Sony PlayStation 4 Slim Review
Sony regularly updates its game systems with new, sleeker designs, and the PlayStation 4 is no exception. Besides releasing the larger, more powerful PS4 Pro last year, Sony also rolled out a smaller, thinner version of the original PS4. This PS4 Slim replaces the first PS4 as the default model, with a lower $299.99 price tag and a 1TB hard drive (though 500GB models are still available in bundles with games). Considering it’s smaller, has more storage, and less expensive than the original, the PS4 Slim earns our Editors’ Choice for home gaming consoles.
Design
The new PS4 Slim design is downright svelte compared with the original PS4 and the chunkier PS4 Pro ($369.99 at GameStop)(Opens in a new window) . It’s a 10.5-inch square that measures just 1.6 inches high, trimming over half an inch from each edge compared with the launch model. It shares the same parallelogram profile with angled front and back panels as the PS4 and PS4 Pro, along with a similar prominent groove running lengthwise around the front and sides of the system. It is now entirely matte black plastic, with slightly rounded corners to make it look a little friendlier and less stark than the sharp-angled, three-tiered PS4 Pro.
The PS4 Slim ($799.97 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) works perfectly well out of the box laid flat on any surface, but like the original and the PS4 Pro, you can optionally stand it up vertically with a $29.99 accessory stand.
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Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4)
Sony has been shying away from touch-sensitive controls with its new console iterations, just like Microsoft has between the Xbox One and Xbox One S .
Instead of touch-based power and eject buttons like on the original PS4, the PS4 Slim has two simple, mechanical buttons placed on the left edge of the front panel’s protruding lip, under the slot-loading optical drive. Two USB ports sit to the right of the slot, though now they’re nearly three inches apart instead of right next to each other.
The back of the PS4 holds the power connector, an HDMI port, an accessory port for plugging in the PlayStation Camera either for use on its own or as part of a PlayStation VR ($299.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) setup, and an Ethernet port if you want a faster, wired network connection instead of relying on Wi-Fi. The only port missing from the original PS4 is an optical audio output. This isn’t a big omission, since audio usually goes out to the TV through the HDMI cable anyway, and most TVs have their own optical audio outputs for integration with sound systems.
The most stark visual design change in the PS4 Slim is the lighting.
While the PS4 and PS4 Pro have prominent light bars that run either along the front or across the side of the system, the PS4 Slim has a tiny LED strip built into the power button. It has the same multi-color indicators as the other consoles’ light bars (white for on, orange for resting, blue for booting), but is much less obtrusive. It also means you’ll have to look closely at the power button to check the system’s status if it’s set up in a bright area.
Hardware and Accessories
The PS4 Slim comes with the same accessories as the launch PS4: a DualShock 4 gamepad, a monaural wired earpiece, a power cable, an HDMI cable, and a micro USB cable. The DualShock 4 is the newer design, distinguished by a light strip set just above the touch pad that lets you see its connection status without looking at the light bar on the front of the system itself.
The system comes with a 1TB hard drive, though 500GB versions are still available as part of bundles that include games like Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End for the same price.
While pack-in games are always nice, we recommend getting the 1TB version. The extra storage goes much further than any one game.
Besides the possible difference in storage, the PS4 Slim is identical to the original PS4 in hardware specs. You won’t get 4K gaming or enhanced graphics like on a PS4 Pro with compatible games, but the system can still run PlayStation VR software in addition to all standard PS4 games. The PS4 Pro is very impressive for certain games, rendering at resolutions up to 4K or otherwise adding enhanced graphical effects or improving frame rates. However, games need to be developed to specifically take advantage of the PS4 Pro’s extra power, and whether the added visual flair justifies the PS4 Pro’s $100 premium is a matter of your own gaming preferences.
Connecting a PS VR to the PS4 Slim is the same process as the original PS4 and PS4 Pro: Plug the PlayStation Camera into the back, run the HDMI output in the back and a USB cable in the front through the PS VR control box, and run the HDMI pass-through from the control box to your TV.
Gaming
Since its launch a few years ago, the PlayStation 4 has developed a very compelling library of both exclusive and cross-platform games. All major game franchise releases have hit the PS4, including every significant Battlefield, Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, and Madden game of the current generation. Several genre and niche favorites are also available, including Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, Nier: Automata, Persona 5, and Yakuza 0. While no PS4 is backward compatible with previous PlayStation system discs, many PS3 games can be played streaming over PlayStation Now, though streaming games requires a very fast, reliable network connection for a good experience.
Online multiplayer requires a subscription to PS Plus at $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year. PS Plus membership also includes a small selection of free games that rotate on a monthly basis, along with discounts for game purchases. Live television is also available on the PS4 through the PlaySation Vue subscription service, and major streaming video services like Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube all have PS4 apps.
