PlayStation 5 Slim: First video reveals design changes from original PS5 consoles

A few days ago, the first alleged photo of the PlayStation 5 Slim appeared online, seemingly surfacing first on the A9VG forum. As we discussed at the time, while the photo’s authenticity had not been verified, developer @BwE_Dev appeared to suggest it was an accurate representation of Sony’s next games console. Now, the same developer has posted a short video of the device’s case, which we have embedded below.

Again, it has not been possible to verify whether this is how retail units will look. However, several sources suggest that Sony has settled on this design for the CFI 2016 revision of the PlayStation 5. In short, Sony appears to have made fewer visual changes between the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Slim than it did with previous generation consoles. 

Effectively, the PlayStation 5 Slim has four side panels, with the slit from the original PlayStation 4 returning. The PlayStation 5’s overall design remains unchanged though, albeit with a more pronounced disk drive slot that emphasises the console’s asymmetrical appearance. Presumably, the new console will be incompatible with existing side plates, whether those are first or third-party.

Additionally, it seems as though the PlayStation 5 Slim has a slimmer internal frame than the original model. Moreover, the newer model has two front-mounted USB Type-C ports, eschewing the single USB Type-A and Type-C options on all current PlayStation 5 SKUs. Based on earlier rumours, a switch to a more power efficient 5 nm APU has allowed Sony to package the PlayStation 5 Slim in a thinner housing, although its dimensions and differences from its larger sibling remain unknown for now. Currently, Sony is expected to announce the PlayStation 5 Slim in September for US$399.