PS5 Slim Review: Has Sony Delivered the Ultimate Console Experience?
- Trendy Wittystudio
- Apr 20
- 4 min read
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The PlayStation 5 has become a dominant force in the gaming world. It has outsold the Xbox Series X and S by a significant margin. Now, with the introduction of the PS5 Slim, Sony aims to refine the experience. But does the new model live up to the hype? Let's take a closer look at what the PS5 Slim offers and whether it's worth your money.
Power and Performance: How Does It Stack Up?
When it comes to performance, the PS5 holds its own against the Xbox Series X. Most cross-platform games run smoothly on both consoles, so you won't notice huge differences.
Under the Hood
The PS5 boasts some impressive specs:
AMD Zen 2 CPU
RDNA 2 GPU
16GB GDDR6 RAM
Wi-Fi 6
Gigabit Ethernet
These components ensure the PS5 can handle demanding games.
Visual Fidelity
If you have a compatible TV, the PS5 supports variable refresh rate (VRR). This technology reduces screen tearing. Some games even let you play at 120 frames per second, but you might have to sacrifice resolution or graphical features like ray tracing. If you're using a gaming monitor, the PS5 also supports 1440p resolution.
Storage and Speed: A Game Changer
One of the biggest improvements this generation is the switch to solid-state drives (SSDs).
SSD Advantage
SSDs offer much faster loading times than traditional hard drives. In games like Spider-Man 2, the SSD eliminates texture "popping."
SSD Specs
The PS5's SSD can read 5.5 GB per second. This is twice as fast as the Xbox Series X on paper. In practice, this speed means you can fast travel in games in mere seconds.
Storage Capacity
The PS5 Slim comes with a 1TB SSD, offering 848GB of usable space. That's more than the original PS5, but with games like Call of Duty taking up 150GB, you might still need more storage.
Expandable Storage
Luckily, the PS5 lets you install an m.2 SSD. These drives range from affordable 250GB options to massive 4TB drives. The PS5's expandable storage gives it an edge over the Xbox Series X, which uses proprietary expansion cards.
Design and Aesthetics: A Slimmer Look
The PS5 Slim is about 30% smaller than the original. Many find its compact design more appealing.
Pricing
The PS5 Slim comes in two versions:
Digital Edition: $449.99
Disc Edition: $499.99
If you buy the Digital Edition and later want to play physical games, you can purchase a disc drive separately for $80.
Disc Drive
You'll need an internet connection to activate the disc drive on a new console. This might be a drawback for some users.
Form Factor
The PS5 Slim has two faceplates on each side. The top panels have a glossy finish, while the bottom panels are matte. The panels are easy to remove, making cleaning and customization simple. Sony plans to sell multicolored plates in the future.
Ports
The front of the PS5 Slim has:
One high-speed USB Type-C port
One super-speed USB Type-A port
The power button
The disc eject button (on the Disc Edition)
The back has:
Two super-speed USB Type-A ports
An HDMI 2.1 port
An Ethernet port
However, the PS5 Slim still lacks an optical audio out.
The DualSense Controller: A Unique Experience
The DualSense controller sets the PS5 apart.
Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers
The DualSense features haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. For a more detailed look, check out IGN's full review of the DualSense controller. Some games, like Astro's Playroom, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Returnal, use these features well. However, other games either neglect or overuse them. You can disable adaptive triggers if you find them annoying.
Controller Quality
Some users have reported slight stick drift issues. However, these issues seem less common than with the PS4 controller.
User Interface and Features: Simple and Elegant
The PS5's user interface (UI) is a big improvement over the PS4's.
Dashboard Overview
The PS5 dashboard is more elegant and dynamic. Selecting a game changes the background and music.
Control Center
Pressing the PlayStation button brings up the control center. It's similar to a taskbar on Windows. It gives you quick access to active games, apps like Netflix and Spotify, downloads, and your friends list.
Library Organization
You can organize your games into gamelists, which are like folders.
Missing Features
The PS5 still doesn't have a web browser.
Trophies
Trophy information is easy to access. You can even pin trophies to track your progress.
Hidden Gems
The PS5 has an hour counter that tracks how long you've played each game. You can also customize difficulty and subtitle settings. Plus, you can invert the Y-axis.
Remote Play
You can play your PS5 games on phones, tablets, or PCs. This works over your local network or the internet. You can also watch friends play games and even let them try your games through Share Play.
Backwards Compatibility
The PS5 is compatible with PS4 games. However, there can be issues with PS4 and PS5 versions of the same game. The original PSVR works on the PS5, but without any upgrades. Your PSVR library won't transfer to PSVR2.
PlayStation Plus: Is it Worth the Cost?
PlayStation Plus is required for online multiplayer in most games.
Subscription Requirement
You need PlayStation Plus to play most online multiplayer games.
Subscription Tiers
PlayStation Plus has several tiers with monthly and yearly pricing. The tiers include Essential, Extra, and Premium.
Tier Benefits
Each tier offers different benefits:
Free monthly games
Game trials
Cloud streaming
Classic game access
Value Assessment
PlayStation Plus doesn't have the same library as Xbox Game Pass. Also, Sony doesn't release first-party games on PlayStation Plus on day one.
Final Verdict: A Solid Choice
The PS5 continues to be a top-tier console. Features like fast loading times and a smooth UI make it a pleasure to use. The PS5 Slim offers more internal storage. The DualSense controller provides unique experiences. Games like God of War Ragnarok, Spider-Man 2, and Returnal showcase the console's power.