There are two PlayStation 5 models: PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition (both use ray tracing). However, you may wonder what the difference between the two consoles is. We will explain what the two consoles have in common and what distinguishes them. Remember, you can find more information on PlayStation 5 pre-orders via the link, which should come in handy once you’ve decided which model to buy.
If, on the other hand, you want to know more about the recent reinterpretation of the PS5 console, you can take a look at the dedicated article: Is the new PlayStation 5 version better or worse than the original?
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Contents
Digital Edition vs Standard Edition: What’s the Difference?
There’s only one big difference: the 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc Drive. The PS5 Digital Edition does not include a hard drive, while the PS5 does. This means there are obvious aesthetic differences between the two devices, as the Digital Edition has a slightly smaller profile due to the absence of a hard drive.
Also, physical content cannot be played in any way, including PS5 and PS4 games, DVDs, and 4K UHD Blu-ray movies.
If you want to take advantage of free PS4 to PS5 game updates, you need to use the hard drive to transfer physical PS4 games to the next generation console.
There will also be a price difference between PS5 Digital Edition and standard PS5. The prices (as confirmed in the announcement of 16 September 2020) will be € 499 for the standard version and € 399 for the “All Digital” version, respectively.
PS5 Digital Edition vs PS5: which one to buy?
Both the digital and the standard versions are good options, so it will entirely depend on your tastes and needs. If you intend to buy all PS5 games from the PlayStation Store in digital format, it might be worth saving money (€ 100) and space and aiming directly for the Digital Edition. However, it is worth mentioning that you will never be able to purchase and play physical games on the PS5 Digital Edition, including any retail titles you may have purchased for the PS4.
The standard PS5 will give you more flexibility, allowing you to use both physical and digital media. If you own PS4 games in retail (physical) format, you will be able to play them. Both platforms will support backward compatible games purchased from the PlayStation Store.
Price of games and disk space
To choose the PS5 that’s right for you, you’ll also need to ask yourself: “What kind of player am I?”
Do you like playing everything on day one? Considering that the price of all digital games at release tends to be fixed, it might be convenient to buy the disc version.
It is often possible to find discounts from retailers such as Amazon and eBay for the physical versions of the games, even on day one, while with the digital versions, with some exceptions, you will have to wait for the sales to get some discounts. Here you will find a price list of PS5 games which, as you will read, have undergone a price increase compared to the past.
Do you like to play multiple games simultaneously, or do you prefer to focus on only one title at a time and, once completed, put it aside?
The new PS5 games will presumably take up more space than those for PS4 due to the high-definition textures in 4K. Keeping an entirely digital videogame library on your PS5 disc is not feasible. Presumably, you will be able to store about 6-7 games on the PlayStation 5 disk (PS5 SSD: how much storage space will it have?). PS5 All Digital is a good choice if this number is enough for you. If, on the other hand, you like to return to your games even after some time, then the physical disk remains the most convenient option.
