Here’s how you can find a PS5 for Christmas. Playstation 5 digital console

07.06.2023 Gralbine Gadgets

Here’s how you can find a PS5 for Christmas

In this picture taken on May 9, 2022, a Sony Playstation 5 video game console is displayed at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)

Two years after its release in November 2020, the Playstation 5 is still one of the most in-demand and hard-to-find game consoles on the market.

Sony cited a global chip shortage as a reason why PS5s were in limited supply. The chip shortage occurred at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as consumers bought more electronic devices and computers, CNBC reported last year.

The PS5s come in two versions — the PS5 standard model that has a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive (500) and a Playstation 5 “digital edition” without a disc drive for 400. PS5 consoles come with one controller, but gamers can buy additional controllers and games online and in stores.

Several retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Gamestop are ramping up their PS5 inventory for the holiday blitz for consumers to get one under their Christmas tree.

And if you want to check the availability of PS5s, third-party websites like HotStock.io, a product tracking website, are good places to check out for notifications posting when PS5s will be back in stock.

Playstation website

For shoppers looking to land a PS5 just in time for Christmas, Playstation‘s direct website has consoles available.

Sony has three versions of the console for sale: the Playstation Console – God of War Ragnarok Bundle for 559.99, the Playstation Console for 499.99, and the Playstation Digital Edition Console for 399.99.

A video game controller, Sony DualSense for the Playstation 5 game console is displayed during Paris Games Week 2022 at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles on November 03, 2022 in Paris, France. (Chesnot/Getty Images)

PlayStation 5 Unboxing #shorts

The consoles are available for a limited time, and shoppers can get free express shipping on bundles, according to Playstation’s website.

Consumers can have the PS5 delivered to their home at no extra cost if they order one by Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. PT to get it by Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). Visit the Playstation website for more info.

Gamestop

PS5 consoles are available at Gamestop online and in stores. But your best bet is to visit a store near you since Gamestop offers in-store pick-up.

Gamestop has the following PS5 consoles available now: Playstation 5 console is available for 459.99, the Playstation 5 Console – God of War Ragnarok Bundle for 559.99, the Playstation Digital Edition is 359.99, and the Playstation 5 Digital Edition Console with God of War is 59.99.

But the stores are currently sold out of the Playstation 5 Horizon Forbidden Bundle (549.99) and the Playstation 5 Horizon Forbidden Bundle Digital (449.99).

A Gamestop manager tells FOX Television Stations that stores will start getting shipments of PS5 consoles this week, explaining that locations that get more customer traffic will receive more consoles (20 or more). But stores with fewer shoppers are likely to receive 10 to 15. The manager explains that these consoles will be the last batch sold at Gamestop for the holiday season until more inventory arrives in stores by January 2023.

Japanese video gaming system brand created and owned by Sony Computer Entertainment, Playstation 5, is seen at its official store in Hong Kong. (Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Target

Target has a few Playstation 5 consoles available for pickup and same-day delivery to get them under the tree in time for Christmas.

The Playstation 5 Console Horizon Forbidden West Bundle is 549.99, the Playstation 5 console is 499.99, and the Playstation 5 Digital Edition is 399.99.

Target also has wireless controllers and headphones if you want to play online, and an array of games like NFL Madden 23, Spider Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition, and The Last Stand: Aftermath.

Target provided a statement to FOX Television Stations regarding what the retail giant is doing to meet the demands of consumers seeking the Playstation 5 consoles.

“We are working closely with our vendor partners to ensure we have the newest gaming consoles in stock as guest demand continues to be high. Guests can check target.com for the latest on availability.”

Amazon

Consumers looking to land a PS5 can find one on Amazon. The Playstation 5 Console-God of War Bundle is 559.99, the Playstation 5 Console is 499.99, the Playstation 5 Digital Edition-Horizon Forbidden West Bundle is 449.99, and the Playstation 5 Digital Edition is 399.99.

All of the consoles are available through “invitation only” via Amazon. The company tells FOX Television Stations that they’re rolling out an invite-based ordering experience for “high demand, low supply products.” The retailer says shoppers can request an invitation to buy items like Playstation 5s from their product detail page.

The program is starting in the U.S. with Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X game consoles sold by Amazon. The retailer says there’s no cost to consumers, and an Amazon membership isn’t required.

Amazon says they set the program up to prevent inventory shortages and price gouging caused by robot traffic for high-demand, low-supply products. The goal is to ensure genuine customers can purchase these products.

If shoppers get an invitation to purchase the item, Amazon says they will receive an email with instructions on how to purchase it. The company says they will grant more invitations to buy as they get more products like PS5s in stock.

“We work hard every day to provide customers with low prices, vast selection, and fast delivery. This includes developing a shopping experience where customers can purchase the items they’re interested in without having to worry about bad actors buying and reselling them at a much higher price.” Llew Mason, vice president for Amazon Shopping said in a statement.

Walmart

Walmart has a Gamer Drop section on its website where shoppers can find the costs and availability of PS5s. Some of the PS5 consoles range in price on Walmart’s website from 459-819.

Currently, Walmart has the Playstation 5 Console God of War Ragnarok Bundle for 559.00, and the Playstation 5 Digital Edition-God of War Ragnarok Bundle for 459.

Walmart tells FOX Television Stations they’re ensuring stores have enough inventory, including PS5s available this holiday season.

“Our work on inventory is focused across our entire assortment, including consoles, as we’ve worked to meet customer demand throughout the season. Walmart expanded its assortment of holiday gifts this season with more items, more brands and more Walmart exclusives. We invested in key gifting categories to increase inventory for highly sought-after electronics like consoles. We have restocked consoles several times throughout the season so more customers can get their hands on one of the holiday’s hottest gifts.“

Best Buy

Playstation 5 consoles are available online at Best Buy but not in stores.

Right now, Best Buy has sold out of the Playstation 5 (499.99), the PS5 Digital Edition (399.99), and the Playstation 5 Console-Horizon Forbidden West Bundle (549.99).

But no need to worry because the retailer has the PS5 controller package (starting at 569.98) and PS5 Digital Edition dual sense controller package (starting at 469.98) available now.

Best Buy also carries an assortment of accessories to enhance your gaming experience, including headphones, an HD camera, dual sense wireless controllers, and a 3D headset.

This story was reported from Washington, D.C.

PS5 restock update: Track on. GameStop, Target and more

PS5 restock is enjoying a period of increased availability right now. Sony Direct has been a consistent source of stock in recent weeks, and more availability is regularly going live. (You’ll need to sign into your Sony account to check stock).

If you’re looking for consoles, you can register for an invitation at Amazon for its next invite-only drop. Likewise, you can still register for Sony Direct invite-only restocks. Do note, registering at either retailer doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be invited to their invite-only drops. That said, Sony appears to have PS5 restocks on a regular basis these days with no virtual queues required.

We’re also watching for news of any PS5 restock this week. For that reason, bookmark this page and keep it regularly refreshed as we bring you the latest restock news.

Where to buy PS5: Restock links and updates

As of March 2023, PS5 restock can be found at Sony and Newegg. The latter has the console on sale, although you’ll need to checkout via Zip, a payment platform that lets you pay for your purchase via interest-free installments.

Sony God of War Ragnarök PS5 Bundle: was 559 now 503 @ Newegg The God of War Ragnarök PS5 bundle comes with a PS5 console, a digital voucher for God of War Ragnarök, and a PS5 DualSense controller. It normally costs 559, but use coupon code “ZIPPIDY10” at checkout to drop its price to 503. You’ll need to finance your purchase with Zip Payments, which lets you pay for your console via interest-free installments.

Sony God of War Ragnarök PS5 Bundle: 559 @ Sony Direct The God of War Ragnarök PS5 bundle comes with a PS5 console, a digital voucher for God of War Ragnarök, and a PS5 DualSense controller. You’ll need a PSN ID in order to order this bundle from Playstation Direct.

