PS5 Disc vs Digital: which is better?
Our in-depth comparison of PS5 Disc vs Digital Edition consoles charts the price, specs, storage and performance of each Sony console
Our in-depth comparison of the PS5 Disc vs Digital will help you decide which of Sony’s two console models to buy. But here’s our quick conclusion to save you some time: don’t buy the PS5 Digital Edition, even though it’s cheaper upfront.
Sony's disc-less console tended to be more popular among consumers during each PS5 restock, which isn’t surprising because of its more attractive upfront cost. Saving $100 on the PS5 Digital model may seem like a great deal at first, especially when that money can be put towards something like a PlayStation Plus discount code or the best PS5 accessories, but don’t be fooled.
It’s worth paying the extra premium for the PS5 disc console if your budget allows as choosing the PlayStation 5 with the 4K Blu-ray drive will save you money in the long run and let you enjoy physical media like DVDs, Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray discs.
Our thorough comparison of PS5 Disc vs Digital starts with the fact that the two PlayStation 5 consoles have identical specs. Both can play the best PS5 games at up to 4K resolution and achieve frame rates of up to 120fps if you have a compatible TV. Check out all the PS5 120fps games to understand why 120Hz gaming is so appealing. The Disc and Digital PlayStation 5 also support every PS5 game with ray tracing.
The two PlayStation 5 models are also backward compatible, allowing you to play the best PS4 games on PS5 with significantly reduced load times due to the system's super-fast NVMe SSD. Both PS5 models come with 825GB of storage, which can be expanded to 8TB using the SSD expansion card slot. See our PS5 SSD upgrade guide to find out how.
But here’s where the PS5 Disc vs Digital debate gets interesting. The PS5 Digital Edition doesn’t have a disc drive. The console's lack of a 4K Blu-ray drive makes Sony’s cheaper PS5 look more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. However, aside from being slightly lighter and thinner, those are the only positive aspects of the digital-only model.
If you’re not sold on the launch day models of the PlayStation 5, it might also be worth getting the PS5 Slim or waiting for the rumored PS5 Pro to release. The PS5 Slim is 30% smaller than the original PS5 model and has increased storage (1TB instead of 825GB) and an additional USB-C port on the front of the system. Check out our PS5 vs PS5 Slim comparison for more.
If you're struggling to decide between Sony’s two consoles, here's everything you need to know about the PS5 Disc vs Digital.
PS5 Disc vs Digital: price 💵
The PS5 Disc and Digital price was $499 and $399, respectively, until August 25, 2022, when Sony announced the PS5 price would increase in select markets – but not in the US. Those outside the US like in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, or Canada, wound up paying up to 21% more than when the console launched in November 2020.
Since then, Sony has introduced several temporary price cuts for the PS5 Disc model, bringing it closer to the Digital Edition in price without the drawbacks. It then introduced the PS5 Slim in November 2023, which costs $499 for the disc model and $449 for the Digital Edition. A disc drive can be attached to the Digital Edition, but costs $79.99. You’ll also need to pay $29.99 for a vertical stand.
Despite the limited price cut, our comparison between the two versions of the PS5 remains unchanged. At first, the PS5 Digital Edition wins because it is the more affordable PlayStation 5 console. The PS5 Digital price is $399 / $449 for the Slim while the standard PS5 Disc at $499. But don’t be fooled by the initial price tag – you’re forever tied to Sony’s digital storefront when purchasing video games in the future if you opt for the PS5 Digital Edition.
Sony does have some great online sales, but it's still uncommon for a digital game to be cheaper than a physical disc. There’s also the fact that when you buy a digital game, you can’t do anything with it. However, with a disc, you can trade it (it retains some value), lend it to a friend, and sleep soundly knowing that your purchase will be playable for many years, even if Sony ever chooses to take the PlayStation Store offline.
If you already have an existing collection of physical PS4 games, you won't be able to play them on PS5 Digital Edition, either. You also won't be able to buy the physical versions of PS5 games or PS4 games, which are often cheaper than their digital counterparts just a few months after launch.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the PS5 Digital Edition’s lack of a disc drive also means you can’t use it as a 4K Blu-ray player. Streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus may be very popular nowadays, but having a 4K Blu-ray player at your disposal makes the additional $100 seem even less significant.
🏆 Winner: PS5 Disc. At first glance, it seems like the PS5 Digital has a clear advantage, but that $100 saving will become less significant over time. It's more cost-effective to choose the PS5 Disc model because you'll save money in the long run. You also get a 4K Blu-ray player as a bonus and the option to play any PS4 games you may already have on disc. 🏆
PS5 Disc vs Digital: specs 🔍
The PS5 Digital Edition and the standard PS5 are identical except for the missing disc drive, dimensions, and weight. There is no difference in performance or in the games that can be played, as both consoles use the same custom processor and have the same 825GB SSD.
