PS5 Disc vs PS5 Digital Edition: Which Playstation 5 should you buy. Playstation 5 standard edition
PS5 Disc vs PS5 Digital Edition: Which Playstation 5 should you buy?
Are you planning to get a Playstation 5 but are confused between the PS5 Disc vs. PS5 Digital Edition? Don’t worry. We go over which of the two consoles you should pick.
As the dust of semiconductor shortage settles down, securing a PS5 is not a challenge anymore. Yet the demand for Sony’s gaming console isn’t slowing down.
While the Digital version is more affordable out of the two, it doesn’t have a disc drive which means that your favorite PlayStation 4 games would become incompatible with the console, forcing you to rebuy them digitally.
The PS5 Disc model allows physical PS5 and PlayStation 4 games, doubling as a handy 4K Blu-Ray player. On the flip side, the Disc Edition is also slightly heavier on your wallet.
The omission of a physical drive also results in a major difference in the physical appearance of the two consoles.
So, which one should you go for if the opportunity arises? We’re about to dive deep into the pros and cons of each, so strap in.
Where to buy the PS5 Disc and Digital Editions
They might not be in stock as of right now, so be sure to bookmark the link and regularly return to potentially get your hands on Sony’s latest home console.
PS5 Disc Vs PS5 Digital Edition: Price
The Playstation 5 Disc Edition retails for 499, however, the Digital Edition comes in slightly cheaper at 399. This makes for a pretty attractive option for those who don’t wish to tie themselves to the shackles of physical media.
But, it ultimately depends on what you might be using the console for. If you want to trade-in your older games in-store, or watch Blu-Rays on your PS5, then the Disc model might the more suitable for you, though it is slightly more expensive.
But, for those of you looking to pinch some pennies, then you might want to go for the 100 cheaper Disc model since that’s an undeniably good saving. With Playstation Plus, you might also be able to get the best Playstation 5 games for no extra fee, if you are subscribed to a premium tier of the service, which manages to mitigate a lot of the issues with having no disc drive.
Winner: PS5 Digital Edition
PS5 Disc VS PS5 Digital Edition: Specifications
Regardless of how you look at it, paying 100 extra to get physical games, a Blu-Ray player, and not solely being tied down to the whims of Sony’s online store, or Playstation Plus, which is almost essential if you were to get yourself the digital model.
Sure, the Disc Edition looks a little bit worse, but we can forgive that since you just get so much more functionality than the Disc model. Though, you might be able to buy the PS5 Disc Edition a little bit easier, since we’ve observed that the Disc Edition sells out a little bit faster, due to its enhanced featureset afforded by the disc drive.
But, if you don’t care about any of that stuff, then picking up a PS5 Digital Edition should see you through, and it’s equally as powerful as its slightly more expensive counterpart.
Winner: PS5 Disc Edition
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PS5 Disc vs. Digital Edition: Which PS5 is right for you?
The Playstation 5 is still pretty hard to find, and the last thing you want is to be scrambling over which model to get when that mystical “add to cart” button actually does light up. With that in mind, we’re here to help you figure out which model is right for you ahead of time.
Sony’s latest home console comes in two variations: the 499 PS5, which sports a disc drive, and the 399 PS5 Digital Edition, which is a cheaper model that ditches the drive for those who don’t mind downloading all of their games. And…the differences pretty much end there. Both versions of the PS5 sport identical hardware inside, meaning you’ll enjoy features like immersive 4K visuals, silky high-frame-rate gameplay, ray tracing for super-realistic lighting and Sony’s innovative DualSense controller no matter which one you buy.
But while the PS5 Digital Edition is cheaper on paper, it isn’t necessarily the best value for everyone. So while you refresh your browsers and follow your favorite PS5 restock trackers, here’s a quick look at who the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition are for.
Get the PS5 Digital Edition if you’re looking to save 100 and don’t mind buying all of your games digitally.
You should get the PS5 if…
You buy lots of physical media (including 4K Blu-rays)This might sound obvious, but if you’re the type of person who likes to amass large shelves of physical media, the PS5 disc model is for you. The PS5 is compatible with most physical PlayStation 4 games and also doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player, so if you’ve got a big collection of that stuff, this model is the only one that will play them. It’s also the only version that will play boxed PS5 games you can buy at retail, which brings us to our next point…
You want as many options as possible for buying gamesWhile the standard PS5 is more expensive than the Digital Edition, the fact that it plays physical games could actually save you money in the long run. Whereas the PS5 Digital Edition limits you to the Playstation Store, the disc-based PS5 gives you the freedom to buy games from retailers such as Amazon, GameStop and Walmart — and trade them in when you don’t need them anymore. Physical games tend to go on sale more frequently than their digital counterparts, and can be bought used at lower prices. Plus, you have the added benefit of being able to borrow them from friends or lend them out.
