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Door staff@engadget.com (Thomas Godwin) - 26 Sep 2026
The practical differences mostly concern stability and which console you own. Vertical generally saves space and is useful in a narrow entertainment center or if your gaming area is crowded. But this also makes the system easier to knock over. If you have rowdy dogs or particularly adventurous children, a vertical placement might be asking for trouble. Using the stand included with the PS5 and Series X will help, but it's not a perfect solution for sugar-fueled kids.
On the flipside, horizontal works well beneath a TV for aesthetics and uniformity. While it may gobble up more real estate, it has a much lower center of gravity and is thus the more stable option. If your choices are limited to the edge of a desk, beneath a TV or low enough that a wagging dog tail can spell doom, go with horizontal.
The argument that a disc-capable console must sit horizontally to properly read discs is no longer as relevant as it once was. Today's consoles are designed to work in either orientation, plus they only read discs when installing games or to quickly verify ownership when starting a disc-based title. The small advantage of horizontal here is that it's easier to remember which way the disc goes (label up) compared to vertical (label to the left). Besides, with Sony giving physical media fans a gigantic digital middle finger, inserting discs will be a moot point for the PlayStation crowd in the future.
In short, positive airflow and cable placement, along with the necessary shelf space, should be your primary concerns.
On the flipside, horizontal works well beneath a TV for aesthetics and uniformity. While it may gobble up more real estate, it has a much lower center of gravity and is thus the more stable option. If your choices are limited to the edge of a desk, beneath a TV or low enough that a wagging dog tail can spell doom, go with horizontal.
The argument that a disc-capable console must sit horizontally to properly read discs is no longer as relevant as it once was. Today's consoles are designed to work in either orientation, plus they only read discs when installing games or to quickly verify ownership when starting a disc-based title. The small advantage of horizontal here is that it's easier to remember which way the disc goes (label up) compared to vertical (label to the left). Besides, with Sony giving physical media fans a gigantic digital middle finger, inserting discs will be a moot point for the PlayStation crowd in the future.
In short, positive airflow and cable placement, along with the necessary shelf space, should be your primary concerns.