PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: What are the differences?

Table of Contents

I've been using PlayStation consoles for almost 30 years. So in this PS5 vs. PS5 Slim face off, I'll be helping you decide which console is best for you.

With the recent launch of the upgraded PS5 Pro console, now might be the perfect opportunity to snag a slightly older — yet still incredibly powerful — PS5.

With potential sweet deals, or even permanent price drops on the horizon, it’s essential to know exactly what you’re getting (and not getting) with the PS5 and PS5 Slim.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: price

For context, the original, non-slim PS5 has two versions: a digital one (without a disc drive) and one with a disc drive. The same can be said for the PS5 Slim; it's got a digital version and a disc one.

For whatever reason, Sony decided to not drop the prices of the new PS5 Slim models. The PS5 Slim with a disc drive is still $499, while the PS5 Slim without a disc drive is $449 — or a $50 increase over the original PS5 digital-only console.

• PS5 Slim (no disc drive) - $449

• PS5 Slim (with disc drive) - $499

• Original PS5 (no disc drive) - $399

• Original PS5 (disc drive) - $499

With that in mind, yes, the digital-only PS5 Slim is a money-saver in comparison to the one with a disc drive, but not in comparison to the digital-only model that launched in 2020.

The new price also means that buying a digital model before purchasing the additional disc drive would cost more than just snagging the version with a built-in drive. I don't really have a good explanation for that.

My only advice is this: If you want a PS5 that only costs $399, you better get one now. This is an important note: Once the existing stock of both original models sells out, the new slim models will replace them on store shelves.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: size

Obviously, size is what many gamers are most concerned about here, so let's get right to it. Looking at Sony's stated dimensions, you can see that the new PS5 is indeed smaller than the original:

• 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

In other words, per Sony's announcement blog post, that's about a 30 percent reduction in total volume. That's definitely an improvement, but there's some important context missing in just those raw numbers. The Verge ran a digital size comparison and discovered that both new models are still substantially larger than the Xbox Series X.

In other words, this "slim" console is still pretty dang big.

For a visual comparison, check out this awesome PS5 Slim vs. Regular Reddit post.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: performance and storage

Another important aspect of the new PS5 models to get out of the way is that they have the exact same internal capabilities as the originals. This isn't a PS4 vs. PS4 Pro situation. Games will run exactly the same across the spectrum of PS5 consoles.

One little internal bonus that owners of the new PS5s get, however, comes in the form of expanded storage. For some reason, the original PS5 only had 825GB of onboard storage, with the option to expand via external SSDs. The new ones have a full 1TB of built-in space, so you can install a few extra games depending on how big they are.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: disc drive

Just like at the PS5's launch in late 2020, there are two PS5 Slim models. One of them has a built-in disc drive and the other one is digital-only.

Well, sort of, anyway. There's an optional detachable disc drive you can buy for $79.99. It's a little goofy looking, but it should do exactly what you think it does. For physical media collectors, the disc drive is a must-buy.

It's worth noting, however, that the PS5 Slim, unlike the OG PS5, does not come with a vertical stand in the box. However, seasoned gamers will tell you that you should keep your PS5 to be stationed horizontally anyway.