3 years ago
Talha Sonmez
Are you stuck between choosing the [PS5 Disc](https://stock-checker.com/products/playstation-5.html) and [Digital Edition](https://stock-checker.com/products/playstation-5-digital.html) consoles? Perhaps you need a little more reassurance or advice on which PS5 Edition will benefit you the most for both short-run and long-run factors. As the leading restock tracker, this is a question we've been asked many times, so in this article, I'll be laying out the pros and cons of both editions and which one you should buy.
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**Is there a difference between the PS5 Disc and Digital Edition?**
Yes, there is, though there's just one. The only difference is the 4K UHD Blu-ray disc drive, which the PS5 Digital Edition lacks; as the name suggests, all games are digital (from the PlayStation Store). This adds a little more weight to the PS5 Disc Edition console if that's something you consider essential. Besides the disc drive, the PS5 Disc and Digital Edition consoles perform identically as they're both made of the same internal and external components.**PS5 Disc Edition - The Pros and Cons**
The PS5 Disc Edition costs **£449.99/$499.99/€499.99**, offering you the next generation of PlayStation games. Financially, you'll be paying more for the console over the Digital Edition. However, you'd be saving much more over the long run due to the freedom you'll gain when purchasing games. Instead of being locked to PS Store prices (which usually has pathetic deals), you'd have access to both online and local retailers who work with Sony to sell PlayStation games. This includes conglomerates such as [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3PqF16j), as well as aftermarkets like [eBay](https://ebay.us/trAjdP).Retailers (like Amazon) like to stay competitive, so they'll drop the prices of games to price-match each other. On some rare occasions, they'll price games extremely cheap to steal their competitors' customers, as they still make a ton of profit due to the number of sales generated. This is a win-win situation for you (the customer) as you'll pick the retailer offering the game for the lowest price, as you should. A made-up example of this can be the PS Store offering a game for £69.99, whilst Amazon is offering the same game for £54.99, and eBay offering it for £34.99.
Even though this is beneficial, the PS5 Disc Edition isn't for everyone. As games are physical, you'd have to look after them. If the CD of a video game is damaged or broken, you won't be able to play the game again at all. You'd have to purchase another copy, which means spending more money. This is a rare occurrence, though not impossible. The same applies if your 4K UHD Blu-ray disc drive is faulty/broken. You won't have to buy a brand new PS5, though you would have to contact Sony or the retailer you purchased the console from and ship them your PS5 so they fix the disc drive, which could take a while.
https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2022/07/a1d844518fb665a9f0e4118fb68fd295da8e8c1b.jpg
**PS5 Digital Edition - The Pros and Cons**
The PS5 Digital Edition costs £369.99/$399.99/€399.99, offering you the cheapest value of next-generation PlayStation games. This Edition of the PS5 is £90 more affordable than the PS5 Disc Edition, as there is no 4K UHD Blu-ray disc drive in the console. The Digital Edition is designed for gamers who prefer digital media life, without the hassle of physically finding the game they want to play or worrying if they left it over at a friend's house. You can switch between games at speed simply by selecting another game on the home screen menu of your PS5.Most people who prefer the PS5 Digital Edition say that they've purchased it as it's £90 cheaper than the PS5 Disc Edition, which is a false bargain (in my opinion). Yes, in the short-run, you've saved **£90**, which you can now spend on other things such as additional accessories or keep the savings in your pocket for when you next need it. However, the PS5 Digital Edition will eat your wallet more than the PS5 Disc Edition in the long run. You're locked to PS Store games, which isn't where PlayStation gamers want to be if they're looking for a deal on PS5 video games.
You'd be paying the total price 90% of the time, whether or not the game is a premium triple-A title. Sony already increased the price of PlayStation games with the launch of PS5, upping the PS4 games price, which was £49.99-£59.99 to £59.99-£69.99, which is a little absurd. Let's put this in a real-world example when writing this article. Amazon offers [Horizon Forbidden West](https://amzn.to/3QtFtSG), a PlayStation-exclusive title, for £35. That's half price, literally. Whilst [PS Store](https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP9000-PPSA01521_00-FORBIDDENWESTPS5) provides the game for a "great deal" of £52.49. That's £17.49 more for the digital version of the game (via PS Store) compared to a physical copy (by Amazon). Oh, and let's not forget that physical games can be sold on aftermarkets like eBay after you're done with them. It literally can't get better than that.
https://blog.playstation.com/tachyon/2021/11/c70f7c1dba32ad45f615eef2dad5c4e3392064ba.png
**The Final Verdict - PS5 Disc or Digital Edition?**
I recommend purchasing the PS5 Disc Edition due to the financial aspect of the comparison. Although you'd be paying **£90** more, you'd be saving hundreds of £'s in the long run. The PS5 Digital Edition is only worth it if you're going halves on games digitally by sharing the same game with a trustworthy friend or family. You'd have the PS Store at half price forever, as long as that friendship or trust continues! If you're not going that route, I advise the PS5 Disc Edition for you.**Disclaimers**
Talha Sonmez is the Founder & CEO of Stock Checker. You may follow him on Twitter [@Roekaine](https://twitter.com/Roekaine).
Images used in this article belong to PlayStation, respectively.