It’s not as simple as asking if you plan to play physical games.
Whether you should get a console with a disc drive has been a debate among PlayStation fans for the entire lifespan of the PS5. And this lifespan is finally coming to an end. The future of gaming looks increasingly uncertain, with the price of the PS5 (and other systems) having risen sharply while hardware remains extremely expensive. However, Sony will have to release a next generation console sooner or later. We’ve seen multi-year projections, but Sony can’t put off the PS6 forever.
Meanwhile, the discs themselves have become a major video game controversy. Sony will no longer make game discs starting in 2028, so while new games will likely continue to be released for the PS5 after the PS6 is released (just like they did for the PS4 during the PS5 era), you won’t be able to get them on disc. Unless you already have a huge collection of physical games or are planning to create one, there is a compelling reason to install a disc drive on your console, and it has nothing to do with games.
The choice is further complicated by the fact that Sony has released a number of different PS5 models, split between Slim and Pro editions. The PS5 Slim Digital Edition does not have a disc drive, with one available as an add-on for it and the PS5 Pro. So which of the two flavors is the best choice for you? This depends on your budget, as well as your existing collection of disk media.
Sony’s storage reduction makes it easier to recommend a model
The PS5 now comes in two tiers: Slim and Pro, with the former replacing the launch model and the latter offering a little more power for a lot more money. The Slim offers both a digital-only model and one with a built-in disc drive, while the Pro’s only configuration is digital-only. If you purchase one of these digital-only systems, an $80 disc player add-on is available separately. If you are purchasing a used or refurbished PS5, be aware that the digital edition of the original model (non-Slim) is not compatible with the disc drive.
The PS5 Slim Digital Edition costs $600 and comes with 825GB of storage, while the disk version has an MSRP of $650 for the 1TB model. The Digital Slim used to include 1TB, but in addition to increasing its price, Sony has reduced its capacity. You may still be able to find 1TB slim drive models at some retailers, but that’s a matter of luck. Keep in mind that when you insert a disc into a PS5, the game should always be installed on the internal storage. You won’t save storage space by using discs compared to downloading digital games.
Considering all of this, the 1TB drive model wins in price. For $50 more, you get 175GB of additional storage and have a disc drive capable of playing every game released through the end of 2027. Physical games go on sale regularly, so the additional upfront cost will pay for itself before long. Plus, more core storage means you’re delaying the need for an SSD for your PS5, which is welcome given current storage prices.
Meanwhile, the more robust Pro console has a sticker price of $900. As of this writing, it is largely sold out, likely due to people purchasing in anticipation of GTA VI following its major trailer. With current low inventory, you will see scalping prices on many sites. If you can’t find one now at the regular price, it’s worth looking again after the GTA VI the hype dies down within a few months. A PS5 should have a long lifespan thanks to PS4 backwards compatibility and probably many more years of games to come. But if you’re considering the PlayStation 6 on the horizon and don’t need a console right away, it’s worth the wait.
The Death of Game Discs and the Blu-Ray Factor
Sony sent shockwaves through the gaming community by announcing that it would stop selling games on disc. This makes it more difficult to recommend the disc version of the PS5 to anyone without a library of physical PS5 or PS4 titles. But there is one major exception.
With disc-based gaming on its way out and the gaming industry itself increasingly on fire, one of the most important factors to consider is not gaming, but watching movies. Sony was one of the main forces behind the adoption of Blu-Ray during the format wars, and several generations of PlayStation consoles including Blu-Ray playback functionality helped the format triumph over alternative high-definition formats. The PS5 is no different: if it has a disc drive, it can play Blu-Ray discs (including UHD Blu-Ray).
Blu-Ray is the easiest way to view uncompressed movies in the highest quality currently available for home theaters. Streaming services advertise 4K video playback with Dolby Atmos mixes, but the picture and audio are still heavily compressed compared to 4K Blu-Ray. If you value high-fidelity media and have invested in a home theater setup, but still rely on streaming services to watch movies and TV, it’s much easier to recommend a PS5 with a disc drive. Since you’re buying the console anyway, adding a disc drive is the cheapest and most compact way to fit a Blu-Ray player into your media setup. Equally capable standalone Blu-Ray players cost several hundred dollars.
At current prices, the disc-based Slim console is the easy recommendation. For $50 more, you get extra storage space and you’ll have access to 14 years of PS5 or PS4 discs, plus a Blu-Ray player ready if you ever need it. The discontinuation of gaming discs in 2028 is a factor to keep in mind, but that doesn’t change the math. If you buy the PS5 Pro, you can probably skip the disc drive unless you already have a physical game library.