You want the PS5 that’s in stock more oftenBoth versions of the PS5 are pretty elusive, but the standard model is the one that seems to pop up more often. Earlier this year, tech journalist and popular PS5 stock tracker Matt Swider told us that “PS5 Disc is easier to buy,” and that it’s the model he recommends people go for.
You should get the PS5 Digital Edition if…
You want the cheapest PS5 possibleIf you don’t mind forgoing the benefits of physical games, the PS5 Digital Edition is a whole 100 cheaper than the standard model. That extra cash can get you an extra game or two, a Playstation Plus subscription or an extra DualSense controller for multiplayer game nights.
You don’t mind downloading all of your games (and mostly own digital stuff)As its name suggests, the PS5 Digital Edition works only with digital media. So if you’re cool with downloading all of your games and streaming all of your movies, you’ll be just fine with this one. And if most of your back catalog of PlayStation 4 games is digital, you’ll be able to simply redownload those games on your PS5. Going digital is good for folks who want minimal clutter, and since modern games take up hard drive space even if you’re using a disc, you’re not going to save any storage by going with the disc model.
You want the sleekest PS5The PS5 is a gigantic console no matter which version you get, but the PS5 Digital Edition’s lack of a disc drive gives it a sleeker, more symmetrical design than the disc model. The Digital Model is about a half inch thinner than its disc-based counterpart at 3.6 versus 4.1 inches, which just might mean the difference between whether or not you can cram it in your entertainment center.
Bottom line
Given how scarce the PS5 currently is, we’d honestly recommend snapping up any model you can find available. But if you find yourself able to choose between the two, we think the standard 499 PS5 is the better overall choice, thanks to the sheer amount of options it gives you for buying games. You’ll have more opportunities to snag titles on sale, and the system doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player.
If you don’t mind being locked to the Playstation Store and streaming all of your entertainment content, the 100 you’ll save on the PS5 Digital Edition could go a long way toward more games and accessories. No matter what you’ve decided on, make sure to follow our tips for snagging a PS5 so that you’re ready to go as soon as stock comes back.
Note: The above reflect the retailers’ listed price at the time of publication.
PS5 Review
The PS5 is a meaningful evolution of Sony’s achievements with its predecessor. It’s a gorgeously accessible machine with a forward-thinking plan for the current generation, whether that’s through its nuanced SSD technology or the 4K-capable graphics power. Combine this with a compelling user interface, growing selection of exclusive experiences and a general ecosystem that embraces what came before it, and the PS5 is one of the best consoles you can buy right now.
Cons
Introduction
The Playstation 5 is one of the most powerful game consoles on the market, packing cutting-edge features such as 4K support, variable refresh rate and an SSD so fast that games take a matter of seconds to load.
The only true rival to the PS5 is the Xbox Series X, which features similar specs. So when deciding between the two, it may well come down to your preference of exclusive games, as well as the various accessories and services on offer.
Sony has released several Playstation exclusives for the PS5, including God of War Ragnarok, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Horizon Forbidden West. Sony also brags an advantage over Xbox for virtual reality fans, with the Playstation VR 2 an optional extra – albeit an expensive one.
Sony has faced some criticism for not making the most out of the PS5’s hardware due to the insistence on making exclusive games compatible for the preceding PlayStation 4. But that looks to be changing with upcoming releases such as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
So is the PS5 worth buying in 2023? Or are you better off waiting for the potential PS5 Pro? Here are our thoughts.
Design and connectivity
For some time now, Sony has embraced black as the primary colour of its console designs, with the exception of the original Playstation. So much so, that it has become synonymous with the brand itself. So when the PS5 was unveiled to be a colossal tower of white plastic, many of us turned our heads in hesitation.
While the design will undoubtedly be polarising, I’m a fan of the new PS5, even if it will prove far too large for the majority of entertainment centres. The console is massive, measuring 390 x 260 x 104mm if you opt for the version with a 4K Blu-ray drive. The digital edition is slightly slimmer, but not by much, meaning you’ll still require a similar amount of space to house the console.
