The PS5 Is Finally Available in Stores: Which One Should You Get?
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The current generation of home gaming consoles started in 2020 with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. However, a combination of logistics issues and a raging global health emergency made it quite difficult for the average customer to get their hands on a new system. Thankfully for gamers, the supply shortage has finally abated.
You can now reliably pick up a PS5 from online stores or brick-and-mortar retailers. But which version of the new Sony console is right for you? Let’s break them down.
The baseline PS5 is a massive white console with a bump-out disc drive on one side. It retails for $500 and comes with a DualSense controller, a power cable, and an HDMI cord. The addition of the disc drive is ideal for players who like to collect physical games.
Physical games have a few advantages. For one thing, you can buy used games from retail stores for a discounted price. You can also trade older games back in for store credit, or sell them to friends. Additionally, if your system has a disc drive, you can borrow games from friends or swap titles.
The digital-only PS5, on the other hand, has no disc drive at all. To make up for this, it costs only $400. Is this a better option for some gamers? That depends entirely on your gaming habits. If you never buy physical games and only download them, then you might be better off saving $100 on this version of the console.
Meanwhile, if you do buy physical games and enjoy discounts on used titles, you should probably grab the disc drive PS5. By the time you’ve purchased a handful of used games for a discount, you’ll have probably saved more than $400!
Besides just choosing which version of the system you want, you should also consider your controllers. The system comes with one DualSense controller, but it’s worth noting that it doesn’t have the longest battery life. You might want a second controller to help bolster this playtime.
You could also invest in a charging stand, which will let you charge your controller in a convenient location. Just swap your two gamepads out as their batteries drain down, and you’ll always have one charged up and ready to play. What’s more, there are Dualsense gamepads available in a wide variety of colors now!
