If you are considering buying Sony's PlayStation 5 (PS5), the PS5 Slim disc model is seen as the most practical choice given current pricing and features. Digital game users are increasing, but paying an extra $50 secures larger storage and a disc drive.

On Sept. 21, local time, IT outlet Engadget reported that the current PS5 lineup is split into Slim and Pro models. The Slim comes in a digital-only model and a model that includes a disc drive, while the Pro is sold only as a digital-only model.

The pricing makes the choice clearer. The PS5 Slim Digital Edition offers 825GB of storage and costs $600 (about 810,000 won). The disc model, by contrast, has 1TB of storage and a disc drive and sells for $650 (about 880,000 won).

For a $50 difference (about 60,000 won), storage increases by 175GB and you can use physical games. If you buy the digital model and later add a disc drive, you must pay $80 (about 100,000 won) separately. The original, non-Slim PS5 Digital Edition, however, is not compatible with a separate disc drive.

The disc model does not run games directly from the disc. Even if you buy a physical game, the PS5 requires you to install the game data on internal storage. Physical games are often available at discounted prices compared with online digital sales, which can help reduce upfront costs.

The storage gap is also hard to ignore. As installation sizes for the latest games grow, the disc model’s 1TB base storage offers more room than the 825GB digital model. It can also delay the point at which you need to add a separate SSD.

The PS5 Pro should be approached on different criteria. The PS5 Pro costs $900 (about 1.22 million won), far higher than the Slim model. It can be difficult to obtain at present, and demand tied to expectations for the release of GTA VI has led to cases of markups at some retailers.

Users considering the PS5 Pro may choose to watch market conditions rather than rushing to buy if it is difficult to obtain at the retail price. That is because interest surrounding the release of GTA VI could affect current demand and prices.

The value of a disc drive may also change going forward. Sony plans to stop producing game discs from 2028, which could reduce the need for a disc drive for users who do not plan to buy physical games.

A disc drive is not only for games. The PS5 can play Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray, allowing it to be used as a movie player. In particular, 4K Blu-ray has a lower compression rate than streaming services, making it an option for users who prioritise high-quality video and audio. For those with a home theatre setup, the PS5 disc drive can have value beyond games, it said.

Given that buying a separate UHD Blu-ray player can cost hundreds of dollars, the disc model becomes more useful for users who plan to buy a console and also want to watch films.

Ultimately, the key for the PS5 Slim is the price gap between the disc and digital models. Paying $50 more increases storage to 1TB and adds access to physical games and Blu-ray playback, widening the range of options.

The PS5 Pro, by contrast, is a separate option for users who want higher performance. In particular, if you rarely buy physical games, the need to add a disc drive is relatively lower.

For users planning to buy a PS5, it is necessary to consider more than simply choosing between digital and physical games. Price, storage, whether you own physical games, Blu-ray usefulness and future game disc policy should also be weighed. Based on current pricing, the PS5 Slim disc model is assessed as the configuration that most broadly meets these conditions.