PS5 Slim vs Original PS5 — Is the Upgrade Worth It?

In late 2023, Sony released a revised PlayStation 5 — shorter, lighter, and with a detachable disc drive on the disc edition. It's not a PS5 Pro. It's the same console under the hood, just smaller. But is smaller actually better? Let's break it down.

The Slim is about 30% smaller and 18–24% lighter than the launch PS5 depending on the version. The disc edition now has a detachable disc drive — you can buy the Digital Edition and add a disc drive later for $79.99. Sony also bumped internal storage from 825GB to 1TB. That's the full list of changes. Everything else is identical.

The CPU, GPU, and SSD speed are completely unchanged. You'll get identical performance, identical load times, and identical frame rates. The DualSense controller is the same. The game library is the same. If you're buying a PS5 Slim hoping for better graphics or faster performance, you won't find it.

No. Unless your PS5 is broken or you desperately need the desk space, there's no reason to spend money upgrading from an original PS5 to a Slim. The performance is identical and the size difference won't change your gaming experience.

Yes — if you're buying new. The Slim is the current standard PS5 and it's a better package: smaller, with more storage and a cleaner design. But on the used market, original PS5 units can be found for significantly less. If price matters more than size, grab an original PS5 and spend the saved money on games.

The PS5 Slim is a refinement, not a revolution. It's the better buy for first-time buyers at retail. For anyone already on a PS5, stay put. For used buyers, the original PS5 at a lower price is often the smarter move.