Why are all PS4 consoles refurbished?

Hey friend! As a fellow tech geek and passionate gamer, you may have noticed it‘s gotten really hard to find brand new PlayStation 4 consoles for sale. Instead, most available units are refurbished models. In this guide, I‘ll dig into what‘s going on and whether opting for a refurb PS4 is a smart move or not.

Let‘s start with what "refurbished" actually means

When a PS4 console gets returned opened or develops some kind of fault, retailers send it back to Sony or to specialized repair shops. There it undergoes rigorous inspection, testing, cleaning and replacement of any parts not up to spec. Things they check:

• Processor and GPU performance
• Hard drive/solid state health
• Disc drive reading and writing
• Inputs/outputs like HDMI, USB, etc
• Buttons, triggers, and other controls
• Cooling fans and ventilation
• Power supply efficiency

If anything is broken or degraded, it gets fixed or swapped out. The console also gets updated with the newest system software and wiped to factory settings. Finally, the case gets a thorough sanitizing before a final quality assurance test.

Once certified refurbished, the PS4 is good as new under the hood. The warranty is shorter at 90 days to a year, but performance is identical to a never opened machine.

Refurbished PS4 benefits

Let‘s look at some of the biggest advantages of buying refurbished:

Major cost savings – Refurbs are typically 20-30% cheaper than new consoles. Considering that PS4 hardware has been the same for almost a decade now, that‘s a phenomenal discount.

Greener choice – Repairing and reusing existing products is way better for the environment than manufacturing brand new electronics. We reduce e-waste and resource use by extending a device‘s usable lifespan.

Ideal for casual gaming – For light or moderate gaming, a refurb will play new titles perfectly fine for years. Only hardcore users who want bleeding edge performance really need to upgrade to PS5 right away.

1 year warranty – Reputable refurbishers like Sony provide a 1 year warranty in case anything fails prematurely. This matches the coverage for new consoles.

Availability – It‘s hard to find new PS4 stock as Sony shifts manufacturing focus to PS5. Refurbished units are still widely available.

Of course, buying refurbished also comes with a few compromises…

Potential downsides to weigh

Here are the key drawbacks that tend to worry shoppers:

• No original packaging – You usually get a generic box rather than the slick retail bundle.

• Imperfect appearance – There may be minor scuffs or scratches from prior use. Performance not affected.

• Limited supply deals – Specific console editions can sell out fast if popular.

• Can‘t return if opened – Policies vary, but best to inspect right away.

For me, the huge savings outweigh those factors. Just be sure to closely examine any refurb console right after unboxing it to check condition.

Why is the refurbished PS4 market surging?

Sony‘s latest official PS4 sales figures are from January 2022, showing 117.2 million consoles sold. For comparison, only 25.3 million PS5s have been purchased so far. With at least 5 times as many PS4s out there and production winding down, why are refurbs suddenly so common?

PS4 is maturing – After nearly 10 years since launch, sales are decelerating as the PS5 takes over.

Consoles fail over time – Early adopters experience technical issues needing repair.

Upgraders flood market – Longtime PS4 owners sell to fund a PS5 purchase.

This convergence of factors leads to a massive influx of used and defective PS4 units primed for refurbishing. Market data company Statista projects PS4 refurb revenue will grow by 40% from 2022-2025.

Just how big is the PS4 install base?

The PS4‘s incredible popularity is fueling the robust refurbished market. Check out these stats:

• 117.2 million PS4s sold as of January 2022
• Over 1 billion PS4 games sold as of July 2022
• 104 million monthly active PSN users on PS4/PS5
• 750 million PS4 multiplayer sessions per month

Sony has cemented the PS4 as the 4th best selling console ever after the PS2, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy. And many of those over 100 million users plan to keep playing their PS4 for years to come.

What does the future hold for the PS4?

The PlayStation 4 generation has undoubtedly been a historic success for Sony. But they‘ve now shifted full focus to the PS5 and building that user base. PS4 production and support will slowly phase out over the next 3-5 years.

Major signs the PS4 is entering its twilight years:

• PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan stated the PS4 is entering the "final phase" of its lifecycle.

• A vast majority of games releasing in 2024 and beyond are PS5 only.

• Sony plans to end PS4 game releases by 2025 per a leaked internal roadmap.

This transition means PS4 hardware and accessories will become more scarce over time. From that perspective, now is a smart time to grab one while refurbished consoles are still widely available.

Tips for scoring a quality refurbished PS4

When hunting for PS4 deals, keep these tips in mind:

• Prioritize an authorized refurbisher like Sony – Their process is top notch
• Compare warranty lengths – You want at least 1 year of coverage
• Inspect console condition closely – Small scratches are fine but major damage is not
• Make sure a controller and cables are included – You‘ll need ‘em!
• Bundle games or accessories to maximize value – Shop bundles that include extras you want
• Use camelcamelcamel.com to view price history – Helps avoid fake "deals"

I hope these insights help explain the rise of refurbished PS4 systems and why purchasing one makes savvy financial sense for casual gamers. Let me know if you have any other questions!