Sony announces new PlayStation 5 model with detachable disk drive and lighter chassis

Sony has officially lifted the covers off a new PlayStation 5 model. And no, it isn't the PlayStation 5 Pro nor the PlayStation 5 Slim, although one wouldn't be wrong to call it the latter. The console is 30% smaller than the original in volume and up to 24% lighter. It also comes with a new design and a previously-leaked quality-of-life improvement, a detachable disk drive, which can be purchased for US$80. The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition also gets a US$50 price increase with an MSRP of US$449.

The new PlayStation 5 model also divides its faceplates into four sections, effectively rendering older ones (sold at a premium) useless. If that wasn't bad enough, Sony is also selling a "vertical" stand for US$30. Thankfully, one still gets a horizontal stand in the box. Other upgrades include a 1 TB SSD on both models (as opposed to 825 GB). This should let users squeeze an extra game or two on the space-starved disk.

Sony has simply switched the positions of the USB-C and USB-A ports on the new PlayStation 5 model; the latter has been relocated to the back of the PlayStation 5. It doesn't help that only one of the USB-C ports is 10 Gbps, which will be an additional pain point for PS VR 2 owners. The port relocation was likely done to let Sony InZone and PlayStation Explore users access a USB-C port easily.

Everything else, including the Zen 2 SoC at the heart of the console (no 5 nm APU, sadly), is the same as the original. Gamers will be able to buy the new PlayStation 5 model starting in November. Additionally, it will be the only console available for purchase after existing stocks (with the older chassis) run out.

Buy the PlayStation 5 on Amazon