PS5 vs. PS5 Slim vs. PS5 Pro: What’s the difference and which console should you get?

The PlayStation 5 was arguably one of Sony’s most controversial designs. After a few years, I have to admit that I’m starting to like it more and more. The only downside is its gigantic size, which is why the PS5 Slim was a welcome redesign. The upcoming PS5 Pro revamps the design even further and adds some welcome hardware upgrades. If you’re not sure which model is right for you, we’ve got some insight.

Unlike previous midcycle refreshes like the PS4 Pro, the PS5 Slim is more of a replacement than an addition to the lineup. When stock of the original sells out, only the Slim will be available. The Slim model doesn’t offer any upgrades to core specs like processor or RAM, but does have a bit more storage; the original PS5 featured 825GB of internal storage, while the PS5 Slim increases that to a full 1TB.

The PS5 Pro, meanwhile, is more in line with what we expect from a midcycle refresh. It offers significant processor upgrades, a relatively large 2TB internal storage from the start, and a price to match. At $700, the price shock is real. Let’s dive into the details.

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PS5 Slim: A space-saving successor

The biggest difference between the PS5 and PS5 Slim is size. The original PS5 was an absolute unit, by far one of the biggest consoles ever made. The PS5 Slim is about 30 percent smaller in volume than its big brother, and like the original, the disc-less versions take up even less space. Here are the dimensions of all four models:

You can see a comparison of all four sizes here, and rotate the models in 3D space to get a feel for the difference. The loss in size is significant and your entertainment device will appreciate the extra space, although it’s worth noting that even the Slim models are still substantially larger than, say, the Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Photo: Eric Ravenscraft