Sony announced that new, smaller versions of the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will be available on store shelves in November. Additionally, an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive is also coming to the Digital Edition console.
Revealed in a PlayStation Blog post, these new versions aren’t being branded as PS5 Slim or anything like that; They are the new flagship versions of Sony’s latest console. Their design is similar to the launch model, but is now composed of four separate cover panels. The top panel on each side features the PlayStation logo and a glossy finish, while the bottom panels are made of the same matte material as the current PS5 models. According to Sony, the design makes the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition lighter and reduces the volume of both consoles by 30%.
In the US, the new PS5 will cost $500, while the new PS5 Digital Edition will cost $450. PS5 Digital Edition owners can swap out one of the bottom cover panels for an $80 Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc drive for the PS5, which will let them play physical copies of games on what’s sold as a digital-only console. Or will allow watching movies. , Both of these new PS5 models come with a horizontal stand, although a new vertical stand priced at $30 is also in the works.
Despite the slimmer design, the new PS5 models aren’t coming with a price cut. The model, including the disc drive, is still priced the same as existing PS5 models. The price of the digital edition is actually a $50 increase from the current digital edition’s $400 price tag. Those who want to upgrade and add the $80 disc drive after the fact will end up paying more than the non-digital version in the long run.
The PlayStation blog post confirms that the launch versions of both PS5 consoles will be phased out as these new models hit store shelves in the US sometime in November. If you were planning on getting a PS5 console soon, it might be worth holding off until these new models launch.
