PS5 Slim: when will we see a smaller, lighter PlayStation 5?

techradar.com:

There needn’t be any doubts that Sony will release a PS5 Slim in the coming years. The Japanese company has always released a smaller and lighter revision of its home consoles – from the original PlayStation to the PS4, which means a PS5 Slim is surely a matter of when, and not if.

Sony will be looking to shave off a few inches and knock a couple of pounds off the PS5’s original polarizing design, then, but a PS5 Slim isn’t just about appealing to consumers who may have been put off by the console’s gargantuan size.

Slim consoles are essentially a cost-cutting exercise for companies. As manufacturing costs begin to wane and more efficient parts are available, Sony will be able to create a smaller version of the PS5 that not only costs less to make, but will deliver the same experience as its bulkier predecessor but in a significantly smaller package.

* What is it? A smaller, lighter redesign of the PS5

*How much will it cost? We expect it will cost $399 / £349

*When will it be released? Probably sometime in 2023 

In fact, Sony has already started to trim down the PS5, at least internally. New models of the PS5 Digital Edition, CFI-1100B, is a whopping 300 grams lighter than the launch model was, and Sony even decided to change the screw that comes with the PS5’s stand, too. The console also has a redesigned heatsink, which resulted in a lighter system.

There are a few caveats to keep in mind when it comes to hardware revisions, though. Slim consoles can have a tendency to feel cheaper than launch models, which can sometimes be over-engineered. While that’s not always the case, sometimes the cost-savings can be felt, and sometimes features are even removed. The PS4 Slim, for example, removed the optical port which was found on