I’ve now lived with not one, but two PlayStation 5s — both from the newer Slim lineup, one with the detachable disc drive and one all-digital. Like many people, I never managed to get my hands on the original PS5 — it was nearly impossible to find for years. But after spending serious time with both Slim models, I can honestly say this: it’s hard to find much to complain about with the PS5 — and that’s not something I say lightly.
Design and Build
Sony’s decision to slim down the PS5 was a win. The original was huge and hard to fit into most setups. The Slim is still distinctively PlayStation with its sci-fi look, but it’s finally at a size that feels reasonable.
Between the disc and digital models, I highly recommend the one with the disc drive. You can buy used games, you get better backwards compatibility with PS4 discs, and you’re not locked into Sony’s digital store. In 2025, that flexibility still matters.
Performance, Storage, and the Truth About 4K/60
Specs-wise, nothing’s changed under the hood from the original PS5. You still get an 8-core AMD Zen 2 processor, a powerful custom RDNA 2 GPU pushing over 10 teraflops, 16GB GDDR6 RAM, and that lightning-fast custom NVMe SSD.
Speaking of that SSD — one of the most underappreciated features of the PS5 is its expandable storage. You’ve got a crazy fast 1TB SSD built in, and Sony actually lets you drop in your own standard NVMe drive. No overpriced, proprietary memory cards like you get with Xbox. I grabbed a 2TB NVMe drive for around $100 on Amazon during a sale, installed it in minutes, and now my PS5 has 3TB of total space. It’s affordable, fast, and seamless — exactly how expandable storage should be.
Game performance remains strong. Load times are nearly instant. Transitions in open-world games are buttery smooth. But let’s be real — 4K at 60 frames per second? It’s a half-truth. Sure, the PS5 can do it, but only under certain conditions — usually by turning off ray tracing or reducing graphic detail. A lot of the time you’re switching between “performance” and “fidelity” modes, and neither really gives you both full resolution and full framerate.
So yes, the PS5 is a beast. But don’t buy into the marketing fantasy that 4K/60 is the norm — it’s more of a best-case scenario than a baseline experience.
DualSense Controller: Still the Star of the Show
One area where Sony truly delivered next-gen innovation is the DualSense controller.
The adaptive triggers and haptic feedback don’t just sound cool — they are cool. You can feel tension when pulling a bowstring, resistance when applying brakes in a racing game, and subtle terrain changes through your palms. It’s one of the most immersive input devices I’ve ever used, and it instantly makes traditional controllers feel dated.
No one else is doing this at the same level. Microsoft may have Game Pass, but Sony’s winning the “feel” of gaming — and the DualSense is the secret weapon.
PlayStation Plus: More Expensive, Less Exciting
PlayStation Plus has not aged as well. The price keeps going up, and it’s hard to argue that the added value has followed. The new tiered structure is confusing, and the game selection doesn’t compete with Xbox Game Pass — not in quantity, not in frequency of new titles, and definitely not in day-one releases.
Xbox Game Pass is still the gold standard, and it’s hard not to feel like PS Plus is chasing it without ever catching up. It’s especially frustrating for long-time PlayStation fans who’ve seen the service go from a great deal to just another subscription expense.
I’d love to see Game Pass on PS5 someday. It’s a long shot — but in this weirdly more open generation of gaming, never say never.
PS5 vs. PC Gaming: The Real Conversation
If we’re being honest, the PS5’s real competition isn’t the Xbox — it’s the gaming PC.
Now, PCs can do more. A high-end rig is also your media server, work machine, editing studio, and modding playground. If you’re doing more than just gaming, it might actually be a better long-term value — even if the up-front cost is higher.
But if all you want to do is sit down and play games, the PS5 still wins in simplicity. No driver updates. No launchers. No graphic setting tweaks. No troubleshooting. Just power it on and go. For a lot of people, that’s the whole point of a console — and the PS5 nails that plug-and-play experience.
And remember: trying to build a PC that matches the PS5’s performance, storage, and overall polish would cost you twice as much, maybe more.
The Games: Exclusive… for Now?
PlayStation has always been known for its exclusives, and while the definition of “exclusive” is getting blurrier, the PS5 still has a killer game library. Some of my personal favorites include:
- Spider-Man 2
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Returnal
- Demon’s Souls (Remake)
- Astro’s Playroom — which still might be the best tech demo for the DualSense
These titles show off what the PS5 can really do when developers go all-in. But as good as these games are, the whole “exclusive” thing is starting to unravel.
Sony is bringing more of its first-party titles to PC — which, in theory, is great for players. It opens things up. It makes games more accessible. But then they undercut all of that by forcing PC users to create and log into a PlayStation Network account, even for single-player games. It’s an unnecessary hoop that feels more about control and data collection than about player experience.
Even worse — this policy has already caused a wave of backlash. Players in countries where PSN accounts aren’t officially supported were still able to purchase Sony’s games on PC platforms like Steam — only to find out after the fact that they couldn’t even play them. These players did everything right, paid full price, and were essentially locked out. That’s not just bad UX — it’s anti-consumer. And Sony needs to fix it, fast.
On the other side of things, Microsoft has been loosening its grip. Xbox titles like Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves have already made their way over to PS5. And while it’s not confirmed, the idea of Flight Simulator 2024 coming to PlayStation no longer feels like fantasy. In this weirdly cooperative era of gaming, anything feels possible — and that’s exciting.
Still, when you combine PlayStation’s strong back catalog, its refined game design, and the incredible feel of the DualSense controller, the PS5 continues to offer an experience that’s hard to beat — even as the industry shifts under our feet.
Final Thoughts
After extended time with both PS5 Slim models, I can confidently say this is still the console to beat. It’s powerful, it’s fast, and it feels fun. The SSD expansion support is a game-changer, the controller is in a league of its own, and even though PlayStation Plus is struggling to justify its price tag, the core system remains incredibly strong.
Sure, 4K/60 is mostly smoke and mirrors. Yes, subscription pricing is out of control. And the idea of exclusives is getting messier every year. But none of that changes the fact that the PS5 is an amazing machine — and one that still feels like a great value.
And before I wrap this up — yes, I’ve also spent time with the PlayStation Portal. It’s a game-changer for those who understand what it is and what it isn’t. But I’m going to save that full breakdown for my PS Portal Long-Term Review. TL;DR: I love it.
Verdict:
The PS5 Slim doesn’t just hold up — it dominates. With growing game libraries, smart storage options, and a controller that genuinely feels next-gen, this is still the best way to game if you want big experiences without the big PC headaches. Whether you’re new to gaming or a longtime fan, the PS5 is still absolutely worth it.
