refresh.