The PlayStation 5 “slim” arrives this month, and a new teardown video shows what players can expect, from internal differences to the fact that it doesn’t actually look that much smaller overall. It might be Sony’s most subtle but unusual redesign to date.
Tech YouTuber Dave Lee recently went hands-on with the new PS5 model and gave a preview of how it looks compared to the original 2020 launch versions. One of his biggest takeaways is that the console, while lighter, doesn’t necessarily feel that much smaller in contrast to initial predictions. Maybe that’s why Sony’s not officially marketing the new device as a “slim” version. Here’s his side-by-side shot:
From there, Lee runs through some of the less obvious changes. A few we already knew about like the USB-a slot on the front being replaced by two USB-c ports, as well as the t side panels split into two pieces to accommodate the new detachable disc drive. Lee actually showed how the disc drive comes out, and it looks really simple and convenient. There’s no screws involved. Instead, putting pressure on a tab releases it from the housing while a socket near the bottom is how it plugs into the rest of the console. It’s super neat:
Less neat are the new see-thru plastic pegs that stabilize the console when it’s laid horizontal. While they’ve been added to help secure the PS5 given its new detachable disc drive design, Lee was unimpressed. I kind of agree. They’re not a very elegant solution. The same goes for the divided panels themselves. I didn’t realize this before, but they actually have different finishes. The bottom is a matte white that’s a little different from the current PS5 plates and the top has a glossy finish.
Inside the new PS5, Lee pointed out a handful of differences. The top heat exhaust is less stylized, with plain vents instead of a snail shell like spiral. The internal SSD unit layout is also different. That’s the piece that powers the PS5’s lighting-quick load speeds, and it’s not yet clear if the new design will impact performance at all. Lee’s initial testing showed there was no real difference. It will also be interesting to see how the new PS5s deal with heat given its the same CPU running in a smaller layout.
The new PS5s will run $500 for the disc-drive unit and $450 for the all-digital version, with the option to upgrade to a disc drive later for an extra $70. There’s also a vertical stand sold separately for $30, though based on the video above it seems like the consoles stand up just fine by themselves. Sony is set to release the new PS5 later in November.