PS5 Slim vs PS5: What are the Differences?

• PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition

  Reduced Size but Packed with Features

  The PS5 Slim Disc Edition has been downsized, but its graphical performance and convincing spatial audio are just as impactful. The console's internal storage has been upgraded to 1 TB, and PS5 gamers will benefit from an additional front USB-C port. While the PS5 Slim with disc drive is the same price as the original console, the digital version is $50 more, making some buyers wonder if the modest upgrades are worth it.

  Pros

  • Identical performance in a more compact shape
  • Storage upgraded to 1 TB
  • Additional front port is now USB-C
  • Same price as original PS5 with disc drive

  Cons

  • Doesn't include vertical stand
  • Not many upgrades

  $500 at Amazon$500 at Best Buy$500 at Newegg$500 at Target$500 at Sony
• PS5

  Older but Hardly Outdated

  While it may be chunkier than the PS5 Slim, the early PS5s are nearly identical in performance and features. The console is one of the most affordable ways to experience 4K visuals at 120 Hz refresh rates. Also, gamers frustrated by the slow loading of older consoles will find that the PS5 installs and loads games much more quickly. Unlike the slimmer alternative, the original PS5 includes a stand to mount the console vertically.

  Pros

  • Capable of smooth 4K gameplay at 120 fps
  • Games load quickly
  • Tempest 3D audio works on most headphones and speakers
  • Includes stand to mount console vertically

  Cons

  • Occupies more space than PS5 Slim or Xbox Series X
  • Storage space runs out quickly

No longer faced with shortages, the console market has become relatively stable since the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X in 2020. Developers have started to max out the PS5's capabilities, demonstrating why it's the top gaming console for many gamers. With the PS6 possibly many years away, Sony looked for other ways to improve the original PS5. As with previous generations of PlayStation consoles, the PS5 Slim offers the same performance and features in a more compact form factor.

The PS5 Slim is a revision more than an upgrade, with a lighter and more portable console available in disc and disc-less varieties. While it may seem like a no-brainer to opt for the compact version of the console, Sony made some interesting decisions regarding pricing and the included accessories. Game Rant decided to compare the chunkier and skinnier PS5s to see if buyers are better served scouring inventories for the original consoles.

Size

When the first PS5s were announced, gamers were surprised by their height and width, depending on whether they were used vertically or horizontally. Especially when stacked side by side, the Xbox Series X looks compact by comparison. Sony bundled a vertical stand with the digital and disc versions of the initial PS5s to give gamers more options about where to position them. Still, some owners could not fit the consoles in their TV stands, making the entire entertainment setup look messy. This was a major reason the manufacturer developed a slimmer, more compact PS5.

When upgrading smartphones and other consumer electronics, manufacturers tend to exaggerate the slimmer nature of new models. Consequently, gamers are right to be skeptical about how much space the PS5 Slim can save over its larger cousins. In reality, the PS5 Slim is smaller enough to warrant its Slim label, even if it's still a chunky console. The digital version of the PS5 Slim has a height of 14.1 inches, a depth of 8.5 inches, and a width of 3.14 inches. Meanwhile, the first PS5 Digital Edition checked in at 15.4" high x 10.2" deep x 3.6" wide. Sony claims a roughly 30% difference in volume between the two, which these measurements confirm. The disc version of the new PS5 Slim is only marginally wider to accommodate the drive, but it weighs 7.05 pounds compared to the smaller console's 5.7-pound weight. The two newer consoles both weigh around 1.5 pounds less than the previous generation.

Gamers with smaller rooms and furniture may still struggle to provide enough ventilation for the PS5 Slim. Still, even a slight size reduction can prevent upgrading a TV stand. Unless a gamer is looking to attract more attention to their console, there really is no reason not to prefer the smaller PS5 Slim's dimensions.

Design

The PS5 Slim isn't just a shrunken version of the original PS5. Sony also made other subtle design changes for the Slim, like panels on both sides divided by a black stripe. To make the newer PS5s look a bit more distinctive, their exteriors also alternate between smooth and matte white finishes. The curvature of the panels is also more noticeable, giving the console an even less boxy appearance.

One alteration that not all gamers appreciate is how the disc drive on the non-Digital PS5 Slim looks tacked onto the side of the console. On the older PS5, the drive appeared more like an integrated component. However, the PS5 Slim Digital Edition enables gamers to install a separately purchased detachable disc drive after purchasing. Annoyingly to owners of the original digital PS5s who may regret their purchase, this disc drive is only compatible with the PS5 Slim. Half the white panel easily snaps off, making the setup process much easier. Then, the drive slots seamlessly into the bottom of the console. Once attached, there is virtually no difference in appearance between the two PS5 Slim versions.

Another somewhat controversial decision Sony made with the PS5 Slim is not to include a vertical stand. Instead, buyers receive a small, flimsy component to keep the console in a more stable horizontal position. While it adds to the expense of the PS5 Slim, Sony sells a vertical stand add-on, and many third-party manufacturers have created their own alternatives. Otherwise, the lack of an included vertical stand could nullify any advantages of a more compact PS5, depending on where buyers have the room to store the console.

While smaller might be better for consoles, other changes to the PS5 Slim make it more expensive and less versatile.

Performance/Features

When news broke about a newer, slimmer PS5, some gamers hoped for a slight upgrade in graphical power or sound. Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed, at least until more news about a potential PS5 Pro or PS6 surfaces. The PS5 Slim includes the identical AMD Ryzen Zen 2 processor and AMD RDNA 2 graphics card, capable of pumping out 4K visuals at 120 fps in some titles like Gran Turismo 7. Buyers won't gain anything in the memory department either, with the PS5 Slim using the same 16 GB GDDR6 RAM.