On the console itself you’ll see a simplistic selection of buttons and inputs. The front is home to a single USB-A 3.0 port and a USB-C port. You could make a case that Sony should have added extra USB ports here, especially if you own a Playstation VR 2 and want to charge up the two Sense controllers simultaneously.
Move downward and you’ll see the power and eject buttons, which are no less easier to tell apart than they were on the PlayStation 4. These sit embedded in a layer of plastic, which is great at attracting fingerprints – and likely scratches, if you’re trying to insert devices into the USB slot without looking.
Around the back is the power input, an Ethernet cable port and two additional USB 3.0 ports, which will be perfect for accepting charging cables or connecting dongles belonging to a Bluetooth headset or similar accessories. Three is arguably the magic number, although I did find myself having to swap things out when transferring games onto the internal SSD via an external hard drive.
If you’re not a fan of the white-and-black look, you’ll be happy to know that the white slabs of plastic on either side of the PS5 are easily removable. Not only does this grant immediate access to the console’s innards for dust removal and replacement of the NVMe SSD storage, but it also allows you to replace the white plates with a host of different designs that Sony now offers as separate accessories. This means you can return to the traditional all-black look should you wish, with other official options including a Galactic Purple colourway and grey camouflage print. There are also countless third-party faceplates competing for your cash.
It’s great to see that Sony has designed this console to be customisable, which has already led to some fun limited-edition bundles. Sadly, none of that is enough to detract from the PS5’s obtrusive size, which I still feel is likely to prove an inconvenience when trying to find a home for it in any modern setup.
The console can be placed either horizontally or vertically in the included stand, which itself feels quite cumbersome to locate without fear of scratching the polar white exterior. Compared to the Xbox Series X, the overall build quality here feels like a notable step backwards. Microsoft’s console feels like a premium device in every way, while the PS5 feels toy-like and delicate, and might struggle in terms of form factor to sit alongside existing hardware.
The machine is dominated by plastic on all sides, which makes it feel relatively cheap. It’s not egregious, but I’d expect more from a console retailing for £480. Fortunately, the lacklustre build quality doesn’t translate across to the DualSense controller (now also available in a variety of different colours), which is a beautiful piece of hardware and easily the console’s highest point. It’s what makes the PS5 feel like a true next-generation platform – but we’ll be diving into exactly how this is achieved later on.
It’s also worth mentioning that the DualSense Edge – Playstation’s long-awaited answer to the Xbox Elite Controller – is now available to buy. It has highly customisable controls and remappable inputs in addition to the existing DualSense functionality. This pro-level controller isn’t bundled in with the PS5, but it’s still a great option to have if you fancy an upgrade.
Unlike its Xbox rival, the PS5 is a little more flexible when it comes to replacing or upgrading storage. Since launch, Sony has made it possible to expand your base PS5 storage with an M.2 SSD. Once installed, you can freely move games between console storage and the M.2 SSD, and as long as it meets the specified requirements, you won’t suffer any performance downgrades. You will need to remove the PS5’s plates and unscrew a few bolts, but the whole process is pretty painless and didn’t take me more than 30 minutes (and that was being cautious).
Handily, Sony offers a video guide to the process. Granted, the Xbox expansion cards are a lot faster to set up, but if you buy a large enough SSD for your PS5, you shouldn’t have to break it open again for a while.
Specs and technology
Even when compared to the PlayStation 4 Pro, the PS5 is in another league entirely for the sheer horsepower and technical specifications contained within. It’s an incredibly powerful machine, and beyond a few notable omissions, it easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Xbox Series X. Sony has continued to push speed, accessibility and the potential for enhanced visuals and resolution above all else, and the components inside the console more than support that goal.
The PS5 is powered by an AMD Zen 2 processor comprising eight cores running at variable frequencies, with the clock speed topping out at a respectable 3.5GHz. The GPU is also an AMD custom unit, capable of reaching a maximum of 10.28 teraflops at 2.23GHz.
While the PS5 is capable of displaying jaw-dropping 4K graphics, its performance limitations have been laid bare in recent years. For example, when attempting to run The Witcher 3 in 4K with ray tracing activated, the frame rate will drop drastically, resulting in juddery performance which isn’t ideal. As a result, you’ll usually have to sacrifice either a high resolution or turn ray tracing off completely – it’s a frustrating issue that likely won’t be solved until Sony releases a PS5 Pro, which isn’t guaranteed.
Elsewhere, the PS5 includes 16GB of GDDR6 video memory with an impressive bandwidth of 448GB/s. Sony has also implemented Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1; the former is a little outdated now with the arrival of Wi-Fi 6E, but still allows for outstanding download speeds.
