07 November 2023 , 12:00
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In advance of its launch later this month, hands-on impressions of the PS5 Slim have arrived that compare it to the original PS5 model.
Like it or lump it, the PS5 Slim is a very real hardware revision to Sony’s popular current-gen console, hitting store shelves later this month. There’s no official PS5 Slim release date, though a leaked Modern Warfare 3 PS5 Slim bundle suggests they’ll start to appear from Friday, November 10 onwards. It’s all part of the gaming giant’s plan to phase out the initial launch model in favour of this new, slightly smaller option. Until now we’ve not seen the two models compared, but certain tech experts have since received the PS5 Slim and the size difference is… not really that big at all.
In terms of specific dimensions, the PS5 Slim vs PS5 size comparison has been public knowledge since the former model was first announced back in October. Compared to the launch version’s approx. 358 × 96 × 216 mm (width × height × depth) and 3.2kg mass, the PS5 Slim offers a slight reduction in height by way of 16mm and comes in at roughly 0.6kg lighter. That’s why it’s not really a surprise to see most people’s hands-on impressions pick up on the lack of size difference.
YouTuber Dave2D is one such example, providing a detailed teardown of the PS5 Slim on his channel. And while he praises the noticeably lighter console and the new split panel aesthetic, he was quick to voice his concerns about the size difference. “It just looks a bit cheaper to me,” he said, before commenting that “the size isn’t actually that much smaller”. He then places both models next to one another, where it’s pretty obvious that the height difference is only very slight.
Linus Tech Tips also took to his channel to perform a PS5 Slim teardown where he was generally more favourable. "Looking at those leaked pictures online it felt like it wasn’t that much smaller,” he said. “But it’s way smaller”. It’s worth noting though that, unlike Dave2D’s video, Linus’ size comparison impressions were of the PS5 Slim without an additional vertical stand, while the standard model did still have its vertical stand propping it up. This no doubt gave the impression of a larger size difference than if both models weren't on stands.
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In the heights
Overall, then, from the PS5 Slim teardowns we’ve been able to glimpse so far, there doesn’t look to be all that much of a difference in terms of size; it really is just 16mm of change in the height. YouTubers were quick to mention that the PS5 Slim box doesn’t even mention the word ‘Slim’ anywhere on the box, further cementing the idea that this will serve as the standard PS5 model going forward.
It's also worth noting that this slimmer model won’t feature any price disparity with the existing launch PS5 model currently available for purchase. Much like how the standard PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition retail for £479.99 / $499.99 / AU$799.99 and £389.99 / $449.99 / AU$649.95 respectively, so too will the PS5 Slim and PS5 Slim Digital Edition. This is unusual for a smaller, revised mid-generation hardware revision where components generally become cheaper. Sony is undoubtedly saving costs; it's just not passing them onto the consumer.
Knowing this makes clear why Sony isn’t doing more to shout about the PS5 Slim in advance of its arrival later this week. There’s no real benefit to the player price-wise, being almost identical with regards to specs outside of the slightly reduced height. So why did we need the PS5 Slim at all? Well, we didn’t, but it’ll help PlayStation’s margins in the long run before any type of price reduction.