What do we think of the new PS5 slim? | Team Talk

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It's that time again. Just like with the PS3 before it, PlayStation has decided the PS5 could stand to lose a bit of weight (and some height) in preparation for the festive season.

The new models hit a similar price point and come up 30% smaller than their parents, with the digital edition even having the option for a module upgrade to make it…no so digital.

Are you tempted to pick up the new model? Which are you pondering? Let us know on our Discord.

by Team
​PTC

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@pass_controller

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James Parry

While Sony's track record in this department is well-trodden at this point, it still makes me smile when they bring a new version of the same thing and expect us all to be impressed.

Of course, there's business reasons for the refresh. The cost of components goes down over time, and you can use smaller parts to generate the same performance. Since the original PS5 was hardly pocket sized, there's probably plenty of households which could do with a touch more under TV space too.

Where I do raise an eyebrow is the decision to increase the price of the digital edition, and even price it in a way which makes it cost more than the standard edition if you do opt for the optional Blu-ray disc drive.

That said, the decision to increase the built-in storage is very welcome, though, admittedly, a no-brainer.

If Sony did more substantial discounts on digital games then I would be more sympathetic, but the general prices for digital still make my eyes water.

Hopefully those who do pick it up find the updated form factor agreeable, but the main thought in my mind now is when will they start thinking about a PS5 Pro?

Chris Brand

It was safe to assume that we'd have a slightly smaller, and slightly better, console before the inevitable mid-gen enhancements, but this seems solely intended for new customers, with very little reason for current owners to upgrade. Having more storage space is always welcome (or it would be, if external hard drives didn't provide more for less) though, in my opinion, this is cancelled out by having more real-estate to dust in the living room. Smaller isn't always better.

I do like the choice of going all-digital and buying a disc drive later down the line and I'm expecting other companies (both of them) to start promoting a similar option. As so many are hesitant to make the transition to digital, and with valid reasons, this could become the default. Having fully, and surprisingly, embraced digital gaming, I rarely lament the lack of a disc drive. However, collectors of fancy special editions could be saved from buyer's remorse. 

For anyone who was just about to pull the trigger, it may be good timing, there's just not enough to entice me and I suspect many PS5 players may wait for the Pro version rather than forking out for a PlayStation 5.1.

The cynic in me believes that Sony has found a legitimate way of avoiding the Christmas price cut everyone was expecting. For the cost of the digital edition, I could get almost 4,000 "Finest Quality" meatballs (I'm pretty sure that's the brand name because it's certainly not a description). If I'm paying 4,000 meatballs for a PS5, I want as much of it as possible. I'll think about buying 30% less of your console when you knock 1,200 meatballs off my bill.

Liam Andrews

As much as I enjoy the convenience of a digital library, I would still opt for the PS5 bundle that includes the disc drive as it is cheaper than upgrading the all-digital console at a later date, which just seems unnecessarily unfair towards those who do initially go drive-less.

While I recognise that the console is 30% smaller and modular, I still don’t think it’s the best redesign. Some of the previous PlayStation slim models were sleek looking pieces of tech (especially the PS2 and PS3 models) and it was a bit disappointing to see the overall PS5 design hasn’t changed that much, and the ungainly driver bulge is still very much present.

I can appreciate that what a console looks like isn’t that important given its job is to sit under your TV and play games and play them well (and the PS5 does do that) but the whole thing seems like a bit of a missed opportunity.

For example, I have no need for a Series S considering I already own the more powerful Series X, but I still really want one because of its sleek and compact form factor and pure novelty value. The same can’t be said for the PS5 slim.