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Sony PS5 Slim
Though it typically costs $50 more than the digital-edition PS5, this model lets you play game discs and 4K Blu-ray movies. This slim version of the console is also slightly smaller than the original and has 1TB of storage.
What we like
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Plays game discs, including used copies and PS4 titles
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A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Disc drive can also play 4K Blu-ray movies
What we don’t like
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Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Pricier than digital-edition version of the console
Sony PS5 Slim (Digital Edition)
The PS5 Slim Digital Edition is for downloadable games only and costs $50 less than the standard PS5 with a disc drive. A disc drive add-on can be bought separately for an extra $80 if you wish to use physical discs at a later date.
What we like
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Delivers same gaming performance as standard PS5
Check mark icon
A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction.
Costs $50 less than the standard PS5 with disc drive
What we don’t like
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Can’t play games on disc unless you buy a separate add-on for $80
con icon
Two crossed lines that form an ‘X’.
Includes 825GB of storage rather than 1TB
The verdict
The PS5 with a disc drive offers better value in the long run, especially if you have an existing collection of PS4 game discs, want to purchase used games, or share games with friends.
PS5 digital vs. disc: Pricing and availability
Sony
The PS5 with disc drive costs $550, while the digital-edition PS5 costs $500. Both prices are the result of a $50 increase that Sony implemented in August 2025.
Sony also frequently sells PlayStation 5 consoles bundled with popular games like “Battlefield 6” and “Ghost of Yotei.” These bundles are sometimes discounted and can even cost less than buying the console without a game.
PS5 digital vs. disc: What’s different?
The disc and digital editions of the PlayStation 5 are essentially the same device, with the biggest difference being the absence of a 4K Blu-ray drive on the digital edition. That said, the slim digital-edition PS5 does allow owners to add a 4K Blu-ray drive attachment later on.
In addition to not including a disc drive, the digital-edition PS5 is slightly thinner and weighs about two pounds less than the standard model. And although both editions originally came with the same 1TB of storage, current shipments of the digital-edition PS5 now include a slightly smaller 825GB of storage.
Aside from these design differences, both the PS5 with a disc drive and the PS5 Digital Edition deliver the same performance. This includes support for gameplay at up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second on compatible displays, fast load times thanks to the console’s solid-state drive, and advanced graphical features like ray tracing on select games.
The only way to get improved PS5 gaming performance is to opt for Sony’s PS5 Pro model, which has upgraded internal hardware components compared to the standard PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition.
Every PS5 comes with the same DualSense controller, which offers haptic feedback and has a built-in microphone. All PS5 consoles support the same PlayStation accessories.
PS5 digital vs. disc: Games
Sony
All PlayStation 5 consoles share the same library of games and the same quality of gameplay, but disc-drive PS5 models give you more control over how you can play those games.
With a disc-drive PS5, games can be installed from physical discs or downloaded digitally. Meanwhile, the digital-edition PS5 limits you to buying and playing downloaded games only.
Digital purchases of PlayStation games are tied to your Sony account. The PlayStation Store is the only place you can buy digital games, so owners of the PS5 Digital Edition can’t take advantage of deals at stores like GameStop and Best Buy.
Although digital game downloads are convenient, having physical discs allows you to resell games or lend them to a friend. The PS5 with disc drive can also play old PS4 discs via backward compatibility, while the digital-edition PS5 can only access digital versions of those games through the PlayStation Store.
Remember that many physical games still require an internet connection and significant PS5 storage space to install and play. This means that going with a disc copy will not save you hard drive space compared to downloading the game.
PS5 digital vs. disc: PlayStation Plus
Sony offers a subscription service called PlayStation Plus, which provides online multiplayer and a catalog of downloadable games for the PS5. PlayStation Plus works the same on all PS5 consoles, but digital edition owners may get the most out of the service, as certain plans provide access to a range of PS4 games without the need for a disc drive.
For $10 a month, PlayStation Plus Essential provides gamers with access to online play and a monthly selection of free games that will remain in their collection as long as they remain subscribers. The next two tiers of PlayStation Plus, Extra ($15 a month) and Premium ($18 a month), provide access to more than 400 PS4 and PS5 games. Premium also adds even more games from older PlayStation consoles and allows you to stream games directly to a PS5.
PS5 digital vs. disc: Specs
The bottom line
BI Photo/Isabel Fernandez Pujol
The PlayStation 5 is our pick for the best gaming console you can buy, no matter which edition you purchase. However, we think the disc-drive PS5 offers more value in the long run. It typically costs an extra $50, but it lets you play old PS4 discs, used copies of games, and borrowed discs from friends, which could save you money over time. It also doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player for movies.
The digital-edition PlayStation 5 is still a great purchase, especially if you want to save money upfront, but it’s better suited for gamers who don’t already have a collection of PlayStation discs and don’t need the PS5 to be the centerpiece of their home entertainment system. However, since the slim PS5 Digital Edition lets you add a drive later on, you always have the option to upgrade in the future, albeit for about $30 more than you’d pay if you bought the disc-drive PS5 to begin with.
Winner: Sony PS5 Slim with disc drive
FAQs
Is the PS5 with a disc drive more powerful than the digital edition?
The PS5 Digital Edition and PS5 Disc Drive Edition offer the same gaming performance. Other than the disc drive and size of their storage, both models use the same internal hardware.
Does the PS5 with disc drive have more storage than the PS5 Digital Edition?
Both slim PS5 models, with or without disc drives, initially came with a 1TB solid-state drive (SSD). However, Sony has since reduced the storage space included with the digital-edition console to 825GB.
The storage space on all PS5 models can be upgraded by adding a second M.2 solid-state drive that meets the PS5’s speed requirements. Check out our guide to the best SSDs for PS5 for our top recommendations.
Can you download and play digital games with the PS5 disc version?
The PlayStation Store operates the same way for digital purchases on the standard PS5 as it does on the PS5 Digital Edition. Your Sony account and purchases can also be shared between multiple PlayStation consoles.
What is the PS5 Pro?
Sony now sells an upgraded version of the PS5, called the PS5 Pro. This model features more powerful internal components, designed to deliver enhanced graphics and frame rates when playing compatible games. The PS5 Pro is only sold without a disc drive, but buyers can purchase a drive separately.
For more details, visit our PS5 Pro review.