Through my home internet connection, I managed to install a 40GB file in roughly 30 minutes – and the console will blister through a list of downloads with absolute ease, so long as your hard drive has enough space available.
In terms of storage, the PS5 has an 825GB SSD at default, of which a small percentage will be automatically allocated to the system itself, so it can’t be used for games and applications. This leaves you with 667.2 GB to play with. It’s a commendable amount of storage, but I still find myself frequently having to delete games to make room for others. Avid players will definitely want to consider an upgrade in the months to come, but as mentioned in the previous section, this is fairly easy to do now with an M.2 SSD.
3D audio is being hailed as a major feature of the new generation, a feat achieved by the console’s Tempest Engine. This allows for hundreds of simultaneous audio sources to be registered at once, instead of being limited to 50 as in the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro. Third-party games don’t always make use of the PS5’s 3D capabilities, but in exclusive first-party games, such as Returnal and Ratchet Clank: A Rift Apart, I’ve seen it used to brilliant effect. You can experience the effect with pretty much any pair of wired headphones, but Sony’s Pulse 3D Wireless headset is an affordable and sonically impressive option for the proper wireless experience.
Graphics and performance
At launch, we only had access to a handful of next-generation exclusives in the form of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Devil May Cry 5 and Bugsnax, but this list has naturally ballooned in the console’s first two years.
Games such as Ratchet Clank: Rift Apart, Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West and God of War Ragnarök have shown us how good PS5 games can look, even if simultaneous last-gen releases of first-party titles are possibly preventing some of them from reaching their full visual potential.
Just like the Xbox Series X, PS5 is capable of 120fps performance when paired with displays that support HDMI 2.1, although two years into the console’s life, there’s still a relatively small number of games that can reach such echelons of performance right now, and the graphical concessions are often too much for some.
At launch, the PS5 did not support variable refresh rate (VRR), which is where the refresh rate of the display on compatible HDMI 2.1 TVs and monitors dynamically syncs with the output of the console, resulting in smoother gameplay with less screen tearing. Some PS5 games also offer a high refresh rate (HRR) mode, which can push the target refresh rate of the game in question anywhere between 60Hz and 120Hz, according to what’s happening on the screen. These features probably should have been there from the off, but it’s good to see gamers being given more options.
Given its heavy FOCUS on backwards compatibility, I decided to compare the loading times of some of the platform’s biggest exclusives across PlayStation 4 Pro and PS5 Pro. The improvements are immediately pronounced, as you can see from the results below. All of the tests were done by loading into a save file directly from the main menu.
The speed at which you can load existing games is welcome, although it never reaches the heights of Xbox Series X. When comparing the PS5 against Microsoft’s console in a selection of third-party experiences, the latter came out on top every time.
It’s likely that the Series X is far better optimised when it comes to backwards compatibility, while Sony is instead focusing on next-generation experiences. For example, the process of booting up Miles Morales to reach actual gameplay is a mere 7 seconds on PS5.
Microsoft’s commitment to backwards compatibility has come home to roost, with the storage architecture and seasoned emulation doing much of the heavy lifting when ensuring that existing titles are dramatically improved on the new console.
Despite costing far less, the Xbox Series S also outperforms the PS5 when it comes to backwards compatibility, delivering loading times that are only a few seconds behind its older sibling in most instances.
A gap of 10 seconds or so in the majority of games may not sound like much, but combined with the lack of a feature such as Quick Resume, it’s significant – especially where I was using the consoles side-by-side over a number of weeks. Complaints aside, the improvements across the board compared to the PlayStation 4 Pro remain very impressive, and sole owners of the PS5 likely won’t notice much of what I’ve addressed here.
But enough about backwards compatibility; you’re likely more interested in how games developed exclusively for the PS5 will make use of the hardware. Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man: Miles Morales, to use an early example, does a phenomenal job of proving how real-time ray tracing and improved performance can alter a gaming experience for the better.
Ray tracing allows developers to implement far more realistic lighting, reflections and other graphical enhancements to their games, reflecting reality far more accurately. This is a step up from the pre-baked solutions we’ve seen up until recently. You can find a direct comparison below, and the differences are night and day.
You’ll notice that the billboards of Times Square now reflect into the glass of buildings, instead of being filled by generic images of skyscrapers. Miles Morales and all of his movements are also recreated two-fold thanks to ray tracing, offering a more nuanced vision of the superhero as he swings through Manhattan.