PS5: 499 @ Sony Direct The flagship PS5 console includes a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, the design is slightly fuller than the all-digital model. It sells for 499 and includes a PS5 DualSense controller.

PS5 Digital: 399 @ Sony Direct The PS5 Digital console lacks a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, it’s slightly thinner than its counterpart. It also sells for 399 (100 less) and includes a PS5 DualSense controller.

PS5 Disc w/ Horizon Forbidden West: for 549 @ Amazon This bundle includes the PS5 Disc console and Horizon Forbidden West. In our Horizon Forbidden West review, We called the Editor’s Choice game an excellent sequel that delivers a thrilling open-world experience to fans of the original game. You can now register to buy this bundle.

PS5 : register for invite-only drops @ Amazon Amazon is now letting shoppers register for invite-only PS5 restocks. Just click the link above, request an invite, and if accepted you’ll get an email with a link that’s valid for 72 hours. Amazon doesn’t guarantee you’ll get invited immediately, but this should increase your chances of getting a console going forward.

PS5 Digital: 399 @ Amazon (check stock) The PS5 Digital console lacks a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, it’s slightly thinner than its counterpart. It also sells for 399 (100 less) and includes a PS5 DualSense controller.

PS5 restock — latest news and rumors

Getting your hands on a PS5 restock has been significantly easier in the second half of the year, but stock levels are being stretched as we enter the holiday season. The good news is that Amazon is now accepting registrations for invite-only PS5 restocks.

Similarly, Target has confirmed a massive change to how it handles selling PS5 consoles which could offer hope to gamers still after a next-gen console. The retailer will no longer be holding restock events but will instead allow individual stores to sell stock as they get it, so make sure to check your nearest location. Whilst you’re at it, check our Target promo codes to see if we can save you a few extra dollars on those local store orders.

Amazon PS5 restock date

No one knows when Amazon will release its PS5 consoles for sale — or if it even has any. In fact, Amazon PS5 restocks are the most unpredictable. Another thing to keep in mind — Amazon restocks tend to sell out in seconds. So you’ll want to try this Amazon trick to increase your chances of getting a console. Although now that Amazon is doing invite-only restocks, your chances of scoring a console should be better.

Best Buy PS5 restock date

Best Buy used to offer PS5 restocks on Friday afternoons, but the retailer has been known to restock on Thursdays and even on Mondays. In other words, it no longer follows a set pattern. A few things to keep in mind: Best Buy’s drops always occur during the afternoon hours (between 12pm ET and 3pm ET) and they always offer the consoles at list price: 499 for the PS5 and 399 for the PS5 Digital.

Target PS5 restock date

Target PS5 restock dates have been hard to nail down. That’s because the retailer tends to drop inventory in certain regions. For instance, someone in Chicago could see PS5 inventory at their local store, whereas a New Yorker might not see any inventory whatsoever. In addition, Target tends to do early morning restocks that occur around 8 a.m. ET. That said, their last restock sold out in minutes.

PS5 restock — Track on

One of the best ways to find out when PS5 restock hits online retailers is by following the Sony account. We also recommend following accounts such as @PS5StockAlerts, @GYXdeals, @mattswider, @PS5Drop and @Wario64, which are often first to have the latest updates on availability.

Keep in mind that PS5 restock availability can also be regional and limited to select stores. Either way, make sure to keep this page bookmarked and to check the retailer listings regularly.

PS5 restock — Check for stock at these retailers

PS5 at Walmart

PS5: 499 @ Walmart The flagship PS5 console includes a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, the design is slightly fuller than the all-digital model. It sells for 499 and includes a PS5 DualSense controller. Walmart’s restocks tend to last for at least an hour. They’re out of stock right now.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ Walmart The PS5 Digital console lacks a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, it’s slightly thinner than its counterpart. It also sells for 399 (100 less) and includes a PS5 DualSense controller. They’re out of stock right now.

PS5 at Amazon

PS5: 499 @ Amazon Amazon sells the base PS5, but it has no stock at the time of this writing. Amazon PS5 restocks sell out in seconds.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ Amazon Amazon also sells the PS5 Digital Edition, but it has also sold out of this PS5 version.

PS5 at Best Buy

PS5: 499 @ Best Buy Best Buy tends to offer restocks in the afternoon. They restock on Thursdays and Fridays, although they’ve also offered restock on a Monday. They’re sold out now, but tend to offer restocks that last an hour.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ Best Buy The PS5 Digital Edition is sold out at Best Buy. However, when they do have stock, they sell it at list price.

PS5 at GameStop

PS5: 499 @ GameStop GameStop PS5 restock tends to come in bundles. The bundles offer everything from an extra controller to a 20 GameStop gift card. Make sure you check our GameStop promo codes page for discounts and coupons.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ GameStop GameStop PS5 Digital restocks also come in bundles. Oftentimes, they include everything from an extra controller to a 20 GameStop gift card. They’re out of stock now.

PS5 at Target

PS5: 499 @ Target Target PS5 restock happens in the early mornings (ET time). They’re out of stock at this moment.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ Target Target has no stock of the PS5 Digital Edition. However, when stock returns they offer it at list price.

PS5 at BH

PS5: 499 @ BH It’s been awhile since we’ve seen BH Photo PS5 restock. However, it’s a retailer we recommend checking should they offer a surprise restock.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ BH The PS5 Digital Edition is also currently unavailable, but BH could offer a surprise restock so it’s worth keeping an eye on them.

PS5 at Sony Direct

PS5: 499 @ Sony Direct The Sony Direct Store hold invite only restocks as well as general public restocks. For the latter, you’ll need to form an online queue for your chance to get the console for 499. They’re out of stock at this moment.

The Sony Direct Store also offers the PS5 Digital, but it’s out of stock at this moment.

How to buy PS5: Essential tips

Multiple sources have reported an Amazon trick that improves your chances of scoring a PS5. We tested this trick four times and each time we succeeded in getting a next-gen console into our cart. (We tested it with an Xbox Series X, but there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work with a PS5). Other PS5 retailer tips to follow include:

Get prepared: Make sure you have all the right payment card details and two-factor authentication available and to hand when you find a PS5 ready to buy. Units can go so fast that if you’re fiddling around trying to find your credit card you could miss your chance to secure a PS5 order.

Select a retailer: As you can see from our list above, there are plenty of retailers to choose from, which can actually make the whole process of buying a PS5 a bit complicated. We suggest you select a couple of major retailers like Walmart and Amazon, and keep an eye on their PS5 landing pages.

Sign up for stock alerts: Plenty of retailers offer to alert you to when they have PS5 restock. We suggest you sign up to those services for the retailers that are offering them.

Find the right product page: It might sound obvious, but make sure you’re on the actual buying page for the PS5 or the PS5 Digital Edition. If you’re on a landing page, you might end up missing the moment new stock arrives.

Sign in to retailers: Make sure you sign in to any retailers you might already have an account with. This will make things a lot faster when buying a PS5 if you spot one on sale. And speed is of the essence today.

Keep refreshing and don’t give up: It can be a little demoralizing trying to find PS5 restock when everywhere looks sold out. But regularly refresh product pages to see what pops up; you might get lucky. And also keep checking back here for any PS5 stock updates.

It’s also a good idea to check a few of the subscription-based wholesaler retailers like Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Costco. You do need a paid membership to shop at these retailers, but that means reduced competition to snag a unit there. You may need to pay extra for a bundle, but it’s worth checking out these locations either way. Currently, there are no online listings for these retailers to check, but it may be worth heading to each brick-and-mortar store to try your luck at this point.

It’s been a fairly difficult process during this console generation to lock in any sort of next-gen purchase. But as we near the holidays, it’s highly likely there will be additional PS5s available for purchase at some point as Sony catches up with those looking to buy PS5s.

