PS5 Slim evaluation: Two-minute evaluation
The PS5 Slim picks up the place the unique launch mannequin of the PS5 left off and presents a superb current-generation gaming expertise. Including a few quality-of-life enhancements to the unique and shrinking the footprint proper down, whereas sustaining the superb efficiency and experiences you’d count on from a PS5, means that is nonetheless one of many very greatest gaming consoles to purchase.
The PS5 Slim launched on the similar worth that the unique launch mannequin PS5 had. This differs from the final era when the PS4 Slim arrived with a barely cheaper price tag, which was very welcome on the time. Whereas that’s disappointing, the PS5 Slim is now the dominant variant of the console – coming in each disc and digital editions too -and reductions and offers are actually frequent. As such, whereas we heartily advocate it at its listing worth, it will probably supply distinctive worth for cash.
The most important adjustments with the PS5 Slim are certainly as its identify would indicate: its small footprint and type issue imply the PS5 Slim is round 30% smaller, which is welcome given the unique’s heft. It’s of the identical design language, however not precisely the identical both. Whereas the type of the PS5 Slim nonetheless options the fanned, bigger finish, the console’s shell is now break up by a niche (‘crammed in’ by the black plastic of the console’s important physique beneath), making for 4 separate plates.
One small distinction is the entrance ports each being USB-C on the Slim too, buying and selling the launch mannequin’s USB-A port for the second USB-C one. And other than a barely bigger onerous drive – the PS5 Slim sports activities a 1TB SSD versus the unique’s 825GB – it has the similar PS5 specs inside it that provide that fantastic efficiency we’re used to from Sony’s present console. You’ve additionally acquired a bunch of customization choices with the PS5 Slim, due to Sony releasing a large variety of completely different console covers that may be simply slotted on.
It’s that efficiency, mixed with the brand new design, that makes the PS5 Slim really easy to advocate. PS5 video games run like a dream and with a library that’s greater than ever, now presents extra adventures than earlier than. Sony’s first-party titles specifically are dreamy from a efficiency standpoint – whether or not you like decision and element or body charge velocity and smoothness. PlayStation 4 video games additionally nonetheless run like a dream which implies your backlog may be taken onto PS5 Slim with ease. The DualSense Wi-fi controller continues to be the identical unique one which is nice for the haptic options that assist make the PS5 stand out, however its battery life continues to be underwhelming.
The PS5 Slim doesn’t reinvent the PS5 by any means – that evolution is dealt with by the brand new PS5 Professional – however its new design makes it an exceptionally modern model of Sony’s current-gen machine. With the identical nice efficiency, high quality {hardware} and specs, and a larger-than-ever library, it’s a simple console to advocate.
PS5 Slim evaluation: Value and availability
- Checklist worth: $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799 (disc) / $449.99 / £389.99 / AU$679.99 (digital)
- Launched on November 10, 2023
- Similar worth as the unique PS5; common presents are sometimes obtainable
The PS5 Slim is now the default PlayStation 5 mannequin and is extensively obtainable in each area, changing the launch mannequin nearly solely. It took over the identical worth level and is thus a straight swap.
Nonetheless, for the reason that PS5 launched, a number of areas have been hit by PS5 worth rises (typically a number of worth rises) and the PS5 Slim represents the newer, adjusted worth factors in these nations, not the unique one. The US worth has remained the identical, nonetheless. Offsetting this considerably, now we’re into the console’s fifth yr, is that offers and reductions on the PS5 Slim have gotten extra frequent, with genuinely good bundles and presents being placed on by Sony itself, in addition to numerous retailers.
Out there, it’s priced nearly identically to the Xbox Collection X console, which has additionally seen some regional worth rises. The PS5 Slim Digital Version additionally now has direct competitors from an Xbox Collection X Digital Version console however undercuts its Microsoft counterpart in worth significantly.
Throughout the PlayStation 5 ecosystem itself, we now have the PS5 Professional to issue into the equation. Coming in at a mighty $699.99 / £699.99 the Professional is significantly dearer than the Slim, and its efficiency and advantages are just a little extra area of interest, and for an fanatic viewers. In consequence, the PS5 Slim presents good worth in relation to its extra highly effective brethren, given the experiences it presents are nonetheless glorious.