Upon switching to Performance mode, everything just feels more lifeless by comparison. Granted, it does earn you far more frames per second for more responsive combat and exploration, but I found the gorgeous graphics were more than worth such a sacrifice.
Some games (including both Marvel’s Spider-Man titles) have since introduced a Performance RT mode, which aims for a best of both worlds between higher refresh rates and graphical fidelity to enable ray tracing. While not quite the next-gen dream we were promised, this is about as close as you can get to it on the console right now, where available.
The resolution of reflections in Devil May Cry 5 are notably lower than those in Miles Morales. This can make some instances of the technique look blurry and obtrusive, which takes away from the impact it can have on the lighting in scenes. As you can see from the above screenshots, ray tracing fundamentally alters the mood of the scene, with light sources from the billboards and vehicles reflecting into the puddles and back onto the player.
Without ray tracing, the environment is far darker and lacking vibrancy, with harsh lights from the Piccadilly Circus-esque scene blasting onto the protagonist with little flair. In my opinion it still looks excellent, and expresses the mood of the game well, but ray tracing adds a further dimension to proceedings that simply feels more inviting.
The PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro have become infamous for how loud they are when switched on, so much so that the gaming audio is often drowned out by the abrasive fan noise emanating from the console. It made using them a nuisance, so I’m relieved to confirm that the PS5 is whisper quiet.
Even when running its most demanding experiences, it hardly makes a peep. It only makes itself heard when installing games from a disc or powering up other Blu-ray media as the 4K drive springs to life. Even here, it’s far calmer than its predecessor.
The DualSense controller is what really defines the PS5 as a true new-gen platform. It’s a meaningful evolution over the Dualshock 4, introducing new features that, if embraced properly, will no doubt characterise gaming for years to come. The introduction of adaptive triggers and a haptic feedback vibration serve to increase immersion to untold levels. Astro’s Playroom, which comes pre-installed on all consoles, is the perfect case study for the controller.
Team Asobi’s platformer delivers a masterful introduction to the DualSense controller, implementing haptic feedback and adaptive triggers into a variety of gameplay mechanics. These include springing about the environment and smashing through glass in a futuristic robot suit, or feeling the patter of rain against your little robot’s umbrella through your palms.
However, some disabled players won’t be able to make use of these features, so Sony makes turning them off super-easy. Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are used to varying degrees across all of the games I’ve tested so far, but Astro’s Playroom is unquestionably the most impressive, and a title I implore all future owners of the platform to play to completion.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition have the triggers react to the swing of a web or the slashing of swords, recreating what such actions would feel like in reality using vibration. As for battery life, the DualSense offers a decent step up from the Dualshock 4. During my testing it lasted for a maximum of 13 hours and 11 minutes before needing to be plugged in for a charge, which is a colossal improvement over its predecessor. Obviously, mileage will vary depending on what applications are being used.
User Experience
The PS5’s user interface feels like a natural expansion of what came before it. Sony has kept the tiles that defined the PlayStation 4, but has made them smaller and less intrusive, leaving room for spectacular artwork to fill the screen alongside a few menus.
It’s worth noting that the UI renders at a full 4K resolution with HDR for supported displays. As a result, everything pops with absurd levels of detail. It’s sharp, colourful and every single icon reveals elements that simply weren’t as clear before. The console’s horsepower is being put to the test before a game is even launched, and having just dropped £1000 on a new television, I’m certainly not complaining.
A single press of the Playstation button will bring up the Control Centre, which is home to all the information you’ll need. Downloads, friends, music, notifications and your own profile are present and can be accessed with ease. The Control Centre can be brought up whether you’re mid-game or on the homescreen – and it’s seamless, with no sign of lag even when playing demanding games. You can also customise the icons housed within to fit personal preferences.
In-game, relevant trophies and activities will surface based on what you’re playing. For PS5 exclusives, these will include guides, news and other nifty content that aims to make gameplay more convenient. You can also launch straight into levels from here, once again showcasing the obscene speed of the internal SSD. Sony has iterated on the PS5’s UI since launch, making it easier to explore Activity Cards more specific to your interests from the home screen, while Trophy lists are now more quickly accessible. The PS5 is definitely a machine for the completionists.
The Playstation Store on PS5 was a bit underwhelming in the console’s early days, lacking features such as deals, offers and genre categories that made its predecessor such a pleasure to browse. PS5, PlayStation 4 and VR games had their own distinct sections, but they were little more than sprawling lists that can only be sorted into a few unhelpful variations. The experience has improved somewhat since then, but it’s still not the nicest store to browse, and Sony’s attempts to make every element of the UI feel integrated, rather than separate from one another, can make navigating the store menus a bit fiddly.
