Best PlayStation 5 consoles under $500

Top pick: the PS5 Slim Digital Edition. It's the current-generation slim body, so it's the smallest and quietest of the PS5s, and it's the cheapest way into the platform — you buy games digitally, which suits most people who already stream everything. It comes with a DualSense controller and expandable storage.

Who the others suit:

• PS5 Slim with a disc drive — if you own Blu-rays, borrow discs, or want to resell games after finishing them.
• Older 825GB Digital Edition — a fine budget route if you don't mind the larger original chassis and less storage.
• Bigger-storage or limited-edition bundles — only worth it if you want the extras; they run past your cap.

Skip anything refurbished or pre-owned unless you're comfortable with a shorter warranty.