PS5 Slim: price, release date, specs and everything you need to know
A PlayStation 5 Slim felt inevitable, but it's not quite what we expected
A PS5 Slim honestly felt like a matter of time. Sony has historically released a smaller, cheaper, and more power-efficient version of its home console every single generation since the first-ever PlayStation. And the PlayStation 5 Slim has kept that trend going.
Sony revealed the PS5 Slim would launch in November with a fresh new look, increased storage, and some rather interesting changes. As expected, Sony decided to sell a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive separately for $79.99, which can be attached to the Digital Edition.
In terms of price, the PS5 Slim disc model costs the same $499 we’re used to, but the PS5 Digital Edition saw a $50 price increase to $449, likely due to the new 1TB storage both models now have.
It’s easy to see why a PS5 Slim is so appealing, even if it doesn’t come with the price cut we hoped. The PlayStation 5 is the biggest console Sony has ever made, and the second heaviest. It’s a behemoth, dwarfing the Xbox Series X by some margin, and it even makes the original PS3 look svelte in comparison.
A smaller PlayStation 5 is a desirable purchase for many, then, especially those who may have limited space in their entertainment center or simply dislike the towering popped collar design of the PS5.
Speaking of limited space, one weird decision from Sony is that the PS5 Slim will only include a horizontal stand. You’ll need to pay $29.99 for the new vertical stand, which is a little cheeky. The horizontal stand is nothing more than two plastic pegs, too, which is a downgrade on the current multifunctional stand that PS5 owners are used to.
Not to be outdone, Microsoft appears to be preparing an Xbox Series X Slim of its own, but Sony has beaten them to the punch as the Xbox Series X Slim isn’t tipped until the end of 2024. The Xbox Series X Slim is set to be a more power-efficient console and will include 2TB of storage and a new cylindrical design. It’ll also ship with a new Xbox controller codenamed ‘Sebille’ that borrows many of the DualSense controller’s best features like haptic feedback.
But what else is new about the PS5 Slim? Here’s everything you need to know.
PS5 Slim: price
The slim version of Sony’s consoles has historically cost less than the original launch system that came before it, but that’s no longer the case. The PS5 Slim retains its $499.99 price point, and the Digital Edition is more expensive than the previous model at $449.99.
A cheaper price tag seemed like a dead cert considering Sony has had a few years to optimize its production process. The smaller console requires fewer materials and resources to build, and its more compact size means less money will have to be spent on shipping, too, meaning Sony will be able to pack more consoles into a shipment container.
But the PS5 Slim price hasn’t budged as the redesigned PlayStation 5 costs just as much as the existing PS5 and the Digital Edition model is even more expensive than before. After the PS5 price hike, the lack of a price drop might not be too surprising, as clearly Sony isn’t able to sell the console for less despite the savings it’s probably making.
We initially predicted that the PS5 Slim price would be $399, as did Sony’s rival, Microsoft. According to court documents released as part of the Federal Trade Commission’s trial with Microsoft regarding its Activision Blizzard takeover, the Redmond-based company believed the PS5 Slim would be released for $399.99, but we now know that isn’t the case. Microsoft also predicted the Sony PlayStation Portal price, Sony’s PS5 handheld, would be less than $300. That turned out to be true, at least, as it costs $199.99.
PS5 Slim: release date
The PS5 Slim release date was November 11, 2023. Sony sent its sleeker console to retailers without much fanfare, with units appearing on sale as part of bundles and standalone releases.
Microsoft’s trial with the FTC revealed that the Xbox Series X|S manufacturer thought that Sony was preparing to release the PlayStation 5 Slim in 2023 alongside the PlayStation Portal handheld and PlayStation Earbuds for PS5. And its prediction was spot on.
Getting a new PS5 model out during the holiday season was a huge boon for Sony, as it only spurred on already impressive PS5 sales which have now surpassed 40 million units sold. It’ll also give the console further momentum ahead of the pending release of the Nintendo Switch 2, which is predicted to release in early 2025.
Ahead of the PlayStation 5 Slim release date, Sony slashed the price of the PS5 disc model and Amazon changed the name of its product listing from ‘PlayStation 5 Console’ to ‘PlayStation Standard Console’. That was a rather specific change to make, and the sale suggested Sony was getting rid of old stock before it announced a PS5 Slim release date. Sony has since confirmed the new PS5 Slim models will replace the existing PS5 consoles in the future.