Those who wish to use the PS5 as a multimedia hub can rest easy: all of the expectant bells and whistles are present and accounted for. At launch some of the confirmed media apps include Netflix, Disney Plus, Crunchyroll, Apple TV and YouTube. You can also bring up Spotify when using the majority of games and applications.
In its current state, only a select number of titles can be kept on the homescreen at once, with your latest applications cycling in and out depending on usage. Folder support for organising your library was absent at launch but has arrived in an update. Sony is now calling folders Gamelists, but the idea is the same. Themes have seemingly been abandoned in favour of the high-resolution artwork that accompanies each game. It isn’t the end of the world, but having been such a core part of the PlayStation 4, I’ve sorely missed these elements of personalisation.
PS Plus
If there’s one clear area where Playstation continues to lag behind Microsoft, it’s in its subscription offering, despite the PS Plus service being completely overhauled in 2022.
PS Plus now comes in three tiers: Essential, Extra and Premium. The first of these is PS Plus as it existed before, granting you access to monthly free games and the Playstation Plus Collection, a catalogue of 20 of the most popular PlayStation 4 titles that can be downloaded and played on the PS5 or the older hardware.
Upgrade to PS Plus Extra and you also get the Game Catalogue, a library of some 400 games that span this generation and the one before it. All of these games can be downloaded and are yours to keep for as long as you’re a PS Plus member. The top tier, PS Plus Premium, goes even further with a selection of retro Playstation titles that go as far back as the original Playstation console.
If that sounds like Sony’s answer to Xbox Game Pass, then you’re not wrong, but PS Plus’ Extra and Premium tiers are nowhere near as much of a no-brainer right now. Granted, the Game Catalogue is an absolute treasure trove of gaming (particularly if you missed out on the previous generation), but unlike Microsoft, Sony won’t be putting first-party PS5 titles on the service at launch. If you want to play them right away, you’ll still be paying upwards of £70 for the likes of God of War Ragnarök on top of your PS Plus subscription.
As for PS Plus Premium, while the prospect of being able to play PS1, PS2 and PS3 games in one place is undoubtedly appealing, the classic title library is seriously lacking right now, and PS3 games are only playable via streaming, which is really disappointing.
Again, if you’re playing catch-up on the past five years of gaming then don’t hesitate to subscribe to PS Plus Extra, but otherwise you should really take the time to browse the Game Catalogue before parting with your cash. Sony’s first-party titles are its bread and butter and the company knows it can keep selling them at full price, but so far, the (admittedly very good) cyberpunk cat simulator, Stray, is the only significant new game PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers have been able to get excited about.
Playstation VR
Aside from the game catalogues, the PS5 and Xbox Series X are so similar that it’s difficult to separate them. But one key advantage that Sony offers is support for VR. The PS5 is compatible with both the Playstation VR and Playstation VR 2 headsets.
The latter only launched in 2023, and already has a decent game library, including Horizon Call of the Mountain, Resident Evil Village, No Man’s Sky, Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy’s Edge, Thumper and Rez Infinite.
The Playstation VR 2 offers one of the best VR experiences yet, with a stunning 4K OLED screen, immersive haptic feedback and cutting-edge eye-tracking technology. It does need to be tethered to a PS5 at all times though, which means the wire can be a real tripping hazard.
The main stumbling block here is the price: you need to buy the Playstation VR 2 headset separately at a whopping price of 549.99/£529.99. That makes the VR headset even more pricey than the PS5 console itself, and so is realistically going to have niche appeal.
But it’s nevertheless an advantage over the Xbox, especially if you’ve ever wanted to dip your toe into virtual reality, and crave a more high-end experience than what the Meta Quest 2 offers. Although we wouldn’t recommend buying the PS5 for the sole purpose of playing VR – check out our best VR headset list for more options.
Should you buy it?
You want the most powerful Playstation ever:
Features like higher frame rates and ray tracing make the PS5 feel truly new-gen (to console gamers at least), while the DualSense is an amazing controller that really enhances games when used well. If you can find one for sale, the game library is large enough now that a PS5 is an easy recommendation.
You’re still happy with the PlayStation 4 Pro:
With a few exceptions, most of the PS5’s best games can also be played on PlayStation 4, and the next-gen experience often comes with concessions anyway. PC gamers can have a superior experience, and if they’re patient, they’ll be able to play the biggest Playstation titles at their desktops eventually.
