Comparison
PS5 vs PS5 Slim vs PS5 Pro: Which PlayStation 5 Should You Buy?
The PS5 Slim is the best pick for most people: the same games and performance as the original PS5 in a smaller box with 1TB of storage. Get the PS5 Pro if you have a 4K TV and want sharper, smoother graphics in enhanced games.
Buy the PS5 Slim if you want the full PS5 experience in a smaller, lighter console with 1TB of storage. Buy the PS5 Pro if you play on a 4K TV and want the best graphics, with a faster GPU, advanced ray tracing, PSSR upscaling and 2TB of storage. Buy the original PS5 if you want to pay the least for the same games.
You have a 4K TV with 120Hz or VRR
You want the sharpest graphics and smoothest frame rates
You want 2TB of built-in storage
You want Wi-Fi 7 for faster downloads
You want every PS5 game at the lowest price
You play on a 1080p or basic 4K TV
You want a disc drive in the box
You don't need the top graphics
Skip both if: you game on a 1080p TV or monitor and want to save money. The original PS5 plays the same games.
The short version
All three consoles play the same PS5 games and over 8,500 PS4 games. They all support 4K, HDR, ray tracing and up to 120fps in supported games, and they all use the same DualSense controller.
The original PS5 (2020) and the PS5 Slim (2023) have the same performance. The Slim is more than 30% smaller by volume, lighter, and has a 1TB SSD instead of 825GB. Its disc drive is detachable.
The PS5 Pro (2024) is the only one with more power. Sony gave it an upgraded GPU with 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory, for up to 45% faster rendering. It adds PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), advanced ray tracing, Wi-Fi 7 and a 2TB SSD. It ships without a disc drive.
What's different
See every spec side by side
| PS5 (original) | PS5 Slim | PS5 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released | November 2020 | November 2023 | November 2024 |
| Storage | 825GB SSD | 1TB SSD (disc model) | 2TB SSD |
| Expandable storage | M.2 SSD slot, USB drive | M.2 SSD slot, USB drive | M.2 SSD slot, USB drive |
| Disc drive | Built in (Disc Edition) | Detachable (disc model) | Sold separately |
| Performance | Standard PS5 | Same as original | Up to 45% faster rendering |
| Ray tracing | Yes | Yes | Yes, advanced |
| AI upscaling (PSSR) | No | No | Yes |
| Max output | Up to 4K HDR, 120fps | Up to 4K HDR, 120fps | Up to 4K HDR, 120fps; 8K on supported TVs |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| PS4 games | Over 8,500 | Over 8,500 | Over 8,500, with PS5 Pro Game Boost |
| Size | Largest | More than 30% smaller than the original | Same height as original, same width as Slim |
| Refurbished price | From $889.99 | From $939.99 | From $1,779.99 |
PS5 vs PS5 Slim: same power, smaller box
If you are choosing between the original PS5 and the Slim, performance is not the question.
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They run games the same way, with the same loading speeds, graphics and frame rates.
The Slim is the nicer console to own. Sony says it is more than 30% smaller in volume and 18% to 24% lighter than the original models. It fits better in a TV stand, and it comes with a horizontal stand in the box. A vertical stand is sold separately.
The Slim disc model also has more storage, 1TB against 825GB on the original. Big games take up a lot of space, so the extra room helps. On both, you can add more storage with an M.2 SSD or play PS4 games from a USB drive.
Disc drive: built in, detachable or extra
The original PS5 came as a Disc Edition with a built-in Ultra HD Blu-ray drive, or a Digital Edition with no drive.
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The original Digital Edition cannot add a drive later.
The PS5 Slim disc model has a detachable Ultra HD Blu-ray drive. The PS5 Pro has no drive in the box, but it works with the same Disc Drive for PS5, sold separately. The drive needs an internet connection to pair with the console the first time.
If you buy physical games, rent discs or watch 4K Blu-ray movies, make sure the console you pick has a drive or plan to add one.
PS5 Pro: what the extra power gets you
The PS5 Pro is built for 4K TVs.
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In games that are enhanced for PS5 Pro, you often get sharper images and smoother frame rates at the same time, instead of choosing between a quality mode and a performance mode. Sony lists more than 100 enhanced PS5 titles.
PSSR is AI upscaling. The console renders at a lower resolution and rebuilds a sharp 4K image, which frees up power for higher frame rates. Advanced ray tracing adds more realistic reflections, shadows and lighting in supported games.
PS5 Pro Game Boost may also stabilize or improve frame rates in supported PS4 and PS5 games. Enhancements vary by game, and games without PS5 Pro updates see smaller gains.
Who needs the Pro?
If you play on a 1080p TV or monitor, most of the Pro's benefits are wasted.
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The Slim or original PS5 is the smarter buy.
If you have a good 4K TV, especially one with 120Hz and VRR, and you play big releases like Spider-Man 2, Ratchet and Clank or Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the Pro makes a visible difference. It also has Wi-Fi 7 for faster downloads with a compatible router, and twice the storage of the Slim.
The PS5 Pro can output 8K, but only to a screen that supports 8K at 60Hz with Display Stream Compression. For almost everyone, 4K is what matters.
Price range
Refurbished, the original PS5 starts at $889.99, the PS5 Slim starts at $939.99 and the PS5 Pro starts at $1,779.99. Prices on this page update live from our store.
See all our consoles. Still deciding on a platform? Read PS5 vs Xbox Series X. Have an older console? You can sell or trade it in.
Should you buy new or refurbished?
Consoles are a great refurbished buy because they spend their lives on a shelf, not in a pocket.
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Every console we sell is inspected and tested and comes with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns. Grades describe looks only. Read new vs used vs refurbished to see how they compare.
FAQ
Is the PS5 Slim better than the original PS5?
It performs the same. The Slim is smaller, lighter and has 1TB of storage against 825GB, and its disc drive is detachable. If the price is close, get the Slim.
Is the PS5 Pro worth it over the PS5 Slim?
Only if you play on a 4K TV and care about graphics. The Pro has up to 45% faster rendering, PSSR upscaling, advanced ray tracing and 2TB of storage. On a 1080p screen, the Slim is the better fit.
Does the PS5 Pro have a disc drive?
No. The PS5 Pro ships without a disc drive. You can add the Disc Drive for PS5, sold separately.
Do all PS5 models play the same games?
Yes. Every PS5 game works on the original PS5, PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro, and all three play over 8,500 PS4 games. Some games get extra enhancements on PS5 Pro.
Can I add a disc drive to an original PS5 Digital Edition?
No. The Disc Drive for PS5 only works with the PS5 Slim Digital Edition and the PS5 Pro.
Still choosing? Read our guide to which console to buy.
Read next: PS5 vs Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X vs Series S
Skip the new-phone price
Get the PlayStation 5 Pro pre-owned from $1,779.99, tested by real technicians with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns.
