PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Exploring the Differences

If you’re caught in the crossfire of deciding between the PS5 and its slimmer counterpart, the PS5 Slim, you’ve come to the right place. Even with the looming launch of the souped-up PS5 Pro, nabbing one of the older models might be a strategically sound choice, particularly considering their solid performance credentials. The prospect of potential price slashes or sweet deals makes understanding what each version offers— or lacks—essential. Ready to dive in? Let’s have a crack at it.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Price

The original PS5 offers two models: a digital-only version lacking a disc drive and one with a disc drive. The PS5 Slim follows suit with similar offerings. Interestingly, Sony opted not to reduce the prices for the PS5 Slim models. The PS5 Slim with a disc drive holds steady at $499, and the digital-only version carries a slightly stiffer $449 price tag, which is a $50 increase over the original digital PS5.

• PS5 Slim (no disc drive): $449
• PS5 Slim (with disc drive): $499
• Original PS5 (no disc drive): $399
• Original PS5 (disc drive): $499

The digital-only PS5 Slim is slightly easier on your wallet compared to its disc drive sibling but doesn’t fare as well against the 2020 digital model. It somehow ends up being more expensive if you plan to buy a digital model and then add a disc drive later. Slightly puzzling, right?

My advice? If you want to snag that $399 price point, you’d better act fast. Once the current inventory of the original models sells out, they’ll be phased out in favor of the new slim ones.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Size

Size matters, especially if you’re short on shelf space. Here’s where the PS5 Slim shows its… slimness. According to Sony’s specs, the new PS5 Slim is smaller:

• Original PS5 (disc version): 104mm (height) x 390mm (width) x 260mm (depth)
• PS5 Slim (disc version): 96mm (height) x 358mm (width) x 216mm (depth)
• Original PS5 (digital version): 92mm x 390mm x 260mm
• PS5 Slim (digital version): 80mm x 358mm x 216mm

For reference, Sony claims this marks about a 30% reduction in volume, but keep in mind both versions still dwarf the Xbox Series X. So, don’t let the "slim" moniker fool you—it’s still a sizable console.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Performance and Storage

As for what’s under the hood, the new PS5s echo their predecessors exactly. We’re not talking about a PS4 vs. PS4 Pro leap here. Performance-wise, they’re identical. However, storage sees a slight uptick. The original PS5 had 825GB of storage; the newer models boast a full 1TB. That means you can stash a few more games right out of the box.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Disc Drive

Just as at the PS5’s first rodeo, the PS5 Slim also comes as a pair where one model comes with a disc drive, and the other is digital-only. What’s new is the detachable disc drive available for $79.99. Yes, it might look a bit odd, but it gets the job done. If you’re a collector of physical media, this might be a worthwhile addition.

One more thing: Unlike the original PS5, the Slim version doesn’t include a vertical stand straight out of the box. But ask any seasoned gamer, and they’ll tell you it’s better to lay it flat anyway for stability.

There’s plenty to consider as you weigh up your PS5 options. The decision largely hinges on your preference between digital and physical media and how much you value smaller size and bigger storage.