If you’ve been waiting to snap up a PlayStation 5 before GTA 6 lands this autumn, now’s the time to strike.
Sony just announced a price hike for the PS5 Digital Edition, bumping the console from £390 to £430 (a £40 jump), despite it being nearly five years old.
The company blames inflation and currency swings for the increase, though, oddly, the US has been spared despite Donald Trump’s sky-high tariffs on China, where the console is manufactured.
But here’s the good news: plenty of UK shops are still selling the PS5 at a discount — some for as little as £329, with a game thrown in.
So if you’ve been holding out, here are the best deals we’ve spotted on both the Digital Edition and the disc-friendly version of the PS5.
PS5 Digital Edition Astro Bot bundle – £329 from the EE Store
The main thing to know about the Digital Edition is that it doesn’t take discs. You can only play games you’ve bought online, either from the PlayStation Store or other retailers. That said, if you change your mind later, you can buy a detachable disc drive for £69.99 (thanks to a recent price cut) and start collecting physical games, which are often cheaper.
Despite its smaller size, the PS5 Slim delivers the same crisp 4K graphics and super-smooth performance of up to 120 frames per second as the standard PS5 — but at a significantly lower price (at least until the hike kicks in, that is).
Right now, this deal saves you £100 on the console, and you’ll also get Astro Bot — Sony’s answer to Mario and one of last year’s best-loved platformers — thrown in for free. Argos, Very and Sports Direct are all offering the same bundle for an extra £10.
PS5 Digital Edition (console only) - £344.46 from Amazon
If the EE deal sells out, you can still grab the PS5 Digital Edition on its own for £344.46 at Amazon.
That’s a decent saving compared to Argos (£389.99) and John Lewis (£389). It seems many retailers didn’t get the memo from Sony, with plenty of places yet to update their prices, but don’t count on it lasting for long.
PS5 Digital Edition (refurbished) - £299.99 from PlayStation Direct
Want to save even more? Sony is selling a refurbished PS5 Digital Edition for £299.99 — that’s the original 2020 model, not the newer Slim.
Refurbished means the console has been cleaned, tested, and restored with official PlayStation parts if needed, so it works like new. It also comes boxed with all the usual accessories and a warranty for peace of mind.
One catch: you’ll need a PlayStation Network account to order direct from Sony, though that’s simple to set up.
PS5 Disc Console Slim Astro Bot Bundle (console only) - £419 EE Store
The EE Store edges out the competition with this deal on the standard PS5 Slim, coming in at £10 less than rival retailers.
Since the bundle costs less than the console on its own, it’s the smarter pick for now.
While the Digital Edition is a solid pick for budget-conscious gamers, you might find yourself missing physical discs down the line. After all, trading in old games for money off new releases — or swapping and borrowing with friends — is a storied tradition worth keeping alive.
