The original PS5, with its white-and-black monolith design, was a behemoth whether it's sitting on your TV console or gaming desk.
It had a presence that one tolerated rather than truly embraced. So, the idea of Sony giving the PS5 a much-needed aesthetic overhaul seemed like an obvious win.
However, the result is a series of what I thought were halfhearted changes that feel more like missed opportunities.
Let's talk size. Sony claims the new PS5 is over 30% smaller in volume. At first glance, this seems impressive, but the reality is a bit more nuanced. The console's size still leaves an imposing footprint.
Its swooping curves and contours left me constantly changing my opinion of the design, depending on the angle I'm looking at it from (I decided that it looks best for me when laying it horizontally and at an angle where I can see more of either side). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but I thought the design is busy, bordering on fussy, and frankly, lacking the simplicity from past PlayStation Slim models - such as the really good-looking PS2 Slim and PS4 Slim.
The slim version does improve on its predecessor's aesthetics with shorter white covers and a more defined top curve.
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