The Problem With The PS5 Slim

The release of the PS5 Slim has drawn a significant amount of attention and with the holidays around the corner, gamers may be looking to upgrade. With the new model, users can now opt for the “cheaper” Digital PS5 Slim and then later purchase a separate disc drive to attach to their console. At first glance this sounds beneficial, but the way Sony priced the consoles makes it hard to recommend over the original due to a price increase. 

Historically, Sony’s slim consoles have been cheaper than the original model but with the PS5 Slim, that is not the case. The chart below shows the pricing of all the PS5 consoles that are currently for sale along with the original PS4 and PS4 Slim for reference. When you compare the PS4 models the PS4 Slim comes in $100 less than the original PS4. In contrast, the PS5 Slim, at best, is the same price as the original disc model, $499. At worst, the PS5 Slim Digital is $50 more than the original digital model.

Console Comparison:

 Even though the disc models are the same price, you lose the ability to stand the console vertically because the vertical stand is now sold separately. While this is not a significant loss, it’s never great to lose features previously included for free. What makes this release even less exciting is the $79.99 price tag for the disc drive. If you were to buy the PS5 Slim Digital and the disc drive separately the price would be around $528. A $30 increase than either disc model. (Taxes not included.) If you know in the future you would like to play games on disc, you might as well shell out the extra cash now rather than spend more later. The extra $30 saved can be better spent on a used game or two.

There has been lots of controversy with the disc drive because it requires an internet connection to set up. This doesn’t pose a major problem now since most gamers at this point have some kind of internet connection, but it can be detrimental later. The problem with internet requirements is that once the service goes down there’s nothing users can do. An example of this would be Nintendo with the eShop shutdown. Now that the store is shut down you can’t access any digital titles or features like Poke Bank unless they are previously installed. When Sony inevitably cuts service for the PS5, gamers will likely not be able to attach the disc drive unless it’s through an exploit. In addition to that, many gamers were concerned with the reusability of the disc drive after being linked to a console. According to Youtuber, TronicsFix, this is not a problem. Once you register the disc drive you can register it to another console and can switch back between the consoles without having to register the drive again. This is a good move on Sony’s part because it allows for these drives to be reused and resold later on in the product’s life cycle.

At this point, the PS5 Slim doesn’t seem very appealing, but there are some redeeming qualities to it. A main complaint of the original PS5 was its size and thankfully the PS5 Slim is noticeably more compact. The slim model will help it fit into smaller spaces, where the original could not, and not look like something from outer space as much. 

Another good quality of the PS5 Slim is the upgraded SSD. The launch models came with 825GB which after formatting shrunk to an even smaller 667GB. This new slim model comes with 1TB. For the disc variant, this is a great thing because you get extra space and a disc drive at the same price as the launch model. However, for the digital version, you have to pay $50 more for an extra 175GB which is not worth it, especially with flash storage rapidly falling in price. Users who know they are going to be digital only are better off getting the launch digital model and spending the difference on an SSD to put in the extra M.2 slot. Gamers can find deals for 512GB SSDs under $50 that are compatible with PS5 which can put you at more than 1TB of storage.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, it’s pretty tough to recommend the PS5 Slim because of its price and mild quirks with the disc drive. Most gamers are going to be happy with the launch models due to their better value. Anybody who already has a PS5 should keep the model they have and anybody who doesn’t have one should try and find one of the launch models (Especially if there’s a price cut) or buy the slim with the disc drive. However, there are PS5 Slim bundles with a free copy of Modern Warfare III or Spiderman 2 which would make the PS5 Slim a much better value and worth getting for someone without a console.