PS5 Slim review: slimmer, but just as mighty

PS5 Slim review: Two-minute review

The PS5 Slim picks up where the original launch model of the PS5 left off and offers a brilliant current-generation gaming experience. Adding a couple of quality-of-life improvements to the original and shrinking the footprint right down, while maintaining the excellent performance and experiences you would expect from a PS5, means this is still one of the very best gaming consoles to buy.

The PS5 Slim launched at the same price that the original launch model PS5 had. This differs from the last generation when the PS4 Slim arrived with a slightly lower price tag, which was very welcome at the time. While that’s disappointing, the PS5 Slim is now the dominant variant of the console – coming in both disc and digital editions too -and discounts and deals are now frequent. As such, while we heartily recommend it at its list price, it can offer exceptional value for money.

The biggest changes with the PS5 Slim are indeed as its name would imply: its small footprint and form factor mean the PS5 Slim is around 30% smaller, which is welcome given the original’s heft. It’s of the same design language, but not exactly the same either. While the form of the PS5 Slim still features the fanned, larger end, the console’s shell is now split by a gap (‘filled in’ by the black plastic of the console’s main body underneath), making for four separate plates.

One small difference is the front ports both being USB-C on the Slim too, trading the launch model’s USB-A port for the second USB-C one. And apart from a slightly larger hard drive – the PS5 Slim sports a 1TB SSD as opposed to the original’s 825GB – it has the identical PS5 specs within it that offer that wonderful performance we’re used to from Sony’s current console. You’ve also got a host of customization options with the PS5 Slim, thanks to Sony releasing a wide number of different console covers that can be easily slotted on.