PS5 Guide 2026: Prices, Slim vs Pro, Storage and GTA 6

How Much Is a PS5 Now?

Sony raised PlayStation prices worldwide on April 2, 2026. These are the official prices now:

• United States: PS5 $649.99, PS5 Digital Edition $599.99, PS5 Pro $899.99, PlayStation Portal $249.99.
• United Kingdom: PS5 £569.99, PS5 Digital Edition £519.99, PS5 Pro £789.99, PlayStation Portal £219.99.
• Europe: PS5 €649.99, PS5 Digital Edition €599.99, PS5 Pro €899.99, PlayStation Portal €249.99.

Stores sometimes sell bundles or discounts during Black Friday, so compare before you buy.

Which PS5 Model Should You Buy?

• PS5 with disc drive: plays physical Blu-ray games and movies. Best if you buy used games or have a disc collection.
• PS5 Digital Edition: the same power without a disc drive, so every game is downloaded. You can add a disc drive later.
• PS5 Pro: a faster graphics chip, better ray tracing and AI upscaling for sharper 4K at higher frame rates. It has 2TB of storage but no disc drive included.

PS5 Slim vs Original PS5

The PS5 Slim replaced the original model in November 2023. Both have the same performance and play the same games. The Slim is about 30% smaller, has more storage (1TB instead of 825GB) and uses a detachable disc drive, so the Digital Edition can be upgraded later. The original model is only sold used or refurbished now.

Is the PS5 Pro Worth It?

The PS5 Pro is worth it if you play on a large 4K TV and care about the sharpest image and smoothest frame rate, especially in games with a Pro Enhanced label. If you play on a 1080p screen or mostly play older or indie games, the standard PS5 gives you almost the same experience for $250 less. Remember that the Pro has no disc drive, so add one if you want physical games.

How to Add More Storage to a PS5

• Buy an M.2 NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 4) with a heatsink, from 250GB up to 8TB.
• Turn off the PS5, unplug it and remove the cover to reach the expansion slot.
• Fit the SSD, screw it in and put the cover back.
• Turn the PS5 on and follow the steps to format the drive. You can then install and play PS5 games from it.

A USB external drive is a cheaper way to store games, but PS5 games must be moved back to internal storage to play. PS4 games can run straight from USB.

GTA 6 on PS5 and PS5 Pro

Grand Theft Auto VI launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026. It will run on every PS5 model, and the PS5 Pro is expected to offer the sharpest image. Rockstar has not yet confirmed resolution or frame rates for each console. Read our GTA 6 guide for prices and pre-order details, or compare with the Xbox Series S.

DualSense Controller Tips

• Pair a new controller: connect it with a USB cable and press the PS button.
• Pair without a cable: on the PS5 go to Settings, then Accessories, then General, then Bluetooth Accessories. Hold the PS and Create buttons on the controller until the light flashes.
• Controller not responding: press the small reset button on the back with a paper clip for 5 seconds, then reconnect with a cable.
• Save battery: lower the vibration and trigger effect strength in Settings, then Accessories, then Controllers.

PlayStation Portal Explained

The PlayStation Portal is a handheld screen with DualSense controls. It streams games from your own PS5 over Wi-Fi using Remote Play, and with PlayStation Plus Premium it can also stream some games from the cloud. It is not a standalone console, so most games still need your PS5 to be switched on or in rest mode.

Fix Common PS5 Problems With Safe Mode

• Turn the PS5 off completely.
• Press and hold the power button. Let go after the second beep, about 7 seconds later.
• Connect the controller with a USB cable and press the PS button.
• Choose an option such as Restart PS5, Rebuild Database or Update System Software. Rebuild Database often fixes slow menus and missing games without deleting anything.

Test Your Reflexes With a Free Game

How fast are your gaming reflexes? Find out in Reflex Rush, which measures your reaction time in milliseconds, or play a quick round of Four in a Row on your phone or PC.