PS5 restock — price and discounts

The PS5 with disc costs 499, whereas the PS5 Digital Edition costs 399. Unfortunately, it’s gonna be a long time before we see any discounts on the consoles. However, we have noted some sales on PS5 accessories. Make sure to follow our PS5 deals coverage for deals on everything related to the PS5.

Where to buy PS5: Avoid the PS5 scalpers

Unfortunately, one of the main reasons for the shortage of PS5 consoles is due to scalpers. These opportunistic people have been using bots to scan retailers for PS5 stock when it becomes available and buy as many of the consoles as they can in one go.

Once they have the highly-desirable console, they will then sell them for extortionate prices, often for thousands of dollars. Business Insider reported one reseller managed to get hold of 200 PS5 consoles and managed to sell them for more than 40,000.

While this isn’t illegal, it’s not exactly the most morally sound thing to do. But at least it’s not as bad as some people who’ve been pretending to sell PS5 consoles on eBay by simply posting photos of the console and scamming people to bid for them when there was no PS5 on offer.

It might seem absurd to buy a PS5 for over 1,000, especially as its launch game lineup isn’t particularly profound. But with the coronavirus pandemic seeing more people staying at home, some Playstation fans are clearly desperate to get their hands on a new console to keep them entertained.

We advise you avoid buying from such resellers, fake or otherwise. At 499 the PS5 is still quite an expensive console and it currently doesn’t have a huge library of games. So if you can wait until later this year, you’re likely to have a lot more PS5 games to choose from and Sony should have more consoles available.

The PS5 Pro Controller

A note on PS5 restocks

PS5 restock is incredibly difficult to pin down. Despite our best efforts to bring you timely updates, Tom’s Guide can’t guarantee you’ll be able to purchase a console. Nevertheless, we are committed to bringing you up-to-the-minute information on all restocks as soon as they happen.

Sony recently declared that the PS5’s supply issues are “resolved,” and that console availability should improve shortly in Japan and Asia.

PS5 review: An essential games console

The PS5 is a true generational leap, offering incredibly fast load times and an innovative new controller that can change the way games feel.

Pros

Incredibly fast SSD
Wildly inventive DualSense controller
Gorgeous 4K visuals
Snappy, clean interface
Impressive backwards compatibility

Cons

– Massive, unwieldy design
– Controller may feel too big for some
– Few must-have exclusives (for now)

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Price: 499 (standard), 399 (Digital Edition) CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2 GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU RAM: 16GB GDDR6 Storage: Custom 825GB SSD Expansion: NVMe M.2 SSD slot Disc drive: 4K Blu-ray player Size: 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1 inches Weight: 9.9 pounds

The PS5 is now more than two years old, and is going from strength and strength, with a bigger roster of exclusive games and a range of impressive accessories.

Not only does the PS5 offer 4K gaming, but it also has seriously advanced haptics, a speedy SSD and immersive 3D audio. All of these and more combine to deliver a console that’s truly equipped for next-generation, or now current-generation, gaming. There is a slight caveat in that the console is so big with a divisive design that it may not appeal to everyone. But it’s nevertheless a compelling console that’s well worth tracking down a PS5 restock for.

So read on for our full PS5 review.

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PS5 review: Price

The PS5 launched on November 12, 2020 in the U.S., and came to the U.K. and most other parts of the world on November 19. The standard PS5, which includes a 4K-Blu-ray drive, costs 499, while the PS5 Digital Edition goes for a cheaper 399, if you don’t mind going discless.

While it was once fiendishly difficult to find in stock, we are now at a stage where the PS5 is more readily available, just don’t expect to find it at discount prices.

PS5 review: Design

Looking at the PS5 now that it’s had a couple of years to bed in, well, it still hasn’t got any sleeker with familiarity. At 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1 inches, it makes the older PlayStation 4 look diminutive, while the black and white two-tone color scheme isn’t exactly subtle.

Many will find the design to be unattractive and will want to hide the PS5 away. I found that in a neat entertainment unit, it becomes less. err. eye-catching. But others may come to like the outlandish looks that definitely stand out from the boxy design of the Xbox Series X.

But the large size means the PS5 can hold a decent cooling system, meaning it can make use of its power without becoming very noisy as fans ramp up to push out heat; this was an issue with the PlayStation 4, especially after it got a little older.

Unless you plan on putting your PS5 on the floor, you’ll likely need a dedicated small table if you plan on standing it vertically. I was able to fit the PS5 in my entertainment center in a horizontal orientation, but just barely. As such, you’ll want to measure your available space before you set up a PS5 at home.

Speaking of orientation, the PS5 includes a detachable stand that allows you to position the massive console vertically or horizontally. The stand screws into the bottom of the console in vertical mode (the PS5 includes a screw, but no tool to screw it in), and clamps on to the PS5’s rear port area in horizontal mode.

It’d be nice if the PS5 included a tool for unscrewing the base, but I had an easy enough time using a coin to attach and remove it. The system stands up securely in vertical mode with the base attached, but I found the base to be far more finicky in horizontal orientation. It took me a few tries before I could get it to lay flat securely on the base. I eventually got the PS5 to sit still horizontally in my entertainment center, but the fact that the console slid off the base quite easily unless it was positioned just right gives me some pause.

Still, I’ll likely be keeping the PS5 in a horizontal orientation for most of my time with it, simply because I’m worried about accidentally tipping over the tall chassis while it sits on my table.

The PS5’s futuristic aesthetic has been the subject of much debate ever since it was unveiled, and I still have mixed feelings about it. I find that the console looks like an unsightly, oversized cable modem when standing vertically, due to its pointy white side panels and the asymmetrical bulk added on by the Blu-ray drive.

But I’ve grown somewhat fond of how it looks sitting horizontally under my TV, where its curves and edges seem to shine more (even if it looks like a miniature Barclays Center). I also like the attractive LED status lights on each side of the interior, which is both slicker and more pronounced than the status light on the PlayStation 4. And the tiny, hidden Playstation controller icons within the inner panels are a great extra touch. Love it or hate it, the PS5 is a system packed with attention to detail, and looks unlike any console we’ve seen before.

As of Dec. 13, 2021, you can also invest in official PS5 covers, which will change the color of the console’s faceplates. They won’t alter the system’s overall design, but at least you won’t be stuck with a plain white color scheme.

PS5 review: Ports and expansion

The PS5 has a fairly standard array of ports, complete with some welcome modern conveniences. You get a Hi-Speed USB Type-A port up front, as well as a USB Type-C SuperSpeed port. It’s nice to see a console finally feature USB-C connectivity out of the box, especially for connecting modern accessories and storage drives.

In the back, you’ll find two SuperSpeed USB-A ports, an Ethernet jack, an HDMI 2.1 port and an AC adapter. (See the best gaming TVs for recommendations of TVs with HDMI 2.1.) The PS5 has ditched the PlayStation 4’s optical audio port, which may be a bummer for folks with high-end audio devices with optical connections. However, some companies are already offering optical-to-HDMI splitters, such as Astro with its Astro A20 headset.

If you want to expand on the PS5’s built-in 825GB of SSD storage, there’s PCle 4.0 M.2 expansion slot that you can access by opening up the console. Note that not all SSDs are supported, you will need one that hits Sony’s fairly strict requirements, such as the Western Digital SN850, Samsung 980 Pro, or the upcoming Sony-produced Nextorage M.2 NVMe SSD.

At launch, the expansion slot was locked but the latest PS5 software update has unlocked it which enables users to add an additional SSD for more storage. We tested out the process ourselves while the feature was still in beta, and enjoyed some excellent results.

