Console comparison
PlayStation 5 (disc) vs PlayStation 5 (digital)
Compared on price, graphics throughput, storage and the thing specifications never capture: what each one is actually for.
Verified September 2, 2026Prices from secondary reporting — confirm with a retailer
Sony
PlayStation 5 (disc)
$649.99 · 4K
Sony
PlayStation 5 (digital)
$599.99 · 4K
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| Specification | PlayStation 5 (disc) | PlayStation 5 (digital) |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Sony | Sony |
| US MSRP | $649.99~£481 indicative | Winner: $599.99~£444 indicative |
| Price source | Reference source | Reference source |
| GPU throughput | 10.28 TFLOPS | 10.28 TFLOPS |
| Storage | 1000GB | 1000GB |
| SSD throughput | 5.5 GB/s | 5.5 GB/s |
| Target resolution | 4K | 4K |
| Portable | No | No |
| Disc drive | included | none |
| UK street price | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
US MSRP is the reported RRP for the standard configuration — not a live UK street price. Use the Amazon UK buttons to check current UK availability.
PlayStation 5 (disc)
The mainstream PlayStation: lower graphics throughput than Xbox Series X but a considerably faster SSD.
Best for
- PlayStation exclusives
- Fast loading
- Most players who do not need Pro fidelity
Watch out
UK RRP from PlayStation Blog: Slim digital £519.99, Slim disc £569.99, Pro £789.99. This catalog row is the disc model; digital is cheaper. The 1TB drive still fills quickly — plan for an expansion drive.
PlayStation 5 (digital)
Digital-only mainstream PlayStation — same throughput as the disc PS5 minus the optical drive and at a lower sticker.
Best for
- PlayStation exclusives
- All-digital households
- Buyers who want PS5 without the disc premium
Watch out
No disc drive — physical media and cheap pre-owned games are out. UK RRP £519.99 (Slim digital, from PlayStation Blog). The 1TB drive still fills quickly — plan for an external SSD.
Common questions
PlayStation 5 (disc) vs PlayStation 5 (digital)
Answered from the verified figures on this page rather than general guidance.
Is PlayStation 5 (disc) or PlayStation 5 (digital) cheaper?
PlayStation 5 (digital) is cheaper at $599.99, against $649.99 for PlayStation 5 (disc) — a gap of $50.00. Prices in this category moved several times during 2026, so confirm with a retailer.
Which is more powerful, PlayStation 5 (disc) or PlayStation 5 (digital)?
Both are rated at 10.28 TFLOPS, so graphics throughput will not decide between them on paper. In practice, exclusive titles, resolution modes, and portability matter more.