Well, it was only a matter of time before Sony released a new, “slim” version of the PlayStation5, their latest gaming console. It’s something they’ve done in the past and they’ve finally made this updated version available to the general public.

Now, if you’re like me and you still don’t own a PlayStation 5, you might be thinking of finally getting one. After all, this is the “new and improved” version as it’s in a smaller package. However, why get the new “slim” version when the original PlayStation 5 is still available? Heck, Sony might even be putting out the “old” versions available at a discounted price so they can get rid of this “outdated” stock and focus more on the “new” version.

So, I’ve really been thinking about this and I still haven’t really made a decision whether to get the newer “slim” model or just get the original version. I have been doing some research and I’m going to be putting my thoughts on this post and, hopefully, I can figure out which one I will eventually get for myself.

The first major factor which will factor in my choice will definitely be how much bang I’ll be getting for my buck. Like I said, I’m assuming retailers will be putting the original version of the PlayStation 5 on sale or will be putting together really good bundles, like extra games or controllers. However, I did talk to one local retailer here in the Philippines and the person told me the prices are actually controlled by Sony. So, if Sony decides to keep both the new and the old PlayStation 5s at the same price and with the same bundles, then this does become a moot point. If they do put the older models out on sale or have better bundles, then that will make me look away from the newer “slim” versions.

Next comes, well, the form factor. Obviously, the main selling feature of the PlayStation 5 Slim is it’s smaller and, with space in your home theater or… any place in your house, actually, becoming more of a premium, having something that takes up less room is always a good thing, right? Well, truth be told, this isn’t too much of an issue for me when it comes to the PlayStation 5 Slim as it doesn’t really seem that much smaller than the original. The original version was already a big boy and the Slim version is smaller but not by a whole lot. It’s not as dramatic as Sony’s previous consoles so I don’t think it’ll be much of a big deal whether or not I get the chunky version or not.

We then have to go to another big factor that will influence my decision and that would be dependability. I’ve actually have had some concerns about Sony’s latest console from the start as it seems to produce a ton of heat. And, being that I’m in a tropical country like the Philippines, overheating is a big issue for me. Now, I’ve looked at videos showing the innards of the PlayStation 5 Slim and it appears as if they’re using the same board and components as the original launch version. Sony managed to make the new version smaller was not reworking the board or using better components. Rather, what they’ve done is reduce the size of the cooling system. I’m not sure if the entire cooling system is now better engineered but I always say “bigger is better” in this regard.

However, I do think the new PlayStation 5 Slim comes off as a whole lot more easier to repair than the original one. Having four different face plates instead of just two giant ones should make it easier to access the areas you want to individually, like opening the top plate to access the fan for cleaning, does seem less tedious. I’m a little on the fence with the removable disc drive the new Slim one has. I do like how Sony made it so much easier to just replace without having to remove any wires that are bound to the board. However, I do think this new connector for the disc drive can become a failure point in the future. Still, it does seem like this is more of a good thing than something bad.

Speaking of face plates, I do have to mention that Sony and other third party accessory makers are probably going to stop making new stuff for the “old” console and focus on the Slim. That’s to be expected, of course. However, I can’t really think of any accessories that I would like to use on my consoles before so that shouldn’t be a problem for me… mostly.

There is one major concern I have regarding accessories and it’s a pretty important one for the PlayStation 5: the stand. Now, I don’t plan on setting up my PlayStation 5, Slim or otherwise, in a vertical position. Never had, never will. So the stand that comes with either model will work fine for me. However, since Sony and third party accessory makers will soon be abandoning the original PlayStation 5, that may mean they might not be making stands for the older version. Now, the older stand, when orienting the console in the horizontal position, uses a couple of hooks to hold the system in place. I’m kind of worried that the plastic hooks of the stand may wear down eventually and break. If this happens on the old PlayStation 5 stand, I might be out of luck finding a replacement in the future. In this way, the PlayStation 5 Slim might be a better choice.

With all of that in mind, what’s the final conclusion? Well, when all is said and done, I do think I’ll be getting the original version of the PlayStation 5 and not the Slim version in the near future. I still have a strong feeling Sony will approve a price drop for the remaining “fat” PlayStation 5s that are out there, which is the biggest factor for me. But even if they didn’t, the smaller cooling system of the PlayStation 5 Slim is a major concern of mine. It just doesn’t seem sufficient enough for a powerhouse system working in the tropical heat of the Philippines for long periods of time. I do like the general repairability of the Slim model but I would rather get system that doesn’t break down often and then I would have to take apart easily to repair.

Will you be getting a PlayStation 5 Slim? Or do you think the original PlayStation 5 is still worth your time? Let me know in the comments section below!