The console’s SSD expansion slot gives the PS5 another arrow in its quiver against the Xbox Series X. Adding additional internal storage to Microsoft’s console requires the purchase of a pricey proprietary SSD card, whereas Sony’s SSD expansion solution allows you to select between various third-party models that range in price. The PS5 also works with standard external hard drives, but only for carrying over your digital PlayStation 4 games or save files.

PS5 review: Interface

The PS5 interface is a clean, attractive and snappy evolution of the PlayStation 4 software. Hopping in and out of games and navigating menus feels instantaneous, to the point where the PlayStation 4 menu now feels sluggish and cluttered by comparison. And while there are some features I’d like to see added to the PS5 interface, it introduces some exciting new ways to get to what you’re playing even faster. Still, there are plenty of PS5 hidden features you need to try.

The home screen will look familiar to PlayStation 4 owners, with a horizontal row of tiles that showcases your most recent games. When you highlight a game, that title’s art will take over the entire home screen while its music plays in the background, which is a neat aesthetic touch. There’s a handy Explore tab that shows news and updates, as well as a Game Library tab that allowed me to instantly start downloading my collection of PlayStation 4 titles. Much like on PlayStation 4, the PS5 lets you capture videos and screenshots, or stream to YouTube or Twitch with a quick tap of the Create button.

I like that the PS5 software looks clean overall, but I do wish there were an option for organizing your games into folders, like there is on PlayStation 4. And while it’s cool seeing the background adapt to whichever game you have highlighted, I’m surprised there’s no option to set custom wallpapers instead. (At least there’s a simple trick to give your PS5 a retro look that turns the logo into the iconic red, yellow, green and blue logo found on earlier versions of the console.)

Longtime PlayStation 4 users will have to shake some muscle memory, as a tap of the Playstation button now brings up a control center that lets you switch apps, view your friends, check notifications, monitor your controller’s battery life and more from the bottom of your screen.

Better yet, you can customize the control center to have quick access to features such as network settings, accessibility options and broadcast controls. It’s a big improvement from the PlayStation 4’s quick menu, which took up a far bigger chunk of the screen and wasn’t as snappy or customizable.

Snappy and clean software is great, but the PS5 interface really comes alive when you start playing a game. Tapping the Playstation button while playing a PS5 game brings up the Activities menu, which shows information such as the current progress of your mission, a set of trophies you can go after, or a list of in-game activities that you can jump right into.

For example, I was able to dive into a series of side missions and challenges right from the Activities menu in Spider-Man: Miles Morales without having to actually find them in-game, saving me time I’d have to otherwise spend swinging around Manhattan. You can also access the Activities menu right from your Game Library before you even boot up a game, meaning I was able to hop right into a specific level in Astro’s Playroom without having to deal with any menus.

As someone who doesn’t always have a ton of free time, the ability to jump to a specific chunk of a game at a system level isn’t just appreciated — it’s downright revolutionary. While it may seem like a minor concession to some, the Activities menu could end up changing the way we play games, and I’m really eager to see how developers take advantage of it in the coming years.

My biggest gripe with the PS5 on a software level is that, unlike the Xbox Series X and S, Sony’s console doesn’t seem to be able to suspend multiple titles at once. While Xbox’s Quick Resume feature lets you seamlessly jump between half-a-dozen games while picking up right where you left off in each one, the PS5 requires you to boot up each game from scratch.

What’s more frustrating is that the console doesn’t warn you when your existing game will close in favor of a new one, which could lead to you losing unsaved progress. While the PS5’s load times are so fast that the lack of Quick Resume isn’t a huge issue, it’s a bummer that Sony’s console doesn’t have an answer to one of the Series X’s most convenient features.

As of March 2023, a new PS5 system update has brought full Discord integration to Sony’s console. Previously PS5 users could link their PSN account to Discord, but this only offered a limited set of features, now you can join a Discord voice chat directly from the PS5 quick menu. And you can even communicate with friends who are playing on other gaming platforms such as Xbox and PC.

PS5 review: DualSense controller

The PS5 DualSense controller just might be the most next-gen thing about Sony’s new console. The gamepad’s haptic feedback, adaptive triggers and built-in speaker work together brilliantly, creating a level of tactile immersion I’ve simply never experienced while playing a game before.

The DualSense especially shines in Astro’s Playroom, a free, pre-installed title built specifically to showcase what Sony’s new controller can do. In this colorful 3D platformer, you can feel and hear the subtle impact of grains of sand while walking through a storm, or experience a smooth gliding sensation when skating over ice, just to name a few examples. Everything from pulling on a rope to gliding around in a jetpack generates an extremely detailed level of force feedback. It’s the kind of thing you truly need to feel to believe.

If you’re already pondering the PS5 DualSense vs DualShock 4 battle, the new controller comes out on top for sheer innovation alone.

The adaptive triggers are especially impressive, as they can become harder to actuate based on what’s happening in-game. For example, the triggers gave much more resistance when I was controlling my character in a spring-loaded jumpsuit, accurately replicating the feeling of pushing down on a spring and releasing it. Games can even take advantage of the DualSense’s built-in microphone, as I had to blow on the controller to move a platform of ice in Astro’s Playroom.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure also makes impressive use of Sony’s controller, as I could feel a sudden sense of resistance when walking through tall grass thanks to some steady haptic patterns. I felt vibrations moving through specific parts of the controller during cutscenes, and enjoyed the soft taps that accompanied Sackboy flailing his feet around while floating in the air. And in the sword-based combat of Godfall, I felt the triggers tense up to add extra weight to the feeling of slicing up enemies of heavy attacks.

When playing Spider-Man: Miles Morales, I felt subtle, but extremely nuanced, vibrations during cutscenes, as the controller would perfectly match the clinking of glasses or the distant stomps of Rhino’s feet with tactile feedback. I also appreciated the slight feeling of resistance when using the triggers to web-swing through Manhattan, as well as the soft buzz of electricity that played out of the speaker every time I charged up Miles’ Venom attacks.

Sony’s new controller packs a built-in microphone, which allows you to chat with friends when you don’t have a gaming headset handy. And it totally works in a pinch. I had an entire voice chat with my colleague Marshall who was also on his DualSense, and we were able to hear each other just fine through the controller’s built-in speaker. You’ll still probably want to use a dedicated headset to hear your game and chat audio during a competitive Call of Duty match, but the fact that you can talk to friends on PS5 without needing a headset is a great touch.

The DualSense already shows some incredible potential, but it’s only as good as the games that take advantage of it. While games like Astro’s Playroom, Spider-Man, Godfall and Sackboy do some exciting things with Sony’s gamepad, I’m curious to see how many developers fully tap into the DualSense’s unique features as more PS5 games show up.

Beyond its advanced haptics, the DualSense fares pretty well as a standard controller. It’s significantly bigger than the DualShock 4 gamepad, with a hefty feel, and a design that seems to take a page out of the Xbox Wireless Controller in terms of ergonomics. While the DualSense’s meatier grip feels satisfying to hold, I wish it were just a bit more compact, and found my hands getting cramped when playing more intense action games like Godfall and Devil May Cry 5.

The good news is that the DualSense’s buttons and triggers feel great during everyday gameplay. I had no issues doing my usual Mortal Kombat 11 combos thanks to the controller’s smooth D-pad and snappy face buttons. The thumbsticks and triggers felt responsive and accurate when I gunned down Rebels in Battlefront II. The touchpad is much bigger this time around, and I like that the built-in lightbar wraps around the center rather than being hidden at the top, as on the DualShock 4.

Players wanting an even more advanced controller will want to consider Sony’s DualSense Edge. This premium pad offers a wealth of additional features including adjustable triggers, swappable sticks and back buttons. However, all these extras come at a hefty price: 199/£209. The DualSense Edge also packs a slightly smaller battery than the regular PS5 DualSense controller which is a disappointing downgrade for such a pricey accessory.

