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Did Sony go a bit too cheap with the build quality of the PS4?

MYE

Member
WARNING: THIS IS NOT A CONSOLE WARS THREAD!

Its a genuine question from someone who will get one at some point.
And the reason I ask is mainly due to little (and some big) issues and defects that just seem to add up, on a 400$ machine from a company known for doing quality, well built stuff.

1) Weak rubber coating on sticks
2) Sticky shoulder buttons due to gunk accumulation?
3) Wobbly/poorly balanced when sitting horizontally (minor issue but... come on!)

And something that personally bothers me A LOT:
4) Uneven finishing on their plastics.
Mainly the matte areas on the console itself. I've seen this in person on a few PS4s already!

original

LL

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ps4-review-5-580-90.jpg

GOD I HATE THIS SO MUCH. My PStwo slim had this crap. It makes casings look so damn cheap when you have discolored looking blotches due to uneven finish of the texture or poor molding!!
Look at that smear and the area around the logo in the first pic. If the system is in a well lit room, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

What the hell. PS3 fat and the first Slim look solid and well built. PS4 kinda looks like they skipped the first revisions and went straight to the "good enough" mode :(
I can't imagine that it would cost them substantially more to better control the quality of the materials/finishings.
Its a shame because the machine itself looks good.

Yes I'm aware that this isn't a huge issue. But still, the competitive pricing of the machine doesn't excuse what looks like rushed or poor quality control.
 
Sucks that you're going through that OP. Fortunately I have none of those issues myself :-/

Edit: I see you don't have one. I wouldn't worry, abnormalities like that seem like anomalies.
 

w00zey

Member
The wobble is the weirdest thing. Of course it will wobble since mine has nothing on the left hand side when you face it to stabilize it.
 

Ishida

Banned
My PS4 doesn't seem to suffer from those problems. And even if it did I wouldn't mind as long as the console itself works perfectly, which it does.
 

Minions

Member
The wobble was a design decision not a cheap/defect. I forget what it is called, but there is a word for the design choice.
 

R3TRODYCE

Member
Only "Issue" that I have is with the acoustics. I can't help but notice the fans when I game on my PS4, they're not "Loud" but they aren't quiet.
 

BibiMaghoo

Member
It that discolouration not a moisture thing? Like, if i have slightly moist hands and touch my console on that plastic, it would look the same?

I've seen this on mine, but it is not consistent - as in it doesn't stay there - and was not present on the console out the box.Seems weird it could be such an uneven finish out the box.
 
In regards to the PS4 unit, no, I don't think so. The thing looks slick as hell.
I finally was able to hold one this weekend, it's a thing of beauty.

That said, I am worried about multiple complaints of DS4 sticks easily wearing out.
Not sure yet, but this might be a real issue.
 
1) Weak rubber coating on triggers
2) Sticky shoulder buttons due to gunk accumulation?

Is a controller issue and not a PS4 build issue. If the question is did Sony go to cheap or didn't do enough QA on the controller then I can see the argument but for the console your argument consists of wobblegate and something about the finish not being up to snuff?

Yeah nah it's fine. I'm more curious what the failure rates are like
 
K

kittens

Unconfirmed Member
The console is totally fine, but the controller has issues. The R1 button on all three of my controllers sticks.
 
Unusual because normally the first hardware revision looks impressive and then it's cheapened over time. How bad will the next revision be if the first revision is like this?

I thought the original PS3 looked great and everything after that just looked cheaper. The materials, surfaces and select - home - start buttons of the OG 3DS are superior to the 3DS XL. The 3DS XL in general is incredibly cheap looking to me.
 

Steiner84

All 26 hours. Multiple times.
1 and 2 are controller issues not ps4 issues
3 has nothing to do with cheap build quality. I dont think it would be more costly to place the feets somewhere else. Its a deliberate design choice.
4 is a fair point but have not encountered it myself (1 and 2 also not on my two launch controllers, but its clearly an issue for others)
 
It's $399 for an awesome, powerful console with some of the best first party studios in the world, great features and possibly slick PS1 and PS2 emulation locally on the device. If you get a bad finish, return it for a new one until you get a normal looking one. They exist since I've never seen finish issues on the dozen or so I've seen in the wild.

If that doesn't work for you, repaint or slap a skin on the damn thing and call it a day. Or just hide the thing away to the side somewhere. If you're looking at the device and not the sweet ass games, you're doing it wrong.
 
I knocked the silver/white bit of plastic which makes out the playstation logo (on the top of the console) off by just dusting the bloody thing..
 

EagleEyes

Member
I believe so. They definitely tried to offset the money they put in the tech with cheap plastics and build quality imo. The device is still great and I think its the best actual piece of hardware and controller that Sony has put out but not in terms of build quality and doesn't feel anywhere near the quality that my original PS3 did.
 

Minions

Member
Only "Issue" that I have is with the acoustics. I can't help but notice the fans when I game on my PS4, they're not "Loud" but they aren't quiet.

