The original PlayStation 5 is the largest PlayStation console on the market. In fact, it’s the largest console, period, at a form factor of 390 mm x 260 mm x 104 mm, or 15.4 inches tall, 10.24 inches deep, and 4.09 inches wide. Designer Yujin Morisawa knew this when he unveiled the original design at the Sony “Future of Gaming” event in 2020, and according to an interview with the Washington Post in November of that same year, he described the large size as a matter of comfort – comparing it to plants, animals, or some other household object.
We loved the original design of the PlayStation 5 and slightly less expensive PlayStation 5 Digital Edition when it was first unveiled in 2020. However, not every gamer was excited to try and fit the relatively oversized console into their entertainment centers, with some needing to make peace with the fact it was probably necessary to fit in the PS5’s next-generation gaming hardware. Today, Sony unveiled a potential solution that retains the beauty of the original design: a newer, slimmer PlayStation 5, which not only looks like a much sleeker version of the OG PS5, but is rated to be about 30% smaller and weigh between 18% to 24% less – depending on whether you go for the PlayStation 5 or the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, respectively.
Designer: Yujin Morisawa (via Sony)
The upcoming PlayStation 5 model will also come with a better storage unit. Originally, the PS5 came with an 825GB NVME SSD, which will now be bumped up to a full 1TB of storage – translating a bit more closely to 800GB of actual, usable storage space for games and media. However, this also comes with a price hike for the Digital Edition, which previously costed around $400, and is now set to be bumped up to an MSRP of $449.99. There is some good news there: all PlayStation 5 Digital Edition owners will finally be able to play optical media on their devices, thanks to a plug-and-play external UHD Blu-ray disc drive that will become available on Sony’s store for $79.99.
All existing PlayStation 5 covers will no longer be compatible with the new devices, but Sony already detailed plans to roll out a new series of external removable covers as well as a new vertical stand, saying, “A variety of PS5 Console Cover colors for the new model will be available starting in early 2024, including an all-matte Black colorway and the Deep Earth Collection colors in Volcanic Red, Cobalt Blue, and Sterling Silver.”
These newer PlayStation 5 units (which haven’t officially been designated “PlayStation 5 Slim,” but are simply replacing the older models) are set to begin rolling out in November, in time for the upcoming holiday season. The MSRP for the slim PlayStation 5 will remain at $499.99.
