Sony PlayStation 4 Slim Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

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The PlayStation Slim is now the standard PlayStation
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Sony’s shrink ray has done it again. The PlayStation 4 has officially been miniaturized to become the PlayStation 4 Slim. It’s coming September 15 for $299 (£259, no price for Australia yet), the same price the original version costs right now.

Basically, it’s the same PlayStation 4 game console you know and love (or hate?), only an estimated 30 percent smaller than before, according to measurements taken by people who managed to buy the system ahead of launch.

That’s a notable drop: the original PS4 stood two inches high, while the new slimmer version measures more like an inch and a half tall.

Pricing for the new PlayStation 4 Slim.

Other than the obvious size difference, there’s not a heck of a lot to say about the new PlayStation 4 Slim. It still plays all the same games the exact same way with the exact same internal hardware — with only minor functional differences.

For instance, reports suggest it’s a little bit easier to install a new hard drive now (500GB comes standard, with a 1TB version as well), and a slightly tweaked DualShock 4 controller can be directly connected to the console with a USB cable to improve response times in intense games.

According to those reports, there’s also no longer an optical audio jack on the back of the system, and the Slim runs cooler and quieter thanks to improved cooling and a redesigned fan.

Sony says the new slimmer PS4 is 25 percent lighter than the original, and 34 percent more power efficient.

Otherwise, you’ll looking at cosmetic differences like a little light strip that helps you find the power button, another light strip on top of the controller to get your attention, PlayStation symbols peppering the bottom panel, and front USB 3.0 ports that are a little bit further apart.

Sony’s new, slimmer PlayStation 4.

Sony

But the PlayStation 4 Slim doesn’t need to be a big upgrade, because it’ll replace the existing PlayStation 4 in stores. If you’re looking for some more power in your PlayStation, you’ll want to look at the PS4 Pro, the new high-end 4K-ready console that Sony’s announcing as well!

Or if you just happen to like cute, shrunk-down game consoles, check out the Xbox One S and the NES Classic Mini.