PS5 Slim evaluation: Specs
| Value | $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95 (Disc) / $449.99 / £389.99 / AU$679.99 (Digital) |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 14.1 x 3.8 x 8.8in / 358 x 97 x 224mm |
| Weight | 7.1lbs / 3.2kg |
| Storage capability | Customized 1TB SSD |
| Storage enlargement | M.2 NVMe SSD slot; exterior storage through USB |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6, Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| CPU | 8-core / 16 threads, AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5GHz |
| GPU | 10.28 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon, RDNA-based graphics engine |
| Reminiscence/RAM | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Upscaling | N/A |
| Ports | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Ethernet, 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A |
PS5 Slim evaluation: Design & options
- Slick and stylish design, extra compact than that of the unique
- Removable disc drive, and glorious controller
- Vast selection of replaceable console covers for personalization
The principle promoting level of the PS5 Slim is certainly in its design, aesthetic, and type issue. Sony has a historical past of creating refined, smaller, and slimmer variations of all its residence consoles. so the PS5 getting the trimming-the-fat remedy was anticipated – and it delivers too, coming in at round 30% smaller than the launch mannequin PS5.
There’s an analogous design language right here, nonetheless, with a flare remaining at one finish (for the followers) and the sweeping curves of the PS5 {hardware} household stay throughout the Slim, making for a slick-looking type. The console’s covers are actually in 4 elements, not two, with a niche between the plates forming a putting ‘black’ line throughout each the console’s high and backside.
These, like the unique, may be eliminated and swapped for others that Sony has made (or different third-party ones, if you happen to fancy), which means there are many customization choices to personalize your PS5 Slim. The disc drive is removable by default too, so if you happen to purchase a digital variant and later determine so as to add a disc drive then that’s some additional flexibility proper there.
Whereas the vertical stand for the PS5 Slim is a nicer-looking, slicker steel ring, in comparison with the unique’s cumbersome black plastic mannequin, it doesn’t include the console by default which is a mark towards the console’s worth. In the event you do purchase the stand, the result’s a console that appears sharper when standing upright in comparison with its predecessor. In the event you follow horizontal orientation, you may depend on the 2 small cheapish-lookin plastic toes which are supplied.
By way of options current on the Slim, it’s precisely the identical, spec-wise, as the unique mannequin other than two minor quality-of-life amendments; one inside, one exterior. The inner change is that of a lift to storage, with the PS5 Slim being outfitted with a 1TB SSD in comparison with the launch mannequin’s customized 825GB drive.
PS5 Slim evaluation: Efficiency
- Glorious gaming experiences and efficiency
- Haptics and triggers on the DualSense are very good
- Incredible interface and intuitive consumer expertise
Very like how the unique PS5 gained us over with its glorious gaming efficiency, the PS5 Slim continues that and presents the identical breathtaking experiences. The greatest PS5 video games run superbly with adventures akin to God of Conflict Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, Ratchet and Clank Rift Aside, Astro Bot, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 being explicit first-party highlights that actually reap the benefits of the PS5’s {hardware}.
PS4 video games run like a dream on the PS5 Slim too, and the identical backward compatibility stage with the earlier gen’s discs and digital titles stays a easy a part of the day-to-day PS5 expertise. I’ve been revisiting Doom (2016) not too long ago, for instance, and the additional increase to loading occasions specifically makes it a pleasure to play. The PS5 Recreation Increase mode may also enhance efficiency throughout the board (in precept) for PS5 video games, and makes some video games run smoother, with sooner body charges, or in increased decision – or a mix of all of these.
You may even expertise older video games in your PS5 with the up to date and fashionable association of Sony’s PS Plus subscription. The highest premium stage may give you entry to PS3 recreation streaming from the cloud, in addition to some choose PS1 and PS2 video games to obtain. Whereas maybe not fairly as beneficiant or deep as Microsoft’s Xbox Recreation Move, a PS Plus subscription does make the expertise of getting a PS5 Slim even higher and feels important.
On that notice of streaming and downloading video games, it’s value noting that in all my testing, on Wi-Fi and Ethernet, I nonetheless by no means get near my precise obtain velocity on the PS5. That is one thing I’ve skilled on each PS5 I’ve owned sadly, and never an issue on Xbox Collection X.
