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The PS5 is one of the best consoles thanks to its powerful hardware, exclusives, and 4K Blu-ray drive. Though it costs $50 more than the digital-edition PS5, this model lets you play game discs. This slim version of the console is also slightly smaller than the original and has 1TB of storage.
The PS5 Slim Digital Edition is for downloadable games only and costs $50 less than the standard PS5 with a disc drive. A disc drive add-on can be bought separately should you wish to use physical discs at a later date for an extra $80.
PS5 digital vs. disc: Pricing and availability
The slim PS5 with disc drive costs $500, while the slim digital-edition PS5 costs $450. Both slim models are available online and in stores at various retailers. You may also still be able to find old stock of the original, slightly larger PS5 models that launched in 2020, but the slim editions are the only versions that Sony is still manufacturing.
You can also find slim PlayStation 5 consoles bundled with popular games like Spider-Man 2 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare III. Disc-drive PS5 bundles are normally priced at $560, but the Spider-Man 2 bundle is often on sale for less. Check out our best PS5 deals roundup for more discounts and promos.
The PS5 is one of the best consoles thanks to its powerful hardware, exclusives, and 4K Blu-ray drive. Though it costs $50 more than the digital-edition model, the standard PS5 lets you play game discs. This package includes the new slimmer version of the console, along with a code to download a free copy of Spider-Man 2.
PS5 digital vs. disc: What’s different?
The original disc- and digital-edition PlayStation 5 models released in 2020 had nearly identical designs, with the only real difference being the absence of a 4K Blu-ray drive on the digital edition. In addition to being unable to play games and movies on Blu-ray discs, the original digital-edition PS5 was slightly thinner and weighed about 1.3 lbs less than the original standard version. These older models are no longer being made.
The current slim PS5 with disc drive and slim PS5 Digital Edition consoles released in November 2023 are about 30% smaller than the original models. They also have larger 1TB solid-state drives. But once again, the most important difference between each slim PS5 is that the digital edition does not include a disc drive. However, the slim digital-edition PS5 allows you to add a 4K Blu-ray drive attachment later on, which is not something you could do on the original PS5 Digital Edition.
Despite these design differences, all versions of the PS5 deliver the same gaming performance. This includes support for gameplay at up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second on compatible displays, lightning-fast load times thanks to the console’s solid-state drive, and advanced graphical features like ray tracing on select games.
Every PS5 comes with the same DualSense controller, which offers haptic feedback and has a built-in microphone, and they support all of the best PlayStation accessories.
PS5 digital vs. disc: Games
All PlayStation 5 consoles share the same library of games and the same quality of gameplay, but disc-drive PS5 models give you more control over how you can play those games.
With a disc-drive PS5, games can be installed from physical discs or via digital downloads. Meanwhile, the digital-edition PS5 limits you to buying and playing downloaded games only.
Digital purchases of PlayStation games are tied to your Sony account. The PlayStation Store is the only place you can buy digital games, so owners of the PS5 Digital Edition can’t take advantage of deals at stores like GameStop and Best Buy.
Though digital game downloads are convenient, having physical discs allows you to re-sell your games or lend them to a friend. The PS5 with disc drive can also play old PS4 discs via backward compatibility, while the digital-edition PS5 can only access digital versions of those games through the PlayStation Store.
However, remember that many physical games still require an internet connection and significant PS5 storage space to install and play. This means that going with a disc copy will not save you hard drive space compared to downloading the game.
PS5 digital vs. disc: PlayStation Plus
Sony offers a subscription service called PlayStation Plus that provides online multiplayer and a catalog of games to download on the PS5. PlayStation Plus works the same on all PS5 consoles, but digital edition owners might get the most out of the service since certain plans provide easy access to a bunch of PS4 games without the need for a disc drive.
For $10 a month, PlayStation Plus Essential gives gamers access to online play and a monthly selection of free games that will stay in their collection as long as they remain subscribers. The next two tiers of PlayStation Plus, Extra ($15 a month) and Premium ($18 a month), provide access to more than 400 PS4 and PS5 games. Premium also adds even more games from older PlayStation consoles and allows you to stream games directly to a PS5.
PS5 digital vs. disc: Specs
The bottom line
The PlayStation 5 is our pick for the best gaming console you can buy, no matter which edition you purchase. However, we think the disc-drive PS5 offers more value in the long run. It costs an extra $50, but it lets you play old PS4 discs, used copies of games, and borrowed discs from friends, which could save you money over time. It also doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player for movies.
The digital-edition PlayStation 5 is still a great pickup, especially if you want to save money upfront, but it’s better for gamers who don’t already have a collection of PlayStation discs and don’t need the PS5 to be the center of their home entertainment system. However, since the slim PS5 Digital Edition lets you add a drive later on, you always have the option to upgrade in the future, albeit for about $30 more than you’d pay if you bought the disc-drive PS5 to begin with.
Winner: Sony PS5 Slim with disc drive
FAQs
Is the PS5 with disc drive more powerful than the digital edition?
The PS5 Digital Edition offers the same gaming performance as the PS5 with a disc drive. Other than the disc drive, both models use the same internal hardware.
Does the PS5 with disc drive have more storage than the PS5 Digital Edition?
Both original PlayStation 5 consoles, with or without disc drives, have an 825GB solid-state drive. Meanwhile, both slim PS5 models, with or without disc drives, have a 1TB SSD.
The storage space on all PS5 models can be upgraded with an M.2 solid-state drive that meets the PS5’s speed requirements. Check out our guide to the best SSDs for PS5 for our top recommendations.
Can you download and play digital games with the PS5 disc version?
The PlayStation Store operates the same way for digital purchases on the standard PS5 as it does on the PS5 Digital Edition. Your Sony account and purchases can also be shared between multiple PlayStation consoles.
Is Sony releasing a PS5 Pro model?
Sony has not officially announced a PS5 Pro model, but a report from Insider Gaming suggests that a PS5 Pro is in the works and could be launched during the holiday season. Rumors point to improved specifications, including upgraded ray-tracing performance and support for 8K gaming. The PS5 Pro is also expected to include a disc drive.
Kevin Webb
Video Game Reporter
Kevin Webb is a gaming reporter based from the New York City Insider Inc. office. He graduated from Morehouse College in 2013 and worked as an Assistant Editor with Darien Times and as a member of the Shoryuken content team prior to joining Business Insider in 2018. Kevin has also been a competitive Street Fighter player since 2007 and will still take on all challengers. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test tech and electronics.
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