I’ve used the PS5 Slim for months and it’s an excellent evolution of the original PS5, offering the same power and performance in a slimmer, neater package

The PS5 Slim and DualSense controller on a wooden table in front of a white brick background and next to a vase of flowers

PS5 Slim review: Two-minute review

The PS5 Slim picks up where the original launch model of the PS5 left off and offers a brilliant current-generation gaming experience. Adding a couple of quality-of-life improvements to the original and shrinking the footprint right down, while maintaining the excellent performance and experiences you would expect from a PS5, means this is still one of the very best gaming consoles to buy.

The PS5 Slim launched at the same price that the original launch model PS5 had. This differs from the last generation when the PS4 Slim arrived with a slightly lower price tag, which was very welcome at the time. While that’s disappointing, the PS5 Slim is now the dominant variant of the console – coming in both disc and digital editions too -and discounts and deals are now frequent. As such, while we heartily recommend it at its list price, it can offer exceptional value for money.

The biggest changes with the PS5 Slim are indeed as its name would imply: its small footprint and form factor mean the PS5 Slim is around 30% smaller, which is welcome given the original’s heft. It’s of the same design language, but not exactly the same either. While the form of the PS5 Slim still features the fanned, larger end, the console’s shell is now split by a gap (‘filled in’ by the black plastic of the console’s main body underneath), making for four separate plates.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

One small difference is the front ports both being USB-C on the Slim too, trading the launch model’s USB-A port for the second USB-C one. And apart from a slightly larger hard drive – the PS5 Slim sports a 1TB SSD as opposed to the original’s 825GB – it has the identical PS5 specs within it that offer that wonderful performance we’re used to from Sony’s current console. You’ve also got a host of customization options with the PS5 Slim, thanks to Sony releasing a wide number of different console covers that can be easily slotted on.

It is that performance, combined with the new design, that makes the PS5 Slim so easy to recommend. PS5 games run like a dream and with a library that’s bigger than ever, now offers more adventures than before. Sony’s first-party titles in particular are dreamy from a performance standpoint – whether you prefer resolution and detail or frame rate speed and smoothness. PlayStation 4 games also still run like a dream which means your backlog can be taken onto PS5 Slim with ease. The DualSense Wireless controller is still the same original one which is great for the haptic features that help make the PS5 stand out, but its battery life is still underwhelming.

The PS5 Slim doesn’t reinvent the PS5 by any means – that evolution is handled by the new PS5 Pro – but its new design makes it an exceptionally sleek version of Sony’s current-gen machine. With the same great performance, quality hardware and specs, and a larger-than-ever library, it’s an easy console to recommend.

PS5 Slim review: Price and availability

List price: $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799 (disc) / $449.99 / £389.99 / AU$679.99 (digital)
Launched on November 10, 2023
Same price as the original PS5; regular offers are often available

The PS5 Slim is now the default PlayStation 5 model and is widely available in every region, replacing the launch model almost entirely. It took over the same price point and is thus a straight swap.

However, since the PS5 launched, several regions have been hit by PS5 price rises (sometimes multiple price rises) and the PS5 Slim represents the newer, adjusted price points in those countries, not the original one. The US price has remained the same, however. Offsetting this somewhat, now we’re into the console’s fifth year, is that deals and discounts on the PS5 Slim are becoming more frequent, with genuinely good bundles and offers being put on by Sony itself, as well as various retailers.

In the market, it’s priced almost identically to the Xbox Series X console, which has also seen some regional price rises. The PS5 Slim Digital Edition also now has direct competition from an Xbox Series X Digital Edition console but undercuts its Microsoft counterpart in price considerably.

Within the PlayStation 5 ecosystem itself, we now have the PS5 Pro to factor into the equation. Coming in at a mighty $699.99 / £699.99 the Pro is considerably more expensive than the Slim, and its performance and benefits are a little more niche, and for an enthusiast audience. As a result, the PS5 Slim offers good value in relation to its more powerful brethren, given the experiences it offers are still excellent.

A close up of the PlayStation symbol at the top of a PS5 Slim console with a white brick background

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

PS5 Slim review: Specs

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Price	$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 capacity	Custom 1TB SSD
Storage expansion	M.2 NVMe SSD slot; external storage via 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
Memory/RAM	16GB GDDR6
Upscaling	N/A
Ports	1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Ethernet, 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A

The PS5 Slim next to a PS5 Pro and launch model PS5 on a wooden table with a white brick background and next to a vase of flowers

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

PS5 Slim review: Design & features

Slick and chic design, more compact than that of the original
Detachable disc drive, and excellent controller
Wide choice of replaceable console covers for personalization

The main selling point of the PS5 Slim is indeed in its design, aesthetic, and form factor. Sony has a history of making refined, smaller, and slimmer versions of all its home consoles. so the PS5 getting the trimming-the-fat treatment was expected – and it delivers too, coming in at around 30% smaller than the launch model PS5.

There’s a similar design language here, however, with a flare remaining at one end (for the fans) and the sweeping curves of the PS5 hardware family remain across the Slim, making for a slick-looking form. The console’s covers are now in four parts, not two, with a gap between the plates forming a striking ‘black’ line across both the console’s top and bottom.

These, like the original, can be removed and swapped for others that Sony has made (or other third-party ones, if you fancy), meaning there are plenty of customization options to personalize your PS5 Slim. The disc drive is detachable by default too, so if you buy a digital variant and later decide to add a disc drive then that’s some extra flexibility right there.

