Best PlayStation 5 consoles

Start with the PS5 Slim with a disc drive. It plays both physical discs and digital games, so you can buy cheap used discs and still stream everything — the most flexible way into the PS5 library, and the model Sony currently builds.

Who the others suit:

• PS5 Slim Digital — you buy all your games digitally and want the same performance for less.
• Original PS5 (disc) — you want the full-size launch console, often found secondhand.
• Digital bundles with an extra controller — two-player households, so you don't buy a second pad.
• PS5 Pro — only worth it if you have a 4K/120Hz TV and want the sharpest picture; it isn't in these results.

All of these play the same games; the difference is the disc drive, storage and size.