Final Thoughts
The PS5 is a beast of a console and more exciting out of the box than the Xbox Series X. The controller is amazing, and with ray tracing, games like Marvel’s Spider-Man and Ratchet Clank: Rift Apart look incredible. Support for the Playstation VR 2 also opens up more doors that aren’t available with Xbox or Nintendo.
That said, Sony’s own games often ask you to choose between fidelity and frame rate, where we originally thought we’d be able to have it all. The recent price rise is also hard to ignore, especially when the Xbox Series X gives you better value for money with Game Pass.
We hope Sony will soon leave the PlayStation 4 behind and start focusing on games that really push the PS5 to its limits. But even now, this is a fantastic console that feels like it’s just getting started.
PS5 vs. PS5 Digital Edition — which one is best for you?
“PS5 vs. PS5 Digital Edition” is a query that’s popular on Google search because folks want to know which console is best for them. When you get a hold of a PS5 restock (fortunately, the console is becoming less rare these days), the last thing you want to do is waste your time hemming and hawing about which one to buy.
Two years ago, Sony unveiled not one, but two editions of the Playstation 5 at the June 11 Future of Gaming virtual event. Awesome! But for some, the double reveal has caused mind-warping indecision.
As such, I will help you make an informed, knowledge-based decision. After all, no one likes buyer’s remorse. Without further ado, let’s delve into the pros and cons of the Digital Edition and the disc console so you can make a PS5 purchase that’ll leave you satisfied. If you are in the market for any gaming deals you can check out our Black Friday gaming deals to save yourself hundreds on the latest gaming gear.
Without further ado, let the PS5 vs. PS5 Digital Edition battle begin!
PS5 vs. PS5 Digital Edition: What’s the difference?
| PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition |
| 8x Cores @ 3.5 GHz (variable frequency) | 8x Cores @ 3.5 GHz (variable frequency) |
| 10.3 TFLOPS, 36 CUs @ 2.33 GHz (variable frequency) | 10.3 TFLOPS, 36 CUs @ 2.33 GHz (variable frequency) |
| 16 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR6 |
| 448 GB/s | 448 GB/s |
| 825 GB Custom NVME SSD | 825 GB Custom NVME SSD |
| 5.5 GB/s (Raw), up to 8-9GB/s (Compressed) | 5.5 GB/s (Raw), up to 8-9GB/s (Compressed) |
| NVMe SSD Slot | NVMe SSD Slot |
| USB External HDD Support | USB External HDD Support |
| 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive | No disc drive |
| 4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS and 8K | 4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS and 8K |
The PS5 Digital Edition and the disc model are almost “identical,” according to an interview with Sony’s Playstation CEO Jim Ryan. However, there are some important differences between the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition that are worth noting, especially when it comes to design and whether or not a disc drive exists.
Both systems — PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition — sport an eight-core AMD Zen 2-based CPU clocked at 3.5GHz, a custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU with 10.28 teraflops and 36 compute units clocked at 2.23GHz, 16GB of RAM, and a custom 825GB SSD.
The PS5 duo also boasts exciting next-gen features including instantaneous load speeds, 8K graphical capabilities and advanced 3D audio.
While these console twins have many similarities, there are some crucial differences worth mentioning.
The 4K Blu-ray player
The most obvious difference? PS5 Digital Edition doesn’t have a disc. That means any game you’d like to play on the Digital Edition must be obtained through internet-connected channels like the Playstation Store. Your disc-less console will be a digital-download central as you will not be able to use any physical copies of media on the PS5 Digital Edition.
The disc-equipped console, on the other hand, will gladly gobble up your PS5-compatible physical copies. The optical drive is also a Blu-ray player that supports 4K video. The PS5 disc console widens the scope of home entertainment that you can enjoy with family and friends, including DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
The PS5 Digital Edition sports a disc drive that defiles the console’s symmetry with an off-putting side bulge and conspicuous optical-drive slot.
Many have joked that the PS5 disc version looks like it’s ready to give birth in a few months.
Conversely, the Digital Edition is sleeker and more symmetrical than its counterpart with its “snatched” waist. The curved white shell that drapes the black core modernizes the console design. With that said, the Digital Edition is arguably more visually appealing than its disc-equipped sibling.
“How much does the PS5 Digital Edition cost?” many wonder. The PS5 Digital Edition costs 399.99. The standard PS5 with a disc drive costs 499.99. The disc-drive PS5 matches the price of the Xbox Series X.
