Do I Really Need the Disc Version of the PS5?

The short answer is – it depends.

If you want the flexibility to buy cheap physical games, play 4K Blu-ray discs, and access your old PS4 library, the disc-based PS5 is likely worth the extra $100 investment. But if you are committed to all-digital gaming, the PS5 Digital Edition provides identical performance for $100 less.

Let‘s take an in-depth look at the key differences to help you decide.

Physical Discs Unlock More Purchasing and Playing Options

The biggest distinction between the standard PS5 and digital-only edition is the 4K Blu-ray disc drive. This allows the standard PS5 to play physical game discs, DVDs, Blu-rays and CDs – providing more choice in how you acquire and access games.

Here are some of the key benefits the disc drive enables:

• Buy and sell used physical games – Second-hand discs often get heavily discounted, saving you money. And you can trade in games after completing.

• Leverage sales on physical game copies – Physical games frequently go on sale for cheap at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Digital sales exist too, but physical deals are more plentiful.

• Access your PS4 physical game library – The PS5 plays almost all PS4 game discs, so your existing collection isn‘t wasted if upgrading.

• Enjoy Ultra HD Blu-ray movies – The PS5 drive supports 4K HDR playback of UHD Blu-ray films – a major perk for home theater enthusiasts.

Without a disc drive, the PS5 Digital Edition locks you into buying digital copies only from the PlayStation Store. While the store does have sales, pricing is controlled by Sony and tends to be higher on average compared to physical retailers competing for business.

According to Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla pricing data, the digital PS5 version cost $60 for 220 days post-launch, while the physical edition dropped as low as $35 during sales. That‘s nearly a $25 difference!

Edition	Lowest Sale Price	Days at Full Price
PS5 Digital	$60	220 days
PS5 Physical	$35	152 days

So if you want to shop around for deals and maximize savings, the disc drive model certainly helps. But let‘s explore a few other key considerations.

Physical and Digital Games Occupy the Same SSD Space

A common misconception is that physical PS5 games must take up less storage space than their digital counterparts. In reality, both physical and digital titles consume identical space once installed to the SSD.

The installation size makes sense when you consider that the full game data still needs to be copied to the console‘s storage in order to play. The disc itself serves only as the installation medium, not the playback medium.

Here are some average install sizes for popular PS5 titles:

• Spider-Man: Miles Morales – 50GB
• Demon‘s Souls – 56GB
• Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla – 46GB
• Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War – 95GB

While physical owners do avoid having to download the entire game before playing, the end result is the same drive space required.

So don‘t expect your game library to fit any more comfortably on the stock 825GB SSD with physical discs – you‘ll need to invest in extended storage either way.

4K Blu-ray Playback Makes the PS5 a Movie Powerhouse

Here‘s another advantage of the disc drive that may surprise you – the PS5 can double as an incredible 4K Blu-ray player.

The console‘s integrated UHD Blu-ray drive enables playback of Ultra HD Blu-ray discs in stunning 4K resolution with HDR color. This high-fidelity movie watching experience is simply not possible on the Digital Edition without the drive.

In fact, the PS5 is considered one of the best 4K Blu-ray players available. So cinephiles who want a console that pulls triple duty as a top-tier games system, media streamer, and UHD Blu-ray player will find tremendous value in the standard PS5.

Disc Benefits Diminish for Digital-Only Gamers

However, if you know you will buy all of your PS5 games digitally regardless, the disc drive becomes far less important.

The gaming experience between the two consoles is otherwise identical. All PS5 titles are available for digital purchase on PSN, and the performance is the same across both models in terms of resolution, frame rates, loading times, etc.

In this case, you aren‘t missing out on anything except 4K Blu-ray playback. The PS5 Digital Edition will meet all of your needs as a digital-only gamer, while costing $399 instead of $499. That‘s a considerable 20% savings off the standard MSRP.

Sony has also confirmed the PS5 Digital Edition sometimes gets special discounts not offered on the disc version. For example, during a 2021 holiday promotion, the Digital Edition was $50 off while the disc console stayed at full price.

Game Resale and Lending Value

One advantage of physical games that digital lacks is the ability to resell, lend, or trade in titles after you are done playing. This provides an avenue to recoup some costs that isn‘t possible with digital-only copies locked to your account.

However, digital game values do tend to decrease faster than physical copies over time. So while reselling provides instant cash back, most games see deep discounts within 6-12 months if you can wait it out.

Here‘s a look at how The Last of Us Part II‘s price declined across formats:

Edition	Launch Price	Lowest Sale Price	Months to Reach Low
PSN Digital	$60	$30	10 months
Physical Disc	$60	$20	14 months

The digital version actually hit its all-time low price several months sooner than the physical edition. But discs remain an instant cash-back option later on.

Disc Edition Provides More Flexibility and Access

At the end of the day, the PS5 with 4K Blu-ray disc drive simply provides more flexibility and choice in how you acquire your games.

• The freedom to shop for the best physical deals
• Reselling and trading in games
• Building a disc library across generations
• Playing your UHD movie collection

These benefits make the standard PS5 hard to pass up for many gamers. But the PS5 Digital Edition still delivers the same powerful performance focused exclusively on digital games and entertainment.

If you don‘t care about physical media at all, the Digital Edition can save you $100 while meeting your needs. But for those who want options, the disc-based console is likely worth stretching your budget a bit further.

Which PS5 Edition Should You Choose?

Here is my recommended guidance based on your gamer profile:

For disc enthusiasts: The standard PS5 is easily worth the extra cost to gain physical media access. Enjoy building a game library across formats while saving money on deals.

For all-digital users: The Digital Edition provides identical gaming power for less. Skip the disc drive you won‘t use anyway.

For patient shoppers: Regular PSN sales make patience worthwhile. Save money upfront with the Digital Edition.

For 4K movie buffs: The PS5 is an amazing Ultra HD Blu-ray player alone. Discs are a must for home theater setups.

For storage maximizers: Physical games take up the same SSD space regardless. Go all-digital if your budget is tight.

For re-sellers: Disc gaming maintains this option to recoup costs after playing. Digital-only means no cash back.

For PS4 upgraders: Keep full access to your existing physical PS4 library. Discless means re-buying games digitally.

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Still Not Sure? Go With Disc Flexibility

When in doubt, I tend to recommend the disc-based PS5 simply for the added flexibility and access options. But it really comes down to each gamer‘s priorities. Evaluate the key pros and cons above to decide which edition best fits your needs and budget.

With Sony dominating the console market, you can‘t go wrong investing in the PS5 platform either way. Now get out there and start enjoying next-gen gameplay! Let me know if you have any other questions.