Which PlayStation 5 should I buy? Disc vs Digital

It's now much easier to pick up a PlayStation 5 without having to wait weeks or pay twice the standard price to buy it second hand.

In November, the PlayStation Slim was released, while PlayStation Portal is also selling out quickly. Coupled with disc and drive versions of the console, it might feel tricky knowing where to start when it comes to buying a PS5.

We've gathered everything you need to know before you buy, plus which model saves more money and the cheapest places to buy new games. 

How much is a PlayStation 5?

The PlayStation 5 typically sells for around £479.99 for the new standard slim model with a disc drive, while the digital-only version costs £389.99. Both come with one DualSense controller. The price has actually gone up by £30 since its launch in 2020 while some retailers have also been charging more than that due to stock issues. But we wouldn't recommend paying more than £479.99 for a PS5 unless it comes with extra games or accessories.

What is the difference between the 2020 PS5 and the PS5 slim?

The PS5 Slim isn't a new standalone model. Sony is introducing a redesign to the PlayStation 5 – making them smaller and adding extra storage to both the regular and digital models. The disc drive can also be detached on these new PS5s – meaning if you pick up a 2023 digital PS5, you can buy the disc drive separately for £100 at a later date.

Both the disc-drive console and the digital will remain at their regular prices of £480 and £390. We've seen them available in the UK since 29 November 2023, and they'll slowly be phasing out the original PS5 model.

Other than the larger storage and removable disc drive, the differences between the models are mainly cosmetic – you'll still get similar performance between the two, and they'll be able to play the same games.

What kind of PlayStation 5 should I get?

There are two questions you'll need to ask yourself: slim or non-slim? Disc or no disc?

The key differences are that the new slim models come with more storage, will be more expensive, are smaller in size, and you don't need to buy the disc drive right away. The digital-only editions of both model groups don't have a disc reader, but the PS5 digital slim can have a disc drive added at a later date.

In terms of price, PS5 slims will be more expensive – unlikely to cost lower than the £480 and £390 for the foreseeable future. 

The digital-only edition could be good for those who might not want to buy and store physical games, or only buy games from the PlayStation store.

The 2020 models of PlayStation 5 have 825GB of internal storage, 4K resolution capabilities and the same hardware. 

PS5 slims have 1TB of internal storage, and can have their disc drive removed – other than that, they're nearly the same hardware as the 2020 model.

Not having a disc reader means you won't be able to buy cheaper second-hand physical games. 

If we had to pick, we'd recommend getting a 2020 disc PS5 when it's on sale. If you're worried about storage, you can always install your own additional M.2 SSD in the console. You can read how to go about that from Sony's site.

If you (or if we) can't find any good deals on a 2020 PS5, go for the slim model, as it'll be the same price for a smaller system with more storage.

Now that you can detach the disc drive, it might be worth picking up the digital PS5 slim and spending the extra £100 on the disc drive later. They're SQUIRREL_TEXT_50010999.

How to find the best deals on a PlayStation

With the price of a PlayStation increasing by £30 in 2022, it seemed unlikely that a sale would happen for some time. However, in August 2023 we saw deals taking £80 off the PlayStation 5 as part of the PlayStation Summer sale.

Similarly, we saw some great deals on console bundles, games, and accessories over the Black Friday sales. While many of those deals aren't available anymore, you can always check our PS5 deals page to see our picks on the best bundle and game deals.

You can follow our coverage of the best PS5 Black Friday deals to save money before the big sale.

Where to buy a PlayStation 5

You can buy a PS5 from many places but in practice most won't sell a new PS5 below £470, so it's really more about where you would rather order from.

You can pick up a PlayStation 5 direct from Sony, but it's always worth checking whether other retailers have a better price.

You can compare prices on a PS5 slim with a disc reader: 

And a digital-only PS5 slim:

Compare prices on the old disc version below:

Compare prices on the digital-only version:

Should you get a bundle?

It's common for PlayStations to be sold with some games included. At the moment, many retailers are offering PS5 bundles at a discount – some at £479 (the retail price of a PS5), which means they're essentially throwing in a free game like the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 remake, FIFA 24 or God of War: Ragnarok, which would have otherwise set you back between £50-£60.

You can buy direct from Sony or compare prices on a variety of bundles below:

Online retailer Game often has some good bundle deals that pair games or accessories with the consoles. You can find games such as the new Saints Row or The Witcher 3 bundled with a PS5 for £479.99.

What do you need to start gaming on a PlayStation?

Usually you'll need a TV, such as one of our best TVs for gaming, a controller, and some games.

If you want to play games in 4K with a higher frame rate than 60Hz, you'll first need a 4K-capable TV that has HDMI 2.1 ports, an HDMI 2.1 cable and a game that has support for 4K.

Below, we've picked several tested TVs that have some of the best features for 4K gaming. We would highly recommend reading our TV reviews before buying.

