Sony PlayStation 5 vs PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
Buy the disc PlayStation 5 if you want to play physical games, rent discs, or resell titles; it costs $589.98 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026. Buy the Digital Edition if you only download games and want to save money, at $520.00 at Retro vGames as of November 3, 2026. The two run the same games at the same speed; the $69.98 gap buys you a Blu-ray drive.
Today the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition costs $69.98 less at its best price.
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Sony PlayStation 5
4.7$589.98at WalmartObserved at 5:28 AM
Choose the PlayStation 5 if you own PS4 discs, borrow or resell games, or want a 4K Blu-ray player in the same box.
Pros
- Plays disc and digital games, so you can buy used copies cheaply and resell them.
- Doubles as a 4K Blu-ray player.
- Same 825 GB SSD and 4K 120 FPS performance as the Digital Edition.
- Dolby Atmos support listed.
Cons
- Costs $69.98 more than the Digital Edition as of November 3, 2026.
- Weighs 13.43 lb and is the larger of the two.
- Disc drive adds a moving part that can fail.
What separates them
| Sony PlayStation 5 | PlayStation 5 Digital Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Disc drive | Blu-ray drive, plays disc games and 4K Blu-ray movies | No drive, downloads only |
| Price as of November 3, 2026 | $589.98 at Walmart | $520.00 at Retro vGames |
| Weight | 13.43 lb | 8.6 lb |
| Storage | 825 GB SSD | 825 GB SSD |
| CPU and GPU | Zen 2 8-core at 3.5 GHz, RDNA 2 GPU, 16 GB GDDR6 | Zen 2 8-core at 3.5 GHz, RDNA 2 GPU, 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Resolution and frame rate | Up to 4K at 120 FPS, 8K output, ray tracing | Up to 4K at 120 FPS, 8K output, ray tracing |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos and Tempest 3D AudioTech | Tempest 3D AudioTech |
| Game buying options | New, used, discounted and borrowed discs, plus digital store |
Price history
$589.98$300.00
- Sony PlayStation 5: lowest $300.00 on Oct 30 at Abraa; $589.98 on Nov 3.
- PlayStation 5 Digital Edition: lowest $452.16 on Nov 3 at Unbound XR.
Prices at every store
Sony PlayStation 5
- WalmartNew
In stockSold by Gamer Girlz
$589.98Free shippingObserved at 5:28 AM - eBayNew
In stock
$650.00Observed at 7:01 AM - Retro Gaming of DenverNew
In stock
$738.29Free shippingObserved at 5:28 AM
Also available at
- eBayCheck price at eBay
- AbraaCheck price at Abraa
- AmazonCheck price at Amazon
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition
Specs compared
| Spec | Sony PlayStation 5 | PlayStation 5 Digital Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Supported Network | PlayStation Network | Internet Browsing, Wi-Fi |
| Storage Capacity | 16 GB, 825 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB | 825 GB |
| With Motion Control | Yes | — |
| Blu-Ray Compatible | Yes | — |
| 4K Capable | Yes | — |
| Wireless Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | — |
| Edition Type | Standard Edition | — |
| Height | 4.1″ tall | — |
| Width | 4.09″ wide | — |
| Depth | 10.24″ deep | — |
| Brand |
Questions and answers
- Do games run better on the disc PlayStation 5?
- No. Both use the same Zen 2 CPU, RDNA 2 GPU, 16 GB of RAM and 825 GB SSD, so frame rates and load times match. The only difference is how you get the games.
- Is the Digital Edition worth the savings?
- If you never buy discs, yes. At $520.00 at Retro vGames versus $589.98 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026, you save $69.98, about the price of one new game. If you buy used discs, the disc model pays that back quickly.
- Can I add storage to either one?
- Yes. Both have an M.2 NVMe slot for extra SSD storage, and both can run games from a USB drive. The 825 GB built in is the same on each.
- Which one is better for a family with kids?
- The disc model, if the household swaps or borrows games. Discs can be shared, traded and resold, which the Digital Edition cannot do.
- Does the Digital Edition play Blu-ray movies?
- No. It has no disc drive, so movies must come from a streaming app. The disc PlayStation 5 plays 4K Blu-ray discs.
- Which is cheaper over time?
- The Digital Edition costs less up front, but disc games go on sale used far more often. Heavy players usually spend less overall with the disc model.