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The build quality of the PS4 is horrible

It looks nice, is small, doesn't have a brick, doesn't make much noise, and is more powerful than the alternative.

I don't understand complaints regarding it making noise when you move it. It's not supposed to.

It doesn't have the overheating issues the original Xbox 360 build had. It seems like a great build to me.

Edit: I also own an Xbox One and like the PS4 controller more. The build quality seems better, and the triggers make more sense. The bumper placement on the Xbox One controller is horrible.
 
Saint of Killers said:
Sorry to hear about your PS4, OP. I had problems with my first pad too (L analogue rubber peeled, L1 and R2 stuck for a split second with each press and, the final straw, R2 hinge broke) but, your description of the console itself... it's like you're partly describing the experience I had with my PS3. That thing creaked if you looked at it! Personally I've had no such issues with the PS4, and the drive accepts and ejects discs really smoothly too. Maybe look into getting your PS4 replaced?
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Yeah I might have to, I'm a bit miffed about it since I've taken good care of it and haven't gamed on it very much at all. The disc drive thing is really annoying and I don't know if the machine is still under warranty (launch console).
 
Sad to hear this, but not really surprising considering sonys history. I think i had 5 ps1s and 3 ps2s, so their consoles have always had this problem in my experience. Was late to the ps3, and still on my first of those incredibly enough.
 
I really want to know what some folks are doing with theirs. Mine looks exactly as it was the day I got it. A bit of dust, but that comes from not touching the thing.

The build quality is such that if you just leave it alone to do its thing you shouldn't have a problem. Same with those controllers. I have two day ones, and they are in perfect condition.
 
I have two launch controllers in pristine condition, no sticky or creaking buttons, and my console doesn't wobble. Only issue I have is the glossy part scratches so easily.
 
Radec said:
The WiiU is the worse of all 3 in terms of build quality. Cheap all around.
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..
No.

Anyway, yes the PS4 uses quite the cheapo plastics.

original


And the wobbly design as well mean they cut some corners when building the machine.

However I feel it is quite sturdy. It feels dense as well, as it is weighty for its size. And if it's just sitting under the TV, it does its job well.

I'm happy that it has an integrated powerbrick and only needs a standard thin power cable.

My model is blessed with being silent, compared to how some people describe theirs. Mine is really silent, more silent than any PS3 I've owned (original and slim).

The controller also doesn't feel cheap for me. It is an incredible surprise from Sony. Sixaxis, that's a terribly cheap controller. DS4 is not. And my sticks didn't peel either, which makes me think the problem is solved in newer batches, or I just got lucky.
Battery life is beyond shit though. Embarrassing. Feels like it lasts less than a Wii U Gamepad.
 
omonimo said:
Yeah, they are sensible to the human heat temperature. I found touch sensitive pretty vague. I don't know, maybe because english it's not my native language.
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Yeah. I ask because I see they're being called buttons and I remember after launch on forums some were complaining that they're hard to push in. lol.
 
My main problem as of now are the noise (thought it was a TLOU thing but the same shit is happening with DA:I), i absolutely despise the buttons and the controller battery life is a joke

Other than that is decent
 
T.O.P said:
My main problem as of now are the noise (thought it was a TLOU thing but the same shit is happening with DA:I), i absolutely despise the buttons and the controller battery life is a joke

Other than that is decent
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I don't understand how the DS4 lasts only 7 hours and the Pro Controller can go for 80+ hours. I get that the DS4 has a light and stronger rumble, but that disparity is massive and shouldn't be THAT big. The controller is always on the charging dock, it bothers me that I can just charge it and game with for weeks without worrying.
 
do you have by chance a launch system? i got one and i bought the destiny bundle recently, the difference in quality is pretty large. The creaking plastic on system is not present at all in the destiny bundle, the poorly build launch controller is completely different than the white one. its also much quieter and produce a lot less heat.
 
It's a good piece of engineering and design, but the cost-cutting and absence of 'premium' feel over the PS3 is obvious. It still feels well made and robust to me. Haven't had any problems with the controller yet, either. Although I have heard many, many horror stories.

It's a cheap and cheerful console, the best one Sony could have made without nearly destroying their games division again.

edit: Although after reading the above post, maybe I should clarify that my model was purchased a couple of months ago.
 
Eh. The PS4 isn't a high-end item like some other Sony items. It's a mass market thing and is treated as such. (I did enjoy the glossy, "luxurious" feel of the big old PS3, though.)
 
It's almost like people are running out of things to groan about. Unreal

Anyway, system is sleek and does everything I want it to do, no red rings or red lines or anything like that.

So imo build quality = stable
 
Lo-Volt said:
Eh. The PS4 isn't a high-end item like some other Sony items. It's a mass market thing and is treated as such. (I did enjoy the glossy, "luxurious" feel of the big old PS3, though.)
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Even back in the "Walkman"days Sony's stuff was premium.

It's sad to see them go "mass market thing".
 
