How this review was made: it is based on published specifications and on tests by other reviewers, listed at the end. It is not a long-term personal test.

The PS5 Slim, released in late 2023, is the kind of update that only makes sense once you see the original. The first PS5 was enormous. Yahoo’s reviewer called the Slim the console we should have had from the start, and that captures it well.

What changed

It is about 30 percent smaller than the original by volume and roughly 18 to 24 percent lighter, depending on the model. Storage grows from 825GB to 1TB. What does not change is what it can do: the games run the same as on the original PS5, with the same DualSense controller, including haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games.

The disc drive decision

Sony’s Digital Edition has no disc drive, but one can be attached later. It is a neat idea, and an expensive one. Yahoo’s review put the add-on at $80, which makes the digital console and drive together cost $30 more than the disc model at launch. If you think you will ever want discs, buy the disc version.

The real cost

At launch the disc model cost $499 and the Digital Edition $449 in the US. Prices have changed since, and vary widely by country, so check locally. Budget for storage as well: with large games taking 80 to 100GB, one reviewer warns that 1TB can fill within a few months.

Who it is for

If you are buying your first PS5, this is the one to get unless you need the extra power of the PS5 Pro. If you already own an original PS5, keep it and spend the money on games. As with any console, the games you want to play matter far more than the box.

Sources