Hey there! So you‘re trying to decide between the PS5 Digital Edition or the PS5 Disc Edition? I totally get it – there‘s a lot to weigh when choosing between these two next-gen consoles.
As a tech geek and gaming enthusiast myself, I‘m going to walk you through a detailed comparison of everything you need to know about the PS5 Digital vs Disc Editions. My aim is to provide extra insights that help YOU pick the best PS5 option for your needs and budget. Let‘s dive in!
PS5 Digital and Disc Edition Specs Side-by-Side
First, let‘s examine some key hardware specifications to see how the PS5 editions differ:
| PS5 Digital Edition | PS5 Disc Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 390 x 104 x 260 mm (15.35 x 4.09 x 10.24 inches) | 390 x 92 x 260 mm (15.35 x 3.62 x 10.24 inches) |
| Weight | 3.9 kg (8.6 lbs) | 4.5kg (9.9 lbs) |
| CPU | 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz | 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz |
| GPU | 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz | 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz |
| RAM | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Storage | 825GB Custom SSD | 825GB Custom SSD |
| Optical Drive | None | 4K UHD Blu-ray Drive |
| Price | $399.99 | $499.99 |
Despite a 100 gram weight difference and the additional Blu-ray drive, the PS5 Digital and Disc Editions share identical performance capabilities. Both are powered by a custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and GPU that delivers blazing fast 10.28 teraflops and ray tracing support.
You‘ll also get the same 825GB of speedy SSD storage. This is a huge upgrade over the base PS4‘s 500GB mechanical hard drive. But with some games taking up over 100GB, the 825GB fills up fast. We‘ll dive more into storage management soon!
Now for the obvious difference – the PS5 Disc Edition tacks on a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive, while the Digital Edition goes disc-less. This optical drive addition contributes to the Disc Edition‘s larger footprint and $100 premium pricing.
Physical Media Support and Flexibility
The lack of a disc drive limits the PS5 Digital Edition to downloading games from the PlayStation Store. No physical media here!
On the flip side, the PS5 Disc Edition gives you impressive flexibility:
- Play both physical and digital PS5 and PS4 games
- Watch 4K Blu-ray movies and standard Blu-ray discs
- Access your existing PS4 game disc library
- Share, lend, resell discs
According to Sony, the PS5 Blu-ray drive enables smooth 100GB disc read speeds for fast installs. Players report install times around 5-10 minutes for PS5 discs.
As for movie playback, the PS5‘s Blu-ray drive supports 4K resolution up to 60fps, high dynamic range (HDR), and Dolby Atmos audio. So you‘re getting 4K Blu-ray player-worthy performance!
If you have an existing PS4 game collection, only the PS5 Disc Edition will play those physical discs. It cannot get any easier to access your current library and save on rebuying titles!
Game Prices and Savings – Digital vs. Disc
You‘ll obviously want to factor price into choosing a PS5. Here‘s a breakdown of how pricing shakes out:
- PS5 Disc Edition Launch Price – $499.99
- PS5 Digital Edition Launch Price – $399.99
So the Digital Edition saves you $100 right off the bat. But when comparing game prices over time, the savings picture changes…
According to recent data, newly released digital PS5 games cost $59.99 to $69.99 on average. Mainstream physical versions typically match digital prices at launch.
However, physical discs see steeper discounts as games age, especially pre-owned copies. Here‘s a look at current average new vs. used pricing for some popular PS4 titles:
| PS4 Game | Digital Price (New) | Physical Price (New) | Physical Price (Used) |
|---|---|---|---|
| God of War | $19.99 | $12.99 | $9.99 |
| Spider-Man | $39.99 | $25.99 | $19.99 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | $59.99 | $29.99 | $24.99 |
These examples demonstrate the significant savings physical game discs can offer, especially for older games. While digital prices do come down, physical copies see steeper declines.
Over your PS5‘s lifespan, regularly buying new games digitally may cost you more in the long run versus buying and reselling used physical copies.
Game Install Sizes – Room for How Many Games?
Speaking of building a game library, storage space is a big constraint. What can you actually fit on the PS5‘s 825GB internal SSD?
- Typical PS5 game install sizes range from 25GB (smaller indie games) up to 100GB+ (huge AAA open world).
- The largest PS5 game currently is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare at over 180GB!
- Assuming an average of 50GB per game, the 825GB SSD will fit around 15-20 average sized games.
As you can see, you‘ll run out of space quite fast! Now let‘s compare how each PS5 edition impacts storage:
- PS5 Digital Edition – Requires fully downloading all games to the SSD. No disc backup.
- PS5 Disc Edition – Can install some games directly from disc rather than downloading to the SSD. Saves storage space.
Playing PS5 disc games without downloading minimizes SSD usage, allowing you to store more digital titles. It‘s an advantage over the all-digital edition.
Here are tips to maximize storage on either PS5 edition:
- Delete games you aren‘t playing actively – they can be redownloaded later
- Utilize cloud storage if you have PlayStation Plus
- Invest in external SSD storage expansion
While both consoles enable storage expansion, the PS5 Disc Edition‘s physical media support gives it more flexibility.
Game Library and Purchasing Options
For savvy gamers, access to the lowest game prices is key. Do the PS5 editions differ here?
PS5 Digital Edition
- Can only purchase games from the PlayStation Store
- Massive selection but not every title may be available
- Occasional digital discounts and sales
PS5 Disc Edition
- Purchase games from PlayStation Store
- Buy brand new discs from retailers – both online and in-store
- Buy used physical copies from resellers like GameStop
- Borrow and trade discs with friends
The Disc Edition clearly opens up far more purchasing options compared to the strict digital reliance of its counterpart.
Accessing both digital and physical game markets allows you to hunt for the best deals on titles – new and used. Exclusive physical collector‘s editions also appeal to certain gamers.
On the flip side, the convenience of instant digital downloads may suit busier gamers who don‘t want to shop around. It comes down to personal preference!
Game Sharing and Reselling: Disc vs. Digital
For social gamers, the ability to share and resell titles adds value. Unfortunately, downloaded digital games are stuck to your PlayStation Network ID forever.
With physical discs, you have flexibility:
- Share discs with family members and friends
- Resell discs you‘ve completed to recover some costs
- Trade discs to get new-to-you games
- Post discs for sale on sites like eBay and Decluttr
Game sharing is a fun way to enjoy titles together and split costs. Sites like Glyde and Decluttr make reselling discs a breeze with prepaid shipping labels.
While you won‘t recoup the full price paid, reselling discs allows you to put funds towards new games. It‘s an eco-friendly way to pass titles along too!
For multi-player homes, the Disc Edition facilitates more social, communal access to games. The Digital Edition‘s tight restrictions limit this.
Helpful Tips for Picking Your PS5 Edition
Hopefully breaking down the PS5 Digital vs Disc Editions has brought you closer to a decision! Here are a few final tips:
Prioritize your budget – If saving $100 is critical, the Digital Edition delivers next-gen power at the lowest price.
Consider your existing collection – Want to play those PS4 discs? Go for the Disc Edition.
Compare prices on the games you want – Will physical deals outweigh the upfront savings over time?
Factor in how you share games – Discs enable lending and reselling with friends.
Choose digital for convenience – No disc swapping and instant downloads.
Go disc for bigger selection – Access to retailer sales, used copies, and exclusives.
Check your display setup – The Disc Edition doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player.
Keep what matters most to YOU in mind. While I‘ve outlined key differences here, only you know your gaming preferences and habits.
I hope this detailed look at the PS5 Digital vs Disc Editions has armed you to make the perfect choice! Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy next-gen!