© Provided by GamesRadarPS5 price
It's a flurry of activity now as folks everywhere try to get the best PS5 price or PlayStation 5 deals now the console has launched in some parts of the world. With the US release day now upon us, we've been keeping an eye out for stock alerts and have listed quick links to retailers below. Because any new consoles are likely to sell out very fast, we'd recommend having each one open in a separate tab (and signed in, if possible) to make sure you get to the PS5 deals as quickly as possible. We've done the same for PS5 Digital Edition offers as well, so you're covered no matter which version you want.
Like with the other hardware launches of 2020, if at first, you don't succeed with the latest PS5 deals, don't give up hope. Keep checking those stores every now and then - you might get lucky. Now we're actually on release day we have heard of some folks getting lucky at Best Buy and Walmart in particular (links below).
A quick note on Amazon US links: while the console is unavailable, links are landing on the PS5 controller instead, so you might need to press the 'console' button on the listing for the latest info there. It's in a row underneath on the mobile version. These things are sent to test us, and that they are.
Just remember to move quickly if you find any. Stock has been very limited, and the console sells out fast across the board. That means you'll need to be ready to pounce if and when stock comes back in. Refresh those store pages every now and then, and keep your fingers crossed!
PS5 bundles with games or accessories have been exceptionally rare from most retailers. And a word of warning, if you do see any, make sure you're not actually paying more than the individual items are worth as we've seen some opportunistically-priced PS5 bundles out there from third-party merchants for sure.
Interestingly, the standard PS5 price puts the console on an even playing field with the Xbox Series X. The cost is identical, in fact. Sure, the PS5 Digital Edition can't match the low cost of the Xbox Series S, but the fact that it's able to hit 4K resolutions for gaming might make the difference.
Suffice to say, retailers are going to be very busy over the next few months. And after everything we've seen recently, there's more than enough reason to consider picking up the PS5. For starters, all the upcoming PS5 games (including Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Horizon Forbidden West) are shaping up to be something special. Secondly, the system's blindingly fast loading times look set to improve the user-experience by leaps and bounds. We have a suspicion we won't ever want to go back.
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PS5 release date
The PS5 will be released in the USA, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korean on November 12. The rest of the world (including the UK), will get the PS5 a week later on November 19.
PS5 prices around the world
The cost of next-gen has become a hot topic over the last few months. Indeed, it feels like we've been waiting forever on a solid price. Thankfully, that time is over - the game of chicken Microsoft and Sony were playing has finally come to an end. You can see the PS5 price for your region below.
PS5 (standard)
- US: $499.99
- UK: £449.99
- AU: $749.95
PS5 Digital Edition
- US: $399.99
- UK: £359.99
- AU: $599.95
No matter how you look at it, that's very comparable to the Xbox Series X price. And even though the PS5 Digital Edition is still a fair bit more than the Xbox Series S price, it's not bad going considering the fact that this is the same PS5 console bar a disc drive.
Regardless of which system you get, they're all great value; the PS5 and Xbox Series X rival the best gaming PCs in terms of tech. Considering the fact that graphics cards like the brand-new Nvidia 30-series cost many hundreds of dollars alone, we dread to think how much all of the PS5's components would cost separately.
That's because Sony has teamed up with hardware giant AMD again to create best-in-class PS5 specs. More specifically, it's been confirmed that we're getting a modified third-generation Ryzen 3 processor and advanced Navi-based graphics that'll enable ray tracing, a supremely fancy lighting system.
The real game-changer is the addition of the PS5 SSD, though. This will slash load times by a considerable amount. If you want a taste of how SSDs can speed up your life, be sure to check out our guide to the best PS4 SSD.
Sure, some have complained that the PS5's 825GB SSD isn't as big as the 1TB NVMe equivalent in the Xbox Series X. But let's look on the bright side. The PS5 price would be much, much higher if Sony had opted for a larger SSD.
Curious about how the two next-gen consoles stack up against each other? Be sure to check out our guide on PS5 vs Xbox Series X.
Where can I reserve a PS5?
In the US, Amazon will be the most popular pick thanks to its vast network and super fast shipping options. Walmart and Best Buy will also be taking orders, and you'll probably have the option of picking up in-store as well. GameStop will be taking orders both online and in-store too.
In the UK, Amazon will be a hot spot for stock once again. Additionally, we expect Argos, Game, and Currys to have stock online and in stores. Smaller online stores like Very and AO.com should be worth a look as well.
In Australia, Amazon will likewise be the most obvious candidate, though JB Hi-Fi and EB Games will also have stock. As far as other big local retailers, Big W is taking expressions of interest, though there's no sign yet as to whether others, like Target and K-mart, will follow suit.
