‘PS4 Slim’ release date and pricing UK
‘PS4 Slim’ UK release date: 16 September 2016
The slim PlayStation 4 was released in the UK on 16 September 2016, two months ahead of the PlayStation 4 Pro‘s November launch. Read next: Best games of 2016
‘PS4 Slim’ features and spec: What to expect from the PlayStation 4 Slim
So, what’s new with the latest PlayStation 4 console? Of course by this point you would’ve realised that the PS4 Slim is slimmer than the original PS4 console, which many thought was rather large and hefty, and is also the same PlayStation that leaked weeks prior to its announcement. As well as being slimmer, Sony has decided to veer away from the angular, sleek look of the launch PS4 console and has instead gone with a curvy design, with rounded corners at each side. While it’s not a major design change, we’ve also noticed that Sony has replaced the standard feet of the PlayStation 4 with one depicting the four icons of its controller – Square, Circle, Triangle and X. It’s a small touch, but it’s nice and showcases Sony’s attention to detail.
But while the new PS4 has had a facelift, the internals are almost identical to the current console and thus offers no real advantages in terms of performance or graphics. However, one improvement Sony has made is the introduction of faster 5GHz Wi-Fi, a feature of the Xbox One since launch, providing faster connectivity for increased download speeds and improved online gameplay without the need for an Ethernet cable. While the new slim PS4 has HDR support, that isn’t a feature specific to the slimline PS4 as it’s been introduced to the launch PS4 via software update, and is also a feature of the high-end PlayStation 4 Pro. A redesigned console needs a redesigned controller, right? Of course, although it’s more of a facelift than a redesign. The new DualShock 4 controller looks largely the same as its predecessor, although it comes with a thin light strip across the top of the touch panel. Ground-breaking, we know. It also supports USB communication, so the controller can be linked to the PS4 or PC by cable, which should cut down on lag times (although these are minute and only pro gamers may notice the difference).
‘PS4 Slim’ design and colours: Glacier White PS4 Slim announced
In January 2017 Sony announced that players will no longer be limited to buying the PS4 Slim in black, launching the Glacier White PS4 Slim to expand the range. Naturally, it comes with with a matching white DualShock 4 controller, though is otherwise identical to the default model – including the 500GB hard drive that comes as standard. The Glacier White PS4 launches in the UK on 24 January 2017.
‘PS4 Slim’ specs
Product code: CUH-2000 seriesMain Processor: Single-chip custom processorCPU: x86-64 AMD “Jaguar”, 8 coresGPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon based graphics engineMemory: GDDR5 8GBStorage size: 500GBExternal dimensions: ~265 × 39 × 288mmBD/ DVD drive (read only): BD × 6 CAV, DVD × 8 CAVInput/ Output: Super-Speed USB (USB 3.1 Gen1) port × 2, AUX port × 1Networking: Ethernet?10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T?×, IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac wi-fi, Bluetooth v4.0Power: AC 100-240V, 50/60HzPower consumption: Max. 165WOperating Temperature: 5-degrees C – 35-degrees CAV output: HDMI out port (HDR output supported)
Read next: PS4 Pro review Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You’ll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.