In the ever-expanding world of Sony’s technology, they have recently released the PlayStation 4 Slim. While it may appear at first glance that the only difference is the size and weight of the console, there are actually a couple more upgrades since the release of the PlayStation 4.
On the outside of the PS4 Slim has power and eject buttons that are actual buttons, versus the touch-sensitive ones features on the PS4. This allows for an easier control of the power of the console, with touch-sensitive buttons, the smallest touch can power off a console, even during game play.
The edges of the PS4 Slim are rounded corners and it weighs 2 pounds less than the original PS4 did. The rubber feet at each corner are triangles, circles, squares, and X’s to mirror the face buttons that appear on the controllers, and the PlayStation logo has moved to the center of the device, versus being on the left side.
As far as the hard drive is concerned, Sony has been able to reduce the power consumption of the PS4 Slim by about 34%, which keeps the console from overheating and can make a small effect on your power bill. But the load speeds and software has not changed much since the PS4 was released.
- Only on Playstation PS4 bundle includes a Jet black 1TB PS4, matching Dualshock4 Wireless Controller, God of war, the last of US remastered, and Horizon Zero Dawn: complete Edition games.
- It is a new beginning for Kratos. With his son Atreus, he must face the brutal Norse wilds and venture on a dangerous, personal journey.
- Winner of over 200 game of the Year awards, the last of US has been rebuilt for the PlayStation4 system. Now featuring higher resolution character models, improved shadows and lighting, in addition to several other gameplay improvements.
- Experience the full Horizon Zero Dawn adventure. Explore a version of Earth inhabited by mysterious machines in a new open-world action/RPG.
While there is only 500GB of space available, there is a thin L-shaped piece of plastic in the back guarding a spot that allows for a larger external hard drive to be inserted into. The PS4 Slim also have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 capability, which allows you to download and stream quickly, depending on your internet speeds of course.
Since the PlayStation was given an upgrade, so were their controllers. The DualShock 4 gamepad controller has smoother analog thumb stick pods that allow for a smoother motion for your character.
This controller now transmits its data over USB which eliminates the lag between the controller and the console, but if you are only playing single player games. Unfortunately, with the upgrade of the DualShock 4 Controller, the battery life is still terrible and does not last very long.
Table of Contents
Features
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0
- Upgraded DualShock 4 Controller
- Slimmer and lighter console
- Actual power and eject buttons versus touch-sensitive
Pros
- Quick download and streaming capability
- Power consumption lowered by 34%
- DualShock 4 controller transmits data over USB
- Quieter performance
Cons
- DualShock 4 Controller has short battery life
- 500 GB internal hard drive, with place to purchase external hard drive and insert into console
Popular Games for the PS4
Verdict
If you already own a PS4 and think that you want to upgrade to the PS4 Slim because it has a lot of great software updates, don’t.
While the PlayStation 4 Slim may have some software and cosmetic upgrades, if you are just wanting to buy a new console, wait until the PlayStation 4 Pro comes out, which is reported to have many more upgrades than the PS4 Slim. But if you are planning on upgrading from a different generation of PlayStation this is a great buy.
With a lighter and smaller console, the PS4 Slim is more portable than before, being able to move it easily from room to room, or take it with you on vacation.
It has a quieter performance than the PS4 does, with no loud fan sound or disc reading screeches. But despite these small changes, and the fact that it will run at a reduced power consumption level, it is hard to say this is the device to buy after owning the PS4.
This console lacks the UHD Blu-Ray drive, like the XBOX One has, meaning when you play Blu-Ray Movies, they will not appear with ultra-high definition clarity. The DualShock 4 Controller has a short battery life, enabling it to last no more than a couple of hours of nonstop game play.
The PS4 Slim does not have a great upgrade from the PS4, other than mostly cosmetic features. Unless you feel the need to have every single gaming device on the market, the PS4 Slim is not worth the money. Especially since Sony announced that they will be released the PlayStation 4 Pro in November for only $100 more than what the PS4 Slim costs.