PS5 digital vs. disc edition: Which PlayStation 5 is best for you? (2024)

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PS5 digital vs. disc: Pricing and availability

The slim PS5 with disc drive costs $500, while the slim digital-edition PS5 costs $450. Both slim models are available online and in stores at various retailers. You may also still be able to find old stock of the original, slightly larger PS5 models that launched in 2020, but the slim editions are the only versions that Sony is still manufacturing.

Sony also sells slim PlayStation 5 consoles bundled with popular games like NBA 2K25 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare III. Disc-drive PS5 bundles are normally priced at $560 while digital-edition bundles are typically $500. Check out our best Black Friday PS5 deals roundup for more discounts and promos.

PS5 digital vs. disc: What's different?

The disc and digital editions of the PlayStation 5 are essentially the same device, with the only real difference being the absence of a 4K Blu-ray drive on the digital edition. In addition to being unable to play games and movies on Blu-ray discs, the digital-edition PS5 is slightly thinner and weighs about two pounds less.

The slim digital-edition PS5 actually allows owners to add a 4K Blu-ray drive attachment later on. This attachment is not compatible with the original launch version of the PS5 Digital Edition.

Other than these design differences, the PS5 with disc drive and PS5 Digital Edition both deliver the same performance. This includes support for gameplay at up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second on compatible displays, fast load times thanks to the console's solid-state drive, and advanced graphical features like ray tracing on select games. The only way to get improved PS5 gaming performance is to opt for Sony's PS5 Pro model, which has upgraded internal hardware components compared to the standard PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition.

Every PS5 comes with the same DualSense controller, which offers haptic feedback and has a built-in microphone, and they support all of the best PlayStation accessories.

PS5 digital vs. disc: Games

All PlayStation 5 consoles share the same library of games and the same quality of gameplay, but disc-drive PS5 models give you more control over how you can play those games.

With a disc-drive PS5, games can be installed from physical discs or via digital downloads. Meanwhile, the digital-edition PS5 limits you to buying and playing downloaded games only.

Digital purchases of PlayStation games are tied to your Sony account. The PlayStation Store is the only place you can buy digital games, so owners of the PS5 Digital Edition can't take advantage of deals at stores like GameStop and Best Buy.

Though digital game downloads are convenient, having physical discs allows you to re-sell your games or lend them to a friend. The PS5 with disc drive can also play old PS4 discs via backward compatibility, while the digital-edition PS5 can only access digital versions of those games through the PlayStation Store.

However, remember that many physical games still require an internet connection and significant PS5 storage space to install and play. This means that going with a disc copy will not save you hard drive space compared to downloading the game.

PS5 digital vs. disc: PlayStation Plus

Sony offers a subscription service called PlayStation Plus that provides online multiplayer and a catalog of games to download on the PS5. PlayStation Plus works the same on all PS5 consoles, but digital edition owners might get the most out of the service since certain plans provide easy access to a bunch of PS4 games without the need for a disc drive.

For $10 a month, PlayStation Plus Essential gives gamers access to online play and a monthly selection of free games that will stay in their collection as long as they remain subscribers. The next two tiers of PlayStation Plus, Extra ($15 a month) and Premium ($18 a month), provide access to more than 400 PS4 and PS5 games. Premium also adds even more games from older PlayStation consoles and allows you to stream games directly to a PS5.

PS5 digital vs. disc: Specs

The bottom line

The PlayStation 5 is our pick for the best gaming console you can buy, no matter which edition you purchase. However, we think the disc-drive PS5 offers more value in the long run. It costs an extra $50, but it lets you play old PS4 discs, used copies of games, and borrowed discs from friends, which could save you money over time. It also doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player for movies.

The digital-edition PlayStation 5 is still a great pickup, especially if you want to save money upfront, but it's better for gamers who don't already have a collection of PlayStation discs and don't need the PS5 to be the center of their home entertainment system. However, since the slim PS5 Digital Edition lets you add a drive later on, you always have the option to upgrade in the future, albeit for about $30 more than you'd pay if you bought the disc-drive PS5 to begin with.

Winner: Sony PS5 Slim with disc drive

FAQs

Is the PS5 with disc drive more powerful than the digital edition?

The PS5 Digital Edition offers the same gaming performance as the PS5 with a disc drive. Other than the disc drive, both models use the same internal hardware.

Does the PS5 with disc drive have more storage than the PS5 Digital Edition?

Both original launch versions of the PlayStation 5, with or without disc drives, came with an 825GB solid-state drive. Meanwhile, both slim PS5 models, with or without disc drives, are now sold with a 1TB SSD.

The storage space on all PS5 models can be upgraded with an M.2 solid-state drive that meets the PS5's speed requirements. Check out our guide to the best SSDs for PS5 for our top recommendations.

Can you download and play digital games with the PS5 disc version?

The PlayStation Store operates the same way for digital purchases on the standard PS5 as it does on the PS5 Digital Edition. Your Sony account and purchases can also be shared between multiple PlayStation consoles.

What is the PS5 Pro?

Sony now sells an upgraded version of the PS5, called the PS5 Pro. This model has more powerful internal components designed to enable enhanced graphics and frame rates when playing compatible games. The PS5 Pro is only sold without a disc drive, but buyers can purchase a drive separately.