Difference Between PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4

Introduction

When it comes to the world of video games and gaming consoles, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s PlayStation ranks among the top-most available brands in the market. Other leading manufacturers like Nintendo and Microsoft have broadened the horizon of innovation and creativity by releasing some of the fastest computing and graphics processors. Throughout the years, these companies have continued to innovate and pioneer to provide gamers with an immersive gaming experience. This has been brought to reality through the upgradation and modification of the existing consoles in the market to be able to meet the specific demands of gamers effectively.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 are two of the most popular gaming consoles available since 2006 and compete based on some significant features like the design, overall performance, processor, and RAM, among other factors. On 6 January 2014, PlayStation 4 was released as a successor to PlayStation 3, promising a performance leap along with other attractive features, claiming itself as one of the key rivals in the gaming console market.

Other competitors of PlayStation in the market include the Microsoft Xbox series, Nintendo Switch, Alienware, Oculus, etc. PlayStation has established its position by offering several lucrative features and, therefore, making it a good choice for gaming and entertainment purposes.

PlayStation 3 vs. PlayStation 4

Both the video-gaming consoles respectively belong to the seventh and eighth generations of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s PlayStation. One of the primary differences between PS3 and PS4 is regarding the media files used by each of them. PS3 supports Blu-Ray Discs, DVDs, Compact Discs, etc., whereas PS4 supports only Blu-Ray and DVDs. The PS4 gaming console has relatively more advanced hardware than the PS3, with more enhanced graphics and overall improved performance. Online services like Play Station Network provided by PS4 are considered to be more robust with a wide array of digital content. An important feature is the social sharing encouraged by PS4, for which it has added a share button to be able to interact better.

Other features include the increased memory storage of 256 MB, which PlayStation 3 has, while PlayStation 4 provides 8GB GDDR5 storage and 256 MB DDR3 RAM storage for background tasks. Also, the Bluetooth upgradation with PS3 using Bluetooth 2.0 and PS4 with a 2.1 version. All these features combined provide an unmatched video-gaming experience to the users.

Difference between PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Tabular Form

Parameters of Comparison	PlayStation 3	PlayStation 4
Date of release	November 2006	November 2013
Generation	Seventh	Eighth
Storage	Non-removable 12 GB NAND flash memory, 500 GB capacity	500 GB, 1 TB (HDD; SSD)
Size and dimensions	PS3 Slim is larger and faster: 29cm wide, 29cm deep, and 6.5mm	27.5cm wide, 30.5cm deep, and 5.3cm tall
CPU/Processor	3.3 GHz IBM Cell Broadband Engine	AMD Jaguar 1.6 GHz 8 core (max 2.7 GHz)
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g	Faster Wi-Fi connectivity with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Gaming Library	Has a better and more impressive collection of games, being an older console.	The gaming line-up is relatively smaller than PS3, added later
Media Files	Allows to play videos stored on memory sticks and external devices, which is relatively better.	This is only possible through the Plex App, which plays MP4 files.
Graphic Processor	RSX Reality Synthesizer from NVidia	800 MHz AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next Engine
Models	3 main models include the original model, the slim model, and the Super Slim model	Standard PS4, PS4 Slim, PS4 Pro
Controller input	Sixaxis, Dual Shock3, Dual Shock4 (Bluetooth), Logitech Driving Force GT, etc.	Dual Shock 4 with heavier battery, large touchscreen, new headphone jack port, and Share Play functionality.
Backward Compatibility	PlayStation (all models); Play Station 2 20 GB, 60 GB AND 80 GB models)	Not compatible with older consoles; however, can access PS3 games through PS Now, a cloud-based streaming system.
Memory	256 MB XDR DRAM system and 256 MB GDDR3 video	8 GB GDDR5 RAM
USB	4 USB 2.0 ports	2 USB 3.1 ports, which also transfer up to 80% more power
Display	Mostly 720p, and only a few are 1080p; relatively poor pixels than PS4.	480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p (PS4 & Slim); and 4K UHD (Pro)
PlayStation VR	Not compatible	Compatible with PS4 and PS5 (backwards compatibility)
Built-in Mic	The PS3 camera has been provided with a built-in microphone.	Not applicable.

What is PlayStation 3?

The PlayStation3, or PS3, is the seventh-generation home video game console first released by Sony Interactive Entertainment on November 11, 2006. This was the predecessor to PS4, and during the time of its release, it reigned the gaming market with its powerful video-game system, along with additional unique features like the PlayStation 3 Network and games. Some famous PS3 games included the Mobile Suit Gundam, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom, etc. All PS3 models are backward compatible with PS1, and only the PS3 Slim is compatible with both PS1 and PS2. The PS3 console was discontinued a few years ago, with the PS4 as its new successor promising even better performance and usability.

Models of PlayStation 3

The three models provided under PS3 include-

• PS3 Original- This was named the “Phat” model due to its heaviness and comes with various hard-drive sizes, which include the 20 GB, 40GB, 60GB, 80GB, AND 160GB versions. As the first PS3 model, it is relatively heavier than the other two models and is the largest console Sony ever made.
• PS3 Slim- The PS3 Slim was released in September 2009 with a PS3 logo engraved on the cover and features 120 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB, and 320 GB variants. This is only backward compatible with PS1 games with a quieter cooling system. It is also considered to be relatively lighter than the original PS3, as is self-suggestive by the name of the model.
• PS3 Super Slim- Considered to be even lighter and thinner than the PS3 Slim, the PS3 Super Slim has a sliding disc cover contrary to the mechanical disc drive present in the previous two versions. It also includes a great gaming library along with providing multiple streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, VUDU, etc.

