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If you think a PS5 is on someone’s Christmas list this year, you may benefit from some helpful advice to make sure you’re not missing anything. Beyond the console itself, it might be useful to know what the most popular PS5 games are at the moment, and whether it’s worth getting extra controllers and accessories. With all this in mind, we’re going over our top tips for buying a PlayStation 5 console this holiday season.
There are now four different PlayStation 5 consoles
Last month, Sony released a second PlayStation 5 console known as the PS5 Slim. Luckily the name isn’t deceiving – the main difference is that the Slim is a smaller version of the original console. Sony has also said that once the original PS5 models have sold out, the new PS5 Slim models will be the only versions available for purchase.
For each model, there’s a ‘Disc’ version and a ‘Digital’ version which vary in price. The Digital Edition is $100 cheaper upfront, but then there are a few other factors to consider. There’s no difference in gameplay. However, the Disc edition can double up as a 4K Blu-ray player which is pretty good value considering 4K Blu-ray players can cost hundreds.
| Model | MSRP |
| PlayStation 5 | $499.99 |
| PlayStation 5 (Digital Edition) | $399.99 |
| PlayStation 5 Slim | $499.99 |
| PlayStation 5 Slim (Digital Edition) | $449.99 |
If they already own a PS4 console the Disc edition might be better
The PS5 is backward compatible with most PS4 games. If the person you’re buying for has a large library of physical PS4 games, then the Disc edition means they don’t have to start their games collection basically from scratch. The original Disc version also doubles up as a 4K Blu-ray player and gives you the option to trade or sell the games after you’re done playing them.
There’s also a bit of a grey area when it comes to the digital ownership of games (and any media for that matter). Going for the Digital version means you don’t actually own game titles in perpetuity – Sony could decide to switch off PS5’s digital storefront distribution, meaning your games library would take a serious hit. It’s not like this would be very likely for now, but going for the Disc edition could be the safer option.
If you’re buying a PS5 Slim you have to buy the vertical stand separately
The PlayStation 5 console can famously stand either horizontally or vertically. However, for it to be secure and stable in an upright position, you need a stand. The original PS5 console came with a stand included, but the Slim model is without, meaning you might need to buy the stand separately (yep, we also rolled our eyes).
It might be cheaper to buy a PS5 bundle
Usually, to promote a specific game, you can sometimes get a bundle price for a PS5 console and the game. There are currently cheaper prices for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and the newly released Modern Warfare 3 which are bundled with the new PS5 Slim. These are widely played games within the PlayStation community, so there’s a decent chance this would be a wise buying choice.
PlayStation 5 Slim Console and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Bundle
Optical Drive Type
4K UHD Blu-ray Player
Number of USB Ports
4
Storage type
SSD
PlayStation 5 Slim console and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Bundle
Storage
1TB of SSD
This is how to find the best PS5 deals this Christmas
It sounds obvious, but keep an eye on Amazon and Best Buy for discounts on PlayStation 5 consoles. Alongside Walmart and Target, they’re probably two of the biggest retailers worth checking ahead of Christmas.
PS5 Slim Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 bundle
Before committing to a purchase, there are price comparison websites like CamelCamelCamel and Honey that can track the price history of Amazon products. We use tools like this to make predictions to do with whether something will go on sale. Now that the PS5 Digital Edition is sold out on Amazon, with the Disc edition expected to follow soon, we’re not expecting to see any big discounts on the original console as a standalone though. Truth be told, we’ve seen better luck with bundles.
There are lots of cool accessories if you want to make your gift more personal
Some people love the iconic white of the PlayStation 5 console, but it might be nice to shake it up with some PlayStation faceplates or custom controllers to make the gift extra special. It could also be worth buying extra controllers for multiplayer gameplay. Here are some ideas to get you started:
PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller
Compatibility
PS5 and PC
Weight
Approx 281 grams
Connectivity
Wireless, Wired
Buttons
1x D-Pad, 4x Action (A,B,X,Y), 1x L-R bumpers, 1x L-R triggers, 1x Menu, 1x Create, Back paddles
PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller – Galactic Purple
Compatibility
PS5 and PC
Weight
Approx 281 grams
Connectivity
Wired and Wireless
Buttons
1x D-Pad, 4x Action (A,B,X,Y), 1x L-R bumpers, 1x L-R triggers, 1x Menu, 1x Create, Back paddles
TIANHOO Wireless Controller
Compatability
PS4, Slim, Pro and PC
Battery
Up to 10 hours of gameplay
Weight
Approx. 198 grams
You can also have a look at our recommendations of the best PS5 headsets.
Frequently asked questions
Hopefully this guide has helped you in finding the right gift in time for Christmas. If not, we’ve anticipated some questions you might have about the PlayStation 5 below.
What to gift someone who already has PS5?
You probably can’t go wrong with a new game though depending on your budget, they can cost upwards of $50. Alternatively, you could consider accessories like gaming headsets, PS5 faceplates and controllers skins. If you know they’re a fan of a particular game, there might be a themed skin in that design.
What is PS Plus?
PS Plus is Sony’s digital game library service which is split into three tiers, Essential, Extra, and Premium. The former is the most basic package and nets you a couple new games a month alongside online play. Extra grants the Game Catalog which features hundreds of releases to download and play, and the latter offering adds cloud streaming and classic titles, too.
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