A small console with a large game library

With over 60 million PS5s sold, Sony has dominated this generation of game consoles so far. Four years since the release of the PlayStation 5, the company has completed its gaming lineup with the refined PS5 Slim (with and without a disc drive) and the more powerful (and expensive) PS5 Pro.

In the middle of the console, against the Xbox Series S and X, the ever-growing powerful gaming PCs, and Nintendo’s Switch, it’s a good time to re-examine what the PS5, in a critical situation, is doing to hold the attention of players and why. the PS5 Slim is probably the perfect way to dive into Sony’s rich selection of games.

Computer hardware

The PS5 Slim looks very similar to the original design but is noticeably (thankfully!) smaller. In fact, it is 30 percent smaller in volume. Let’s be honest, it’s still big, but the PS5 Slim fits on the shelf on my home entertainment console – the original PS5 didn’t.

Sony has kept the original weird design here, so there’s a shared aesthetic across all PS5 consoles. In the box, there are also two transparent feet for mounting the console horizontally. It’s a simple, subtle way to raise the console rather than the original unsightly plinth with plastic hooks. The PS5 Slim can stand upright on its own, but you may need to get a vertical stand for peace of mind, which unfortunately means you’re dropping another $30.

Inside, mostly the same technical measurements of the launch console: AMD Zen 2 CPU, RDNA 2 GPU, 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, and Wi-Fi 6 with gigabit ethernet. (Technically, Xbox Series X packs more power and if you want more power, please see PS5 Pro). The PS5 Slim, however, comes with a 1TB SSD, which offers 25 percent more usable storage than the 825GB SSD inside the original PS5.

Having said that, at a time when the installation of a AAA game can be around 150GB, we would advise you to be prepared to add more storage, especially if you get most of your games through an online store. Fortunately, it’s easy to install an extra SSD (most of them have a pre-installed heatsink) and the prices of mass storage have come down since 2020.

If you’re a disc-based gamer, the PS5 Slim has both a digital-only model ($450) and a disc model ($500), but you can ‘upgrade’ to a disc drive for an $80 premium. (It’s the same drive that PS5 Pro users will have to pick up, if you’re wondering why it’s just been sold everywhere.)

Even if you decide to add a disc drive, it is designed to stay within the smooth lines of the console, if it leaves it slightly lop-sided. It’s surprising that Sony wants you to plug in the console to unlock the drive, something to be aware of if you’re planning to gift the console and want a little pressure.

Sony also swapped out the port options, switching to a USB-C duo, instead of a single USB-C port and a USB-A port. Considering that the latter came out with a speed of 480Mbps, it’s another improvement. (There are still two USB-A ports available on the back of older devices.)

Apart from any physical changes, since its launch, Sony has provided significant technical improvements to the PS5 through software updates. For one, access to the Xbox with support , to dynamically synchronize the refresh rate of the display (HDMI 2.1) to the image output of the PS5 console. This means games should render more smoothly and reduce the chance of screen tearing if your TV and PS5 aren’t completely compatible. The PS5 Slim also supports 1440p resolution screens, an intermediate option between 1080p and 4K.

Sony has added additional features such as 3D audio profiles customized for gamers using headphones and Party Share, where you can stream gameplay in real time. There’s also Remote Play, available on iOS and Android, and the company’s standalone streaming device, PlayStation Portal. When it comes to Remote Play, there haven’t been any major changes since the PS4 iteration, but it seems that the service has become more stable in recent years.

There have been changes in the way PlayStation has differentiated its subscription service. Starting with PlayStation Plus Essentials, $10 per month, this unlocks access to online multiplayer, at least two free games each month, discounts, cloud storage and Play sharing.

PlayStation Plus Extra ($15 per month), adds a huge library of PS5 and PS4 games for free, while PlayStation Plus Premium ($18 per month) adds cloud streaming functionality, so you can play PS5 games without using a PS5 yours. You can also play a collection of PS4 games (and older games from the OG PlayStation onwards) without having to download the game.

That said, Xbox’s Game Pass offers a huge selection of games, and often includes first-party Microsoft games available to play on release day. PlayStation, unfortunately, doesn’t do the same, and its biggest exclusive releases often come free on PS Plus years later. Which tier is right for you will depend on how much you play, and how often you try to stay away from wherever your PS5 is. It’s worth signing up for PS Plus Essentials just to get a dripfeed of free games.

Since its launch, the PS5 has received a number of other minor improvements as well, such as dimmer power indicators for the PS5 light, and flexible controller charging that should extend the battery life of your DualSense by improving charging time. A quick note to say that DualSense is still the most comfortable, innovative controller Sony has ever made – but the battery life is pretty terrible. Expect to connect it regularly.

The software

The interface of the PS5 has changed since its launch, and most importantly it has been given a customizable Welcome Hub, where you can choose backgrounds, widgets and prioritize the games and features you use the most. It’s also worth noting that the UI itself is much faster and more responsive than it was before.

While you won’t get the sharpening of the Pro console catalog, the PS5 Slim will happily play most PS4 games, too. It’s a double-edged sword, however, with both PS4 and PS5 versions of games clogging up the PlayStation online store.

Again! It presents a major problem with: many powerful titles, both internal and third-party publishers. God of War Ragnarok, Spider-Man 2, and Astro Bot were all platform exclusives, while long-running series like Final Fantasy came to PS5 first, with other platforms getting the game much later. Then, there’s the likes of Elden Ring, Baldur’s Gate 3 or anything on PSVR2 – not that there’s all that much to the headset.

Sony now offers its games on PC, but it has disrupted the console’s exclusive hold on its flagship games. Until now, there have been long gaps of many years between the launch of the game on PlayStation consoles and its arrival on PCs. God of War it took four years to go from PS4 to PC, while Horizon: Zero Dawnn takes three years. That’s possible, though. Earlier this year, Sony introduced Helldivers 2 on PS5 and Windows at the same time, too Lego Horizon Adventures released on PS5, Windows and Switch simultaneously last month.

Finish it

PS5 Slim is the new normal for PlayStation gamers. It’s smaller without being smaller and packs in a lot of small improvements in specs and software-based features. Anyone who wants more power (or bragging rights to their Xbox Series X friends) can go for the PS5 Pro, but that requires a $200 premium. For most of us, this is the PlayStation we’ll be playing for years to come no matter how much the PlayStation 6 comes out.