US PS5 prices
© Provided by GamesRadar Amazon
The gargantuan online retailer is one of your best bets for finding any PS5 stock, although it has been a bit disappointing around launch as it's not had any stock for a while. Once life goes back to normal a bit more (soon hopefully!), expect Amazon to be a Sony fave.View Deal
© Provided by GamesRadar Best Buy
As with Walmart, Best Buy offers the option of in-store pickups to go with its online deals. That could come in very handy for some of us, particularly if we don't want to miss a delivery while at work. It's also likely to get a fair amount of stock in too.View Deal
© Provided by GamesRadar Walmart No matter whether you want to pick up in store or online, this retail behemoth has you well covered. Be warned, though - it's stock sells out very fast. That means you'll have to move quickly if you want to secure yourself a PS5.View Deal
UK prices
© Provided by GamesRadar Amazon
Amazon is almost guaranteed to be a popular pick for PS5 deals in the UK. It's one of the biggest kids on the block so is likely to get plenty of units in, but remember, everyone else will have the same idea. Make sure you've got some backups ready as a just-in-case.View Deal
© Provided by GamesRadar Currys PC World The popular electronics retailer is a safe bet when it comes to console deals, and it's had some great offers in spite of the pandemic. That makes it one to watch when it comes to PS5, though it's queuing system last time was incredibly frustrating. Position 90,478 anyone?View Deal
© Provided by GamesRadar John Lewis It's likely that the PS5 prices are going to be the same at most retailers this November, so any edge is worth your time. John Lewis has a doozy; it'll give you a free two-year warranty to go with your product. Other stores usually charge a pretty penny to extend that warranty beyond 12 months, so this is a bargain.View Deal
What about PS5 bundles and deals?
Despite the unveiling of new PS5 launch games, we haven't seen any official PS5 bundles with them yet. Instead, we're hoping retailers get creative soon. We've got our fingers crossed that games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and FIFA 21 to be considered. Or perhaps something with the PS5 controller charging dock and the PS5 Pulse 3D gaming headset.
No matter what, we hope Sony will continue the tradition of its bundles coming with physical copies of the game to increase resale value. We can't guarantee it, though. Because Microsoft only included download codes with Xbox One bundles (as per Nintendo with Nintendo Switch bundles), we wouldn't be surprised to see Sony go the same way with its PS5 bundles. If that's the case, we might be needing a new broadband deal to download those gargantuan install files.
PS5 Digital Edition - what's the difference?
Simply put, the PS5 Digital Edition lacks a disc drive and is cheaper than the regular full-fat version. In fact, it's $100 / £90 less expensive. While this isn't an earth-shattering discount, that's because it's otherwise identical.
Unlike the Xbox Series X and the entry-level Series S, the PS5 Digital Edition is every bit as powerful as the standard PlayStation 5 console; so far as we can tell, there haven't been any cutbacks in terms of raw specs. That means it can handle every next-gen game in 4K with all the associated benefits. Basically, you're getting the same console without the ability to play physical discs.
However, much like with the Xbox One S All-Digital from the current generation, we can't see this digital alternative being a decent choice. PSN games in most territories cost significantly more than their physical counterparts (obscenely so in the UK), and prices take much longer to drop. Not to mention the fact that you shut yourself out from playing pre-owned games, your old DVDs, and 4K Blu-rays.
We could be proven wrong, particularly if PS Now evolves into a worthy rival for Xbox Game Pass, but at the time of writing we'd recommend sticking with the standard PS5 if at all possible. It leaves you with more flexibility.
How specs impact the PS5 price
Hoping for a slightly lower PS5 price? We (and our bank balances) hear you. However, it's actually fair value when you break everything down. If we were to build the PS5 from components that are on the market right now, it'd be much, much more expensive.
Let's look at the GPU first. Right now, you'd be staring down the barrel of an RTX 2080 equivalent graphics card (e.g., the best graphics cards) to handle ray tracing at any kind of decent frame rate or resolution. To produce ray tracing at 4K - before we even get to the 8K Sony has promised - you'd need a powerful chip like a Radeon VII, or whatever the Navi equivalent will be inside the PS5. Want it to hit 30 frames per-second and medium-high settings? You'd be looking at $800 / £600+ at a minimum.
Now, onto that SSD. If you go bargain hunting right this second, you'll pay $350 / £300-ish for a 1TB NVMe SSD from the likes of Samsung. Yes, you can go cheaper, but Sony is claiming that the PS5's SSD will outperform all current PC SSDs. As such, $350 / £300 or more is about right.
With that in mind, we're already looking at $1,000 / £1,000+ build. And that's before you take other parts into account. We assume 32GB of RAM at a minimum, a Ryzen 7 equivalent CPU with 8 cores (which we know about), and all the cooling, power, wireless tech, and casing required to keep everything together. That's another $500 - $800 / £400 - £700 at least.
Then there's the DualSense controller. It contains haptic feedback that's going to replace the traditional vibrations we've had for a long time, increasing immersion in games literally through touch and feel. The adaptive triggers will also seek to offer differing resistance depending on what you're doing in-game, like drawing a bow or driving over gravel. That's bound to increase the PS5 price.
This doesn't mean the PS5 should cost over $1,000 / £1,000 though. Given the strides in GPU development and the inevitable cost-cutting Sony has arranged, the PS5 is a fair bit cheaper than that. Plus, the cost for future models will keep going down as the company figures out manufacturing tricks to lower the price of production.