Noise tests reveal if the new PS5 Slim model makes gaming on the console more peaceful

Gamers may hear the PS5 Slim from across the room when the console is under stress. As the disc version reads physical media, the clatter becomes even more noticeable. Although the new CFI-2116 European model features less storage, a noise test suggests that the console is also quieter.

The revised PlayStation console has subtle changes, including a modified heatsink. Taking a cue from the PS5 Pro, it may be less at risk of the dreaded liquid metal leak. Teardowns have also confirmed that Sony installed alternative PS5 fans. YouTuber Austin Evans remarked that the system came closer to achieving silent gaming, but did not take measurements.

Polish hardware modder modyfikator89 put the CFI-2116 PS5 Slim through an extended five-hour noise test. At a position of 30 cm from the console, he recorded readings as low as 34.7 dB. Under maximum load, that number only jumped to 38.2 dB. He also found lower noise levels when the console was in a vertical orientation.

How silent is the revamped PS5 Slim?

Unfortunately, modyfikator89 didn’t compare the results with those from older consoles. Even so, he calls the latest PlayStation design a “silent machine.” In a sound-proof room, the tester concludes that any fan noise is “virtually inaudible from 1 meter away.”

The console’s more efficient cooling system may explain why it caters to tranquil gaming. With improved heat dissipation, the PS5 Slim fans don’t need to spin as quickly. Still, it’s unclear if coil whine is also less of a factor with the CFI-2116. Vibrating components, like the power supply, produce a high-pitched tone that some gamers are more sensitive to. Not all tests will pick up on these frequencies.

Joining its more affordable cousin, a new PS5 Pro has seen similar improvements. The CFI-7121 iteration consumes slightly less power, with testers noting it’s less distracting. In Europe, both systems ship with a revised DualSense controller that may demand less regular recharging.