A close up of the PS5 Slim's vertical stand on a wooden table with a white brick background

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

While the vertical stand for the PS5 Slim is a nicer-looking, slicker metal ring, compared to the original’s bulky black plastic model, it doesn’t come with the console by default which is a mark against the console’s value. If you do buy the stand, the result is a console that looks sharper when standing upright compared to its predecessor. If you stick with horizontal orientation, you can rely on the two small cheapish-lookin plastic feet that are provided.

In terms of features present on the Slim, it is exactly the same, spec-wise, as the original model apart from two minor quality-of-life amendments; one internal, one external. The internal change is that of a boost to storage, with the PS5 Slim being equipped with a 1TB SSD compared to the launch model’s custom 825GB drive.

A close up of the PS5 Slim's rear on a wooden table with a white brick background

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

PS5 Slim review: Performance

Excellent gaming experiences and performance
Haptics and triggers on the DualSense are superb
Fantastic interface and intuitive user experience

Much like how the original PS5 won us over with its excellent gaming performance, the PS5 Slim continues that and offers the same breathtaking experiences. The best PS5 games run beautifully with adventures such as God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart, Astro Bot, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 being particular first-party highlights that really take advantage of the PS5’s hardware.

PS4 games run like a dream on the PS5 Slim too, and the same backward compatibility level with the previous gen’s discs and digital titles remains a simple part of the day-to-day PS5 experience. I’ve been revisiting Doom (2016) recently, for example, and the extra boost to loading times in particular makes it a joy to play. The PS5 Game Boost mode will also improve performance across the board (in principle) for PS5 games, and makes some games run smoother, with faster frame rates, or in higher resolution – or a combination of all of those.

You can even experience older games on your PS5 with the updated and modern arrangement of Sony’s PS Plus subscription. The top premium level can give you access to PS3 game streaming from the cloud, as well as some select PS1 and PS2 games to download. While perhaps not quite as generous or deep as Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, a PS Plus subscription does make the experience of having a PS5 Slim even better and feels essential.

On that note of streaming and downloading games, it is worth noting that in all my testing, on Wi-Fi and Ethernet, I still never get close to my actual download speed on the PS5. This is something I have experienced on every PS5 I have owned sadly, and not a problem on Xbox Series X.

The PS5 Slim and DualSense sitting horizontally sitting on wooden table next to a vase of flowers with a white brick background

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

On a practical performance level, using the PS5 Slim is a joy too. It’s incredibly simple to set up, and transfer files from one to another if need be, and removing the console covers to access the M.2 PS5 SSD slot or change them entirely is very easy, and quite satisfying. The extra USB-C port and slightly larger SSD means that day-to-day usage is improved too, and benefits the whole experience.

The DualSense, while exactly the same as it was in 2020 – there’s no V2 like there was with the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller, sadly – remains absolutely excellent. While a generally top gamepad, the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers continue to feel brilliant. The PS5 Slim is compatible with all PS5 (and almost all PS4) accessories too, so if you own any from a previous machine from this or last generation then these will be able to be used on a PS5 Slim.

This is made extra simple because the UI and operating system layout are identical to the launch PS5 – and PS5 Pro. Navigating the PS5 Slim, from games to screenshots, and from streaming apps to save files and deeper settings is simple and intuitive. There are also now more customization options on offer with the UI being honed and enhanced since the launch model’s initial release.

Thus, the PS5 Slim is an easy recommendation. It’d be an easy recommendation if the launch model of the PS5 existed still, but now that it has taken over the position of the ‘standard’ console from its predecessor – and improved on it slightly – it’s the easiest current-gen console recommendation I can make right now.

The PS5 Slim with volcanic red console covers on, infront of the console cover box while sitting on wooden table next to a vase of flowers with a white brick background

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

Should I buy the PS5 Slim?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider…

If you’re still undecided about committing to the PS5 Slim, then here are two fine alternatives to consider for console gaming in 2025.

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Row 0 – Cell 0	PS5 Slim	PS5 Pro	Xbox Series X
Price	$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 capacity	Custom 1TB SSD	Custom 2TB SSD	1TB SSD
Storage expansion	M.2 NVMe SSD slot; external storage via USB	M.2 NVMe SSD slot; external storage via USB	Storage card expansion slot; external storage via 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, Custom RDNA 2
Memory/RAM	16GB GDDR6	16GB GDDR6 / 2GB DDR5	16GB GDDR6
Upscaling	N/A	PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling)	Some FSR-compatible 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 expansion

The PS5 Slim standing upright with a DualSense controller sitting on wooden table next to a vase of flowers with a white brick background

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

How I tested the PS5 Slim

Tested over the course of months, replacing my original PS5
Compared to PS5 Pro and launch PS5
Used it multiple days a week for months playing a variety of games, transferring data, and with a range of accessories

I’ve tested and lived with the PS5 Slim for several months now with it being my office PS5, and regular ‘normal’ PS5 console (alongside my main PS5 Pro machine). As a result, it’s been used for testing hardware, and games, and has been used for regular gaming of PS5 and PS4 titles in my own time when not using my PS5 Pro.

I have been able to compare it to my PS5 Pro, as well as the original PS5 model I have owned from physical footprint and design to performance and everyday use. I have engaged with the console on multiple levels; using the SSD bay, using it in both horizontal and vertical positions, and also changing the console covers from white to Volcanic Red.

I have played both digital and disc games on the console in combination with an Acer Predator X32QFS 4K gaming monitor, and I have tested multiple accessories with the PS5 Slim including a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P headset, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset, a Sabrent M.2 PS5 SSD, and Seagate Game Drive external SSD for PlayStation.