If your gaming space is smaller, you can also use a computer monitor to game on a PS5. But if you want to game in 4K, monitors at that resolution with a higher refresh rate than 60Hz tend to cost more than £650. You could get a Best Buy TV for that price.  

Do I need to buy PlayStation Plus?

PlayStation Plus is a subscription service that gives access to premium features such as discounts in the PlayStation Store, access to online multiplayer and more.

You'll need this subscription if you want to play online multiplayer in games such as Fortnite, Apex Legends or Call of Duty, but if you're only going to be playing single-player games, you might be better off saving your money.

A subscription does give you some games every month: they'll be added to your online games library to download and play as long as you are a subscriber. You don't get to choose them though.

There are three types of monthly subscription: Essential (£6.99), Extra (£10.99) and Premium (£13.49) You can also pay every three months or annually for a slight discount.

The two more expensive subscriptions give more access to games catalogues, trials to new games and access to streaming games over the internet.

The Extra and Premium subscriptions give you access to hundreds of games, which you can download to your console or stream over the internet (Premium subscription only). This can be handy if you don't have space, or want to try out lots of games without having to buy them separately. 

You can view the full catalogue on PlayStation's website, which is updated monthly.

We've broken down the costs of each subscription, and how much you can save by subscribing for three or 12 months:

For a full breakdown of what each plan has to offer, see PlayStation's website.

You'll need a good connection to game online. Check out our broadband deals to help you save money on blazing fast internet.

Is getting a PS5 for exclusive launches worth it?

Between the Xbox, Switch, PlayStation or PC, PlayStation has a lot of exclusive titles including Horizon Forbidden West, the Spider-Man games, Ghost of Tsushima and the most recent Final Fantasy games.

That said, there have been several PlayStation exclusives that have launched on PC, with more exclusives on the way.

PlayStation also misses out on some games. For example, Bethesda's long-awaited Starfield or swashbuckling online pirate game Sea of Thieves doesn't have plans of ever going to PS5 – mainly because the studios each are made by are owned directly by Microsoft. 

When it comes to picking a console, it really depends on what you want to play. If you're choosing a games console, it's worthwhile looking at upcoming games and on which platforms they will be released.

Should I get a PlayStation 4 instead?

New games like Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon are still being released on the last-generation PlayStation 4 and it has new releases scheduled until early 2024. But you should expect the number of releases to slow down in future as games increasingly require more computational power to run them.

The PS4 is still getting new releases, but some current titles are struggling to run well on it. Games will load and run more quickly on a PS5.

Only the PS4 Pro can play games in 4K, with the standard and slim models only capable of 1080p Full HD while running games typically at only 30 frames per second.

The PS5 has better hardware, resulting in better-looking and faster gameplay. Plus, the PS5 has a slot to expand your storage with an SSD.

The PS4 has its own VR headset, but isn't compatible with the newer PS VR2. 

It's also worthwhile checking if content for PS4 games will continue to be updated – games like Cyberpunk 2077 are getting new downloadable content in 2024, but its expansion, Phantom Liberty, isn't available to play on PS4. 

Even with the savings you would get by buying the older console, it may not be worth it since you can play the overwhelming majority of PS4 games on the PS5, with only six games playable on PS4 only, according to Sony.

Now that the 2020 PS5 models are getting bigger discounts, we'd recommend getting one of those since you'll be able to use it for longer.

Buy a PlayStation 4 direct from Sony or compare prices below:

What kind of PlayStation Controller should I get?

There are two options for PS5's DualSense controllers: the regular controller included with the console or the new DualSense Edge controller which launched earlier this year.

The difference between the two is that the DualSense Edge has more programmable buttons, you can fine-tune stick sensitivity and swap controller profiles – it's similar to Microsoft's Xbox Elite Series 2 'pro' controller.

Perhaps the biggest difference is price. The DualSense Edge costs an eye-watering £209.99 while the standard DualSense is £59.99.

If you have PS4 controllers laying around, you can use them on a PS5, but they're only compatible with PS4 games. 

But most second-hand PlayStation 5s will likely come with a controller, so you won't have to worry about being stuck without a way to navigate menus or play your games.

If you do need an extra controller, or want an extra one to play local multiplayer games with friends, you can compare prices on a PS5 DualSense controller below:

Or if you're after a DualSense Edge controller, you can compare prices below: 

Should you get a PlayStation VR headset?

If you're looking for an easy, plug-and-play way to get into VR, a PlayStation VR2 headset can be a good option.

There are exclusive titles such as Horizon Call of the Mountain and The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR. Plus, you can use the headset as a self-contained 4K display to play regular PS5 games, provided you set everything else up with a TV first.

