I have to say that I have enjoyed every second of using my PS5 since I got it at launch in November 2020. I think it is a great piece of hardware with some fantastic first-party exclusives such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart which was my Game of 2021.
However, I will say that I was extremely disappointed to discover that the console didn't support VRR at launch (or the internal SSD expansion for that matter) as I cannot stand screen tearing. I find it so distracting and notice even mild tearing, more so since I bought a 55" TV for current gen gaming. Playing games such as Assassin's Creed: Valhalla at 60 fps was great on PS5 but sadly marred by ugly bouts of screen tearing on the PS5. Far Cry 6 released last month is perhaps the worst offender; the PS5 version is pretty much unplayable for me. Thankfully, most PS5 games are well-optimised and run at 60 fps with v-sync but there are some games such as Resident Evil Village with RT on that feel stuttery. VRR would help not only with tearing but also framerate dips below 60 fps.
The lack of VRR support is the main reason I bought an Xbox Series X in December. This will be my third-party platform of choice from now on (especially for UbiSoft games as they seem to have a thing for screen tearing!) as VRR works flawlessly on my LG B9 (from August 2019, Sony!!!). For the past few weeks I've been enjoyed tear-free, stutter-free gaming on what is arguably. in my humble opinion, the best console hardware this generation, not in terms of performance but basic features. VRR, ALLM and expandable SSD storage were there from launch on Xbox Series consoles and not added many months down the line like on PS5. Far Cry 6 and AC: Valhalla all run smoothly without tearing on Xbox Series X as does WRC 10 and other games I've tested which had screen tearing on PS5. For me, it's a transformative experience in the same way as it was on my PC back in 2017 when I bought my first G-SYNC display.
Sony have certainly been dragging their heels with VRR and I fear that by the time it is implemented on PS5 that many developers will not support it as a standard. Personally, I found the excuse that VRR is late because it isn't supported on Sony TVs and they didn't want their owners to have a lesser experience than owners of other TVs to be suspect at best and downright insulting at worst. I mean most people buying a PS5 will already own a TV so few people are going to rush out a buy an (in my opinion, overpriced) Sony TV just for VRR support.. If they own a 55"+ Samsung or LG (like I do) from the last two years then they will likely already have a TV capable of VRR. My Xbox One X has supported VRR for four years and I was using it with my LG B9 back in August 2019 (Wolfenstein 2 was fantastic with VRR)!
I certainly will not be holding my breath for VRR on PS5 as I suspect it'll be some weird variant that only works properly on Sony TVs. I honestly would not put that past Sony at this point. I guess we'll see. The 32 GB/sec of bandwidth for HDMI 2.1 that the PS5 has available is certainly a concern though; will VRR be limited to 40-60 Hz only? Sure, it'll be fine for most people but the Xbox Series X already supports 4K 120 Hz with HDR and VRR and it works seamlessly on my 2019 TV so being limited to 60 Hz would be a letdown, particularly as VRR is needed more for 120 Hz games as that framerate is much harder to lock at.