Redesigned PS5 models slim down one of the bulkiest consoles ever

When we got our first glimpse of the PlayStation 5 over three years ago now, we made immediate note of how the hardware's black-and-white curves concealed the largest home game console in decades. Today, Sony is ready to do something about all that bulk, announcing new models of both the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition in a "new slimmer size."

 

The new units—which will be rolling out via "select local retailers" and PlayStation Direct this month—sport the same internal hardware power as the circa 2020 PS5. But these new models come with a 30-plus percent reduction in volume and an 18 to 24 percent reduction in weight compared to current PS5 models, according to Sony. They also feature a 1TB SSD that the PlayStation Blog describes as "more internal storage" than the original units, which officially listed 825GB of storage space.

 

 

Besides the thinner profile, the slimmer units also feature a striking curved slit bisecting each faceplate into "glossy" and "matte" sections (new coloured faceplates for these models will be available for $54.99 starting in early 2024, Sony says). Unfortunately, the redesign means the new models won't be able to stand vertically out of the box—a $29.99 Vertical Stand will be required for that orientation now. But the front-facing USB-A port on the current PS5 has also been replaced with a second USB-C port on the new models, fully cementing the move to the new standard.

A new pricing floor

Besides aesthetics, the redesign also raises the floor price of the PS5 family in the US. The MSRP for the disc-drive-free PS5 Digital Edition is increasing from $399.99 to $449.99 (the full-fledged PS5 will remain at a $499.99 MSRP). That change comes a year after Sony hiked the PS5's asking price in most non-US markets.

 

Sony also points out that "once inventory of the current PS5 model has sold out, the new PS5 will become the only model available," meaning you have a limited time to get a Digital Edition console at its current lower price. That is, if you can still find it—the Digital Edition PS5 is listed as "Currently Unavailable" on PlayStation Direct and only available for well above MSRP at other major retailers. Some US shoppers started noticing Digital Edition supply issues months ago, suggesting Sony may have been slowing shipments of the original Digital Edition PS5 in advance of this new pricier model.

 

 

The new Digital Edition does come with a bit of added flexibility over the current model, though, in the form of an "Ultra HD Blu-Ray Disc Drive for PS5." This optional $79.99 unit essentially converts the Digital Edition into a "full" PS5, with a snap-on design that hides the new drive underneath a bulbous faceplate bulge. It's currently unclear if the disc drive on the full-fledged PS5 can also optionally "snap off" to convert to a slimmer form factor, but it certainly seems possible based on the images Sony shared today.

 

Sony has routinely released smaller versions of all of its consoles, starting with the release of the PS One in 2000. When the PS4 Slim launched in 2016, we said the redesigned unit came with "few compromises" over the bulkier original.

Listing image by Sony