PlayStation 5 Slim has arrived at our editorial office, so it’s time for a little test of this refreshed hardware. Right from the start, I must point out that the photos are very misleading, because the live console is much smaller and nicer, especially compared to the “original” counterpart. I also thought it would look more budget-friendly, but it’s quite the opposite. I looked at it from every angle and I have a few conclusions, which I will gladly describe below.
I will focus primarily on the changes and clear differences, because everyone who has ever had contact with this equipment knows how PlayStation 5 works. More than three years have passed since the premiere, so it is a good opportunity for the refreshed model to debut on the market. Its price is immediately shocking, because the “slim” edition should be cheaper and more attractive, but here it went the other way. Not only has the “large” model been withdrawn from sale, but the “PS5 Slim” edition with an optical drive costs a staggering PLN 2,699. That’s a lot of money and I think it’s definitely too much for what we get in the set. And there was no space for even a stand to maintain a vertical position, which we had received earlier.
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The console arrives in a much smaller box, without a handle at the top, and is noticeably lighter and slimmer. There is no inscription anywhere that we are talking about a “slim” model and Sony tries not to use this nomenclature (in relation to the version with a drive), but I will use it for the purposes of this text, for clarity of message. In the set, in addition to the console itself, you will also find a controller from the latest series (it is also slightly refreshed, has a slightly different finish and better material used on the analog sticks), a wiring package, two 3D-printed “pins” for positioning the console horizontally, instructions and attached drive (factory-installed, of course). What caught my eye right from the start was a better HDMI cable. I have the impression that it is slightly thicker, of better quality, perhaps thanks to it the image has gained more colors and sharpness, because I had the irresistible impression that it is “somehow nicer”. But this is only a subjective feeling and does not have to be confirmed in reality.
The new edition of PlayStation 5 surprises with its size and build quality
I was very surprised by the design decision to include four panels, two of which are made of shiny plastic and two of which are matte. I still don’t understand it to this day. However, the console is much smaller and nicer in real life than in the photos. It makes quite an impression, is well made, and there are no visible defects in the plastic castings. There is no crackling or squeaking in your hand. For this amount of sales, I would expect at least this level and I’m glad that Sony maintained it. Importantly, it is much easier to dismantle the case to install an external SSD drive or remove the optical drive. Now you don’t have to struggle with the entire large panel, and all you need to do is gently pry the plastic on one side with your finger so that it comes away nicely from the housing (it has simple latches, but quite strong, it will be rather difficult to break them). On the other side, it is held in place only by convenient hooks. The same with the drive – connecting it does not require any tools or screws, and you only need to hit the SATA connector for the whole thing to start working immediately.
PlayStation 5 Slim in the edition with a drive
PlayStation 5 Slim also uses a larger disk, because we are talking about a standard capacity of 1TB. The user has just over 880GB of space at their disposal, which is much more than the 667GB available in the original edition. This is a lot, because it will allow us to accommodate two or three more large productions. The disk itself is not much different when it comes to its performance. Of course, the change in the size of the console also resulted in a modification of the motherboard and, consequently, the cooling itself. We are still talking about one fan, but slightly smaller and more efficient. I placed the console vertically, but the lack of a stand in the set clearly caught my eye. However, the equipment can stand safely on a shelf or cabinet this way and nothing will happen to it. After starting any title, the fan made a distinct noise. It wasn’t bothersome in any way, but the original PS5 version was able to work completely silently even while running a game. The PS5 Slim edition only works this way in the main menu. Fortunately, regardless of the title turned on, the volume remains the same, which can be considered a big advantage.
PlayStation 5 Slim in the edition with a drive
Using the console itself does not provide a different experience. Everything looks “as usual”. The exception is that it says at startup that an optical drive has been detected and needs to be registered using PSN. It’s a pity that when you buy the Blu-Ray variant (for a lot of money), you don’t get a cover inside that will allow you to make a “slimmer” edition, without this side hump. In my opinion, the PlayStation 5 without a drive in the refreshed edition is even more elegant. The drive itself gained a button to eject discs, but practically nothing has changed in terms of the noise level of its operation. Here, compared to the “large” variant, practically no changes can be observed. As for the hardware itself, there are now two USB-C ports on the front (instead of one USB-A). At the back, nothing has changed and the set of inputs and outputs is exactly the same as before.
PlayStation 5 Slim in the edition with a drive
Sony wants as much as PLN 539 for an optical drive purchased separately, and PLN 139 for a shiny stand that will allow you to place the console vertically. The new model without a drive costs PLN 2,199, so if we ever wanted to add discs, we would have to invest a total of PLN 2,738, which is slightly more than the variant with a pre-installed Blu-ray. On the one hand, it’s great that such an opportunity has now appeared, but on the other hand, I have the impression that this is a lot of money for 3-year-old equipment. Nevertheless, the laws of supply and demand apply here, and since the console is constantly selling in incredible numbers, it is understandable that Sony is not planning any significant discounts at the moment. At most, we can look for some variants with games included and thus save a bit on the final amount. It is certainly not worth jumping to a newer model if we already have an older PlayStation 5, but In my opinion, the refresh is successful and noticeably smaller, which will be an added value for some. But as always, it all comes down to price.
2023-12-18 10:05:17
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