MercuryLS said:
Sony really dropped the ball here, the PS4 may be the most powerful current gen system but you wouldn't think it by looking at the console and controller. My biggest issues is with the DS4 and how the triggers creak and the analogues wear out quickly. The console itself is made with creaky plastics and the disc drive isn't smooth when it comes to inserting and ejecting a disc. I've already got a problem where when when insert a disc the machine struggles to suck the disc in. My wii u on the other hand is smooth for both. Didn't Sony invent the damn disc format? Why did they use the shittiest drive of all time on their premier console?

I like the system a lot, but it's built like garbage and Sony should have spent a few extra bucks making a more robust console and controller.

/rant
Click to expand...


Hmmm yeah your kinda right I have prob had maybe 20 hours use since launch and already I have the R2 squeek and have had the eject problem and it does sound kinda clunky when ejecting etc
 
I have to admit that it doesn't have the same premium item feel that my fatty ps3 has. I like the ps4 design more but it is and feels cheaper.
 
Can't say I have the same problems as the OP, but I have my PS4 only since September (white). I have seen quite a few reports about the DS4 problems, but aren't the newer ones supposed to be much better in that aspect?
As per the drive, no problem or "cheap" feel to report either...
 
If the choice was between better hardware components or better plastic, I'd choose the former. As long as it looks fine from a distance, I couldn't care less about the shell's quality. For the next 6 years, it's going to be sitting under my TV playing games. How often are you picking up your console anyway that creaky plastic is of note?
 
It is pretty cheap looking and feeling. But the console seems reliable--knocks on wood--and they looking to make money on the hardware quicker after the PS3 debacle.
 
Is it normal for the L2 trigger to make a creaking sound whenever it's pressed? It's driving me batty. The R2 trigger doesn't do the same thing when I press it.
 
Not only is it not horrible, it's one of the best designs and build qualities of any console I've ever owned.

If we want to talk about bad build design, let's talk about the 3DSXL. That thing is a pile of shit.
 
I don't get it. What's so cheap about it? People complained a lot more about the glossy premium PS3 because of the scratches than about the PS3 slim. I'm not sure if people accidently mix up the words "cheap" and "reasonable". I can't blame them because it does sound similar.
If anything the PS4 probably won't have a RROD/YLOD like manufacturing error and will probably work for a long, long time.
 
kingkaiser said:
Well, Sony still is in a bad financiel situation (they were even more so in the last two years, when they actually designed the PS4).

To remain competitive in the console market they had to build a machine with a good price-performance ratio.

So it's no wonder they went cheap for peripheral parts like gamepad and console casing.
Click to expand...

Lol.
 
Put me in the dissenting opinion camp I guess. I think the build seems fine. As far as I can tell there's no discoloration in the plastic on my console, and I just had a good look at it up close about a week ago when I installed a new hard drive. Holding it, it felt pretty solid and weighty. I personally haven't had any problem with the disc drive, apart from it being a little noisey when I put a disc in. The slot loader in my car is definitely much quieter.

As for the console shape, I think it's fine although I'd prefer the rear was flat instead of angled like the rest. Makes finding ports when fingering around from the front a bit annoying.

The DS4 I heartily disagree about it feeling cheap. The DS3 felt cheap to me. Just a little torsion in the hands and it would flex and bend and seem like it could snap in half. The DS4 feels much more weighty and solid to me, although I freely admit the battery life is a joke compared to the DS3. I'm thinking of replacing the battery, personally. I do have a trigger that creaks which is pretty annoying but my 360 controller made a higher pitched squeaking noise after a couple years too so it just seems par for the course. I should also point out I have had no issue with the sticks disintegrating on me either.
 
the launch DS4 is fucking shit. left stick no longer worked consistently after about a year and the L/R triggers were squeaking. i bought the white DS4 and it feels so much better compared to the launch one. Sticks and triggers feel better.
 
It actually seems to be really well made to me and thats based on me carting the thing all over the dang place. At least 3 times a week I am moving the console to other family members houses or friends and I am surprised how sturdy it is.
 
Taker34 said:
I don't get it. What's so cheap about it? People complained a lot more about the glossy premium PS3 because of the scratches than about the PS3 slim. I'm not sure if people accidently mix up the words "cheap" and "reasonable". I can't blame them because it does sound similar.
If anything the PS4 probably won't have a RROD/YLOD like manufacturing error and will probably work for a long, long time.
Click to expand...
I was going to say that I remember seeing loads of complaints about the fat PS3s glossy shell because it gets scratched easily. People also complained about the size and said the shell was cheap, now im reading comments that people prefer the old fatty design? confused im going to log off now lol.
 
BruceLeeRoy said:
It actually seems to be really well made to me and thats based on me carting the thing all over the dang place. At least 3 times a week I am moving the console to other family members houses or friends and I am surprised how sturdy it is.
Click to expand...

your HDMI and power ports don't seem any looser?
 
Knocked my PS4 twice around. Still working. Using my launch DS4 a year now and still working. So no OP, build quality is not horrible. It's pretty great to be honest.
 
BruceLeeRoy said:
It actually seems to be really well made to me and thats based on me carting the thing all over the dang place. At least 3 times a week I am moving the console to other family members houses or friends and I am surprised how sturdy it is.
Click to expand...
this is a silent wii u bashing post isn't it
 
Radec said:
The WiiU is the worse of all 3 in terms of build quality. Cheap all around.
Click to expand...

