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Sony PS5 Slim
The PS5 is one of the best consoles thanks to its powerful hardware, exclusives and 4K Blu-ray player. Although it costs $50 more than the PS5 Digital Edition, this model allows you to play game discs. This slim version of the console is also slightly smaller than the original and has 1TB of storage.
Sony PS5 Slim (Digital Edition)
The PS5 Slim Digital Edition is for downloadable games only and costs $50 less than the standard PS5 with disc drive. A disk drive add-on can be purchased separately if you want to use physical disks at a later date for an additional $80.
PS5 digital vs disc: price and availability
The PS5 slim with disc drive costs $500, while the PS5 slim digital edition costs $450. Both slim models are now readily available online and in stores at various retailers. You may also be able to find old stock of the slightly larger original PS5 models that launched in 2020, but the slim editions are the only versions Sony will make in the future.
You can also find slim PlayStation 5 consoles bundled with popular games like Spider-Man 2 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare III. PS5 bundles with a disc drive are normally priced at $560, but the Spider-Man 2 bundle is often on sale for just $450, which is $50 less than the price of a PS5 without the game. Check out our best summary of PS5 deals for more discounts and promotions.
Sony PS5 Slim Spider-Man 2 Pack
The PS5 is one of the best consoles thanks to its powerful hardware, exclusives and 4K Blu-ray player. This new slim version of the console has a removable disk drive and a larger SSD to store more games. This fantastic bundle includes one game and costs $50 less than the console alone.
Digital PS5 vs disk: what’s the difference?
The original PlayStation 5 disc player and Digital Edition models released in 2020 have nearly identical designs and specifications, with the only real difference being the lack of a 4K Blu-ray drive on the Digital Edition. In addition to not being able to play games and movies on Blu-ray discs, the PS5 Original Digital Edition is slightly thinner and weighs about 1.3 pounds less than the original standard version.
The new slim PS5 and slim PS5 Digital Edition consoles released in November 2023 are approximately 30% smaller than the original models and feature larger 1TB SSD drives. But again, the most important difference between each PS5 slim is that the digital edition model doesn’t include a disc drive. However, the PS5 Slim Digital Edition allows you to add a 4K Blu-ray player later if you want, which isn’t something you can do on the original PS5 Digital Edition.
Despite these design differences, all versions of the PS5 offer the same gaming performance. This includes support for gaming at up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second on compatible displays, lightning-fast loading times thanks to the console’s SSD drive and advanced graphics features such as ray tracing on certain games.
Every PS5 comes with the same DualSense controller, which offers haptic feedback and has a built-in microphone, and supports all the best PlayStation accessories.
PS5 digital vs disc: games
Spider-Man runs through New York in “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.” Marvel/Insomniac Games/Sony
All PlayStation 5 consoles share the same game library and gameplay quality, but PS5 models with a disc drive give you more control over how you play those games.
With a disc-drive PS5, games can be installed from physical discs or via digital downloads. Meanwhile, the PS5 Digital Edition limits you to only purchasing and playing downloaded games.
Digital purchases of PlayStation games are linked to your Sony account. The PlayStation Store is the only place you can buy digital games, so PS5 Digital Edition owners can’t take advantage of deals at stores like GameStop and Best Buy.
While digital game downloads are convenient, having physical discs allows you to resell your games or lend them to a friend. The PS5 with disc drive can also play old PS4 discs via backwards compatibility, while the digital edition PS5 can only access digital versions of these games through the PlayStation Store.
Keep in mind, however, that many physical games still require an internet connection and significant PS5 storage to install and play. This means that using a disc copy will not save you space on your hard drive compared to downloading the game.
PS5 digital or disc: PlayStation Plus
Sony offers a subscription service called PlayStation Plus which offers online multiplayer and a catalog of games to download on the PS5. PlayStation Plus works the same on all PS5 consoles, but digital edition owners could get the most out of the service since some plans offer easy access to a bunch of PS4 games without the need for a disc drive.
For $10 per month, PlayStation Plus Essential gives players access to online play and a monthly selection of free games that will remain in their collection for as long as they remain a subscriber. The next two tiers of PlayStation Plus, Extra ($15 per month) and Premium ($18 per month), provide access to over 400 PS4 and PS5 games. Premium also adds even more games from older PlayStation consoles and lets you stream games directly to a PS5.
PS5 digital vs disc: specifications
The essential
All PS5 models come with a DualSense controller. Isabel Fernández Pujol/Business Insider
The PlayStation 5 is our pick for the best gaming console you can buy, no matter which edition you buy. However, we think the PS5 disc drive offers more value in the long run. It costs $50 more, but it lets you play old PS4 discs, used copies of games, and discs borrowed from friends, which could save you money over time. It also doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player for movies.
The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is still a great choice, especially if you want to save money upfront, but it’s best suited for gamers who don’t yet have a PlayStation disc collection and don’t need the PS5 be at the center of their gaming home entertainment system. However, now that the PS5 Digital Edition lets you add a drive, you still have the option to upgrade in the future, albeit for about $30 more than you’d pay if you bought the console with a disk drive to start.
Winner: Sony PS5 Slim with disc drive
FAQs
Is PS5 more powerful than the digital edition?
The PS5 Digital Edition offers the same performance as the PS5 with a disc drive. Besides the disk drive, both models use the same internal hardware.
Does PS5 with disc drive have more storage than PS5 Digital Edition?
Both original PlayStation 5 consoles, with or without disc drives, have an 825 GB SSD. Meanwhile, both PS5 slim models, with or without disc drives, have a 1 GB SSD. To.
The storage space can be upgraded with an M.2 SSD that meets the speed requirements of PS5. Check out our guide to the best SSDs for PS5 for our top recommendations.
Can you download and play digital games with the PS5 disc version?
The PlayStation Store works the same for digital purchases on the standard PS5 as it does on the PS5 Digital Edition. Your Sony account and purchases can also be shared across multiple PlayStation consoles.
Is Sony releasing a PS5 Pro model?
Sony hasn’t officially announced a PS5 Pro model, but reports suggest a PS5 Pro is in the works and could launch during the holiday season. Rumors point to improved specs, including improved ray tracing performance and support for 8K gaming. The PS5 Pro is also expected to include a disc drive.
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