We're here to help you decide.
During the holiday season of 2020, Sony released its latest video game consoles, the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition.
While both versions of the PlayStation 5 can play PS5 games, there are two major differences between the two consoles that shoppers should know about: the price and the inclusion (or not) of a disc drive.
Here’s what you need to know.
The PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition were released in November of 2020.
The PS5 is available for $499.99, while the PS5 Digital Edition is $100 cheaper, at $399.99.
Aside from the price, the biggest difference between the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and the standard PS5 is that the Digital Edition does not have a disc drive, while the standard PS5 does. This means the PS5 Digital Edition will only be able to play games that you’ve downloaded over the internet. You won’t be able to play games that come on discs that are purchased at the store.
This lack of a disc drive makes the bottom of the PS5 Digital Edition slightly smaller than that of the traditional PlayStation 5, but otherwise, the consoles look the same.
Even though the PS5 Digital Edition is $100 cheaper than the standard PS5, it still has the same technical specifications as the more expensive option (aside from the lack of a disc drive).
As reported by Eurogamer, both versions of the PlayStation 5 feature an 825 GB solid state drive (SSD).
According to the PlayStation website, both consoles support 4K TVs and “8K Output, so you can play games on your 4320p resolution display.” You’ll also be able to play games at up to 120 frames per second, depending on the game.
To learn more about the consoles’ technical specifications, check out this deep dive on Eurogamer.
On the PlayStation Blog, Ryan announced that PS5 games from Sony’s Worldwide Studios will be priced from $49.99 to $69.99. In the previous console generation (which included the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One), $59.99 was the standard “highest normal price” for games, so this is a $10 increase.
In addition, with the launch of its PS5 consoles, Sony introduced a new feature called PlayStation Plus Collection (or PS Plus Collection) for PlayStation Plus subscribers. The PS Plus Collection allows PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition owners with a PlayStation Plus subscription to download and play a “curated library of PS4 games” at no additional cost on their next-gen console. Some of the games in the Collection include Arkham Knight, Bloodborne, Fallout 4, God of War, Monster Hunter: World, and Persona 5. Keep in mind that some of the titles in this Collection are rated M for Mature by the ESRB, so they’re deemed inappropriate for younger players.
You can learn more about the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition by visiting PlayStation’s website.
Before you go, Xbox also released new video game consoles in 2020: The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. For more information about the similarities and differences between those two consoles, check out our guide.
Or, if you’re looking for some of the best kid-friendly games for PlayStation 5, we have a list of recommendations right here.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
