You want to buy a PS5 but don’t know which console to choose? MeinMMO explains what you need to consider regarding PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition.
The most important points at a glance:
- The PS5 and the Slim variant both come with a built-in drive. The PS5 Digital Edition, the Slim Digital Edition, and the PS5 Pro do not offer any drive.
- However, for the Slim Edition of the Digital Edition and the PS5 Pro, a Blu-ray drive can be retrofitted. Cost: Around 120 euros.
- The PS5, Slim variant, and the drive-free models all offer the same performance. Only the PS5 Pro provides more power.
- If you only buy games digitally and have hardly any movies or series at home, or if you have a dedicated media player (DVD or Blu-ray player), you can opt for the drive-free models.
- If you also use your console as a Blu-ray player and primarily buy your games as discs (“Retail”), then a model with a drive is the better option.
Since the release of the PS5 in November 2020, you can officially buy two different models of the PS5. By now, you can purchase the PS5 almost anywhere, scalpers are stuck with their expensive consoles. In August 2022, Sony increased the prices for the PS5, Disc and Digital Edition.
If you’re considering buying a PS5, you need to choose one of the two models. We at MeinMMO will explain what you should consider when purchasing a PS5.
- PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition – The consoles in detail
- PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition: The biggest difference is the drive
- PS5 Slim: New alternative to the PS5 Digital Edition
- PS5 Pro: Digital version without a drive
- PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition – Which console should I choose?
Last updates: 05.03.2025, 20.11.2024, 30.07.2024, 05.03.2024, 21.04.2023, 5.12.2021
PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition – The consoles in detail
What are the differences? The biggest difference between the two models is indeed the drive, as the Digital Edition does not have a Blu-ray drive.
Otherwise, the PS5 appears slightly bulkier and larger compared to the Digital Edition, which is reflected in its dimensions and weight. The standard PS5 is about half a kilogram heavier than the PS5 Digital Edition.
Both the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition offer 650 GB of storage for games. The new Slim Edition offers larger storage (1 TB), which applies to both the standard and the digital models.
By now, you can expand the internal storage of both the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition with an SSD. Sony has enabled this feature recently. Additionally, you can also purchase recommended SSDs for the PS5.
PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition vs PS5 Pro
| PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition | PS5 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Ryzen Zen 8 cores / 16 threads, each 3.5GHz AMD Radeon RDNA2, up to 2.23 GHz with RayTracing (36 CUs) | Ryzen Zen 8 cores / 16 threads, each 3.5GHz AMD Radeon RDNA2, up to 2.23 GHz with RayTracing (36 CUs) | Ryzen Zen 8 cores / 16 threads, each 3.5GHz AMD Radeon RDNA3 (60 CUs) |
| Theoretical Performance | 10.3 TeraFlops | 10.3 TeraFlops | 16.7 TeraFlops |
| Storage | 825 GB, expandable with SSD | 825 GB, expandable with SSD | 2 TB |
| Dimensions and Weight | 390 x 104 x 260 mm, 4.5 KG | 390 x 92 x 260 mm, 3.9 KG | 388 x 89 x 216mm, 3.1 KG |
| Drive | Yes, Blu-ray | No | No, retrofittable |
| Price (RRP) | 549.99 euros | 449.99 euros | 799.99 euros |
Does the standard PS5 offer more performance? No, both consoles provide the same hardware and thus the same performance. With the PS5 Digital Edition, you do not have to sacrifice performance or graphical features.
Performance is also the biggest difference compared to the competition: The Xbox Series S not only lacks a drive compared to the Xbox Series X, but also offers less performance than the Series X. We present the key features of the Series S in the following article:
PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition: The biggest difference is the drive
Why does the drive matter? The PS5 offers extensive backwards compatibility. This means you can insert and install your PS4 games that you own on disc into your PS5. This does not work with the PS5 Digital Edition.
Additionally, those who opt for the digital version of the PS5 must purchase their games through the PS Store. Here, games generally cost a bit more than, for example, used or via various retailers.
Another point to consider is that with the PS5 Digital Edition, you can only rely on downloads. If you live in the middle of nowhere without a decent internet connection, you might not enjoy the digital variant.
And if you’ve always wondered how to properly insert the disc into the PS5, you will also find the solution right here at MeinMMO.
PS5 Slim: New alternative to the PS5 Digital Edition
What advantage does the PS5 Slim have? The new Slim model of the PS5 differs only slightly from the old PS5: The console is a bit lighter and slimmer and therefore weighs less. The most important difference, however, is that you can later optionally install a drive for the Slim’s Digital Edition.
The Slim Edition provides significantly more space for your games in both the digital and standard edition with 1 TB of storage. After accounting for system data, you have about 830 GB left for your games. For comparison: The old models have a maximum of 667 GB of free storage.
This makes you significantly more flexible than with the old model: If you buy the Digital Edition but later want a drive, you can purchase it additionally. The new Blu-ray drive for the PS5 can be retrofitted for 119.99 euros.
PS5 Pro: Digital version without a drive
What about the PS5 Pro? The PS5 Pro was officially released on November 7, 2024, and does not come with a drive installed. This means you cannot choose “with or without” a drive when ordering.
Can you buy a PS5 Pro with a drive? No, this is currently not possible. It is not known whether Sony will later sell a model with an installed drive. Currently, it is not planned.
In the PS5 Pro, you can also retroactively install a drive like in the PS5 Slim, with a cost of about 120 euros. This makes it similar in construction to the Slim version of the PS5. However, the PS5 Pro has significantly faster hardware. Which accessories you can also use with the PS5 Pro can be found directly on MeinMMO.
PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition – Which console should I choose?
Who should opt for the PS5 Digital Edition? Essentially, the PS5 Digital Edition, with a suggested retail price of 449.99 euros, is exactly 100 euros cheaper than the PS5 with a drive.
- If your only concern is performance, it doesn’t matter which console you ultimately choose. Because you get the same performance and feature set with both consoles.
- If you own all your games digitally, you can definitely save the extra cost, as the standard PS5 model does not offer any advantages over the Digital Edition.
- Thanks to the flexibility of the Slim version, you can also retroactively install a drive. The cost is around 120 euros.
Who should opt for the standard PS5?
- If you have an extensive library of disc-based games or use your console for movie nights, you should opt for the PS5 with a drive. Because on the PS5 Digital Edition, you can only play digital games and cannot use your old discs or watch movies that you have at home.
- If you are a bargain hunter or like to buy used games, then the Digital Edition is probably not an option for you, as you can only play games on the Digital Edition that you have purchased digitally.
More information on the PS5: Are you still not sure if you should buy a PS5? Then take a look at our guide to the PS5: Here we explain at MeinMMO what reasons might suggest you should get a PS5: 7 reasons why you should buy a PS5 now
