Sony has begun rolling out its revised version of the PS5 Slim in Europe, and this process has revealed an unexpected design upgrade to the best-selling console.
As confirmed in a new video from tech content-creator Austin Evans, the refreshed version of the PS5 Slim swaps the glossy finish of the PS5's middle section for a matte look. You can see the aesthetic change for yourself in the video linked below. Another, less noticeable change to the new PS5 Slim is a slight weight reduction. The console has dropped around 120 grams (4.2 ounces) in total.
The switch from gloss to matte being an upgrade is a matter of personal opinion; if you really like shiny stuff, then perhaps you’ll think it’s a huge downgrade. However, as somebody who's never liked a glossy finish on a console due to how easily glossy plastic scratches and shows marks, I’m in the camp that believes this is a small, but nice-to-have, improvement.
As noted, this new model PS5 Slim is currently replacing the previous version of the console in Europe. There’s no indication that it’ll arrive in the U.S. as well.
One additional change that most certainly isn’t an upgrade is the change to the SSD size. The original PS5 console launched with an 825GB drive, before the introduction of the PS5 Slim increased the stock SSD to a full 1TB. Now, the PS5 Slim is dropping back down to 825GB with this new model. That’s a clear downgrade, and with the best PS5 games often demanding north of 100GB to fully install, the loss of 175GB will have an impact on owners.
As noted, this new model PS5 Slim is currently replacing the previous version of the console in Europe. There’s no indication that it’ll arrive in the U.S. as well. Though if Sony follows the same hardware rollout strategy it has in the past, the new PS5 Slim may eventually become the global norm.
So, fans of glossy plastic finishes and larger SSDs may want to pick up a PS5 Slim as soon as possible before this refreshed PS5 console becomes the standard.
This change also comes in the wake of Sony confirming PS5 Slim price hikes on both sides of the Atlantic. Back in April, Sony announced the PS5 Digital Edition would increase to €499 / £429 in Europe (a €50 / £40 increase), while over the summer, every model of the PS5 console was raised in North America. PS5 Digital Edition went from $449 to $499, PS5 Slim increased from $499 to $549 and PS5 Pro became even more pricey, from $699 to $749.
PS5 DualSense controller could be upgraded next
Moving into the realms of rumor and unverified leaks, while the PS5 Slim hardware has now been officially refreshed (at least, in Europe), Sony may be planning to turn its attention to the DualSense controller next.
According to a recent rumor circulating on the “GamingLeaksAndRumours” Reddit (and traced back to a leaker called Graczdari), a new version of the DualSense controller will reportedly launch in November and is being internally referred to as “DualSense V3.”
This rumor claims the DualSense V3 will add a removable battery, which would be quite a difference compared to the current DualSense that comes as standard with all PS5 models. This upgrade would presumably allow users to swap out DualSense battery packs to extend the lifespan of a controller and alleviate any issues with battery degradation.
The same source suggests this new DualSense controller will be bundled with a revised model of the PS5 Pro, which will use around 3% less power than the current model. If true, perhaps this new PS5 Pro will also swap the glossy plastic shell for a matte finish, and maybe the stock 2TB hard drive will be shrunk down in the name of reducing production costs.
For now, these are just rumors, but Sony has already refreshed the DualSense controller once this console generation in the summer of 2022, so a further revision is certainly not outside the realm of possibility. We’ll be keeping an eye out for confirmation in the weeks ahead.
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