The PS4 Slim can play Blu-ray discs, but like the original PS4 and PS4 Pro, it doesn’t support Ultra HD Blu-ray disc playback.
As a home console, the PS4 Slim competes directly with the Xbox One S. $250 to $350 One S bundles include a 500GB hard drive and can also come with a game, while more expensive bundles can upgrade the storage to 2TB. The Xbox One S has the media benefit of playing Ultra HD Blu-ray discs in addition to standard Blu-ray discs, letting you watch 4K HDR video on physical media. Beyond that, the two systems are very similar in terms of power. As with all game consoles, you need to consider what exclusives are available for each system. If you want to play Halo 5, for instance, you’ll need an Xbox.
The Nintendo Switch ($299.99 at Best Buy)(Opens in a new window) is the same price as the PS4 Slim, but it’s a more unique case. It’s only on par with or slightly less powerful than the PS4 and Xbox One in terms of graphical processing, but it can function as both a home system and a handheld with its dockable tablet design, and we’ve been very impressed by how well it works in both roles.
As a Nintendo system, the Switch has several notable games you can’t play elsewhere, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. On the other hand, it will also miss out on many major cross-platform releases, like Star Wars Battlefront II and Call of Duty: WW2.
More for Less
If you already have a PS4, you don’t need to upgrade to the PS4 Slim. It doesn’t offer the extra power of the PS4 Pro, though the 1TB of storage available does give it extra capacity if you plan to download a lot of games. The sleeker design is nice, and less prone to accidental power-ons and disc ejections thanks to its mechanical buttons, but is not reason enough to trade in your old model.
If you don’t have a PS4 yet and aren’t swayed by the (uneven) graphical benefits of the PS4 Pro, the PS4 Slim offers the same excellent gaming experience in 1080p, and all of the storage, for $100 less. It remains an Editors’ Choice as one of the best home game consoles available.
While it’s much newer and currently has far fewer games, the Nintendo Switch stands as an intriguing alternative with its ability to function portably as a handheld game system, and the Xbox One S has some nice media playback benefits. As always, the first thing to consider when buying a console is whether it has the games you want to play. If the PS4 Slim does, it’s easy to recommend.
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Which PlayStation should you buy?
The PlayStation 5 may have started a new generation of consoles for Sony, but it’s still hard to find in stock and is pretty pricey.
Well, the PS4 and PS4 Pro are still great options that tick all the boxes. They are both reasonably priced for what they offer, support a games library that is now thousands of titles deep and, most importantly, they are available right now.
So, if you are looking to get yourself a PlayStation this year rather than next, the only question now is which one?
We look at the specifications and features of both in order to help you make that decision.
- Best upcoming PS4 games to look forward to
4K HDR gaming
It’s easy to cite the differences between the two consoles when it comes to 4K gaming as it’s the PS4 Pro’s raison d’être. It can run games at up to 4K (3840 x 2160) resolutions while the standard model cannot. In reality, the resolutions differ.
While some games run well in native 4K (2160p) — often at 30 frames per second — many don’t. They opt for a technique called checkerboard 4K, which provides better, crisper graphics over the standard PS4, but not technically «true» 4K.
Many games also run in higher frame rates on the PS4 Pro — sometimes as an optional alternative to an Ultra HD resolution. There are some great games that run in a stable 60fps, for example, mainly thanks to the 4.20 teraflops offered by its AMD Radeon GPU.
That’s considerably more powerful though than the graphics chipset in the PS4. That is similarly made by AMD but only offers 1.84 teraflops of processing power.
When it comes to HDR it’s a different story. Both PlayStation 4 consoles have the capability of HDR presentation — adding a wider colour gamut, brighter images and better contrast to supported games when connected to a compatible TV.
4K HDR video
A similar story plays out when it comes to 4K video output through the PS4 Pro — it is capable of Ultra HD video while the PlayStation 4 is locked to a maximum of 1080p.
As for HDR video, there are few sources that utilise it, to be honest. Netflix does but Amazon Prime Video doesn’t, for example.
Also, for some reason (that hasn’t been fixed in a couple of years) Netflix seems to force a HDR output when connected to a supported TV no matter whether the content is in the format or not.
Another strange anomaly is that, although it is technically possible for the PS4 Pro’s HDMI output to work with 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Sony has not put a compatible drive in the machine so it is not a UHD player in that respect. The Xbox One S is currently the only console available with that capability.
- PS4 Pro ditches 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player for cost and one other reason…
Performance in games
While it is clear that the PS4 Pro is better than the vanilla PS4 when it comes to graphical power, it is also enhanced in terms of overall oomph.
