Sony finally unveiled the PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive or “PS5 Slim”, new model with 30 percent reduced volume and lighter weight than the current design following months of rumors. It sports a detachable Blu-ray disc drive (which Digital Edition owners can purchase separately) and a 1 TB SSD (compared to the original’s 825 GB).
It has a four-panel design and lighter profile, but the hardware and functionality remain the same. Speaking to IGN, a PlayStation spokesperson confirmed “there are no changes with the new model.” This includes installing expandable storage via a removable back panel, like a new solid-state drive, though it must support PCIe Gen4 and be an M.2 SSD.
The PS5 Slim launches in November, though a more concrete release date is yet to be announced. It will retail for $499.99 in the United States, while the Digital Edition retails for $449.99. The Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive will retail for $79.99. Once stock for the current model depletes, the PS5 Slim will be the default.