PS5 vs PS5 Slim: What’s the Difference, and Which One Should You Get?

The PlayStation 5 was arguably one of Sony’s most controversial designs. After a few years, I have to admit it’s growing on me. The only downside is its gargantuan size, which made the PS5 Slim a welcome redesign. And if you’re looking for a new PS5 this holiday season, it might be the only model you see.

Unlike past mid-cycle refreshes, like the PS4 Pro, the PS5 Slim is more of a replacement than an addition to the lineup. The Slim model doesn’t upgrade any of the core specs like processor or RAM, though it does come with a bit of extra storage. The original PS5 came with 825 GB of internal storage, while the PS5 Slim bumps that up to a full 1 TB.

Smaller Size, Extra Expense

The biggest difference between the PS5 and the PS5 Slim is their size. The original PS5 was an absolute unit, easily one of the biggest consoles ever. So, anything that shaves a few millimeters off this thing would be a boon.

Fortunately, the PS5 has more than a few millimeters to spare. The PS5 Slim is about 30 percent smaller by volume than its big brother, and like the original, the disc-less versions take up even less space. Here are the dimensions of all four models:

You can see a comparison of all four sizes here, and rotate the models around in 3D space to get a sense of the difference. The drop in size is significant, and your entertainment unit will definitely appreciate the extra space, though it’s worth pointing out that even the Slim models are still substantially bigger than, say, the Xbox Series X/S consoles.

The smallest difference between the PS5 and the PS5 Slim is the price. In fact, the disc models of both cost $500, so there’s no difference there at all (unless you count the inherent discount that comes from maintaining the same price point through some pretty intense inflation.) Meanwhile, the disc-less Digital Edition is actually more expensive at $450, compared to the $400 for the comparable PS5 model.

If you think you might ever want to have a disc drive on your PS5, though, it’s worth it to just go ahead and get one up front. The PS5 Slim has a detachable drive design, and you can buy the disc drive separately, but it sells for $80 new, so unless you score a used one for less than $50, it’s more cost effective to just spring for the disc version.

Design Differences

Size and price aside, there are few extra changes, most of which are inconsequential. Unless you care a lot about the aesthetics of your console. Most noticeably, the cover panels now have a slash through them, cutting them into four pieces instead of two.

The disc drive makes the PS5 Slim even more lopsided than the original, which means that it won’t sit horizontally on its own without support. That support comes in the form of a pair of clear, plastic feet that slot into the slash between the cover panels on the bottom of the console.

If you prefer to position your PS5 Slim upright, the vertical stand is now sold separately for $30. The original PS5 came with its own stand, so this is another extra expense if you’re buying the Slim. The Slim can technically stand up on its own, though it’s going to be more stable with the official stand, so if you don’t want to risk your investment, it might not be the worst $30 you ever spend.