PS5 Slim trims the console, but not every price
Sony’s smaller PS5 keeps the same gaming power as the original, adds storage, and changes the math on disc drives.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Sony’s PS5 Slim is smaller than the original PlayStation 5, but buyers expecting a cheaper ride may want to check the price tag twice.
The newer model arrived after the original PS5 lineup, and with the upgraded PS5 Pro now in the mix, shoppers comparing Sony consoles have a simple question: what actually changes with the Slim?
The price gap is not as neat as the name
Both the original PS5 and the PS5 Slim come in two versions: one with a disc drive and one without. Sony kept the Slim disc model at $499, matching the original PS5 with a disc drive.
The twist is the digital-only Slim. Sony priced that version at $449, which is $50 more than the original digital-only PS5, listed at $399.
- PS5 Slim digital edition: $449
- PS5 Slim with disc drive: $499
- Original PS5 digital edition: $399
- Original PS5 with disc drive: $499
That means the digital Slim saves money compared with the Slim that includes a disc drive, but it does not beat the launch-era digital model on price.
There is another catch for buyers who think they can start digital and add discs later. Sony sells an optional detachable disc drive for the Slim for $79.99, which makes buying the digital Slim and adding the drive more expensive than purchasing the Slim with the drive built in.
Sony has said the Slim models will replace the original PS5 models once existing stock sells through, so the $399 original digital edition depends on availability.
The Slim is smaller, though still no mini console
Sony’s published dimensions show a clear size cut across both Slim versions. The original PS5 disc model measures 104mm by 390mm by 260mm, while the PS5 Slim disc model measures 96mm by 358mm by 216mm.
For the digital editions, the original model measures 92mm by 390mm by 260mm. The PS5 Slim digital edition comes in at 80mm by 358mm by 216mm.
According to Sony’s announcement blog post, the redesign reduces total volume by more than 30 percent. The Verge, after running a digital size comparison, reported that both Slim models remain larger than Microsoft’s Xbox Series X.
Performance stays the same
The Slim is not a PS5 Pro-style upgrade. The internal performance is the same as the original PS5 models, so games are reported to run the same across the standard PS5 family.
The storage does change. The original PS5 includes 825GB of built-in storage, with expansion available through external SSD options. The PS5 Slim increases onboard storage to 1TB, giving owners more room for installed games depending on file size.
The disc drive choice gets more flexible
As with the original launch lineup, the Slim comes in a disc version and a digital-only version. The difference this time is the detachable $79.99 disc drive, which can be added to the Slim digital model.
That add-on gives physical game and movie collectors a route back to discs, though the pricing makes the built-in disc-drive model the cheaper option if a buyer already knows discs matter.
One more box-check detail: the PS5 Slim does not include a vertical stand, unlike the original PS5. Anyone planning to stand the console upright will need to account for that separately.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.