PS5 review: Performance and load times

With a powerful 8-core AMD Zen 2 processor, 10.3 teraflops of graphics power and a ridiculously fast custom SSD, the PS5 promises some of the best performance to ever come out of a games console. And while I’ve only played a handful of titles that are designed to harness the PS5’s power, I’m already impressed by what Sony’s console is able to pump out in terms of fidelity, framerate and, most importantly, load speeds.

This shouldn’t come as a shock, but games look fantastic running on Sony’s new console. Spider-Man: Miles Morales looked more akin to a high-end PC game than a Playstation title, as I gawked at the gorgeous reds and purples of Spider-Man and his enemies popping off the screen in 4K. Thanks to the console’s ray-tracing support, Manhattan’s skyscrapers reflected off one another realistically, as did a series of lifelike puddles in a busy Times Square.

The PS5 version of Miles Morales has a special Performance mode, which turns off effects such as ray tracing and uses upscaled 4K in favor of a higher framerate. When I switched to this mode and zipped through the city at a silky 60 frames per second while still enjoying beautiful visuals, I felt like I was experiencing something that simply couldn’t be done on previous-gen consoles. This made it extremely hard to go back to the PlayStation 4 version of Miles Morales, which often chugged below 30 frames per second.

This experience is likely to improve in future, with Sony confirming variable refresh rate support (VRR) will hit the PS5 sometime in 2022.

But while ray-traced visuals and 60 fps performance modes are great, it’s the PS5’s lightning fast SSD that truly makes Sony’s console feel next-gen. When booting up a game like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, there’s almost zero downtime between selecting the title from your home screen and being out on the street, beating up bad guys. The same process took around 20 seconds before I could start playing the PlayStation 4 version.

Astro’s Playroom is just as instantaneous, as I was able to jump from the game’s main hub area to its myriad vibrant levels without a single loading screen in sight. The PS5’s blazing SSD is also what allows you to skip to certain portions of a game via the Activities menu, and upcoming titles such as the dimension-hopping Ratchet Clank: Rift Apart look they’ll do some truly inventive things with it. We’ll have to see how more titles utilize the SSD, but it already feels like one of the biggest leaps forward in console gaming in quite a while.

PS5 vs PlayStation 4 load times

Boot timeSpider-Man: Miles Morales (startup)Spider-Man: Miles Morales (menu to gameplay)The Last of Us 2 (startup)The Last of Us 2 (menu to gameplay)Mortal Kombat 11 (startup)Mortal Kombat 11 (menu to gameplay)Star Wars Battlefront II (startup)Star Wars Battlefront II (menu to gameplay)

22 seconds	30 seconds
12 seconds	12 seconds
2 seconds	20 seconds
15 seconds	33 seconds
1 minute	1 minute, 28 seconds
8 seconds	11 seconds
10 seconds	18 seconds
33 seconds	1 minute, 5 seconds
12 seconds	22 seconds

When it comes to load time improvements for PlayStation 4 games, I saw the most dramatic gains when playing The Last of Us Part II. Naughty Dog’s acclaimed action-adventure game started up more than twice as quickly on PS5 than it did on PlayStation 4, and took nearly 30 seconds less to get into a playable encounter from the main menu. I noticed similarly significant improvements for Star Wars Battlefront II, which took about 33 seconds to boot up on PS5, compared to over a minute on PlayStation 4.

The differences in load times were less stark when testing titles such as God of War and Mortal Kombat 11, but every single game I tested loaded fastest on PS5.

PS5 review: Backwards compatibility

The PS5 works with nearly all PlayStation 4 games, which is a huge step up from Sony’s complete lack of backwards compatibility last generation. I tested close to a dozen PlayStation 4 games on PS5, including The Last of Us Part II, God of War, Mortal Kombat 11, Tetris Effect and Resident Evil 2, and almost all of them loaded faster and ran better than they did on my launch PlayStation 4. Both digital and disc-based PlayStation 4 games worked without a hitch on my PS5, and my physical movies worked just fine on the system’s 4K Blu-ray drive.

The PS5 allows you to take advantage of any PlayStation 4 Pro enhancements a game offers, so games that have higher resolution or frame rate modes benefit the most from Sony’s new console. As someone coming from a launch PlayStation 4, the ability to finally enjoy God of War’s high-frame rate mode or play Tetris Effect in 4K felt almost worth the price of admission on its own (the aforementioned load time boosts certainly don’t hurt, either).

The PS5 is designed to work with most first-party and officially licensed PlayStation 4 accessories, and I had no issues bringing my existing last-gen gear over. Pairing my DualShock 4 to the PS5 was as simple as plugging it in via USB cable, and my existing headsets worked just fine with the DualSense’s 3.5 mm audio jack.

Third-party wired controllers, such as my Hori Fightpad and Victrix Pro FS Fight Stick, also worked perfectly as I mashed buttons in Mortal Kombat. Just keep in mind that the DualShock 4 only works with backwards compatible PlayStation 4 games, so you won’t be able to use it for PS5-only titles.

recently, a new patent application filed by Playstation designers hints that the PS5 will someday be able to run PS1, PS2 and PS3 games — giving you even more reason to pick up a PS5.

PS5 review: Games

The PS5 launched with Spider-Man: Miles Morales, a gorgeous and fun follow up to 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man complete with ray-traced graphics and an optional 60 fps performance mode. But it was joined by the likes of Sackboy: A Big Adventure, a simple but charming 3D platformer with lots of character customization, and Astro’s Playroom, a free bundled game that shows off the DualSense controller with great aplomb.

One of the PS5’s biggest true launch exclusives is Demon’s Souls, a visually stunning remake of the beloved 2009 action/RPG of the same name.

But a lot of these launch games were not PS5 exclusives. However, now we’re past the two-year mark there are more games that play best on Sony’s flagship console.

Deathloop presented a stunning timed-exclusive shooter, Horizon Forbidden West is a gorgeous open-world adventure, God of War Ragnarok is a fantastic and beautiful follow up to the 2018 game, and Gran Turismo 7 is another triumph of realistic racing.

So there are now plenty of excellent games that make the PS5 well worth buying today, just bear in mind you many need an SSD upgrade to store a good suite of titles.

PS5 review: Apps

The PS5 has access to pretty much every entertainment app you’ll need, including Disney Plus, Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and, new to the Playstation ecosystem, Apple TV Plus. These apps all worked identically to their PlayStation 4 counterparts in my testing, which isn’t a bad thing.

Every app I tested loaded quickly and streamed reliably, whether I was binging Chappelle’s Show on Netflix or catching up on wrestling news on YouTube. But more importantly, the PS5’s streaming apps are easier to access than before thanks to a handy Media tab that’s just a button press away on the home screen. That’s a nice upgrade from the PlayStation 4, which buried all of its streaming apps in a slow-loading TV Video menu.

As a cautions and caveated FYI: PlayStation 4 jailbreaks could supposedly work with the PS5, which theoretically would open it up for all manner of homebrew software and apps. But we’d suggest you avoid this as it can cause problems, something you don’t want to do when the PS5 is still very difficult to find in stock.

You can also check our PS5 exclusives vs. Xbox exclusives story to see how the two libraries stack up.

PS5 review: Heat and noise

Thanks to its massive internal fan and large vents along the inside of the chassis, the PS5 stayed cool and mostly quiet during my time with it. I rarely noticed any noise coming out of the console, even as I spent hours exploring Astro’s Playroom or webbing up crooks in Spider-Man. I did notice some rare moments of audible noise when running Star Wars Battlefront II, and could hear discs spinning pretty loudly when I first put Blu-rays in the machine. But compared to the jet-engine-like noises that come out of my PlayStation 4 when simply downloading a game, the PS5 is blissfully quiet.

