Sony now offers two models of game consoles, the PS5 Slim, replacing the original model, and the PS5 Pro, available soon. What are the differences? Above all, which PS5 to choose? We take stock in our comparison.
The PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition were the two consoles next-gen from Sony released in 2020. Then, in November 2023, Sony announced the arrival of a little news: the PS5 Slim. The latter replaced the first two models mentioned. Sony now also offers a PlayStation 5 Pro, which offers higher performance in 4K.
If you are not completely sure which console you want, go to our comparison of next-gen game consoles. If you need a dedicated headset for your PS5, we’ve selected the best models. Those who want to play everywhere may also be interested in our guide to portable consoles. Furthermore, we also direct you to our buying guide for controllers for PlayStation 5. Note also that the PlayStation Portal is technically not one: we tested it, we give you our opinion on Frandroid.
Which PS5 to buy in 2024?
The PS5 Slim on an identical technical sheet
If Microsoft has made the bet of offering two radically different Xbox models, with the Series S and the Series X, this is not at all the case for Sony. There is no difference between PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in terms of internal characteristicss, except the Blu-ray player. In fact, the PS5 Digital Edition does not include a disc reader, so you will have to purchase your games in digital version.
No matter which model you choose, you will have the same performance, the same display quality, or the same storage size (825 GB). In practice, you will benefit from around 670 GB, with the OS taking up space in particular.
As for the PS5 Slimit still offers the same performance, but stands out on one point: larger internal storage, 1 TB. When switched on, you will benefit from around 825 GB real. In addition, this console is sold with or without a disk drive. If you choose to buy it initially without a reader, you can always buy the latter alone later, and add it yourself. This drive is removable, and its clips and unclips quite easily.
Downloaded games occupy the same space
At the idea of a console 100% focused on downloadable games, one would think that it would be entitled to larger storage space, precisely to be able to keep all these downloaded games. However, we must remember that games today are no longer launched from Blu-ray, but are indeed installed on the hard drive. In other words, whether downloading from the PlayStation Store or installing from Blu-ray, the game will occupy the same space on the storage.
Different designs: what is the difference between the PS5 Slim and the normal PS5?
The differences between the first two PS5s
The first big difference between the two PS5 models is obviously the design. Basically, we keep the same console, but, on the Digital model, we have removed its growth.
In Digital Edition version // Source: Sony
The PlayStation 5 // Source: Sony
The PS5 Digital Edition is therefore a little more compact than its sister. The difference remains marginal and you won’t be able to more easily fit a PS5 DE in a piece of furniture under your television. Aesthetically, the design of the Digital model seems more harmonious, but the user experience should be the same.
The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition // Source: Sony
The PlayStation 5 // Source: Sony
The connectivity and all other features are similar between the two products. They can both be used horizontally or vertically, thanks to the foot provided in the box.
The new dimensions of the PS5 Slim
This is the whole advantage of the new PlayStation 5 Slim: its new design. Sony, in fact, wanted to offer a more compact design and less weight.
In terms of dimensions, we go from 390 x 104 x 260 mm to 358 x 96 x 216 mm for the version with reader and from 390 x 92 x 260 mm to 358 x 80 x 216 mm for the digital version. This difference in size is felt in terms of weight with a much lighter console: 3.2 kg for the version with reader compared to 4.5 kg for the launch version and 2.6 kg for the Digital version compared to 3.9 kg for the launch version.
Source: Brice Zerouk for Frandroid
Source: Brice Zerouk for Frandroid
Source: Brice Zerouk for Frandroid
The style of the console also changes a little on this Slim version. The console now displays a groove in the upper two-thirds of the console, on both versions. This allows you to separate and remove the disk drive from the console. A dual matte/glossy texture has been added.
What about the PlayStation 5 Pro?
What about the Pro version of the PS5? From a design point of view, it is almost similar to the original (non-Slim) version of the PS5. Cooling is improved.
Things are changing inside the console. The PS5 Pro is sold as standard with 2 TB of internal storage (compared to 1 TB for the Slim version), but without a disk drive. It is Wi-Fi 7 compatible. Its GPU, for its part, is 62% more powerful than the original.
