As a video game console ages, it's not unusual for its manufacturer to replace it with a redesigned system. This is typically a "slim" version that packs the same technology into a smaller, sleeker package. Sony's 2023 iteration of the PlayStation 5 has been refined from the original, but it isn't officially called the PS5 Slim—still named PlayStation 5, it's a slightly smaller console with more hard drive space, a new USB-C port, and an upgradeable disc drive bay. This new model doesn't change all that much, so we won't, either: The redesigned PlayStation 5 earns the same score and Editors' Choice designation we awarded the original system.
Note that the 2023 PS5 is available in two versions, just like the 2020 models. One has an optical drive, while the other does not. The disc-based model retains the original drive system's $499.99 price, but the all-digital system is $50 more expensive than its launch counterpart at $449.99. We reviewed the version with the 4K Blu-ray drive.
Design: A Slightly Smaller PS5
Technically, the updated PS5 is a bit smaller than the original, but not enough to make it significantly easier to place anywhere. It measures 14.1 by 3.8 by 8.5 inches (HWD), a bit thinner on all sides than the 15.4-by-4.1-by-10.2-inch first-release PS5. It certainly isn't comparable with the dramatic size reduction of the PS4 Slim.
Left: Launch PlayStation 5 with Darkplates 2.0. Right: PlayStation 5 (2023) (Credit: Will Greenwald)The new PS5's overall design is similar to its predecessor, with gentle and distinct curved white panels around a black center. Even the panel's "popped collar" look remains; it's just a little less prominent. Light strips still run along the edges of the black center to make the white panels glow and serve the same purpose: lighting up blue, white, or amber, depending on the console's status. At a glance, the new PS5's only real distinguishing features are the black stripes that horizontally run along the white panels.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)A power button and two USB ports still reside in the black band on the system's front, while the slot-loading Ultra HD Blu-ray drive lives in the white panel's "bump." The front USB plug is still a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port best suited for controllers and other simple peripherals compared with the console's other Super Speed USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports. The back holds the same two USB-A ports, Ethernet port, and power cable connector. The only variation is that the two USB ports on the front are now both USB-C, rather than one USB-A and one USB-C.
Vertical Use: Stand Not Included
The good news is that the smaller PS5 is much easier to set up horizontally. The first version's clunky and awkward two-way stand is replaced by two small plastic pegs that fit into the console's sides to keep it stable. The bad news? The new PS5 doesn't come with a stand at all. The system is thinner than the previous model, so it's less stable when set up vertically. Instead of bundling a mediocre stand, Sony wants you to buy an improved version for $30.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)The new stand is much nicer than the original, with a metal base that keeps the console upright and makes it hard to topple. It also works with the first PS5 with an included plastic insert. It isn't necessary if you keep your PS5 horizontal or in a cabinet where it can't be bumped, but it's mandatory if you want the console to stand next to your TV.
Hardware: A Slightly Bigger SSD
Storage is the biggest improvement the new PS5 has over the original. It comes with a 1TB SSD that provides 848GB of usable storage compared with the 667GB of space in the 825GB SSD-equipped first model (the system software takes up a little more than 150GB on both consoles). Like the first PS5, the new PS5 has an interior M.2 SSD slot for installing another SSD. Make sure your SSD meets the requirements listed on Sony's site (though the company hasn't published the upgrade process).
The other major hardware change is welcome, but less directly beneficial to most people. Like the first PS5, the new version is available with or without an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive. However, that drive is now modular, so you can upgrade a digital-only PS5 by separately buying the disc drive for $79.99. That's $30 more than the $50 premium the disc-equipped PS5 has over the digital-only version (compared with the $100 price difference between the first models), so getting the disc system is a better deal than adding the drive later. It's a good option for watching Blu-ray movies and TV shows, though, and it means the drive can be easily replaced if it fails.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)The system's guts, besides the SSD size, are unchanged. The new PS5 uses the same AMD Zen 2 CPU, RDNA 2 GPU, 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, Wi-Fi 6, and gigabit Ethernet as the original model. Its graphical capabilities are identical, too, with ray tracing and the ability to output at up to 8K.
The included DualSense gamepad is the same as the one included with the original PS5. It remains one of the most advanced and comfortable console controllers, with adaptive triggers, motion control, and surprisingly precise and realistic vibration. We saw close to 10 hours of juice between charges, which is pretty mediocre. The Switch Pro Controller and Xbox Wireless Controller both clocked in closer to 40 hours.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)Performance: Obviously Unchanged
I played Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on the new PS5, and it performed exactly as expected. The game was sharp and responsive, with the Fidelity mode offering detailed graphics and a frame rate that hovered around 30 frames per second. The Performance mode disabled some of the more advanced graphical effects to keep a frame rate that stayed closer to 60 frames per second.
For a more in-depth look at the system's general performance, interface, and user experience, read our review of the first PS5.
A Slightly Better PlayStation 5
The new, slightly redesigned PlayStation 5 is a bit slimmer in terms of physical size and a bit larger in terms of storage—otherwise, it's the same system as the original model. It's a fantastic game console with plenty of power and an advanced gamepad, though we lament the omission of a vertical stand. It's also a shame that the digital-only model is now $50 more expensive than before, but we generally recommend purchasing the disc version as it gives you the option to play Ultra HD Blu-rays. There's no reason to rush out and replace your existing PS5 with this one, but it's the one to get if you're just getting into Sony gaming. Considering it's every bit as good as the original, it earns our Editors' Choice award.