PS5 review: 3D audio

The PS5’s Tempest Engine enables it to deliver 3D audio for supported games, allowing you to hear game sounds with greater directionality than standard stereo can offer. The PS5’s 3D audio is designed to work with most existing headphones and headsets, though Sony’s new Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is optimized for the technology. So far we’ve tested 3D audio on an Astro A20 headset, and while the effects have been mostly subtle, they show lots of promise.

The PS5’s audio tricks were most pronounced in Astro’s Playroom, as I could hear the rain clearly coming from above me, and could pinpoint the sound of a tornado whirring between my left and right ears as it shot my character upwards. It was also easy to pick out where cars, planes and enemies were coming from when swinging around in Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but I didn’t notice a huge difference between when the effect was on or off.

Like many of the PS5’s features, it’ll ultimately be up to developers to make the most of the console’s 3D audio tech. We’re eager to try more games with 3D audio support, as well as get our hands on the Pulse 3D headset for the full experience.

PS5 review: PS VR2

In February 2023, Sony launched the Playstation VR 2, the updated version of the PlayStation 4’s Playstation VR.

While the old headset is still compatible with the PS5 in a limited way, the PS VR2 brings even more power and a simpler user experience, plus new games to try out. games are getting VR updates in the coming months too, so if you don’t mind shelling out another 500 or so, you can use what’s turned out to be one of the best VR headsets around.

PS5 review: Verdict

The PS5 is a genuine leap forward for console gaming, offering gorgeous 4K performance, stunningly fast load times and a truly game-changing controller that makes playing games more immersive and tactile than ever. It plays nearly all PlayStation 4 games, and, in many cases, allows them to run and load better than ever before.

The console’s massive size may also be a concern for those with limited space, and the DualSense controller itself could be a little big for folks with smaller hands. But other than that, the PS5 is a fantastic gaming machine.

It’s also worth considering Microsoft’s 499 Xbox Series X, which offers slightly more power and works with four generations of Xbox games. But if you pick a PS5 up now, you’ll be treated to a true next-gen experience complete with advanced haptics, beautiful graphics and almost zero friction between you and the games you want to play.

PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition: which should you buy?

The PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition hit stores back in November 2020 and have been in high demand ever since. But which of Sony’s next-gen consoles is best for you?

If you’ve already made up your mind, here’s where to where to find a PS5 restock and the best PS5 deals on Black Friday. If not, read on and we’ll help you make the right choice.

The decision really comes down to this: do you want to splash out on the full-fat PS5 or the cheaper PS5 Digital Edition? The main difference being that the former has a disc drive, and the latter doesn’t.

The disc-less Digital Edition will only be able to stream games, films, music and TV shows, rather than running them straight off a CD, DVD or Blu-ray. But that’s certainly not the only thing to consider when deciding between Sony’s latest console.

Here, we’ll run down all the major factors to take into account to help you decide which PS5 belongs under your TV.

PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition: price and availability

The standard Playstation 5 debuted at £449 / 499 / AU749. But in August 2022 Sony announced price hikes in the UK and Australia. The PS5 now goes for £479.99 / 499 / AU799.95.

The disc-less PS5 Digital Edition is the cheaper option here. It started at £359 / 399 / AU599 but Sony’s August 2022 rises have nudge that up to £389.99 / 399.99 / AU649.95.

Pricing the Digital Edition cheaper than the ‘full-fat’ PS5 mirrors the approach has taken with its Xbox Series X and all-digital Xbox Series S. After all, if you’re getting less functionality you should pay less, right?

That’s assuming you can find a PS5. As of late 2022, supply has eased and there are regular PS5 restocks at major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Playstation Direct, Game and Best Buy. It’s worth noting that Amazon customers need to sign up for an email invite to buy a PS5 when stock arrives (see our PS5 restock page for full details).

Despite rising inflation, the cost of living and the war in Ukraine reducing demand for pricey consumer electronics, Sony expects Playstation 5 supply issues to last until 2024.

PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition: design and build

The PS5 is an imposing machine (39 x 26 x 14cm). The main difference between the two models, looks-wise, is that one has a disc drive and one doesn’t. Consequently, the Digital Edition is 12mm slimmer towards the base and around half a kilo lighter.

In August 2022, it emerged that Sony had quietly refreshed the design of both PS5 consoles. The updated disc model weighs in at 3.9kg, much lighter the 4.5kg launch version. This seems to be down to a number of internal changes to the motherboard, as well as the cooling and SSD enclosure. The latest disc-less version now weighs 3.4kg, instead of 3.9kg.

Both consoles have a sculpted, sci-fi look to them and can be vertically rather than horizontally (you’ll have to unscrew and reposition the included pedestal stand, mind).

Both devices have the same distinctive design elements, namely a high, white-collared shell that’s separated from the black body of the unit by finned gaps to aid ventilation.

Talking of which, the PS5 is not completely inaudible in a silent room (like the Xbox Series X), but the consistent whirr is quiet enough to be drowned out by any sound coming from your TV or sound system.

In terms of the PS5’s disc drive, we’d peg it at about 5dB quieter than the Xbox, so opting for Sony’s most expensive next-gen console won’t intrude on your movie soundtrack.

The user interface, which includes a new home screen with game ‘cards’, is fresh, super-stylish, logical and snappy. It’s also familiar enough to ensure that existing PlayStation 4 gamers can quickly find their way about.

All in all, the PS5’s is a striking design that has split opinion. But we like it.

PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition: specs

In a post on the official Playstation blog, Playstation boss Jim Ryan confirmed that both PS5 consoles share identical power and features, including 4K graphics, ray-tracing support and PS5 3D audio. So, “whichever PS5 you choose, you’ll enjoy the same breathtaking, next-gen gaming experiences”.

Spec-wise, both PS5 consoles feature the same AMD Zen 2-based CPU, the same 16GB GDDR6 / 256-bit memory, and the same 825GB SSD. The way Sony has designed and integrated the PS5’s storage makes it so fast (more than twice as fast as that of the Series X) that it boosts overall console performance.

Neither PS5 has an 8K output option. Instead, silky-smooth 4K at 60Hz is the performance target, with 120Hz available via some games, sometimes at the cost of resolution and/or certain graphical features. In April 2022, Sony boosted the PS5’s appeal by adding VRR (variable refresh rate), which should reduce screen tearing and smooth out gameplay.

In July 2022, Sony went further, adding native 1440p support, bringing the PS5 in line with the Xbox Series X and Series S, which have supported 1440p since launch.

In terms of games, you can able to transfer most PlayStation 4 games to PS5 and in most cases, enjoy free upgrades such as increased frame rates. However it’s worth noting that to do this you’ll need to use the PS5’s disc drive to transfer the game discs to the next-gen console. The PS5 doesn’t support your old PS1, PS2 and PS3 titles, either.

Eyeing up the PS5 as an entertainment hub as well as a games machine? The PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition are a great choice. They now support Netflix, Disney Plus (now with 4K HDR), Apple TV, Spotify, Twitch, BBC iPlayer, YouTube (now with HDR10), Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock, Disney Plus, HBO Max and Playstation Video. As per the rumours, Apple Music arrived on the PS5 in October 2021.

One disappointment is the PS5’s lack of high-end HDR support. Neither model supports Dolby Vision video, or Dolby Atmos sound for that matter. Sony hasn’t explicitly ruled them out, but for now, PS5 owners will have to make do with regular HDR10. Here’s our take on how to get the best picture and sound from your Playstation 5.

On a more positive note, both PS5 and PS5 Digital offer Sony’s proprietary ‘gold standard’ 3D audio technology. The PS5’s 3D Audio engine, ‘Tempest’, produces open, spacious and atmospheric sound with good placement of effects. And although Dolby Atmos isn’t an option for games, it is for the PS5 disc edition, which can do a very good job of Dolby Atmos soundtracks when given the chance. It doesn’t quite have the crispness of a dedicated player, but it does produce a room-filling sound with good clarity.

