As well as the standard model, which has a disc drive, there is also the PS5 Digital Edition, which is a bit slimmer and costs less. Here are the differences between the two machines to help you decide which one would be best for you. When you put the PS5 and the Digital Edition next to each other, they look the same. This can be confusing for first-time buyers, and if you don’t know everything about both, it can be hard to decide which one is better.
But both consoles have good points that depend on how you play. If you want to buy one of Sony’s current-generation consoles, this is an important debate to have. Outside of how they look, there is a lot more to compare between the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition. One example is whether or not the console has a disc drive. As the name suggests, the PS5 Digital Edition is a completely digital console.
The disc drive has been taken out to make it suitable for players who don’t buy discs. But the standard PS5 can still play physical media because it has a built-in disc drive. If you’re a gamer with a lot of physical media, this is something to think about. People search for “PS5 vs. PS5 Digital Edition” on Google because they want to know which console is best for them.
When you find a PS5 restock, which is getting easier to do since the console is becoming less rare, you don’t want to waste time deciding which one to buy. At the Future of Gaming event on June 11, 2016, Sony showed off not just one version of the PlayStation 5, but two. Awesome! But for some people, the double reveal has made it hard to decide what to do.
Price and availability
The standard PlayStation 5 cost £449, $499, or AU$749 when it first came out. But Sony raised prices in the UK and Australia in August 2022. The PS5 costs £479.99, $499, or AU$799.95 right now. The cheaper choice is the PS5′ whttps://www.playstation.com/en-in/ps5/ebsite, which doesn’t come with any discs. It started out at £359/$399/AU$599, but Sony raised prices in August 2022, bringing the price up to £389.99/$399.99/AU$649.95.
The Digital Edition being cheaper than the “full-fat” PS5 is similar to how Microsoft priced its Xbox Series X and all-digital Xbox Series S. After all, you should pay less if you’re getting less functionality, right?
If you can find a PS5, that is. As of late 2022, there are fewer PS5s on the market, but big stores like Amazon, Walmart, PlayStation Direct, Game, and Best Buy keep getting more all the time. Amazon customers who want to buy a PS5 when it goes on sale need to sign up for an email invite.
Even though inflation, the cost of living, and the war in Ukraine are all making people less likely to buy expensive consumer electronics, Sony thinks that the PlayStation 5 supply problems will last until 2024.
PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition Comparison Table
PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition | |
---|---|---|
CPU | 8x Cores @ 3.5 GHz (variable frequency) | 8x Cores @ 3.5 GHz (variable frequency) |
GPU | 10.3 TFLOPS, 36 CUs @ 2.33 GHz (variable frequency) | 10.3 TFLOPS, 36 CUs @ 2.33 GHz (variable frequency) |
Memory | 16 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR6 |
Memory bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 448 GB/s |
Internal Storage | 825 GB Custom NVME SSD | 825 GB Custom NVME SSD |
External storage | USB External HDD Support | USB External HDD Support |
Optical drive | 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive | No disc drive |
PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition Design
The two consoles also look a lot alike. They both have sides that flare out like wing tips and white cases. Blue lights add a nice touch to the design. When stood up straight, they are the same height, but the standard PlayStation 5 is a lot thicker because of its disc drive. This change is most noticeable where the console meets the floor. The PS5 Digital Edition has a disc drive that breaks up the console’s symmetry with an unattractive side bulge and a big slot for the optical drive.
People have joked that the PS5 disc version looks like it’s about to give birth in a few months. On the other hand, the Digital Edition is smoother and more symmetrical than its “snatched” waist counterpart. The console looks more modern because the white shell is curved and wraps around the black centre. Still, the Digital Edition might be more attractive to look at than its sibling with discs.
PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition Games
This part is easy. Both the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition can play the same PS5 games. The only difference is that one can play games from discs and the other can only play games from the console’s internal storage. Both the PS5 and its digital-only counterpart have the same internal specs, which means that you can play 4K games with fast refresh rates on either one.
Sony has planned some great games that can only be played on their systems. Big hits like The Last of Us Part 1, Gran Turismo 7, God of War: Ragnarok, the Demon’s Souls remake, and more can be played right now. That’s before third-party games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Resident Evil 8: Village are taken into account. Games like Final Fantasy 16 are also on the way.
Backward compatibility is where things get a little less clear. Yes, the digital version of the console can play PS4 games, but it can’t, of course, play the discs you already own. You will have to buy them again digitally instead.
Sony has made that fact a little less painful for PS Plus subscribers, though, with the PlayStation Plus Collection. With this collection, PS5 owners can download for free 19 of the best PS4 games, such as God of War, Uncharted 4, and Bloodborne. It’s a nice bonus, and it gives people who are new to the PS5 family an instant library of games.
But for PS5 Digital Edition owners, it doesn’t do much to cover the hundreds of PS4 games that are already on disc. The updated PS Plus service, on the other hand, now includes a library of digital games for PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers, which will save them money in the long run. That’s not counting the free games that PS Plus members get every month, which is a nice bonus for everyone.
PS5 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Gorgeous 4K visuals
- Games load quickly and run smoothly
- A more streamlined UI
Cons
- Fan sometimes makes high-pitched noise
- Controller may feel too big for some
- Few must-have exclusives
PS5 Digital Edition Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cheaper than the PS5
- As powerful as the PS5
- 4K/120fps gameplay
- Lightning-fast SSD
Cons
- Enormous, bulky size
- Can only play digital games
- Costs more when low stock
Which one should you consider?
If you only ever buy games digitally, you should probably buy the PS5 Digital Edition. It’s the cheaper of the two consoles, and the PlayStation store has sales and discounts on games on a regular basis.
Still, this limits your choices to what Sony wants to charge. Sites like Amazon and electronics stores like GameStop and BestBuy will sometimes have better deals on physical games than the PS5 Digital Edition. But missing out on that isn’t as bad as saving $100 at first, so it depends on how much you really shop around.
Sony has confirmed that you can move digital games you bought on your PS4 to the PS5 Digital Edition if you own a PS4 and bought them digitally. If you need help, we have a guide on how to move saved data from the PS4 to the PS5.
FAQs
What is the disadvantage of PS5 Digital edition
The digital version of the PS5 is completely digital, so it won’t work with any games that come on a disc. To play games on the PS5 Digital Edition, you’ll need to download them online and store them on your console.
Is it worth it to buy PS5 now?
Yes, you should buy a PS5. Sony’s newest console is worth buying now more than ever, and there’s never been a better time to upgrade. The PS5 is all about the next generation.