PS5 or PS5 Slim: What Are the Differences, and Which Should You Buy? (2024)

The PlayStation 5 Slim had the stealthiest launch of any Sony console in recent memory. The slim versions of consoles go all the way back to the PSOne, the company’s first slim Playstation, and the PS2 Slim, one of the greatest consoles of all time. They were landmark releases. But it’s often hard for me, as a fan turned professional who has followed the industry closely since I was thirteen, to remember that this less bulky PS5 even came out at the tail end of 2023. Given the position I’m in, it’s likely most potential buyers won’t even know the difference between the two. Good thing I showed up at work today.

The PlayStation 5 was a massive hit at launch, and due to supply constraints, it was impossible to get your hands on it for years afterward. The current lineup features some of the best single-player and multi-player games, including console exclusives God of War: Ragnarok, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, and Helldivers 2. The PS5’s DualSense is the biggest evolution of the PlayStation controller since the DualShock was invented. And don’t pass up the chance to enter virtual reality with PSVR.

The first thing you need to know is that the PS5 Slim is, according to the PlayStation Blog, meant to replace the original PS5. Once the current stock of big-boy PlayStation 5 models runs out, Sony won’t manufacture any more. That means there aren’t many more chances to pick one up, and if that ends up being your choice, you’ll probably have to go the refurbished or used route.

There are currently four different editions (or SKUs) of PlayStation 5 consoles. Both the original and the slim consoles come in regular versions and Digital Editions, which drop the disc drive—in other words, they can play only digitally downloaded games. The PS5 can play PS4 games, so if you have a library of discs from the last generation that you may want to revisit at any point, I recommend shelling out the extra $50 for the non-digital editions.

When it comes to slim versus original, though, here are all the ways the two PS5 consoles differ.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Price

Price comparisons between the PS5 and the PS5 Slim are a bit wonky at the moment. The truth is, there isn’t a major difference between the two. Sony no longer sells original PlayStation 5 consoles, and the only reliable place to buy a refurbished one is GameStop. Typically, the PS5 Slim consoles will run you $500, or $450 for the Digital Edition, but at the time of this writing, each has a $50 discount if you purchase directly from Sony. This puts them at essentially the same price—but with the Slim, you get a newer (smaller) console. Plus, it’s actually new instead of factory refurbished.

So if there’s a winner in this category, it’s the Slim. Technically, you can get an original PS5 for less, and if you are coming to this late, the difference between the two may be as much as $60. That doesn’t make it a better value, though. If saving money is a priority, opt for the disc-less Digital Edition PS5 Slim.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Size

Below are the weight and dimensions of each PlayStation 5 model.

• Original PS5 (disc version): 104mm x 390mm x 260mm; 9.9 pounds
• Original PS5 (digital version): 92mm x 390mm x 260mm; 8.6 pounds
• PS5 Slim (disc version): 96mm x 358mm x 216mm; 7 pounds
• PS5 Slim (digital version): 80mm x 358mm x 216mm; 5.7 pounds
  

Here’s what you should’ve learned. First off, the PS5 disc drive weighs precisely 1.3 pounds. Neat. Second, the PS5 isn’t that much smaller than the launch PS5 in terms of space it will take up, but it is a great deal lighter.

Honestly, it’s still a very large console—larger than the competing Xbox Series X and significantly larger than Microsoft’s “slim” equivalent, the Series S.

In terms of styling, it’s worth noting that the original PS5 came with a stand for vertical storage, while the new Slim model explicitly notes “vertical stand sold separately.” This is a small change, surely made in the name of cost-cutting, with the excuse that the PS5 Slim is so small that it doesn’t need to sit vertically to fit on your TV stand or media cabinet. Reader, that’s not the case. The latest PlayStation is still a behemoth, in terms of both power and its large form factor.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: Storage

Between all four consoles, the CPU, GPU, RAM, and number of ports stay consistent. But while the hardware specs haven’t changed between the PS5 and the Slim, there has been a slight modification in storage space.

The original PS5 came only with an 825-gigabyte SSD for storage space. The Slim gives you slightly more space, rocking a full terabyte of NVMe SSD. The extra 175 gigs will do a lot more for you than you might think. That’s like, what, a single Call of Duty map? I’m joking, but only because game download sizes have gotten so out of hand this generation.

Another great thing about the PlayStation over the Xbox is that you can upgrade the hard drive with larger SSDs.

PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: The Final Verdict

Taking everything into consideration, I think it would be pretty silly not to recommend the Slim over the older model PS5. It is slimmer (go figure) and easier to transport than the launch PS5 but has the same internals and maintains all of its positive traits. As a bonus, every PS5 comes pre-installed with Astro’s Playroom, an underrated platformer and an endearing adventure through PlayStation’s history.

The way I see it, it’s wise to opt for the PS5 Slim with a disc drive while you’re at it. The drive is well worth the extra $50 asking price to open up the ability to play disc-based games and physical media. Unless you already have a great 4K Blu-ray player, the Slim will become the default place to view your Blu-rays and show off your 4K movie collection.

If you want to continue your PlayStation journey or enter the world of 4K gaming fresh, the PlayStation 5 Slim should be your console of choice.