The PS5 also supports “Hey Playstation” voice commands, Sony’s latest Party Chat feature, so you can open/close voice chats with friends. Both the disc and digital PS5s are compatible with the DualSense Wireless Controller, and the upcoming DualSense Edge controller.

Based on spec, PS5 Digital Edition will appeal to those gamers and streamers who are happy to ditch physical game discs but who don’t want to sacrifice performance. If, on the other hand, you have a collection of 4K Blu-ray discs, the pricier PS5 could be for you.

PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition: verdict

Given that the only differences between the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition are the presence of a disc drive and price, which console is right for you will really come down to whether you can live without disc support.

If you want your games console at the heart of your entertainment set up, to frequently double as a DVD/Blu-ray/CD player, you’ll likely want the full-fat PS5. If you use your console purely for gaming, however, or have a speedy and robust internet connection for streaming and downloading and can cope with storing games digitally rather than on disc, the Digital Edition could save you a fair bit of money.

Mind made up? Here’s where to find a PS5 restock and our pick of today’s best PS5 deals.

Where to buy the PS5

Fed up with missing out? Here‘s where to find a PS5 restock.

Amazon Now dropping email invites regularly. Head over to Amazon’s PS5 or PS5 listings to register for an email invitation to the next PS5 stop drop. The last one occurred on 21st October, so we’re expecting another one soon.

Walmart Walmart Plus members get early access to PS5 drops. Note: the company offers a free 15-day trial of Walmart Plus, but it doesn’t include PS5 restocks. They tend to be exclusive to paid members so you must click the button that says “Start paid membership”.

Game One of the best places to find a UK PS5 restock because it offers big PS5 bundles. The retailer’s latest bundles have included games like FIFA 23 and accessories such as the DualSense wireless controller.

Best Buy Best Buy offers members of its TotalTech service (199.99 a year) special access to PS5 restocks.

Sony Direct Usually has plenty of PS5 stock including lots of excellent bundles, so head over there if you’re in the UK or US. You’ll need to sign in with a PSN account to buy a PS5.

Amazon Australia has seen the most frequent restocks in Australia, so it’s a great place to buy, as is Sony’s own website.

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Tom is a journalist, copywriter and content designer based in the UK. He has written articles for T3, ShortList, The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, The Daily Telegraph, Elle Deco, The Sunday Times, Men’s Health, Mr Porter, Oracle and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include mobile technology, electric vehicles and video streaming.

There are two missing issues in this article and it’s analysis. One is price of content. Visit the PlayStation 4 store and take a look at the price of The Last of Us Part 2. about £60 today (22.08.2020). On Amazon it’s £41 so after a few games the disc drive will pay for itself. Secondly (but kind of related) I can then give the disc to my friend or my nephew and they can play it for free or even pay me £20. win/win.

Digital edition should be avoided for these reasons.

Avoid the digital edition if you’re planning on buying more than 4 games, because in that case it is most likely the more expensive option.

Avoid the digital edition if you’re buying it purely to save money, really. I’m considering it because I like owning digital games. They’re a lot more convenient and not always more expensive (other stores sell codes, and there are sales). But yes, it’s not likely to end up cheaper, or even as cheap, as buying the disc model and accompanying discs.

Why deliberately choose the device with less features, knowing that it will most likely be more expensive in the long run?

My point is it’s only more expensive vs buying discs. If I buy the standard PS5 (which I might, I still haven’t decided) then I’ll still probably be buying at least 90% of my games digitally because I’ll take the convenience over saving money (especially as I rarely bother selling games on when I’m done, so they just take up space and don’t always save much money anyway). That situation may not apply to many people (I have no idea) but I’m sure I’m not the only one, so there certainly is a market for the digital edition.

I used to buy discs for my PS3/PlayStation 4 from secondhand shops (CEX etc.) and then trade them in for the next game. I don’t really do that anymore because it isn’t a huge saving over a digital copy when they are on sale, which is quite frequent. For example, Doom (2016) is currently £12.84 on Amazon but only £4.79 on PS Store

I also now have a subscription to PS Now which provides me with more than enough to keep occupied. I have a 4tb external drive and with 77 games that is only about half full.

It is likely that I will get the version with the disc drive though because it isn’t vastly more expensive and since I won’t be buying it this year the are likely to fall anyway.

If you want your games console at the heart of your entertainment set up, to frequently double as a DVD/Blu-ray/CD player, you’ll likely want the full-fat PS5.

A PS5 won’t be doubling as a CD player, as it doesn’t support CD playback. list of disc types it supports.

This lack of support is apparently down to a physical incompatibility (it doesn’t have a laser capable of the wavelength required to read CDs) rather than software, if so then it’s not like some future update will add it either.

PS5 Disc vs Digital: which is better?

Our in-depth PS5 Disc vs Digital comparison is here to help you determine which of Sony’s two console models you should buy. But here’s a quick heads up – you shouldn’t buy the PS5 Digital Edition, even though it’s cheaper. Sony’s disc-less console was the more popular Playstation 5 console with consumers in 2022 during each PS5 restock. which isn’t a complete surprise due to its more attractive upfront cost. Saving 100 over the PS5 Disc model seems like a good deal on the face of it – especially when that money can be put towards something like a Playstation Plus discount code – but don’t be fooled. It’s worth paying the extra premium for the PS5 disc console if you have the option, as picking the Playstation 5 with the 4K Blu-Ray drive will save you money in the long run, and we’ll explain how below.

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But here’s where the PS5 Disc vs Digital debate gets interesting: the PS5 Digital Edition – as you may have guessed by the name – doesn’t have a disc drive. The console’s lack of a 4K Blu-ray drive makes Sony’s cheaper PS5 look more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but – other than being slightly lighter in weight and thinner in dimensions – that’s about it when it comes to plus points for the digital-only model.

If you’re on the fence about which of Sony’s two consoles to buy, here’s everything you need to know about the PS5 Disc vs Digital.

PS5 Disc vs Digital: price

On August 25, 2022, Sony announced that the PS5 price would increase in select markets – but not the US. That means if you’re buying a Playstation 5 in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, or Canada, you could be paying up to 21% more than when the console launched in November 2020. Again, the US isn’t affected, which means the PS5 Disc and PS5 Digital Edition are the same as before – for now, at least.

Despite the price increase, our comparison between the two PS5 consoles remains the same. At first, the PS5 Digital Edition wins when you only consider that it’s the cheaper Playstation 5 console. The PS5 Digital price is 399 / £359 compared to the standard PS5 Disc at 499 / £449. But don’t be fooled by the initial price tag; you’re forever tied to Sony’s digital storefront when purchasing video games in the future.

While Sony does admittedly have some fantastic online sales, it’s still rare that a digital version of a game will be cheaper than a disc copy. There’s also the fact that when you buy a digital game, you can’t do anything with it. However, with a disc, you can trade it (it retains some value), lend it to a friend, and sleep soundly knowing that your purchase will be playable for many years to come, even if Sony ever chooses to take the Playstation Store offline.

Suppose you have an existing collection of physical PlayStation 4 games, too? In that case, you won’t be able to play them on PS5 Digital Edition, nor will you be able to pick up the physical versions of PS5 games, which are often cheaper than their digital counterparts only a few months after launch.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the PS5 Digital Edition’s lack of a disc drive also means you can’t use it as a 4K Blu-ray player. Streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus may be all the rave these days, but knowing you have a 4K Blu-ray player to hand makes the extra 100 you have to pay even less of an issue.

Winner: PS5 Disc. At first glance, this looks like a clear win for the PS5 Digital, but that 100 saving will fade into obscurity over time. It’s more cost-effective to opt for the PS5 Disc model as you’ll save money in the long run. You also get a 4K Blu-ray player as a bonus and the option to play any PlayStation 4 games you may already have on disc.