It's not cheap, though. The PS VR2 headset alone costs £529.99 – more than the console itself, which you still need in order to use the headset. If you want a 4K OLED display to use for gaming, the PS VR2 might be cheaper than a 4K OLED TV, although you can still get a good TV for cheaper – like one of our Great Value TVs.

If you're interested in picking up a PlayStation VR2 headset, you can buy direct from Sony or compare prices below:

Or you can compare prices on a bundle with Horizon Call of the Mountain:

What is the PlayStation Portal, and where can I get one?

In November 2023 Sony launched the PlayStation Portal – a companion device to the PS5 serving as a remote screen and controller handheld that streams your PS5 over wi-fi. This could be a great option if you're living in a house where you're battling it out to use the TV, or if buying a new TV is too expensive. At £200, it could be a good alternative or stopgap if a TV is too expensive or you don't have room for one. 

If you already have a good TV all to yourself, it may not be worth picking up a PlayStation Portal – it's output is 1080p and 60fps, which many TVs can beat. If you've got one of our best TVs for gaming already, we'd say give this one a pass.

To use a PlayStation Portal, you'll need broadband with at least 5Mbps, you'll need 15Mbps for the recommended experience.

At the moment, PlayStation Portals are hard to come by. Many have been swooped up to be resold on online marketplaces like eBay at a higher price. We saw ones for sale on Amazon, but for much higher than sold at major retailers. We'd recommend waiting a bit while stock evens out.

You can check stock at Smyth's Toys, Amazon, and Currys.

Where to buy second-hand PlayStations

Cex, MusicMagpie, BackMarket, local computer and tech shops, and Amazon all stock second-hand or refurbished PS5s. They may also stock PS4s, and even PS3s or PS2s if you're after some retro rushes.

While you can find a PS5 for a discount, it might not be covered by Sony's warranty and there may not be any warranty offered by the retailer either. 

We recommend reading our advice on how to buy second-hand consoles and games.

Popular PS5 games

There are hundreds of games available on the PS5, but we've picked some that are extremely popular with gamers – as well as with some of the gamers here at Which?.

However, it's important to say that we don't actually review games. 

The Last of Us

Set in post-apocalyptic America, this gritty action game is often hailed as one of the best stories in gaming and recently had a very successful TV series on Sky – both the game and show are Which? staff favourites.

Compare prices below:

Ghost of Tsushima

This action adventure focuses on Jin Sakai, a samurai trying to protect Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. It's inspired by mid-century Japanese film, and has a lot of references to popular movies by filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.

Compare prices below:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

This first-person shooter is a remake of the classic 2009 game. It's one of the top PS5 games by player count, so you can expect a lot of online action.

Compare prices below:

Elden Ring

The latest game from Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Demon Souls creator FromSoftware, this open world role playing game puts a new spin on the 'Soulsborne formula' which allows for exploration and character experimentation above all else. A favourite among Which? gamers.

Compare prices below: 

Horizon Forbidden West

The sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, this open world RPG continues protagonist Aloy's story as she explores a world taken over by hostile machines.

Compare prices below: 

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

A spin-off sequel of Marvel's Spider-Man for the PS4, this action adventure game follows Miles Morales as he traverses and fights crime across New York City to protect his home, Harlem.

Compare prices below: 

How to find the best deals on PlayStation games

There are several ways in which you can save money when shopping for video games. We've broken down our tips on how to find great deals when buying PlayStation games.

Sales

There are smaller, weekly sales on the PlayStation store for digital games, along with larger seasonal sales. You can keep up to date by keeping an eye on PlayStation's dedicated deals page.

Otherwise, you can look out for deals for physical games at retailers like Game, Currys, and Argos. 

Typically, you'll have to wait a few months from its launch before a game goes on sale - the exact time will depend on how well the game was received.

Buying second-hand

Buying second-hand physical games is one of the best ways to build a games library while saving money. Online sellers like CeX, MusicMagpie, and Game all have extensive second-hand games sections. There are also several brick-and-mortar stores that sell second-hand games and consoles too, so be sure to check your area.

Read our advice on how to buy second-hand games and consoles first.

Where to buy the cheapest games

We took our list of popular PS5 games and searched across a dozen UK online games retailers to see who had them the cheapest on average.

Calculated using the 'ultimate' or 'director's cut' editions (where applicable) and the PS5 versions of each game.

Before you buy from any of these retailers, we'd recommend taking a look at our survey on the best and worst tech shops.

Can you play PS4 games on a PS5?

The short answer is yes. There are only six PS4 games that aren't playable on the PS5, according to Sony. Not all is lost though, Shadwen superfans – most of these games are still available on PC or mobile.

If you have old PS4 games, or want to save money by buying the PS4 version of a game, you can still use PS4 discs in your PS5. You can even use a DualSense PS5 controller for them too. 

Some PS4 games may have a PS5 digital upgrade. You can check which games are eligible online. If you have a PS4, you can transfer your games and console data to your new PS5 too.