Sony tends to release a slim model around three years into a PlayStation console’s lifespan and the PS5 turned three on November 12, 2023. Both the PS4 Slim and PS3 Slim launched about three years after the original systems were released and Sony has followed a similar timing for PlayStation 5.
PS5 Slim: specs and design
We got an early look at Sony’s new console thanks to a PS5 Slim leak, which showed off the new design via a grainy photo. A video soon followed that matched the questionable photo and all but confirmed a ‘slim’ console was coming soon.
Sony has now shared the specs and dimensions of the PS5 Slim, and the leaks were indeed true.
PS5 Slim Disc specs
Price: $499
Size: W358 x H96 x D216mm
Weight: 3.2kg
CPU: AMD Ryzen Zen 2, 3.5 GHz
GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics
System Memory: GDDR16
SSD: 1TB
Disc drive: Yes (can be removed)
Inputs: 2x USB Type-C port, 2x USB Type-A port
PS5 Slim Digital Edition specs
Price: $449
Size: W358 x H80 x D216mm
Weight: 2.6kg
CPU: AMD Ryzen Zen 2, 3.5 GHz
GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics
System Memory: GDDR16
SSD: 1TB
Disc drive: No (can be added on)
Inputs: 2x USB Type-C port, 2x USB Type-A port
The console looks very similar in size and styling to the standard PlayStation 5, but a new black slit runs across the cover. It also has two USB-C ports on the front of the device and a detachable disc drive.
Sony has managed to knock 30% off the size of the standard PS5, the same cutdown it achieved when it released the PS4 Slim, and it shaved off 33% from the size of the standard PS3 with the PS3 Slim. However, with the PS5 being so large, the PS5 Slim is still a sizable machine.
We predicted that the PS5 Slim would be lighter than the standard PS5 and that turned out to be correct. The console is 18% and 24% lighter than the launch day PS5 disc and Digital Edition models.
YouTuber Dave2D got his hands on the PS5 Slim ahead of its November 2023 release and provided an in-depth comparison of the two PlayStation 5 models. He found that the PS5 Slim uses the same SoC as the original PS5 in his teardown, and doesn’t deliver any power or efficiency savings, which is a shame.
Sony has slowly made the PlayStation 5 lighter since its release by changing the internal components like the system’s heatsink. When it comes to PS5 disc vs Digital, the consoles now weigh 3.9kg and 3.4kg, respectively, though both consoles were heavier when they were released – 4.5kg and 3.9kg. Sony has since been able to knock a few more pounds off the original PS5, making it a lot less cumbersome to move around.
But what other design features are included? Sony isn’t shy at cost-cutting when it comes to its slim consoles, and it made drastic changes to the original PS3 like removing the touch-sensitive buttons, backward compatibility and opting for cheaper materials overall. While the PS5 doesn't have any obvious areas that have been cut to save costs, it looks like Sony has added instead of taken away. There are two USB-C ports on the front, WiFi 6 support, and the storage has been increased from 825GB to 1TB.
Sadly, the PS5 Slim doesn’t include Sony’s new audio technology ‘PlayStation Link’ built-in, which provides lossless audio for the upcoming PlayStation Pulse Elite headset. You’ll still need to use a dongle.
But what about the PS5 cover plates that Sony sells? Well, they won’t fit the new PS5 console. The new PS5 Slim covers are split into four sections, with a glossy top and matte bottom, similar to the PS4. Sony has said it will release new PlayStation Slim console covers in the future:
”A variety of PS5 Console Cover colors for the new model will be available starting in early 2024, including an all-matte Black colorway and the Deep Earth Collection colors in Volcanic Red, Cobalt Blue, and Sterling Silver. Prices for the PS5 Console Covers will start at $54.99. Additional colors will be released in the future.”
Three PS5 Slim console covers were spotted at CES, but we’re still waiting for a solid release date.
In terms of heat and noise, PS5 Slim seems to stay cool and quiet, according to Linus Tech Tips. It doesn’t seem to be any louder and draws the same amount of power as the standard PS5.
That’s everything you need to know about Sony’s PS5 Slim. What do you make of the new model? Remember, it’ll soon become the only PlayStation 5 model you can buy, as Sony is phasing out the launch models of the PS5. If you prefer the bigger PS5 or simply spot a tempting deal, it’s worth picking one up before they’re gone.
Last updated: March 7, 2024