PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Comparing the Differences

I’ve been a fan of PlayStation consoles for nearly three decades. In this rundown of the PS5 versus the PS5 Slim, I’m here to guide you through which model might suit your gaming style best.

With the PS5 Pro making its debut, it’s a good time to consider the PS5 or PS5 Slim. These robust systems might just get more affordable, with deals or permanent price cuts likely on the table. Knowing what features you’re signing up for, and what you might be missing out on, is crucial when considering a longstanding investment like the PS5 or PS5 Slim.

### PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Price
Let’s talk numbers first. The classic, original PS5 has been offered in two flavors: a digital-only version without a disc drive, and one with the traditional disc drive. You’ll find the same choices with the newer PS5 Slim. Despite launching a refreshed model, Sony hasn’t slashed prices on these slim models. The PS5 Slim with a disc drive still retails at $499, while its digital-only sibling goes for $449—making it $50 pricier than the first digital-only PS5.

– PS5 Slim (No Disc Drive) – $449
– PS5 Slim (With Disc Drive) – $499
– Original PS5 (No Disc Drive) – $399
– Original PS5 (With Disc Drive) – $499

Even though the digital-only Slim shaves a bit off your spend compared to its disc-drive companion, it’s still more costly compared to 2020’s digital-only edition. There’s also a peculiarity: opting for the digital model and later buying a separate disc drive will burn a bigger hole in your pocket than simply getting the integrated disc-drive version upfront. Don’t ask me why—it boggles the mind.

My suggestion? If you’ve got your eyes set on a $399 PS5, now is the time to scoop one up before stocks run dry. Once those are gone, expect the slim models to take over retail shelves.

### PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Size
Size is often a big talking point among gamers, so let’s dig in. According to Sony’s official numbers, the new PS5 is more compact than its precursor:

– 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 height x 390mm width x 260mm depth
– PS5 Slim (Digital Version): 80mm height x 358mm width x 216mm depth

Sony touts a 30% volume reduction, which sounds impressive, right? However, something to keep in mind is that, according to The Verge’s comparison, both new models remain bigger than the Xbox Series X. So while it’s slimmer, it’s not exactly petite.

For visuals, there’s this cool Reddit post showcasing a side-by-side of the PS5 Slim and the regular version.

### PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Performance and Storage
Switching gears to performance, both new PS5 models operate with the same guts as the originals. So, if you were worried about game performance differences, you can rest easy—this isn’t akin to the jump between the PS4 and PS4 Pro.

A sweet little upgrade, however, lies in storage. The original PS5 featured 825GB of storage space, expandable via external SSDs—suddenly not too shabby, right? Well, the new models hit the market with a full 1TB of internal storage, so squeezing in a few extra games should be no problem depending on their size.

### PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Disc Drive
In line with the initial PS5 launch at the end of 2020, the PS5 Slim comes in two models again. You can get one with a built-in disc drive or go for the digital-only option.

And there’s more! For those who like to keep physical media collections, there’s a separate detachable disc drive available for $79.99. It might not win any beauty contests, but it does the job just fine.

One thing missing from the PS5 Slim, though, is the included vertical stand that came with the original PS5. That said, most veteran gamers swear by keeping the PS5 horizontally placed, so perhaps it’s not such a big deal after all.