PS5 Disc vs Digital: specs

The PS5 Digital Edition and the standard PS5 are identical apart from the missing disc drive, dimensions, and weight. There’s no difference in performance or which games can be played, as both consoles use the same custom processor and even have the same 825GB SSD.

Here are the official PS5 Disc vs Digital specs, straight from Sony:

Price: 499 / 399
4K Blu-ray disc drive: Yes / No
Size: 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1 inches / 15.4 x 10.2 x 3.6 inches
⚖️ Weight: 9.9 pounds (3.9kg) / 7.9 pounds (3.4kg)
CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2 / 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU / 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
RAM: 16GB GDDR6 / 16GB GDDR6
⏩ SSD: Custom 825GB SSD / Custom 825GB SSD

The PS5 has had two revisions since its launch, making the console significantly lighter overall. The PS5 disc was originally 4.5kg but is now 3.9kg, while the PS5 Digital Edtion was 3.9kg and is now 3.4kg. Sony has changed the console’s heatsink, which has helped shave a few pounds off the PS5’s weight, bringing shipping and manufacturing costs down over time.

Winner: PS5 Disc. Again, the PS5 Disc gets the nod when it comes to specs, simply because it has the 4K Blu-ray disc drive. The PS5 Digital is slightly lighter and looks more aesthetically pleasing, but the PS5 Disc model still gets my vote as you can play Blu-Ray movies and your older PlayStation 4 discs if you have any.

PS5 Disc vs Digital: SSD

The PS5 Disc and Digital models have the same 825GB SSD capacity. There’s no difference in loading times or performance, and you can add more storage to both consoles via the empty SSD bay.

However, even though the PS5 storage is advertised at 825GB, you only get 667.2GB of usable space. That means 19% of the PS5’s drive is reserved for mandatory files. With the average PS5 game requiring around 20GB to 50GB of installation space and PS Plus free games to download each month, things can fill up fast. It’s worth remembering that every PS5 disc also installs onto the SSD, so it’s not just digital titles that will eat up storage space.

The good news is that the price of the best SSD for PS5 continues to fall, with even 2TB options becoming more affordable. Your best bang for your buck is still 1TB drives, but if you’re someone who needs more space, at least 2TB capacity drives are no longer a pipe dream.

Winner: Tie. There’s no winner when it comes to storage between the PS5 Digital vs Disc. Both models offer the same 825GB NVMe SSD, the drives are the same speed, and you can expand your console’s storage in exactly the same way.

PS5 Disc vs Digital: games ️

The PS5 Disc and PS5 Digital are identical in what games they can play – the best PS5 games all run the same in our testing. Likewise, older titles that are part of the Playstation Plus Premium games list. which we also have tested, run smoothly. Whenever there’s a hiccup in the older games, it’s present on both versions of the Sony console.

The only difference, as you might have guessed, is that you can only play digital copies of PS5 and PlayStation 4 games on the disc-drive-free model of Sony’s console.

Again, if you have an extensive library of PlayStation 4 games on disc, you won’t be able to play these on the PS5 Digital Edition. You’ll also miss out on getting PS5 upgrades on the cheap. For less than their digital counterparts, you can often find physical PlayStation 4 versions with a free or paid PS5 upgrade, such as Death Stranding, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and even Horizon: Forbidden West.

Digital copies aren’t all bad, though. They’re far more convenient if you like to switch between multiple games simultaneously, as you never need to worry about changing discs. That makes digital versions a tempting proposition, but you can still buy digital games on the PS5 disc version, giving you the best of both worlds (some people miss that critical fact in this comparison).

Winner: PS5 Disc. Even though both models of the PS5 can play exactly the same games, only one has a disc drive. If you’ve amassed a large collection of physical PlayStation 4 games, you won’t be able to use them on the PS5 Digital Edition, and you won’t be able to pick up any physical games on the cheap either.

PS5 Disc vs Digital: availability ️

Here’s where people don’t do themselves any favors. We’ve explained that picking up the PS5 Disc version will be less expensive than PS5 Digital in the long run because disc games get cheaper a lot faster. But the PS5 Digital Edition is also 14 times harder to find in stock.

The lack of PS5 Digital consoles is partly because it’s 100 cheaper to buy this disc-less version of the Playstation 5. But we also know that Sony is just sending more of the PS5 Disc consoles to stores. You have to think that the disc drive parts don’t cost 100 more so Sony’s profits are slightly higher for PS5 Disc. Still, people keep trying to get PS5 Digital and probably waste more than 100 worth of time doing so.

Sony has said the PS5 stock shortage has finally come to an end. which means you won’t need to snap up the first Playstation 5 model you see in stock. Those who are looking for a bundle will also do better going after the PS5 disc models.

Winner: Tie. PS5 Digital tends to be more popular at retail due to the lower price point, but both models of the Playstation 5 are now easier to find. Sony says the stock shortage is over, and we’ve seen more bundles that include a game like God of War: Ragnarok appear.

Should I buy PS5 Disc or Digital Edition?

The lower price point is the most significant benefit of choosing the PS5 Digital Edition over the PS5 disc version. As I’ve already mentioned, the PS5 Digital Edition costs 399 instead of the PS5 Disc price of 499 as it doesn’t have a disc drive, so you’re saving 100, which isn’t an insignificant amount.

That saving might be enough reason for some to pick the digital version of Sony’s console, as you could feasibly put the savings towards one of the lovely new PS5 controller colors. a couple of games, or one of the best PS5 accessories. But over time, it’s almost a guarantee you’ll spend more on PlayStation 4 and PS5 games, and you also lose some functionality like being able to play 4K Blu-ray discs. ❌

Of course, the choice of which PS5 you buy is ultimately up to you, but it’s easier to find the standard PS5 in stock than its digital-only counterpart. Sony has opted to choose its PS5 disc console for bundles, the latest of which includes God of War: Ragnarok.

Overall winner: PS5 Disc. Yes, the PS5 Digital is 100 cheaper, but you’re getting better value if you pay the premium for the PS5 Disc model. Not only do you get a 4K Blu-ray player, a nice option should you ever need it, but physical games tend to be cheaper than digital – and that continues to be the case. PlayStation 4 owners with a lot of physical games will also want to opt for the Playstation 5 with the disc drive, as they’ll be glorified coasters if you go for the PS5 Digital Edition.

Is PS5 Digital worth it? ⚖

Like most things in life, the PS5 Digital Edition is most certainly worth it – to the right person. Although a slightly cheaper, stripped-back version of the PS5 Disc model, it’s hardly a feeble option. Sony’s disc-less console is just as powerful as its beefier sibling, and in some circumstances may be the more appropriate purchase.

The ultimate deciding factor will be how you like to buy and play your games. Second-hand physical copies are often much cheaper than digital downloads, meaning the PS5 Disc Edition could save you some dollars in the long run. But only if you plan to plump up your PS5 library with a lot of titles. If you’re the kind of person who plays only occasionally or buys only the latest FIFA and Call of Duty games each year, you’re unlikely to see much in the way of savings.

That’s similarly true for anyone banking on PS Plus. Not only is Sony’s premium subscription service required to play online multiplayer games, but it also offers a bunch of PS Plus free games every month. They vary in quality and popularity but are useful to anyone starting their Playstation library from scratch.

All of which is to say think carefully as to whether the pricier PS5 Disc model suits your gaming habits. The PS5 Digital Edition caters best to those who tend to play few games and will likely already be shelling out on PS Plus.

Updated: April 24, 2023

Sources:

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/how-to-find-a-ps5-christmas
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/ps5-restock-update
https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/ps5
https://www.whathifi.com/advice/ps5-vs-ps5-digital-edition-which-should-you-buy
https://www.theshortcut.com/p/ps5-disc-vs-digital-edition