💙 PS5 Disc vs Digital specs:
💲Price: $499 / $399
💿 4K Blu-ray disc drive: Yes / No
💪 Size: 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1 inches / 15.4 x 10.2 x 3.6 inches
⚖️ Weight: 9.9 pounds (3.9kg) / 7.9 pounds (3.4kg)
🤓 CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2 / 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
💪 GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU / 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
🐏 RAM: 16GB GDDR6 / 16GB GDDR6
⏩ SSD: Custom 825GB SSD / Custom 825GB SSD
The PS5 has had two internal revisions since its launch, which made the console significantly lighter overall. The PS5 disc version originally weighed 4.5kg but now weighs 3.9kg, while the PS5 Digital Edition was 3.9kg and is now 3.4kg. Sony has changed the console’s heatsink to reduce the weight of the PS5, which will lower shipping and manufacturing costs over time.
Sadly, these savings haven’t been passed on to the consumer yet, and even the PS5 Slim, which is 30% smaller, hasn't been discounted. However, there’s now 1TB of storage in the newer PS5 model.
📏 PS5 Slim Disc vs Digital specs:
💲 Price: $499 / $449
💿 4K Blu-ray disc drive: Yes / No (detachable)
📏 Size: H 14.1 x D 8.5 x W 3.7 inches / H 14.1 x D 8.5 x W 3.14 inches
⚖️ Weight: 3.2kg / 2.6kg
🤓 CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2 / 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
💪 GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU / 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
🐏 RAM: 16GB GDDR6 / 16GB GDDR6
⏩ SSD: Custom 1TB SSD / Custom 1TB SSD
🔌 Inputs: 2x USB Type-C port, 2x USB Type-A port
🏆 Winner: PS5 Disc. The PS5 Disc version has better specs due to its inclusion of a 4K Blu-ray disc drive. The PS5 Digital is slightly lighter and looks more aesthetically pleasing, but the PS5 Disc model still gets our vote because you can play Blu-ray movies and your older PS4 discs if you have any. 🏆
PS5 Disc vs Digital: SSD 🪛
The PS5 Disc and Digital models have the same 825GB SSD capacity, while the Slim models include 1TB. There's no difference in loading times or performance, and you can add more storage to both consoles by using the empty SSD bay.
The PS5 storage is advertised as 825GB, but only 667.2GB of usable space is available. 19% of the PS5's storage is reserved for mandatory files. With the average PS5 game requiring between 20GB and 50GB of installation space and with new PS Plus free games available for download each month, storage can fill up quickly. It’s important to remember that every PS5 disc also installs onto the SSD, so it’s not just digital titles that will consume storage space.
The good news is that the best SSD for PS5 prices continue to fall, with even 4TB options becoming more affordable. The best bang for your buck is still 1TB drives, but if you need more space, at least 2TB capacity drives are no longer a pipe dream.
Again, it’s worth noting that the PS5 Slim and PS5 Slim also come with more storage by default. You get 1TB instead of 825GB, giving users more wiggle room when downloading and installing new games.
🏆 Winner: Tie. There’s no winner in terms of storage between the PS5 Digital vs Disc. Both models offer the same 825GB NVMe SSD, the drives are the same speed, and you can expand your console’s storage the same way. 🏆
PS5 Disc vs Digital: games 🕹️
The PS5 Disc and PS5 Digital can play the same games and the best PS5 games all run the same on either model. Likewise, older titles that are part of the PlayStation Plus Premium games list, run smoothly. Whenever there's a glitch in the older games, it's present on both versions of the Sony console.
The only difference is that you can only play digital copies of PS5 and PS4 games on the disc-drive-free model of Sony’s console.
Again, if you have an extensive library of PS4 games on disc, you won’t be able to play these on the PS5 Digital Edition. You’ll also miss out on getting PS5 upgrades on the cheap. For less than their digital counterparts, you can often find physical PS4 versions with a free or paid PS5 upgrade, such as Death Stranding, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and even Horizon Forbidden West.
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Digital copies aren’t all bad, though. They are much more convenient if you enjoy switching between multiple games, as you never need to worry about getting up to change a disc. The console also doesn’t need to spin up the disc to check for a license, which can increase the operation noise for a brief period.
These two factors make digital versions of games a tempting proposition, but you can still buy digital games on the PS5 disc version, giving you the best of both worlds.
🏆 Winner: PS5 Disc. Even though both PS5 models can play the same games, only one has a disc drive. If you’ve amassed a large collection of physical PS4 games, you won’t be able to use them on the PS5 Digital Edition and you can’t pick up any physical games on the cheap, either. 🏆
PS5 Disc vs Digital: availability 🛍️
Here’s where people don’t do themselves any favors. We’ve explained that picking up the PS5 disc version will be less expensive than PS5 Digital in the long run because disc games get cheaper quicker. However, the PS5 Digital Edition is also harder to find in stock.