What is PlayStation 4?

The PlayStation 4 is the predecessor to the latest gaming console launched in 2021, the PlayStation 5, with few of its models still available in the market today. During its release, the PS4 stood out due to its high-speed graphics processor with a Radeon DirectX11 and 1GB memory as compared to the NVIDIA 7800 RSX engine of PS3 with 256 GB of memory.

The PlayStation Network is equally accessible by both PS3 and PS4 to download apps like Netflix, Facebook, etc. One of the features which has significantly changed in comparison to the earlier PS3 console is the controllers. The PS4 controller, called the PS4 Dual Shock, has an added game DVR share button along with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Lastly, the PS4 gaming console comes with better connectivity and is considered a good option for gaming and entertainment purposes.

Models of PlayStation 4

The PS4 console also provides three models, namely-

• Standard PS4- With its high-dynamic range (HDR) and powerful graphic processor, the original PS4 was released in 2013, with a wide collection of games, and is modern and similar in size to the second-generation PS3. It is supported by 8 GB of DDR5 RAM and a 500 GB hard drive. Similar to the other models, the PlayStation 4 supports only Blu-Ray and DVD along with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity.
• PS4 Slim- It is one of the models still available in the market and was upgraded following PlayStation 4 due to it getting outdated. With a more compact fit of the PS4 Slim, it is considered suitable for media centers and runs without making much noise, as well as consuming less power in comparison to the standard PS4. As is self-suggestive, the PS4 Slim is relatively compact and has both 1 TB and 500 GB hard drives available. Overall, the PS4 provides an immersive gaming experience.
• PS4 Pro- The PS4 Pro model is signified by its 4k capabilities to enjoy gaming and entertainment as well as faster frame rates. It comes with 1 TB storage and only supports the Blu-Ray and DVD drives like other PS4 models. The HDR TV allows for a range of vibrant colors and life-like details. Lastly, the replacement of touch capacitive buttons with plastic is an important feature of PS4 Pro, which was discontinued in 2021.

Main Difference Between Playstation 3 and Playstation 4 in Points

• While PlayStation 3 belongs to the seventh generation of gaming consoles, PlayStation 4 falls under the eighth generation.
•  The first PS3 gaming console was released in November 2006, whereas the PS4 console was first released in November 2013.
•  The PS3 Slim version is larger and faster as compared to the PS4, with a dimension of 29cm wide, 29cm deep, and 6.5mm, whereas the PS4 console is 27.5cm wide, 30.5cm deep, and 5.3cm tall.
•  The PlayStation VR or the virtual reality headset is only compatible with PS4 and PS5 via backward compatibility and does not exist as a feature with PS3.
•  The graphics processor of PS4 is comparatively better than PS3 due to its speed and the ability to display videos and movies. The PS3 console has an RSX Reality Synthesizer from Nvidia, while the PS4 has AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next Engine.
•  PS3 is a suitable choice when it comes to backward compatibility as the higher-end models can run certain PS2 games of the older console. On the contrary, the PS4 console does not provide backward compatibility, and to play PS3 or PS2 games, the available option is to use Sony PlayStation Now, which provides a cloud-based streaming service to its users.
•  The Controller input supported by PS3 includes Sixaxis, Dual Shock3, Dual Shock4 (Bluetooth), Logitech Driving Force GT, etc., whereas PS4 is supported by the Dual Shock 4 with a heavier battery, large touchscreen, new headphone jack port, and Share Play functionality.
•  The three main models provided under PlayStation 3 include the Original, Slim, and Super Slim. PlayStation also has three versions: Standard PS4, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro.
•  PS3 provides 4 USB 2.0 ports, while PS4 provides 2 USB 3.1 ports.
•  The PS4 Controller has not been provided with a built-in mic, whereas the PS3 camera has been provided with a built-in microphone.
•  The CPU has a 3.3 GHz IBM Cell Broadband Engine, the PS3 console, whereas the PS4 console includes an AMD Jaguar 1.6 GHz 8-core processor.
•  A custom-made cell architecture is another distinguishable feature of Sony PS4, in contrast to the x86-based chip, which is also used in Windows PC as well as Xbox One.

Conclusion

The gaming industry has boomed in the last few years, with newer models and updated versions being released every year by the leading video game manufacturers around the world. The PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 offer various unique features and, like other gaming consoles available today, are not only restricted to the world of gaming but are also used for browsing the internet, watching movies, etc. These video gaming consoles are considered like a computer as they also have a hard drive along with an operating system. The functionality of a gaming console is, therefore, very similar to that of a computer. The enhanced performance of the PS4 console assures its users that it will certainly last for a long time. 

PS3 has been criticized for its high price; however, it has been commended for its great hardware as well as its good graphics. The launch of PlayStation4 as a successor to the earlier PlayStation3 has provided its users with a performance leap as well as a usability leap and is considered more powerful than its predecessor, i.e., PS3. This gas has been achieved as a result of optimization in the processor, hardware, storage, display, better controller touchpad, etc., which allowed it to establish its position as one of the best video game consoles available in the market.