Where to buy the PlayStation 5

Nearly every holiday season when there’s a new gaming console on store shelves, it becomes one of the must-have gifts of the year. The PlayStation 5, Sony’s latest contribution to the ongoing console wars, is no exception. It launched on November 12, 2020, and stores have been struggling to keep it in stock ever since.

In a statement, Sony announced that demand for the PS5 is “unprecedented” — everyone’s favorite word of 2020. However, Sony promised that more stock will be sent to retailers before the end of the year.

To save you time, we’ve rounded up all the stores with the next-gen console currently in stock.

Where to buy the PlayStation 5

On November 25, Sony stated that the PS5 launch has been their largest to date, and accordingly, they’re having trouble keeping up with demand. But they’ve promised to release more stock before the holidays.

As the next-gen console restocks in stores, we’ll keep you up to date on where you can snag the next-gen console.

How much does the PlayStation 5 cost?

Sony released two consoles at launch: a standard model and an all-digital version that lacks an optical disc drive. Otherwise, the specifications are identical.

• The PlayStation 5 Standard Edition costs $499.99
• The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition costs $399.99

PS5 games are expected to be more expensive — around $10 more than full-price PS4 titles.

Which version of the PS5 should you buy?

With the exception of the disc slot, the Standard Edition and Digital Edition are identical beneath the hood. To know which option is best for your gaming needs, consider how you plan to use it.

Internet connection

While the Digital Edition retails for less, you can’t play games from physical discs. Instead, all media is streamed or downloaded on the Internet. So if you live in a spot where the connection is unstable, you may want to opt for the standard model.

When a new game releases, you must wait for the entire game — or at least most of it — to download before you can play. If you’re eager to start racking up XP, the physical version might be a quicker route to playing that latest release, unless you do most of your shopping online and need to wait for shipping. In that case, the digital system might be the better option.

Backward compatibility

With the Standard Edition, backward compatibility is pretty simple: Simply insert your PS4 discs into your next-gen console. Compatibility for digital games is easy, too. Sony will offer a PS5 upgrade for the digital games you downloaded on your PS4 — but be sure to use the same PSN account for both consoles.

However, PS4 disc games with the digital-only PS5 are where things get murky. After all, if there’s no disc slot, where do you insert your PS4 discs? Sony hasn’t revealed how this will work yet, if at all.

Hard drive space

While both versions come with the same amount of hard drive space, the digital-only version fills up faster since you aren’t relying on discs to carry some of the weight. If you’re a gamer who plays a handful of the big releases or several smaller indie games, you could be safe. However, if you love a wide variety of games and hate deleting your saves, you might want to stick to the standard version to avoid maxing out your hard drive so quickly.

Blu-ray and DVDs

Without a disc slot, you can’t play Blu-ray or DVD movies on the digital-only option. So if you like watching movies and don’t want to clutter your home entertainment unit with extra hardware, consider the standard edition. But if you rarely use physical media, then the digital version might be a worthy choice to save some money.

Where to buy PlayStation 5 products online

eBay

eBay is a great place to shop for the PS5, as you can easily compare products and prices from various sellers in one place. If the console sells out, you can also buy it from resellers as a last resort.

• Free delivery on eligible items with an eBay Plus membership
• New products added daily
• Shop by guaranteed delivery date

Which of these retailers offer free delivery?

• Sony: Free delivery on eligible items
• Amazon: Free delivery on eligible items with Amazon Prime</li
• eBay Free delivery on eligible items with eBay Plus
• Target: Free delivery on orders of $80+