On a sensible efficiency stage, utilizing the PS5 Slim is a pleasure too. It’s extremely easy to arrange, and switch recordsdata from one to a different if want be, and eradicating the console covers to entry the M.2 PS5 SSD slot or change them solely could be very simple, and fairly satisfying. The additional USB-C port and barely bigger SSD signifies that day-to-day utilization is improved too, and advantages the entire expertise.
The DualSense, whereas precisely the identical because it was in 2020 – there’s no V2 like there was with the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller, sadly – stays completely glorious. Whereas a usually high gamepad, the haptic suggestions and adaptive triggers proceed to really feel good. The PS5 Slim is suitable with all PS5 (and nearly all PS4) equipment too, so if you happen to personal any from a earlier machine from this or final era then these will be capable of be used on a PS5 Slim.
That is made additional easy as a result of the UI and working system format are similar to the launch PS5 – and PS5 Professional. Navigating the PS5 Slim, from video games to screenshots, and from streaming apps to avoid wasting recordsdata and deeper settings is straightforward and intuitive. There are additionally now extra customization choices on supply with the UI being honed and enhanced for the reason that launch mannequin’s preliminary launch.
Thus, the PS5 Slim is a simple suggestion. It’d be a simple suggestion if the launch mannequin of the PS5 existed nonetheless, however now that it has taken over the place of the ‘customary’ console from its predecessor – and improved on it barely – it’s the best current-gen console suggestion I could make proper now.
Ought to I purchase the PS5 Slim?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally take into account…
In the event you’re nonetheless undecided about committing to the PS5 Slim, then listed here are two tremendous alternate options to think about for console gaming in 2025.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | PS5 Slim | PS5 Professional | Xbox Collection X |
| Value | $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95 (Disc) / $449.99 / £389.99 / AU$679.99 (Digital) | $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199 | $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799 |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 14.1 x 3.8 x 8.8in / 358 x 97 x 224mm | 15.2 x 3.5 x 8.5in / 388 x 89 x 216mm | 5.9 x 5.9 x 11.9in / 151 x 151 x 301mm |
| Weight | 7.1lbs / 3.2kg (Disc) / 5.7lbs / 2.6kgs (Digital) | 6.8lbs / 3.1kg | 9.8lbs / 4.5kg |
| Storage capability | Customized 1TB SSD | Customized 2TB SSD | 1TB SSD |
| Storage enlargement | M.2 NVMe SSD slot; exterior storage through USB | M.2 NVMe SSD slot; exterior storage through USB | Storage card enlargement slot; exterior storage through USB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 7, ethernet, Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6, ethernet |
| CPU | 8-core / 16 threads, AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5GHz | 8 core / 16 thread AMD Zen 2 | 8 x Zen 2 core |
| GPU | 10.28 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon, RDNA-based graphics engine | 16.7 TFLOPs, AMD Radeon, RDNA-based graphics engine | 12 TFLOPs, Customized RDNA 2 |
| Reminiscence/RAM | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 / 2GB DDR5 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Upscaling | N/A | PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Tremendous Decision Upscaling) | Some FSR-compatible video games |
| Ports | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Ethernet, 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Ethernet, 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Ethernet, 3 x USB-A, 1 x storage enlargement |
How I examined the PS5 Slim
- Examined over the course of months, changing my unique PS5
- In comparison with PS5 Professional and launch PS5
- Used it a number of days per week for months taking part in a wide range of video games, transferring information, and with a spread of equipment
I’ve examined and lived with the PS5 Slim for a number of months now with it being my workplace PS5, and common ‘regular’ PS5 console (alongside my important PS5 Professional machine). In consequence, it’s been used for testing {hardware}, and video games, and has been used for normal gaming of PS5 and PS4 titles in my very own time when not utilizing my PS5 Professional.
I’ve been capable of examine it to my PS5 Professional, in addition to the unique PS5 mannequin I’ve owned from bodily footprint and design to efficiency and on a regular basis use. I’ve engaged with the console on a number of ranges; utilizing the SSD bay, utilizing it in each horizontal and vertical positions, and likewise altering the console covers from white to Volcanic Purple.
I’ve performed each digital and disc video games on the console together with an Acer Predator X32QFS 4K gaming monitor, and I’ve examined a number of equipment with the PS5 Slim together with a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P headset, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi headset, a Sabrent M.2 PS5 SSD, and Seagate Recreation Drive exterior SSD for PlayStation.
First reviewed October 2024-January 2025