My console is only "loud/noticeable" when the games are installing... most noticeably with shadowfall. I thought it was the fans initially... then recognized it was actually the disc drive.
 

tbm24

Member
Only downer is the rubber on the analog sticks. My left analog stick is starting to peel a bit and I very casually use the ps4 as it is :(.


Oh and with TR in particular the PS4 gets loud.
 

Gestault

Member
For $399, they've done an incredible job, as far as I'm concerned. Obviously there's technically room for improvement, but aside from the controller stick material, these are superficial things that won't have any effect on my purchase decision. This thing is cheaper than some video cards I've looked at.
 

sn00zer

Member
Only downer is the rubber on the analog sticks. My left analog stick is starting to peel a bit and I very casually use the ps4 as it is :(.


Oh and with TR in particular the PS4 gets loud.

You can sendthe controller in for a replacement its a known issue
 

EagleEyes

Member
Only "Issue" that I have is with the acoustics. I can't help but notice the fans when I game on my PS4, they're not "Loud" but they aren't quiet.
This is another thing about the PS4 that bothers me a little. When i'm playing Killzone the fans get pretty loud and my wife even commented on the noise it was making lol.
 

SEGAvangelist

Gold Member
None of this is a huge deal for me, but I wanted to point out that the boxing for the console is really crappy as well, especially when you compare it to the XB1 boxing. I'm glad Sony prioritized what's inside over anything else, though.
 

KePoW

Banned
Only "Issue" that I have is with the acoustics. I can't help but notice the fans when I game on my PS4, they're not "Loud" but they aren't quiet.

Is it louder than launch PS3s?

I sure hope not. Don't have a PS4 yet but I hate the fan noise in my 60gb PS3.
 

plainr_

Member
Eww. I've never really looked closely at the plastics but is it really uneven like that? I sure don't notice that on mine.

1) Weak rubber coating on triggers

I think you mean the rubber coating on the sticks. Don't think there are any coatings of any kind on the triggers.
 

npa189

Member
The PS4 is the anti-PS3 in every way possible. While the build quality is significantly cheaper, it is still pretty good, not fat-PS3 good, but still okay. The Blu-ray drive sounds cheap, and my first unit had bad bearings in it or something. I don't get this controller complaining, I have two DS4s that are perfectly fine. Don't dig your thumbnails into the sticks? and wash your hands once in a while?
 
I haven't had any such problems with mine, other than the wobble--which isn't so much a problem as it is a design decision... they planned the rubber foot pad between the shiny portion of the PlayStation and the matte portion. It doesn't wobble that easily, and it's minimal. Besides, I keep mine upright, so it's generally not an issue for me. As far as your other points, I haven't had any issues with my triggers, and neither have my friends. The sticks I'll agree with as an issue, though I preemptively bought some grip it stick pads to avoid this (also makes my thumbs less prone to slipping off).

In short, no.
 

Neff

Member
PS4 -and DS4 particularly- represent the first time that I've questioned Sony's to date excellent design and manufacturing processes. While their products might not always have the greatest long-term life expectancy or durability, out of the box and for some time after, they usually look, feel and work really good. At a guess, I'd say it's the first big sign that Sony is compromising the luxury feel synonymous with the company and the accompanying costs to help reverse their current ill fortunes. But it's still a decent piece of hardware, considering what you're paying.

The PS4 is the anti-PS3 in every way possible. While the build quality is significantly cheaper, it is still pretty good, not fat-PS3 good, but still okay.

Dead-on with that one.
 

Aces&Eights

Member
Meh, it plays my games perfectly. Thats all i can about. Could come in a god damned cardboard box for all I care.

This. I care about performance. The thing works great and I really go at it when switching apps and games. It doesn't lag or crash. It could have Hello Kitty painted on it and I could not care less.
 
Haven't had any trouble with the console. Seems like a very quality build, especially for the price. The controller could use a revision, however.
 

Cat Party

Member
No doubt they cut corners to get the price down so low. The question to me is whether it was worth it for the savings. I expect most people would emphatically say "yes."
 

jonezer4

Member
The console is totally fine, but the controller has issues. The R1 button on all three of my controllers sticks.

This. The console sits somewhere and you touch it never. I couldn't care less. But the controllers, while otherwise magical, need to actually hold up to some wear and tear and have a few significant faults. The grip on my thumbsticks is gone. It used to stick so well to my fingers, now it just slides off, like it's been sanded.

I don't get this controller complaining, I have two DS4s that are perfectly fine. Don't dig your thumbnails into the sticks? and wash your hands once in a while?
You and your sample size of two have earned the right to assume anyone with a faulty controller is a violent, dirty mongrel. Do you understand how asinine that is?
 

VanWinkle

Member
Yes. It's a great design, but unfortunately feels and, in some cases looks, a little cheap.

The controller feels and looks really high quality, though, which is weird.
 
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