PS5 Slim vs. PS5 Digital vs. PS5 Pro: Every Feature Compared

The holidays are approaching, and when it comes to game consoles, a new PlayStation 5 might be at the top of your gift list. Not only does it have some of the best multiplatform games released in 2025, such as Clair Obsur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong and Split Fiction, but it has some amazing exclusives like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei. 

For those who waited, however, getting a PS5 will be a little more expensive this holiday season. Tariffs instituted by President Donald Trump have made gaming more expensive. PS5 prices jumped in August, and if Microsoft's second increase to the Xbox Series consoles' prices is an indicator, another hike to Sony's consoles could happen soon. 

There are three variants of the PS5 console -- Digital, Slim and Pro -- so the question for those interested in buying one is which one to get. 

Physical size

The first PS5 was gargantuan. When standing vertically, it towered over previously released PlayStations and Xbox consoles, measuring at 15.4 by 10.2 by 4.1 inches. The PS5 has gone through several revisions, however, and is now smaller than the original. 

PS5 Slim/Digital: The PS5 Slim was a welcome sight for those who didn't want their game console to take up so much space. The skinnier console was a third smaller than the original, and just over 7 pounds, versus the almost 10 pounds of the first PS5. The digital version is about half an inch thinner at 3.1 inches, thanks to its lack of a disc drive. 

PS5 Pro: Even with it being better than the PS5 in almost every aspect, the PS5 Pro comes in just a hair smaller than the original PS5. At 15.2 inches in length, the difference between the PS5 Pro and the original PS5 is barely noticeable. Width is also the same, with only thickness being the biggest difference due to the Pro not coming with a disc drive. That lack of drive also helps the PS5 Pro stay just slightly lighter at 6.8 pounds. 

Depending on your setup, real estate on your entertainment center might be valuable, so a smaller console will always be preferable. 

Winner: PS5 Slim

CPU, GPU and memory

PS5 Slim/Digital: For the original PS5 and its variants, the CPU is a custom eight-core AMD Zen 2, and the GPU also comes from AMD. It's based on its RDNA 2 graphics architecture and has 36 compute units, or CUs. This means the consoles can produce 10.3 teraflops, with each teraflop representing about 1 trillion operations per second. The PS5 also has 16GB of DDR6 RAM running at 14Gbps, creating 448GBps memory bandwidth. 

PS5 Pro: While the CPU is the same as the regular PS5, the PS5 Pro makes a big jump by having a GPU based on AMD's RDNA 3 graphics tech and 60 CUs. The result is a GPU that can produce 16.7 teraflops. The Pro also has 16GB of DDR6 memory, but there is an additional 2GB of DDR5 RAM to handle the system's tasks and operating system, allowing for slightly more RAM to be allocated for gaming. This console's RAM is slightly faster at 16Gbps and has a memory bandwidth of 576GBps.

The PS5 Pro clearly has more power, which is why it can run 120fps at 4K on games that support it and up to 8K resolution. The PS5 Pro also comes with upscaling technology called the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.

Winner: PS5 Pro

Mariel Myers/CNET

Design

PS5 Slim/Digital: Both the PS5 Slim and Digital have the same design as the original PS5, just a lot thinner. Out of all the consoles, the PS5 has the most eye-catching and distinct look for a console, with its bold white panels, black core and accents. It's very futuristic, especially with its different LED colors that indicate if it's on or not. 

PS5 Pro: The upgraded PS5 has the same design, with the exception of an additional three horizontal black stripes on the panels. This update provides additional airflow through the console, but it also gives the PS5 Pro a more striking look. 

Winner: PS5 Pro

Price

The PS5 Digital is the lowest-priced of the three PS5 consoles, at $499. As a digital console, it doesn't have a disc drive, but it can be purchased separately for $79. 

The PS5 Slim is currently priced at $549, and the PS5 Pro sits at $749. Since the Pro doesn't come with a disc drive, those who still want to use physical media will also have to pay $79 for the drive. On top of that, if you want the PS5 Pro to stand up vertically, that will cost another $30 for the stand. 

These prices were raised in August due to Trump's tariffs, and if the second price hike for the Xbox Series console is any indication, another price jump could be coming soon from Sony. 

Winner: PS5 Slim

The verdict

The different iterations of the PS5 have advantages over the original, released almost five years ago. In all cases, there was a steep improvement in design, and in the case of the PS5 Pro, an overhaul of specs intended to provide the best graphics possible. 

Still, considering the increase in prices for PlayStation hardware, the clear winner of which version to get is the PS5 Slim. The value is simply unquestionable. 

The two primary benefits of the PS5 Pro are the larger storage size and the improved graphics. The former point can be easily done for a little more than $100 with an SSD designed for the PS5. As for graphics, while it's nice to have 60fps at the highest fidelity possible, many people are not going to have the proper display to even make use of the graphical advancements, let alone notice all the intricate differences. That's not to say the differences aren't visible, but more that you have to pay close attention while playing. 

If you're looking to get a PS5 right now, the Slim version is the way to go. It would be advisable not to delay, as there's no telling if the console will receive another price jump in the near future. On the other hand, there could be some decent Black Friday bundles coming up.