PS5 Slim Models Will Still Support SSD Storage Expansion, Sony Confirms

To keep up with the demands of modern games, the new PS5 slim console will now include 1TB of internal storage capacity, an improvement over the base model's 825GB SSD. While that is roughly an entire Call of Duty of extra space, it remains to be seen how much of it is actually usable, as in the case of the launch model PS5, only 667GB of its included 825GB was available. The good news is that you'll still be able to expand the slimmer PS5 console's digital real estate, as like the original model, it'll support extra storage options.

Speaking to IGN, a PlayStation spokesperson confirmed that there are no changes with the new model," which means that potential owners can still remove a panel and slot in an M.2 SSD. As long as it's a PCIe Gen4 version and can meet the minimum requirements of 5,500MB/s read speeds, you'll be good to go. It's worth noting that the last major firmware update for PS5 added support for up to 8TB of additional SSDs storage capacity, or roughly enough space to have 53 installs of Red Dead Redemption 2.

While that might be overkill for most people, more affordable options are available within the space of 1-2TB upgrades for the PS5. The Prime Day specials on SSDs might be over, but once Black Friday rolls around, you can typically pick up an excellent 2TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD with an included heatsink for around $130, or a quick 1TB version for $90. These used to be much more expensive, but the prices on SSDs have dropped dramatically in the three years since the PS5 launch.

The new PS5 consoles--one with a disc drive and an all-digital version to which you can attach an optional disc drive--will launch in November. While the standard PS5 will cost $499 like its bulkier predecessor, the all-digital model will see a $50 price increase to $449 and the Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive add-on will cost $70.