1. Sony increased prices of certified refurbished PS5 Slim consoles by $100, with digital and disc editions now costing $499.99 and $549.99, respectively.
2. The PS5 Slim offers 1 TB of storage, compared to the previous Fat version’s 825 GB, but refurbished Fat units are still available for $399.
3. Refurbished PS5 Slims include a full-year warranty, a DualSense controller, and all necessary cables, with only minor cosmetic wear.
4. Launch PS5 models had issues like overheating, storage limitations, and potential liquid metal leakage, which have been addressed in the Slim models.
5. Sony’s new pricing for the PS5 Digital and Disc editions is now $599.99 and $649.99, respectively, with the PS5 Pro at $899.99.
Price Hikes on Refurbished PlayStation 5 Slim
Recently, Sony quietly bump up the price of their Certified Refurbished PlayStation 5 Slims. Now, the Digital Edition is priced at $499.99, an increase of $100 from the previous $399.99. For the disc-drive version, the price has gone up to $549.99 from $449.99. This change may surprised many gamers who were hoping for affordable options in the pre-owned market.
The Current Market for PS5 Consoles
Before these price rises, the main affordable option was the PS5 Fortnite Flowering Chaos bundle, which came with a Digital Edition for only $399. Sadly, that bundle has been sold out both on Sony’s official site and most retail stores. So, now, gamers looking for less than $400 PS5s are left with limited choices. Refurbished units now come with a full year’s warranty, include a DualSense controller and all the basic cables, but they do show signs of wear, like cosmetic scuffs or minor scratches, and might have been previously returned or repaired.
Details of the PS5 Slim and Its Storage
The Slim version of the PS5 offers a 1 TB of storage capacity, an upgrade from the original “Fat” PS5’s 825 GB, giving users more space to store games and apps. Interestingly, if players prefer, they can still buy a refurbished “Fat” PS5 for $399, which keeps options open for budget-conscious buyers. Nonetheless, the “Fat” models have their own setbacks, such as quicker dust buildup and overheating issues, largely because of design differences that affected airflow and cooling.
Consider the Drawbacks of Older PS5 Models
One downside of the launch PS5 was its larger, bulkier form compared to the sleeker Slim. Its ventilation system was prone to clogging with dust, especially around the PSU, leading to hardware failures in some cases. Storage was also a concern, with only 825 GB available out of the box — and mere 667 GB usable. Additionally, there had been reports of issues with the liquid metal cooling interface leaking when the console was placed vertically, which increased the risk of internal component damage.
Impact of Price Increase on New and Refurbished Consoles
Following Sony’s announcement of a price hike starting April 2, the new PS5 models now cost significantly more across online stores. The Digital Edition is priced at $599.99 and the disc version even reaches $649.99. The more advanced PS5 Pro now retails for a staggering $899.99. This shift indicates Sony’s strategy to position their latest consoles at higher price points, affecting both new and refurbished units in the market.
