The PS4 Slim is a deja vu game console: great for gamers on a budget, not quite as good as the PS4 Pro and skippable for any existing PlayStation 4 owner. It shares the same parallelogram profile with angled front and back panels as the PS4 and PS4 Pro, along with a similar prominent groove running lengthwise around the front and sides of the system. With all this in mind, is the PlayStation 4 Slim still a console that’s worth picking up or would those looking to game with Sony be better opting for a PS5? I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them.

Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4) Slim - idealo

More recent revisions of the PS4 also featured physical buttons on the console, but the launch edition PS4 favored touch-sensitive controls instead. Whereas the original PS4 is rated to consume 250-watts, the Slim features a 165-watt thermal design power. Two USB ports sit on the front of the PlayStation 4 Slim, as was the case on earlier PS4 models, but they're now much further apart and slightly easier to plug into. Live television is also available on the PS4 through the PlaySation Vue subscription service, and major streaming video services like Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube all have PS4 apps. Sony's beefier home console, the PS4 Pro, includes a 1-terabyte hard drive and offers improved graphics with games that are suitably updated.The PlayStation 4 Slim, released September 2016, replaces the base PS4 and its underlying specs are largely the same as the original 2013 model. Sony offers 3 versions of this games console; the "standard" PS4 (2013), and the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro (both 2016). While the PS4 Pro comes with a hard drive, its one TB allotment is twice as capacious as the PS4's HDD before it.

Slim: Which PlayStation is Right For You? PS4 Pro vs. PS4 Slim: Which PlayStation is Right For You?

If, however, you aren’t all that interested in the latest hardware with its 4K bells and whistles and you just want a machine that’ll help you catch up with the PS4’s fantastic library of games, then the PS4 Slim is an option that might just suit you. Both the PS4 Pro and the Slim version also feature an optical audio output, if you want to connect your Sony console to an older home theatre.It also consumes a lot less power than the regular PS4 console, giving you energy efficiency savings. The iconic Square, Triangle, Circle and Cross symbols of the PlayStation brand are stamped into the side of the console (with the Circle acting as a fixture for those wishing to stand the console upright with a base accessory). An iconic design that fits perfectly in your hands, intuitive controls that keep you on top of your game and a vibrant array of colours to suit your style.

PlayStation® PlayStation®

And the PS4 Pro should be the first stop for gamers looking to finally take a leap into the PlayStation realm (if you have have a 4K TV). It's only on par with or slightly less powerful than the PS4 and Xbox One in terms of graphical processing, but it can function as both a home system and a handheld with its dockable tablet design, and we've been very impressed by how well it works in both roles. Simply connect the PS VR headset to your console and immerse yourself in breath-taking virtual reality games, experiences and entertainment.Only reviews that feature the label "Verified Review" have been checked to ensure that the author actually used or purchased the product. Considering it's smaller, has more storage, and less expensive than the original, the PS4 Slim earns our Editors' Choice for home gaming consoles.

Sony PS4 Slim review | TechRadar

The PS4 Pro has 1TB (1000GB) of storage, the PS4 Slim is available with 1TB or 500GB and the standard version only has 500GB. Half-way through its life cycle, both this and rival the Xbox One are getting makeovers and upgrades.While the PS4 Slim isn't much of a technical leap from the base model, the 2016-released PS4 Pro represents a mid-generational upgrade that offers a significant boost in processing power. Besides, it probably won't come into its own for another year or two yet, once developers have got to grips with making games for the system. Besides releasing the larger, more powerful PS4 Pro last year, Sony also rolled out a smaller, thinner version of the original PS4.