The PS4 has an AMD processor with eight Jaguar cores that are clocked at 1.6GHz. It also has 8GB of GDDR5 RAM running at 176GB/s.
The PS4 Pro has a similar processor but it runs faster, at 2.1GHz. It also has faster RAM — still 8GB of GDDR5, but capable of up to 218GB/s.
This all means that its processing abilities run at around 1.3 times the speed of its stablemate, while the RAM has 24 per cent more bandwidth. When combined with the 4.20 teraflops of graphical power, developers have much more to play with.
In terms of standard games, the extra power is often used to improve graphical performance and effects. PSVR developers also regularly add benefits afforded by the higher specs, including further draw distances and more detail to their virtual reality titles.
All PS4 games run on both consoles, but they have the ability to be better looking and/or smoother on PS4 Pro.
Storage
Even though PS4 Pro games more often require greater space on your hard drive, Sony decided on a standard 1TB HDD to put inside it. We would have liked there to be 2TB, considering.
However, as with the standard PS4, you can always increase the capacity by either swapping the included drive for another internal alternative or by plugging an external USB 3.
0 drive into one of the ports.
- How to upgrade your PS4 hard drive
The standard PS4 can be bought in 500GB and 1TB variants.
Both make use of Sony’s cloud storage too, with save games and other files able to be stored when you have a PlayStation Plus subscription.
Design
While both the PS4 Pro and standard PS4 share a similar design aesthetic, the former is definitely chunkier.
The PS4 measures 265 x 39 x 288mm and weighs 2.1kg. It is neater when tucked away in an AV cabinet and has a smaller footprint when stood on one end, using an optional vertical stand.
The PS4 Pro is a beast in comparison, thanks to an extra wedge in the sandwich design style. It measures 295 x 55 x 327mm, which is even bigger than the original model and weighs a whopping 3.3kg.
Price
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When choosing between the consoles price could well be your most important driving factor.
A standard PS4 retails at around £200 for the 500GB model, while the 1TB edition will set you back around £230.
The PS4 Pro is more expensive, naturally, with a retail price of around £249.99. In both cases, you might only be able to find it pre-owned in some places.
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Conclusion
Price will definitely determine which PlayStation 4 you opt for, but there are other factors that could sway your decision.
One of the most important will be the TV you own or plan to purchase. If it’s not 4K and/or HDR you will get few benefits from owning a PS4 Pro. There are some, including better PSVR performance, but the main selling point will be moot to you.
That leaves you with the standard PS4 and if you manage to hold out until a sales period — such as Black Friday — you can probably snag one for a song.
This is why I’m buying a Playstation 4 Slim, not a Pro — Network Administration
by adminPosted on
Last week, Sony announced two new versions of its popular Playstation 4 game console, which will be released later this year.
Playstation 4 Slim is a scaled down model of the original Playstation, while the Playstation 4 Pro comes with better hardware that improves the console’s performance and better prepares it for Playstation VR.
With three systems to choose from, making the right choice may not be as easy as it sounds. Even if you remove the original Playstation 4 from the image, you still have two consoles to choose from.
The PlayStation 4 Pro can do a lot. It has better hardware, supports 4K streaming, is better suited for Playstation VR, and at least some games will benefit from running on PS4 Pro, such as offering better effects or FPS.
If that’s not enough, it’s also available for $399, just $100 more than the slim version.
I don’t have a Playstation 4 yet and probably wouldn’t buy a new model if I did. Although I really like the PS4 Pro, I decided to get the PS4 Slim instead. That’s why.
First, I don’t have a 4K TV and don’t plan to buy one anytime soon.
Also, I’m not going to buy a Playstation VR. These are the two main advantages that the PS4 Pro offers over the Slim and the original version.
While improving gaming performance and effects is a good thing, Sony has firmly stated that all future games will run on all versions of the Playstation 4.
The main reason I will buy the Playstation 4 Slim is that it is quieter than the others . Not only is it much quieter, but it also uses less power during operation and is cooler.
Sony stated in the official announcement of the new PS4 Pro and Slim models the following about the improvements that the slim model offers over the original Playstation 4:
Comparing the new PS4 model to the current one, we reduced volume by 30 percent, weight by 16 percent, and power consumption by 28 percent.
If you visit Ghacks regularly, you know that I like to keep my electronic devices as quiet as possible, and this is what the PS4 Slim provides, and the PS4 Pro will not be the same.
The
PS4 Slim offers huge improvements in all three areas over the original Playstation and likely also the PS4 Pro (testers haven’t had a chance to play with the new Pro model yet, but since it offers a more powerful GPU, chances are that it will consume more power and be louder than the Slim model).
