PS5 Slim vs Regular: What are the differences? 

Sony announced a new, slimmed down PlayStation 5 on October 10th. The PS5 Slim keeps the tradition of being slimmer and lighter than the original, but there are more differences between the PS5 and PS5 Slim. Let's see what sets them apart.

The PS5 had never been known for being a particularly small console, so it appears Sony has decided to change that by putting the PS5 on a diet mid-way through this generation of consoles.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Size

From Sony's released dimensions, you can see that the new PS5 is unquestionably smaller than the original:

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

• Original PS5 (digital version): 92mm x 390mm x 260mm
• PS5 Slim (digital version): 80mm x 358mm x 216mm

The PS5 Slim is certainly ‘slimmer’ than its predecessor, however, The Verge ran a digital comparison of the new PS5 and agreed that yes it was small than the original PS5 but was still significantly larger than the XBox Series X (food for thought if you’re looking for an even smaller console for your living room). 

All-new detachable disc drive

Like its predecessor, the slim PS5 has two models available. You can choose to have a disc drive or not with the PS5 Slim, however,  It's not a permanent decision. When you get a Digital Edition, you can add the disc drive later by buying it separately for £99.99 / $79.99 / 119.99 Euro.

More storage

One crucial point to note about the new PS5 models is that they maintain identical internal capabilities as the original versions. This isn't a scenario akin to the difference between the PS4 and PS4 Pro. Games will perform consistently across the entire range of PS5 consoles. It was always a bit peculiar that Sony chose to equip the original PS5 models with an 825GB SSD. That number did stand out! However, the company has now addressed this with the introduction of the new PS5 Slim. Both the disc and digital models now feature a standard 1TB SSD, offering gamers enhanced storage for their favourite titles. 

Price

The PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc drive costs £479.99 / $499.99 / 549.99 Euro, while the Digital Edition, minus the drive will be £389.99 / $449.99 / 449.99 Euro. 

Sony’s PS5 Slim with a disc drive still costs $499, while the PS5 Slim without a disc drive is $449, which is $50 more than the original digital-only console.

So, while the digital-only PS5 Slim is cheaper than the one with a disc drive, it's not cheaper than the digital-only model released three years ago. This new price also means that buying a digital model before adding the additional disc drive would cost more than just getting the version with a built-in drive. It's a bit confusing.

If you want a PS5 that costs only $399, you should get one now. Once the remaining stock of both original models runs out, the new slim models will replace them on shop shelves (run don’t walk). 

Release Date

Whilst at the time of writing, nothing has been set in stone, the rumour mills suggests that the new slimmed down PS5 will release in early November 2023.

The original PlayStation 5 is still available for $499.