The digital version of the PS5 is 100 more than the Xbox Series S, the Series X’s more affordable, all-digital option. However, it’s worth noting that the digital PS5 is essentially the same as the standard PS5; it simply lacks a disc drive. The Xbox Series S, on the other hand, is geared toward money-conscious gamers who are willing to sacrifice top-of-the-line specs to shell out less money out of their bank accounts.
Who should buy the Digital Edition PS5?
If our breakdown of design, price and more still has your head spinning about which PS5 system you should purchase, we’ve rounded up an illuminating list of who would best benefit from the PS5 Digital Edition console.
Your internet doesn’t suck. With the PS5 Digital Edition, you’ll be entirely dependent on your internet connection. Can it handle 100GB-plus downloads? Is it fast enough? If your internet is notorious for having connectivity issues, you may want to upgrade to a speedier network or purchase the optical-media PS5 console.
You don’t care about owning physical copies. While some traditionalists may not be ready to let go of the physical-copy gaming world, others look forward to a digital-only future. Many laptops have ditched optical drives and gaming consoles are headed toward the same path. If having a digital-only library doesn’t faze you, the Digital Edition is the perfect console for you.
You’re a stickler for symmetrical designs. Some people are finicky with designs. Some Playstation loyalists don’t care what the console looks like, but others will fuss if the design doesn’t align with their tastes. Many have voiced an aversion to the disc-equipped console’s bulging optical drive. As a result, they’ll be opting for the Digital Edition for its sleeker, symmetrical design.
You want to save some money. The Digital Edition PS5 is 100 cheaper than its disc-equipped counterpart with a 399 price tag.
Who should buy the PS5 disc console?
The advantage of the disc-equipped PS5 is that you’re not stuck with one way of downloading your games — you can choose between snagging a physical copy or downloading it digitally. Here are the folks who’d get the most out of a standard PS5:
You don’t want total internet reliance. If you don’t want to rely on your spotty Internet connection to download games, consider getting the disc-equipped PS5.
You own a swath of popular PlayStation 4 discs. The PS5 has limited backwards compatibility — it will support “almost all” of the top 100 most-played PlayStation 4 games. So if you want to sink your teeth into some nostalgic gaming on your new console, get the disc-equipped PS5.
You have a DVD and Blu-ray collection. Every now and then, you may want to wipe the dust off your DVD collection and watch a movie or two. You won’t be able to do that with the Digital Edition, so if you prefer a console that can support gaming, DVDs and Blu-ray, the standard PS5 will be the best choice for you.
You love getting collector’s edition game packages. Some gamers love getting their hands on collector’s edition packages, which can feature audio soundtracks and behind-the-scenes DVD footage.- media goodies you won’t be able to use on PS5’s Digital Edition model.
You’re a traditionalist who enjoys tactile satisfaction. Traditionalists prefer physical copies, in part, because of the tactile satisfaction of reading through game manuals, running their fingers over a visually pleasing poster and zapping the CD into the optical drive.
PS5 vs. PS5 Digital Edition availability
Now that both the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition have launched, they’re selling out at a shocking speed. At the moment, your best chance to get a PS5 probably lies with Walmart, as the company is holding three sales today at 12pm PT (3pm ET), 3pm PT (6pm ET), and 6pm PST (9pm ET).
However, this beckons the ultimate question: which console is easiest to order at the moment? As far as demand goes, the standard PS5 is most highly sought after, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the PS5 Digital Edition is easier to purchase,
Ars Technica reports that a number of retailers across the United States are only carrying one PS5 Digital Edition for every three or four standard PS5’s out there. This essentially means that the chances of the PS5 Digital Edition selling out are far greater, so if you’re desperate for a shiny new PS5, you’ll have the best luck purchasing the standard edition.
If you’re willing to wait a month or two, the PS5 Digital Edition will likely be in higher stock, allowing you to order one comfortably.
Bottom line
To wrap up this PS5 vs. PS5 Digital face-off, the PS5 Digital Edition is for audacious gamers who are ready to dive in — head first — into our imminent, digital-only future of gaming.
The standard PS5 model, on the other hand, is best for folks who aren’t quite ready to commit to an optical drive-absent system. And on the plus side, gamers with the disc-equipped console can download games through two channels: digitally and physically.
Both the standard model and the Digital Edition are flying off the shelves. If you need help in securing a disc-equipped PS5 or Digital Edition PS5, check out our PS5 availability tracking page.
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