Check out this PS4 Slim hands-on experience from Digital Foundry to learn about the benefits of PS4 Slim.
Conclusion
PS4 Slim might be the best choice for me, but it’s definitely not the best option for gamers who have a 4K TV or plan to use a Playstation VR.
Some gamers might also like the idea of more frames per second or better effects in games.
Now it’s your turn : What do you think of PS4 Slim and Pro?
Posted in Common problems
Sony PS4 Slim review: quieter, thinner, better
PlayStation 4 Slim is a cautious move by Sony with surprisingly good results
The PlayStation 4 has been a huge success for Sony with over 90 million consoles sold as of the end of 2018.
By focusing primarily on games, the Japanese media giant was able to quickly rebuild a customer base that had dwindled due to serious mistakes made with the ill-conceived PS3.
Since the release of the PS4 in 2013, Sony has been into games, games and more games, and from a gamer’s point of view, it’s been great. With titles such as Uncharted 4, DriveClub, The Witness, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, No Man’s Sky, Until Dawn, Persona 5, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X and more, the console has become a must-buy and has quickly risen to the top. market positions.
However, times are changing. Microsoft released the Xbox One S and Xbox One X, the latter being the most powerful gaming console ever, while Sony released the PS4 Pro. This again raised the question of which system was the best in this generation, as each one was perfect for the different needs of gamers. Therefore, if you choose a console for yourself, it is very important to evaluate each system in detail before giving your money away.
And here our review will help you.
Just a thin PS4?
Yes and no, as Sir Humphrey Appleby said in Yes Minister! Yes, because the specifications of the new console are identical to the original PS4. Power consumption is reduced by 28%, the new system is quieter and cooler, but the resolution and frame rate remain unchanged.
The new thin PS4 is still a Full HD gaming system with 1920×1080 resolution and 30 or 60 fps (frames per second) frame rate depending on the game. So if you want 4K resolution, then read no further. However, if you’re not in a rush to move to 4K, or if your 4K TV is slightly stretched, you’ll be fine with our review
On the other hand, the answer to the above question is no, because the PS4 Slim actually has a number of changes that have improved the console overall, making it a great all-round gaming system.
Similarities and differences
The first and most noticeable change is the new, smaller design.
The original PS4 was already small at 27.5 x 30 x 5.3 cm. The new 2016 PS4 Slim is about a third smaller at 26.5 x 26.5 x 3.8 cm. The result is a very thin console that looks more like a big book than a gaming system. . Lighter weight and a new all-matte black body are also nice additions.
The overall shape remains the same, with characteristic corners, but now the rounded edges and a large cut in the middle soften the look of the PS4 Slim somewhat. It’s hard to say if we like the new design, but it’s certainly less intrusive and much more compact than the previous model.
The system retains the front-loading drive slot and two front-panel USB ports, but now uses physical buttons rather than sensors to turn on and eject the drive. At the top, the color indicator for system status (such as hibernation) has been removed. The rear panel retains the same ports, with the exception of the digital optical output, which will not appeal to audiophiles.
Another annoying little thing is the built-in Blu-ray player.
The PS4 Slim doesn’t have a 4K Blu-ray player (and neither does the PS4 Pro, by the way), so if you’re looking for a media center instead of just a gaming console, that could be an important consideration.
Finally, the new PS4 Slim supports 5 GHz IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi connectivity. The original model only supported the 2.4 GHz bands, so the wireless connection will be more stable, although we recommend using a wired network connection if possible.
New version of the DualShock 4
Speaking of the new design, it’s worth taking a look at the controller. At first glance, it has not changed, it still lies well in the hands, with the same convenience and pleasant tactile sensations. However, upon closer inspection, there are a couple of changes.
The first one is the prominent light bar on the touchpad. It is needed so that the player can see what color he has set without turning the controller. The second change is the ability to connect a controller via USB to play.
The original model was only charged via a USB cable, and you could only play via Bluetooth. This feature was implemented to avoid delays in esports competitions. It also allows you to connect the new DualShock to a PC without a Bluetooth module.
Conclusion
The world’s best-selling console, a platform filled with great games just got better. It is thinner, lighter, quieter, heats up less and is not very expensive. Included is a new version of one of the best gaming controllers. In our opinion, this is a great buy.
Pros:
- Great gaming platform;
- Good value for money;
- Arguably the best controller in the world;
- Great selection of games.
Cons:
- No optical audio port;
- Custom design.
However, before making a final decision, there are a few questions that need to be answered. The first one is do you want to play in 4K resolution? If yes, then you should pay attention to PS4 Pro or Xbox One X.