Sound-wise, nothing has changed, but the arrival of Dolby Atmos last fall helped to make the PS5 a more full-featured media player. Buyers of the PS5 Slim can still experience Sony's excellent Tempest 3D Audio, which provides vital audio cues during competitive gaming action. Most gamers find a gaming headset the best way to experience spatial audio with the console, but the feature is also now available for speakers.

Storage is one area where the PS5 Slim has made incremental upgrades over the previous consoles. Instead of the 825 GB SSD found on the original PS5, PS5 Slim buyers are treated to a full 1TB of drive space. Only about 850 GB of this storage is available to install games and store files, but it's still a decent improvement over the larger PS5's rather paltry 660 GB. Gamers can install an additional M.2 SSD to expand the PS5's Slim storage up to 4 TB.

Some gamers lamented the fact that the first PS5s had only one connector for a USB-C cable on its front panel. That limitation has now been addressed, and the PS5 includes two faster-spec USB ports that do not require access to the console's rear.

With otherwise identical performance, the PS5 Slim scores a marginal victory for features thanks to its increased storage and improved USB-C connectivity.

Value

Sadly, Sony didn't trim the price of the PS5 Slim. In fact, the Digital version of the latest PS5 is $50 higher than the retail price of the first disc-less PS5. When searching for answers to why, there are several prevailing theories. Since its release in November 2020, Sony executives have admitted that, at times, the console itself was being sold at a loss. While profits fluctuate, the company has never made substantial money with the console itself, relying instead on selling games, subscription services, and accessories. With the $450 PS5 Slim Digital Edition, Sony has a chance to recoup or at least minimize the losses of manufacturing the hardware.

Considering the changes to the PS5 Slim Digital, there isn't a convincing argument about why it should cost more. As with other PS5 consoles, buyers receive the same single DualSense PS5 controller and array of accessories to connect the console to TVs and recharge accessories. Gamers gain a marginal amount of storage but lose a vertical stand accessory priced at $30 alone. With mostly the same internal parts, the PS5 Slim is not more efficient, so it won't save owners on energy costs or generate less heat. The fact that it requires less space in a setup is worth something, but there are no improvements in performance that entice owners to upgrade.

The situation is quite different with the other PS5 Slim version, which includes a disc drive. This console version is sold for $500, matching the usual asking price of the first PS5. That does make purchasing the most recent PS5 without a disc drive for only $50 less a tougher sell.

Even with rumors swirling about the development of a PS6 or new Xbox console, the prospect of any PS5 price drops soon seems remote. Any PC gamer who purchases DDR5 memory or graphics cards realizes how little even older components have depreciated over the past several years. With the cost of manufacturing the PS5 only rising, buyers will have to look for used consoles to save money over retail prices.

Fortunately, bundles present one of the few ways to score a deal on a new PS5 or PS5 Slim. One of the most common packages is theSpider-Man 2 bundle, which includes the PS5 Slim console with a disc drive and a code to download the game. Buyers can often find this bundle priced at $450, which is a decent discount. Even more tempting is the same bundle with the disc-less PS5 Slim sold for $400, but this configuration is more difficult to find in stock.

The price jump on the PS5 Slim without a disc drive is disappointing, considering it offers little more than a slightly larger hard drive. Still, the asking price of the PS5 Slim with drive remains unchanged, so it's a mixed bag when determining if an upgrade makes sense based on value alone.

PS5 Slim vs PS5 Verdict

With the stock of original PS5 consoles dwindling, gamers may have no choice but to purchase the PS5 Slim. Even so, the used and refurbished supply of older consoles will stick around for a while, and prospective buyers may still wonder how the latest console compares to the original. As it turns out, differences between the PS5 Slim and the original PS5 are minimal, with a modest reduction in size and a slightly more interesting exterior.

Along with downsized dimensions, the PS5 Slim sports more curves and a divided multi-textured shell. However, even though it's slightly less wide, its disc drive bulges from its side, making it less streamlined. This makeover does result in more modular construction, and owners of the PS5 Slim Digital can purchase an easily installable disc drive as an add-on.

There are few (if any) reasons for owners of an early-generation PS5 to upgrade to the Slim unless space is at an extreme premium. Gaining a USB-C port and a small amount of storage isn't enticing enough for most buyers to switch, especially when a vertical stand costs extra. Even worse, the PS5 Slim Digital is priced higher than the older disc-less console. That said, the PS5 Slim addresses complaints about bulkiness and will likely provide gamers with years of enjoyment before the PS6 debuts.

FAQ

Q: Is the PS5 Slim louder than the PS5?

Gamers are divided on whether the PS5 Slim is louder than the original version of the console. Many users say that noise from the disc drive is more apparent, but the PS5 Slim is otherwise quieter when loading games and files from its internal storage.

Q: Is the PS5 Pro coming?

Most industry sources say that a PS5 Pro is in development for a release possibly as soon as the 2024 holiday season. Gamers are looking forward to the prospect of improved CPU or GPU power that could lead to acceptable 8K gaming performance.

Q: Is PS5 much better than PS4 Pro?

The PS5 is a significant but not monumental upgrade on the PS4 Pro. The newer PS5 and PS5 Slim introduce advanced graphical features like Ray Tracing while maintaining smoother framerates at 4K resolutions.