The PS5 is now over two years old and a new model is rumored to be in the works. Two new models even. Because in addition to the PS5 Pro that has been tipped, there is talk of a new PS5 Slim-breaking cover coming soon.
So what would a PlayStation 5 Slim offer over the standard model? Will it be easier to find than the PS5? How much would it cost? And when might it launch? Let’s break down the latest rumors about the PS5 Slim.
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Will there be a PS5 Slim?
It looks like this. While Sony is tight-lipped – as usual when it comes to future launches – it doesn’t take a games industry scientist to work out that a slimmed-down PS5 is coming. Look at the facts.
The PS5 will be three years old at the end of this year. That’s generally accepted as mid-life territory for a modern console, even one that’s claimed to have “at least” a seven-year lifespan. But instead of buying its consoles a cardigan and a pair of slippers as soon as they reach middle age, Sony prefers to give them a new lease of life with one or maybe two new models. Think of it as the console equivalent of a midlife crisis.
That’s what it did with the PS3 and PS4. The 2006 PS3 was followed not only by the PS3 Slim in 2009, but also by the PS3 Super Slim in 2012, while the PS4 (2013) was followed by the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro (both in 2016). So it’s likely that Sony will take the same approach with the PS5.
PS5 Slim release date rumors
But don’t take our word for it – plenty of others feel the same way. Last year, TV maker TCL predicted that Sony would launch a new PS5 model in 2023. It said the console in question would be a PS5 Pro, rather than a PS5 Slim. But Sony could always announce both at the same time, as with the PS4: both the PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim were unveiled on the same day, September 7, 2016.
And it’s not just other device makers that have gone public – we’ve had mumbles straight from the horse’s mouth. In a recent interview with Famitsu (through Insider gaming (opens in new tab)), Sony said 2023 will be a “very important time” for the PS5. Considering how closed off most companies are about their future plans, that’s a very big hint indeed.
Do you want something more specific? Indoor gamingsources say the new console will launch in September, just in time for the busy Christmas period The leak (opens in new tab) seems to confirm that with an expected release in the third quarter of 2023. Based on our experience with the original PS5, we expect to be able to buy one around November 2025.
PS5 Slim expected price
Now, price. How much should you pay for a PS5 Slim?
Hopefully not that much. The PS4 Slim launched at the same price as the original PS4, so Sony could very well use the same strategy and stick with the same £450 / $500 / AU$750 launch price as the PS5. While the price of the PS5 recently jumped to £479.99 / €549.99 / AU$799.95 – if Sony wants to price a new model the same as the old one, it’s a much more likely price than undercutting its older one , thicker, less capable console .
PS5 Slim leaks and rumored features
Its main selling point, of course, would be a slimmer profile and lighter weight than the standard PS5. This matches previous ‘Slim’ models: the PS4 Slim was 40 percent smaller than the original PS4, while the PS3 Slim was 33 percent slimmer than the standard PS3, 36 percent lighter and 34 percent more energy efficient. Sony then launched a PS3 Super Slim model, which managed to be 20 percent smaller than the PS3 Slim, while tipping the scales at 25 percent lighter.
Many think the PS5 could lose a bit of weight. It is, after all, the greatest game console in history.
But a more compact build might not be all Sony has up its sleeve. According to Insider gaming (opens in new tab), Sony’s next PS5 will have a detachable disc drive. “The detachable disc drive connects to the PlayStation 5 through an additional USB-C port on the back of the console,” the report said. This would eliminate the need for a separate PS5 Digital Edition without a disc drive, while allowing the main console to be slimmer.
Instead of selling two consoles, Sony would sell the standard PS5 Slim, with or without the external disc drive. You could also buy the disc drive separately as an accessory if you broke yours or if you changed your mind after purchasing the console. However, the drive wouldn’t look distinct when attached, which would be much nicer aesthetically.
The sources also say the disc drive wouldn’t work with the current PS5 Digital Edition, though that could potentially change with a software update.
Sony could achieve these slimmer proportions and lower power consumption through the use of a die-shrink, a smaller, more efficient version of an existing CPU. The PS5 Slim could also stand on its own vertically, without the need for a stand.
PS5 Slim vs PS5
In some ways, we already have a PS5 Slim. In August 2022, Sony launched the CFI-1202A model of PS5, which weighs 300g less than the CFI-1102A model released in 2021 and a whopping 600g less than the original 2020 launch model. But a new model would still can lose more weight.
The die shrink would not only allow for smaller chips, but also a smaller heat sink, as those chips would consume less power and thus generate less heat. All of which would help reduce the size of the console.
The PS5 Slim could also get a new look. The PS3 Slim had a very different aesthetic from the original PS3, although the PS4 Slim was more consistent with its predecessor. So at this stage it’s anyone’s guess.
We could also see a more impressive spec list with new features. Sony has previously offered more storage with its new console iterations and upgraded some ports. Fingers crossed that a new model offers some really compelling reasons to move beyond just a nicer profile.
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