There’s never been a better time to buy a PlayStation 5 than now. No, it’s not simply because you can find many in-stock PlayStation 5 bundles with fast shipping before the holiday. It’s also because Sony has finally released a better, smarter, slimmer console. Aptly named the PlayStation 5 Slim, our latest review led us to consider this console the perfect last-minute gift.
Sony PlayStation 5 Slim
cons
- SSD installation is not the most user-friendly
- You shouldn’t buy if you already have an original PS5
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The new PlayStation 5 Slim carries the same retail price as the original version that hit the market three years ago ($449 for the digital-only version, $499 for the disc drive) and comes with some innovative changes. If you’re still not ready to jump into the new generation of consoles, the little tweaks that come with the PS5 Slim might be just what you’ve been waiting for.
It’s a neat strategy by console manufacturers, especially in this day and age. Dating back to the original PlayStation One, Sony has begun offering mid-gen updates to its architecture. During the PS4 era, Sony released two separate updates to the console, first introducing a “Slim” version that reduced the size of the device, and later introducing a “Pro” version that updated the device’s internal specifications to keep up with the highest resolution ever. The evolution of big screens.
The PS5 Slim doesn’t offer any such internal upgrades, but it’s a very welcome move given some of the original device’s drawbacks. Keep scrolling to find out why we’re loving the latest console release from Sony.
Shop the new PS5 SLIM here
The PS5 Slim is an aesthetic upgrade
The original PS5 is a fantastic gaming machine, and it’s backed by a bunch of absolutely fantastic first-party games (like Marvel’s Spider-Man, and the recently released Spider-Man 2, as well as God of War: Ragnarok, and Returnal). . It’s an easy platformer to recommend, with HD graphics in every game and a truly premium feel to every menu, from the moment you turn on the console.
But the machine itself was… ugly and clumsy, to say the least. It looked like a fusion between a Star Wars trooper and a giant plastic box, and weighed about 10 pounds. Most of Sony’s previous consoles (and most modern gaming consoles in general) have managed to fit perfectly into the living room aesthetic, but the original PS5 only fit well with your lightsaber from last year’s Comic Con.
The original Sony Playstation 5 (pictured left) next to the new Playstation 5 Slim (pictured right).
Worse still is its most important functional flaw: it somehow lacks a stable base. The rounded edges of the original PS5 limit how stable it is when placed horizontally in an entertainment center. At the same time, the console didn’t stand upright on its own easily or comfortably. Sony tried to offset these issues by offering a rounded stand, but this stand never felt intuitive. To this day, I don’t dare try to position the console vertically.
The PS5 Slim solves many of these issues instantly. Yes, he still looks like a Darth Vader agent (the latest Star Wars installment, I promise), but he’s managed to slim down by about three pounds, making him instantly easier to transport. This controller is still a bit wider and longer than Microsoft’s Xbox Series
The original Playstation 5 (pictured left) next to the Playstation 5 Slim (pictured right).
And here’s the best part: The new machine finally stands upright. (It’s not necessarily supposed to be, but it is, despite its slimmer overall design.) Sony still sells a $30 stand that can keep your device more secure (and that stand is very nice and not very slim, either), but I was able I comfortably placed my PS5 Slim in the living room, and haven’t thought about it since.
Functional promotions are smart and modern
The PS5 Slim also comes with several other major tweaks that are very welcome. Most notable is the slightly upgraded hard drive. The original PS5 had 667GB of usable storage, but the new unit, thanks to a 1TB SSD, now offers 848GB of usable storage.
Obviously, nearly 200GB of additional storage space allows you to hold more downloaded games, but note that it’s not much more than that, since many high-end games top out at 80-100GB in the first place. However, extra storage never hurts, and based on the convenience it offers alone, you should target the PS5 Slim (over the older unit) in your gaming shopping.
Marvel Spider-Man 2 PlayStation 5 Slim Controller
Marvel Spider-Man 2 PlayStation 5 Slim Controller
Now 11% discount
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The process for upgrading this storage unit remains the same (and remains difficult compared to the Xbox Series You’ll still need to remove the PS5 case and install a certified SSD. It’s not quite as user-friendly, but it can get you a little more relief from your overall storage space (you can get up to a 4TB SSD in your PS5, regardless of model).
However, the rest of the PS5 Slim’s upgrades are about ease of use in the best of ways. The biggest tweak comes to the controllers’ two front ports, which are finally keeping up with the times. The original PS5 has a USB-C and USB-A port, as well as two USB-A ports on the back of the device. This was most likely an artifact of its era: at the time, USB-A was still a gaming standard.
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The PS5 Slim upgrades both ports to USB-C, making it perfect for the new era of USB-C iPhones, controllers, and other peripherals made for the new standard. It’s a subtle change but one that’s appreciated.
Shop the new PS5 SLIM here
The new modular drive fixes a common problem
There’s another change as well, and this one will only be noticeable to those who have PS5s with disc drives. The PS5 Slim’s drive is actually modular.
You won’t want to constantly remove it, because it has to be installed and then registered on your PS5, but it does mean you can buy a digital version of the PS5 Slim and upgrade it later using a disc drive. Better yet, if the drive eventually fails, you can easily replace it. It is, of course, an open question these days about who truly It needs a drive in the era of movie streaming. But for those who demand HD resolution on high-end TVs, this is a nice touch.
PlayStation 5 Slim Call of Duty® Modern Warfare® III controller
PlayStation 5 Slim Call of Duty® Modern Warfare® III controller
Now 11% discount
Even better is the stealth problem the new drive solves. On the original PS5, the drive eject button and power button are right next to each other, with almost no markings, which led me to repeatedly press the eject button and believe my PS5 was dead on several occasions. The modular drive crucially separates the power and eject buttons (power is black and on the PS5’s body, and eject is next to the drive and white), which is a very welcome change.
Who needs a new Playstation 5 Slim?
All of these upgrades make the PlayStation 5 Slim the best version of Sony’s current generation console, but it’s not for everyone. If you have a classic PS5 that works fine, there’s not enough here to consider it a real “upgrade.” You’ve already dealt with the shape issue in your living room by now, and you know the little idiosyncrasies of the device (the whole eject/power button issue).
But if you’re looking to dive into the PS5 ecosystem now, the Slim is perfect for you, and perfect as a holiday gift. It offers plenty of storage space to get you started and a well-thought-out exterior. It’s everything you could want in a current-gen console (and a perfect way to play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2).
Until the next console is updated of course.
Shop the new PS5 SLIM here
Ebenezer Samuel, CSCS, is the fitness director at Men’s health He is a certified trainer with more than 10 years of training experience. He has logged training time with NFL and track athletes, and his current training regimen includes weight training, HIIT conditioning, and yoga. Before joining Men’s Health in 2017, he worked as a sports columnist and technology columnist for the New York Daily News.
The PlayStation 5 Slim is the latest addition to Sony’s gaming console lineup, offering a more compact and streamlined design compared to its predecessor. With updated hardware and improved performance, this new iteration boasts a sleek and modern look, making it an attractive option for gamers looking to upgrade their gaming experience. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the features and capabilities of the PlayStation 5 Slim, and see how it measures up to the high expectations set by its predecessor.