The standard PlayStation 5 (left) next to the PlayStation 5 digital edition (right).
Sony
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Sony’s PS5 is the fastest selling gaming console of the current generation, and buyers can choose between two models: a $500 standard edition and $400 digital edition.
The more affordable digital edition doesn’t have a disc drive for physical media, so you’re limited to playing downloaded games. Meanwhile, the standard PS5 includes a 4K Blu-ray drive to play game discs. Otherwise, both consoles deliver the same performance.
Sony’s decision to sell a cheaper all-digital version of the PS5 comes at time when digital software revenue continues to outpace physical media. According to GamesIndustry.biz, more than 94% of video game revenue was generated by digital sales in 2022. That includes the purchase of games as well as add-ons like expansions and other downloadable content.
Digital downloads are both convenient and popular, but there are still some benefits that come from paying a bit more for a PS5 with a disc drive. Most notably, physical games can be bought pre-owned for a discount, resold, or shared with friends and family. The standard PS5 also has the option to play movies from Blu-ray discs, while the all-digital PS5 is limited to streaming with no option to buy or download digital movies directly.
Whether the standard PS5 is truly worth an extra $100 over the digital edition really comes down to how heavily you weigh the advantages of its disc drive. Here’s a full breakdown of how the two PS5 models stack up to help you decide if those disc perks are worth it.
PS5 digital vs. disc: Pricing and availability
The standard PS5 ($500) costs $100 more than the PS5 digital edition ($400). But while cheaper, the digital edition is often shipped to retailers in smaller quantities, so the standard PS5 is typically easier to find.
Availability for both consoles is considerably better in 2023 than it has been in previous years. Both models have been in stock regularly during 2023. The all-digital model can still sell out quickly, but restocks are frequent and it’s no longer as rare to find them in stores.
Sony also bundles PlayStation 5 consoles with popular games; Final Fantasy XVI is the most frequently bundled game right now, but it’s only available with the disc-drive version of the console. Bundles featuring God of War: Ragnarok, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Horizon Forbidden West were also released in 2022.
Standard PS5 bundles with a game are priced at $560, which presents a $10 discount over buying the game and console separately. The Final Fantasy XVI and Ragnarok bundles with a standard PS5 have recently been on sale for $50 off, but it’s not clear how often this deal will appear.
PS5 digital vs. disc: What’s different?
Both PlayStation 5 models offer nearly identical designs and specifications — the only real difference between them is the absence of a 4K Blu-ray disc drive on the digital edition.
Along with being unable to play games and movies on Blu-ray disc, the digital edition PS5 is slightly thinner and weighs about 1.3lbs less than the standard version.
Other than these two differences, the standard PS5 and PS5 digital edition deliver the exact same gaming performance. That includes support for gameplay at up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second on compatible displays, lightning fast load times thanks to the console’s solid state drive, and advanced graphical features like ray tracing on select games.
Both consoles start with a 1TB drive that can be easily upgraded with a third-party m.2 solid-state drive for more storage. Both console’s also come with the same DualSense controller, which offers haptic feedback and has a built-in microphone, and they support all of the best PlayStation accessories.
PS5 digital vs. disc: Games
Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us video game on PS5.
PlayStation/Naughty Dog
The two PlayStation 5 consoles share the same library of games and the same quality of gameplay, but the standard PS5 gives you more control over where you can buy them and how you play them.
With the standard PS5, games can be played off of discs or via digital downloads. Meanwhile, the digital edition PS5 limits you to buying and playing downloaded games only.
Digital purchases of PlayStation games are tied to your Sony account. The PlayStation Store is the only place you can buy digital games, so owners of the PS5 digital edition won’t be able to take advantage of deals at retail stores like GameStop and Best Buy.
Though digital game downloads are convenient, having the option to buy physical discs on a standard PS5 gives you the ability to re-sell your games or lend them to a friend. The standard PS5 can also play old PS4 discs via backwards compatibility, while the digital edition PS5 can only access those games through the PlayStation Store.
Keep in mind, however, many physical games still require an internet connection and significant PS5 storage space to install and play. This means that going with a disc copy on a standard PS5 won’t save you hard drive space versus downloading the game.
PS5 digital vs. disc: PlayStation Plus
Sony provides a subscription service called PlayStation Plus that offers online multiplayer and a catalog of games to download on the PS5. PlayStation Plus works the same on both PS5 consoles, but digital edition owners might get the most out of the service since certain plans provide easy access to a bunch of PS4 games without the need for a disc drive.
For $10 a month, PlayStation Plus Essential gives gamers access to online play and a monthly selection of free games that will stay in their collection so long as they remain a subscriber. The next two tiers of PlayStation Plus, Extra ($15 a month) and Premium ($18 a month), provide access to more than 400 PS4 and PS5 games; Premium adds even more games from older PlayStation consoles and the option to stream games directly to a PS5.
PS5 digital vs. disc: Specs
Spec
Standard PS5
PS5 digital edition
Disc drive
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
None
Storage
825GB M.2 drive
825GB M.2 drive
HDMI Out
Up to 4K resolution at 120Hz with HDMI 2.1
Up to 4K resolution at 120Hz with HDMI 2.1
Ports
1x USB-C, 3x USB 3.1, 1x Ethernet
1x USB-C, 3x USB 3.1, 1x Ethernet
CPU
AMD Ryzen Zen 2, 8 cores, 16 threads at 3.5 GHz
AMD Ryzen Zen 2, 8 cores, 16 threads at 3.5 GHz
GPU
AMD Radeon RDNA 2 at 2.23 GHz, 10.3 TFlops
AMD Radeon RDNA 2 at 2.23 GHz, 10.3 TFlops
Memory
GDDR6 16GB, 44GB/s bandwidth
GDDR6 16GB, 44GB/s bandwidth
PS5 digital vs. disc: Which should you buy?
All PS5 models come with a DualSense controller.
BI Photo Isabel Fernandez Pujol
Both PlayStation 5 models deliver the same gaming performance, but the standard PS5 could offer more value in the long run depending on your buying habits. It costs an extra $100, but it lets you play old PS4 discs, used copies of games, and borrowed discs from friends, which might end up saving you money over time. It also doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player for movies.
The digital edition PlayStation 5 is still a great pickup, especially if you want to save money upfront, but it’s better for gamers who don’t already have a collection of PlayStation discs and don’t need the PS5 to be the center of their home entertainment system. Unlike the more affordable Xbox Series S, the digital edition PS5 doesn’t have performance drawbacks, which makes it feel like less of a sacrifice for the price difference.
Consider the standard PS5 if …
You already own physical PS4 games you want to play on your PS5You want to play movies on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray discYou want to buy used PS5 games or discounted physical copies
Consider the PS5 digital edition if …
You want to save $100 on your console purchaseYou only want digital games and don’t mind buying from Sony’s storeYou don’t need the option to trade in your used games
FAQs
Is the PS5 more powerful than the digital edition?
The PS5 digital edition offers the exact same performance as the standard PS5, just without a disc drive. Other than the disc drive, both models use the same internal hardware.
Does the PS5 have more storage than the digital edition?
Both PlayStation 5 consoles have an 825GB solid state drive, though the system software leaves you with 667GB to use for games and other storage. The storage space can be upgraded with a m.2 solid state drive that meets the PS5’s speed requirements.
Can you download and play digital games if you have the PS5 disc version?
The PlayStation Store operates the same way for digital purchases on the standard PS5 and the digital edition. Your Sony account and purchases can be shared between multiple PlayStation consoles too.