After months of leaks and speculation, Sony has officially unveiled a redesigned PS5 model featuring a removable optical disc drive slot. Slated to launch in November 2023, this new variant aims to replace existing PS5 units with a lighter and slimmer build.
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Coming in at roughly 30% smaller than current models, the new PS5 weighs 3.2 kg and measures 358mm wide, 96mm tall, and 216mm deep. By dividing the shell into four detachable sections, Sony enabled the modular drive bay that highlights the redesign.
Two versions of the refreshed console will be available: a $500 model with a built-in 4K Blu-ray drive and a $450 all-digital edition without one. For PS5 Digital Edition owners who later want disc playback, Sony will sell a standalone drive add-on for $80.
The visual style has also been updated with glossy black top panels and a matte black exterior on the bottom half. A plastic stand comes included for horizontal orientation, while a $30 metal vertical stand will be sold separately.
In early 2024, PS5 owners will also be able to customize their console with colorful side plate kits at $55 each, allows tweaking the aesthetic over time.
Under the hood, the new PS5 retains the same performance and specs as earlier models, including the AMD Zen 2 CPU, RDNA 2 GPU, 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, and super-fast PCIe 4.0 SSD. The smaller footprint was achieved through further component integration and cooling optimizations.
By switching to a modular drive design, Sony made the PS5 more versatile and future-proof. Gamers who buy the Digital Edition can still access disc-based games down the road. And the more compact size better fits entertainment centers and tight spaces.
While current PS5 owners have no urgent need to upgrade, the removable drive bay, expandable storage, and customizable side plates offer new possibilities. For new buyers, the redesigned model provides nice quality-of-life improvements over launch units.
With its forward-thinking features and streamlined aesthetic, the new PS5 demonstrates Sony’s commitment to evolving the console over its lifespan. This thoughtful redesign sets the stage for more enhancements as the PS5 matures.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 358 × 96 × 216 mm (width × height × depth)
- Weight: Approximately 3.2 kg
- CPU: x86-64-AMD Ryzen “Zen 2” 8 cores / 16 threads
- Variable frequency up to 3.5 GHz
- GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine
- Ray tracing acceleration
- Variable frequency up to 2.23 GHz (10.3 TFLOPS)
- Memory: GDDR6 16GB
- 448GB/s bandwidth
- Solid-state drive: 1TB
- 5.5GB/s bandwidth (raw read speed)
- PS5 game disc: Ultra HD Blu-ray, up to 100GB/disc
- BD/DVD drive: Equipped with a disc drive
- Video: Supports 4K 120Hz, 8K, VRR (specified by HDMI ver.2.1)
- Audio: “Tempest” 3D audio technology
- Front I/O: USB-C (SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps)
- USB-C (High-Speed USB)
- Back I/O: USB-A (SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps) x2
- Networking: Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
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