Compared to the PS4? If you have them sitting side by side, try lifting the Wii U up. Then do the same with the PS4. For good measure, try flexing the plastic a little. While the PS4's plastic quite noticeably bends and creaks, the Wii U's doesn't.

Wii U's build quality issues stretch as far as its bumpers. For PS4, it's creaky plastic, cheap nasty thumb stick rubber, a whiny Blu-Ray drive and a power supply that clicks loudly when the console powers on/off.

Tobor said:
Not only is it not horrible, it's one of the best designs and build qualities of any console I've ever owned.
Click to expand...

Not even on par with Sony's previous consoles.
 
Mr E. said:
Even back in the "Walkman"days Sony's stuff was premium.

It's sad to see them go "mass market thing".
Click to expand...

Well, wait, almost every PlayStation made was pretty "cheap", wasn't it? The original and the second had some brittle plastics too, if I remember correctly. A lot of PS1 users have some stories about Sony "workmanship".
 
I bought the white Destiny bundle a few months back. DS4 has been perfect so far. Console seems sturdy. No disc drive issues.

*shrug*

Maybe the white consoles were a minor revision?
 
Officerrob said:
Wait, some people seriously think the PS4 is quiet?
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People saying it's "whisper quiet" makes me wonder if they actually play on it, or just watch streams/Netflix. Mine is sitting on an open space and still takes off like a jet for anything I play that's not the monthly PS+ Made-in-Flash free game, and it's definitely not defective or it would have caught fire already after some longer gaming sessions.

Not that I'm complaining, I'd actually be worried (or impressed) if it didn't do any noise. Compared to my non-slim 360, it's very acceptable.
 
daman824 said:
Definitely feels cheap. The system feels like cheap plastic smashed together. The power and eject button are also hilariously poor.
Click to expand...

That was my first impression when i saw it in the wild. The PS3 looked awesome, it looked like an expensive bit of kit. The PS4 looks and feels cheap as shit. You can tell they were really cutting down the costs straight out the gate.

Oh and the alignment of the inputs / outputs in the case were laughably bad, it looked like some cheap knock off chinese system. Not doubting it works fine but it definitely does not exude quality.
 
ReBurn said:
I can't imagine there's a lot of reason for most people to take one apart. What an odd question.
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Yes but apparently there are good reasons to shine bright lights on it, push down on one corner of it, squeeze it, and all sorts of other hilarious crap to prove a problem that doesn't exist... OP talks about "cheap plastic" like it's cracking or flaking or peeling or breaking, but nope just
"seems cheap"
Ok.
 
EASTC0AST_GH05T said:
don't praise it just buy a 3rd one and then complain about it some more.
Click to expand...

I don't care what brand is on a console as long as it works for at least the warranty period!

So far 3xDS4 and 2xPS4 with a one hour wait for Sony to answer the phone each time and then a couple of weeks wait for the replacement to turn up. Could be better tbh.
 
MercuryLS said:
Sony really dropped the ball here, the PS4 may be the most powerful current gen system but you wouldn't think it by looking at the console and controller. My biggest issues is with the DS4 and how the triggers creak and the analogues wear out quickly. The console itself is made with creaky plastics and the disc drive isn't smooth when it comes to inserting and ejecting a disc. I've already got a problem where when when insert a disc the machine struggles to suck the disc in. My wii u on the other hand is smooth for both. Didn't Sony invent the damn disc format? Why did they use the shittiest drive of all time on their premier console?

I like the system a lot, but it's built like garbage and Sony should have spent a few extra bucks making a more robust console and controller.

/rant
Click to expand...

Agree OP and it's why I sold mine off and am currently waiting for a revision... If they ever do one that is

It's amazing how much shit the X1 got when it's quite honestly such a more premium in some regards like build quality and how quiet it truly is (hint: it's fucking silent)
Shame about not having enough of them "Ps" in some games, but I'd gladly take everything else anyway......

And this is coming from someone who was a blatant Sony whore last gen and didn't care for the 360
 
No problem for me here. Only if it didn't wobble when I press on it. Just kidding just kidding. But I do remember feeling it did feel a little cheap especially compared to my xbox one.
 
I must admit when I bought it (at launch) the quality was a little jarring considering what I paid. It looks nice enough from a distance but certainly lacks the "premium" feel I would expect (good example of this is the og ps3 phat; that felt premium to me).
Plus there's also the wobble which, I know, isn't an issue unless you push the corner down; But as someone in product design, it seems like an oversight to me! :)

On the controller I havn't had analogue stick problems but I agree the triggers feel a bit tacky and do creak. Also the battery life is unbelievabley poor considering the price but I guess they had to cut corners somewhere, knowing what's inside hardware wise.

Edit: Disc drive is also hella loud for DVDs sometimes and the load/eject mechanism sounds clunky. Not usually simmering I expect from Sony. Minor quibbles though. I'd rather have a few niggles on the surface and more spent on the inside anyday ;)
 
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