The lack of PS5 Digital consoles is partly because it’s $100 cheaper to buy this disc-less version of the PlayStation 5. But we also know that Sony sends more PS5 Disc consoles to stores. You have to think that the disc drive parts don’t cost $100 more so Sony’s profits are slightly higher for PS5 Disc. Still, people keep trying to get PS5 Digital and probably waste more than $100 worth of time doing so.
Sony has said the PS5 stock shortage has finally come to an end, which means you won’t need to snap up the first PlayStation 5 model you see in stock. Those who are looking for a bundle will also be better off choosing the PS5 disc models, as Sony has only released bundles for this version.
🏆 Winner: Tie. PS5 Digital tends to be more popular at retail due to the lower price point, but both models of the PlayStation 5 are now easier to find. Sony says the stock shortage is over, and we’ve seen more bundles that include a game like God of War: Ragnarok appear. 🏆
Should I buy the PS5 Disc or Digital Edition? 🤔
The lower price point is the most significant benefit of choosing the PS5 Digital Edition over the PS5 disc version. As we’ve already mentioned, the PS5 Digital Edition costs $399 ($449 for the Slim) instead of the PS5 Disc price of $499 as it doesn’t have a disc drive, so you’re saving $100, which isn’t an insignificant amount.
That saving might be enough reason for some to pick the digital version of Sony’s console, as you could feasibly put the savings towards one of the lovely new PS5 controller colors, a couple of games, or the best PS5 headset. But over time, it’s almost a guarantee you’ll spend more on PS4 and PS5 games, and you also lose some functionality like playing 4K Blu-ray discs.
📆 Stay on top of every new release with our upcoming PS5 games list
Of course, the choice of which PS5 you buy is ultimately up to you, but it’s easier to find the standard PS5 in stock than its digital-only counterpart. Sony has opted to choose its PS5 disc console for bundles, which means you can often get a game included for less.
🏆 Overall winner: PS5 Disc. Yes, the PS5 Digital is $100 cheaper, but you’re getting better value if you pay the premium for the PS5 Disc model. Not only do you get a 4K Blu-ray player, a nice option should you ever need it, but physical games tend to be cheaper than digital – and that continues to be the case. PS4 owners with a lot of physical games will also want to opt for the PlayStation 5 with the disc drive, as they’ll be glorified coasters if you go for the PS5 Digital Edition. 🏆
Is the PS5 Digital worth it? ⚖
Like most things, the PS5 Digital Edition is worth it to the right person. Although a slightly cheaper, stripped-back version of the PS5 Disc model, it’s hardly a feeble option. Sony’s disc-less console is just as powerful as its beefier sibling, and in some circumstances may be the more appropriate purchase.
The ultimate deciding factor will be how you like to buy and play your games. Second-hand physical copies are often much cheaper than digital downloads, meaning the PS5 Disc Edition could save you some dollars in the long run. But only if you plan to plump up your PS5 library with a lot of titles. If you’re the kind of person who plays occasionally or buys only the latest FIFA and Call of Duty games each year, you’re unlikely to see much in the way of savings.
That’s similarly true for anyone banking on PS Plus. Not only is Sony’s premium subscription service required to play online multiplayer games, but it also offers a bunch of PS Plus free games every month. They vary in quality and popularity but are useful to anyone starting their PlayStation library from scratch.
All of which is to say think carefully as to whether the pricier PS5 Disc model suits your gaming habits. The PS5 Digital Edition caters best to those who tend to play few games and will likely already be shelling out on PS Plus.
Should I buy the PS5 Slim instead of the old PS5?
At first glance, the PS5 Slim seems like a no-brainer. It’s 30% smaller, comes with 1TB of storage instead of 825GB, and adds another USB-C port to the front of the system. However, dig a little deeper and not everything is rosy.
The PS5 Slim and PS5 Slim Digital Edition cost $499 and $449, respectively. Notice that the PS5 Slim Digital Edition is now $50 more expensive, but it has one advantage over the current PS5 Slim Digital Edition, increased storage aside. You can purchase a 4K Blu-ray drive at a later date, as it can be attached thanks to the console’s new modular design. The problem is, though, the drive costs $79.99, so you could end up spending $530 all-in.
And that’s not the only hidden cost. The new PS5 Slim doesn’t come with a vertical stand, only a horizontal one. You’ll have to pay $29.99 for the pleasure of standing your PlayStation 5 upright securely, which is irritating, to say the least.
Sony is planning to phase out the existing PS5 models now that the Slim is available. With that in mind, I’d recommend picking up the launch model if you see a discount as you won’t be saving any money by waiting for the Slim models. In fact, you could end up paying more.
Last updated: July 31, 2024