Ultimately, the improvements will depend greatly on the games, as it is up to the developers to offer different modes. By choosing Fidelity Pro mode, the graphics rendering will be improved, remaining around 30-40 frames per second. The Performance Pro mode could be summed up as the old Fidelity mode, but with an almost doubled level of performance, at 60 frames per second.
Another new feature that helps a lot: PSSR, which is in fact the equivalent of Nvidia’s DLSS on PC. The console now relies, for compatible games, on an AI-based upscaling and image reconstruction algorithm. With this option, the performance gain can be significant, but it really depends on the games.
The fact remains that this model, sold at 800 euros, is really expensive and is aimed at very demanding gamers, and who have a suitable television: in 4K and at least 65 inches.
Find our review of the PS5 Pro for more details.
Backwards compatibility
The PlayStation 5 offers backward compatibility with PlayStation 4 games. If you own many PS4 games in Blu-ray format, you will not be able to enjoy them in backward compatibility with a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, since it does not have a media player. disk.
However, it would be wrong to say that the PlayStation 5 DE is not backwards compatible, since PS4 games purchased on the PlayStation Store will be perfectly playable. Note that it will be possible to install them on an external hard drive, since they were not designed to work on an SSD and are therefore compatible with slower storage.
In addition, with the PlayStation+ Collection offer, you will be able to enjoy the greatest PS4 classics at a lower cost.
Recent games are more expensive digitally
The question of the price of games is central to the equation. This is also the reason for the Digital model: Sony earns more money on games sold by the PlayStation Store rather than in physical version and therefore sets a higher price. For the consumer, the equation is not as simple.
In fact, most of the time, games are sold 10 euros more expensive in dematerialized version. On a recent game, especially on a Sony exclusive, a game that comes out will be offered at 79.99 euros on PlayStation Store, but you can find it at 69.99 euros on e-commerce sites such as Fnac or Amazon, in boxed version. The advantage of owning a PS5 with a disc drive is that you have the choice between the two versions…
The question of opportunity and loans
There is another point to consider when choosing, and that is the question of the future of your game library. With a “Digital” console, whether the 2020 version or the new Slim, you cannot use physical games, games which you will therefore not be able to resell later, whether in specialized stores or on websites classified ads. You will have purchased your games digitally, they will be linked to your PSN account, and you will not be able to resell them.
Along the same lines, you also cannot lend your games once you have completed them. And conversely, you won’t be able to enjoy your friends’ games either.
PS5 prices
The PS5 Slim is sold in two versions, with or without a player, the two prices corresponding perfectly to the prices of the two previous consoles. We therefore have a PS5 Slim at 449 euros without reader and 549 with.
Merchants regularly offer promotions for the PS5 Slim which we list in this dedicated and frequently updated article.
The disc player is also sold separately, at 120 euros.
As for the PS5 Pro, the console alone undergoes a significant increase in price. In fact, it is priced at 799 euros, without the disc player.
Which PS5 to choose, with or without reader?
To summarize, if the first two PS5s are still on sale, the PS5 Slim was designed, ultimately, to replace these two models. In any case, We therefore advise you to opt for the new Slim model. The latter combines all the advantages: it is more compact, has more storage space, and is sold at the same price. The only time you might be tempted by a first-generation PS5 would be on the second-hand market, if you come across a good price. As for the PS5 Digital Edition first version, there is simply no reason to choose it, since the Slim model without a drive is sold at the same price…
The question is more whether you take the PS5 Slim in the normal version or in the Digital version (without disk drive). For our part, we advise you to opt directly for the PS5 Slim with disc reader. You will thus have the choice on the purchase format of your game, and with the player, you will be able to play your old PS4 games.
Finally, if budget is absolutely not an issue for you, you can opt for the PS5 Pro. This clearly offers the best performance. Please note, you will only be able to benefit from it if your television is capable of keeping up, that is to say if it is at least 65 inches with 4K definition, as well as an HDMI 2.1 port.
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