Which Sony PlayStation 5 is better?

• 

  Sony PlayStation 5

  The default PS5 is our top choice because the optical drive offers many options for game sharing, media viewing, and more.

  advantage

  • Optical drive for game sharing
  • Amazing game library
  • Occasionally there are discounts

• 

  PlayStation 5 Digital Edition

  The digital edition of Sony’s console is great, but it does mean you can’t borrow games or trade them in – which is a great option if the savings are worth it.

  advantage

  • slimmer figure
  • Same great game list
  • Starting price is lower

  shortcoming

  • Seldom discounted
  • No sharing of games or viewing of Blu-ray discs

Main points

• The specifications of the PlayStation 5 and PS5 Digital Edition are very similar, including 4K capabilities, game support, processing power, and storage capacity.
• The main difference between the two versions is the presence of a disc drive in the standard PS5, allowing for physical game playback and media usage.
• The PlayStation 5 Pro may be released later in 2024, which may change which version of the PS5 you buy.

Since its debut in 2020, the PlayStation 5 has been in high demand and is often hard to come by. But now, with plenty of stock, the main question is: which PS5 should you buy?

In addition to the standard model (the one with an optical drive), there’s also a slimmer, more affordable PS5 Digital Edition. Here are the key differences between the two consoles to help you decide which one is best for your needs. Additionally, there are rumors that a new PlayStation 5 Pro version may be released later this year, which may influence your decision on which console to choose.

PS5 and PS5 Digital are still available

But the digital version is harder to find

If you look at the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition side by side and look at their specs, you can see that they are very similar in many ways. Both are currently on sale, and Sony is still producing both versions. However, the digital version is a bit hard to find, and it’s not yet on sale, unlike the standard PS5, which is already starting to see some welcome price cuts.

• 	PlayStation 5 Digital Edition	Sony PlayStation 5
  4K capability	Yes	Yes
  Game support	PS5, PSVR 2, PS4, PSVR	PS5, PSVR 2, PS4, PSVR
  processing power	10.3 teraflops	10.3 teraflops
  storage	825GB solid state drive	825GB solid state drive
  CPU	x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Core	x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Core
  aspect	390×260×92mm	390×104×260mm
  vocal	Tempest 3D Audio	Tempest 3D Audio
  Memory	16GBGDDR6	16GBGDDR6

Both consoles have the same power

Same specifications

The main thing to note about the two PS5 versions is that their components are nearly identical, as you can see in the image above. No matter which one you choose, you’ll get the same graphics performance, processor, and storage options. Both models feature an octa-core Zen 2 processor running at 3.5GHz per core and are backed by 16GB of GDDR6 RAM.

They also have a GPU capable of delivering 10.28 TFLOPS on 36 CUs, significantly better performance than the PS4 Pro. In terms of storage, both PS5s are equipped with an 825GB custom SSD, which provides an ultra-fast data read speed of 5.5GB/s during gameplay, making long loading times a thing of the past.

PS5 is thicker and heavier due to its drivers

Otherwise the design is very similar

The designs of both consoles are very similar, with unique wingtip flares on the sides and a stylish white casing accented by blue lighting.

When held vertically, they’re the same height, but the standard PlayStation 5 is noticeably thicker due to its optical drive. The difference is most noticeable on the console’s base, where the optical drive has been tweaked.

PS5 Digital Edition is cheaper

Nearly $100 cheaper

By now, you may have noticed that the two main differences between PS5 models are the optical drive and price.

The standard PS5 comes with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, allowing you to play games and watch Ultra HD movies from physical discs. This also means you can trade and lend them to friends after you’ve finished playing the game. Plus, thanks to backwards compatibility, almost any PS4 game you own on disc will work on it. In contrast, the PS5 Digital Edition doesn’t have a disc drive, so you have to buy games digitally and stream them instead of playing them from disc.

Of course, the digital version is cheaper than comparable versions due to the lack of a disc drive. Typically $100 cheaper, so more affordable.

PlayStation 5 Pro may be launching soon

You might want to wait to buy a PS5

According to CNBC, there are rumors that Sony will release a new version of PS5 later this year. The game is expected to be called PlayStation 5 Pro. Keep in mind that Sony released the Pro model three years after the PS4 debuted, and now the PS5 Pro looks set to arrive four years after the original PS5 launched.

We still don’t know anything about the PS5 Pro’s specs, but its arrival could lead to a price cut and a new look for the current PS5 model. The original PS4 got a redesign, and with the launch of the Pro, the price dropped by $100. So if you’re eyeing the latest technology or looking to buy the current PS5 at a lower price, it might be wise to wait for the PS5 Pro to be released.

Which is better, PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition?

Depends on whether you use discs and are willing to pay more

The choice between the two PS5s depends on several factors: how you buy games and whether you want to watch DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays.

If you have the slightest chance of using a disc drive to borrow games, trade them in when you’re done, or watch physical movies, the standard PlayStation 5 is your best bet. Just trading a few games can quickly offset the spread.

If you’ve been a fan of digital storefronts for a long time and rarely use discs, a digital version might be the right choice. It saves you money upfront, reduces the size of your console, and eliminates game box clutter. Plus, with an expanded digital game catalog with a PlayStation Plus membership, you can access hundreds of games for just one monthly fee.

Then there’s the PlayStation 5 Pro consideration. Sony took longer to announce the news than it did with its previous generation console, the PS4 Pro. If the rumors are true and Sony plans to launch the PS5 Pro in late 2024, it might be worth waiting for the Pro model’s enhanced features and hardware.