It’s been notoriously difficult to get your hands on a PS5 since its launch in late 2020 between industry-wide chip shortages and scalpers reselling consoles for nearly $2,000, but the supply has finally caught up to demand for the most part, and now it’s far more common to see the consoles in stock in-store and online at most retailers.
If you’re looking for the best places to purchase PS5 consoles online in 2023, we’ve got you covered with a full breakdown below, including pricing on current PS5 consoles, the best time to buy a PS5, information on PlayStation Plus plans, as well as where to trade in your exisiting PlayStation consoles and games.
Where to Buy PS5 Consoles Online Right Now
If you’re looking to buy a new PlayStation 5 this year, here’s where you can purchase them online in 2023. You can also check out our guide to PS5 deals for potential discounts.
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 is Sony’s latest and greatest and features true 4K visuals with support for ray tracing, an ultrafast 825GB SSD, and the all-new DualSense controller that immerses you in your games through haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
PlayStation 5 – Digital Edition
The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is identical to the standard PS5 in every way, save for the fact that it does not have a UHD Blu-Ray drive affixed to the side and retails for an MSRP of $399.99. As the name implies, this console requires all of your games to be purchased digitally from the PlayStation Store, as it does not accept any physical media.
PlayStation 5 – Digital Edition
PlayStation 5 – Digital Edition
PlayStation 5 – Digital Edition
PlayStation 5 – Digital Edition
PlayStation 5 – Digital Edition
PlayStation 5 – Digital Edition
How Much Does a PS5 Cost?
There are currently two editions of the PlayStation 5: the standard PlayStation 5 console and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console. The standard PlayStation 5 (which plays both physical and digital games) retails for an MSRP of $499.99, while the digital-only PS5 Digital Edition retails for an MSRP of $399.99. There is also going to be a PS5 Slim released in November that will cost between $449.99 and $499.99 depending on if you add the Blu-Ray drive.
There are also a number of limited-edition PS5 bundles throughout the year that feature a unique color or design, and sometimes include a download code for a game in the box, as well.
PlayStation Plus Pricing
PlayStation Plus is Sony’s online membership that allows you to play online with your friends, upload your save data to the cloud, as well as granting you access to a handful of free games each month. Last year, Sony added two additional tiers to PlayStation Plus: PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Premium. These additional tiers provide access to a library of games akin to Xbox Game Pass, with the latter giving you access to classic PlayStation Games and more recent first-party PlayStation titles.
Sony recently raised the prices of all three PlayStation Plus tiers, but announced that PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers will also gain access to a library of movies available to stream through the Sony Pictures Core app.
Here’s what each tier of PlayStation Plus will get you:
PlayStation Plus Essential
PlayStation Plus Essential is effectively what the standard PlayStation Plus experience has been for the past decade or so. This basic plan costs $9.99/month or $79.99/year and allows you to play multiplayer games online with your friends, upload your save data to the cloud, and get exclusive discounts and pricing on games and add-on content. Additionally, you’ll receive a few games each month that can be added to your library and accessed as long as you have an active subscription.
PlayStation Plus Extra
PlayStation Plus Extra costs $14.99/month or $134.99/year and includes everything in the PlayStation Plus Essential tier, while also adding a game catalog featuring hundreds of games that you can download and play, as well as access to a curated collection Ubisoft+ Classics that includes titles from popular Ubisoft franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and more.
PlayStation Plus Premium
PlayStation Plus Premium costs $17.99/month or $159.99/year and includes everything in the PlayStation Plus Extra tier, while also adding access to the Classics catalog – a number of games from PS1, PS2, and PS3 that you can play on your PS5 console. Additionally, you’ll be able to play game trials for specific PS5 games, as well as stream many games from the cloud to your console, PC, and mobile device.
Best Time to Buy a PS5
Generally, the best time to buy a PS5 console is during major yearly shopping events such as Black Friday and the various Amazon Prime Day sales. Although PlayStation consoles rarely go on sale, you can often scoop up limited-time bundles that include additional an additional game or two, and more.
How to Trade in Your Old PlayStation Consoles
If you’re looking to trade in your old PlayStation consoles, you can do so at select retailers in-store and online. Often, the most widely available retailers are GameStop and Best Buy. However, you can also trade your used devices online at retailers such as Amazon and Microsoft.
Some retailers will offer you cash for your used goods, while others may provide you with a gift card that can be used in-store and online. This is a great way to offload your old gaming gear and get some money that you can put towards a newer console and games.
While trading devices in at retailers will often net you the lowest amount for your used consoles, there are also online marketplaces such as eBay, Craigslist, and OfferUp that may fetch higher prices, but you’ll often be responsible for packing and shipping costs, or be required to meet someone in person for the transaction, the latter of which poses its own risks.
Where to Trade in PlayStation Games
Similar to PlayStation console trade ins, you can also trade your existing games in at specific retailers. The most widely available retailer accepting used video games is GameStop, but they are notorious for giving you pennies on the dollar for your pre-owned titles. However, if you’re looking for an easy way to offload some of your library for cash or in-store credit, this is a convenient option. You can always look up the expected trade-in value on GameStop’s website before heading into a store, so you know exactly how much you’ll receive. Additionally, you can trade in your used games online through Amazon in exchange for an Amazon gift card.
Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.
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