Sony sells three PS5 consoles in the UK, and the gap between them is bigger than the names suggest. The standard PS5 has a disc drive, the Digital Edition does not, and the PS5 Pro adds graphics power for enhanced games while also shipping without a drive. This guide takes each difference from PlayStation UK's own console and support pages, then covers the TV, cable, storage and connection that get the most out of whichever one ends up under the telly.
For most people the PS5 console is the one to buy: Sony lists a 1TB SSD and a built-in disc drive for PS5 and PS4 discs. The PS5 Digital Edition (825GB) suits an all-download library. The PS5 Pro adds a 2TB SSD, PSSR upscaling, advanced ray tracing and Wi-Fi 7, but its graphics gains apply only to enhanced games, and Sony sells its Disc Drive separately.
Key Takeaways
- PlayStation UK lists three consoles: the PS5 console with a 1TB SSD and a disc drive, the PS5 Digital Edition with 825GB and no drive, and the PS5 Pro with 2TB and no drive.
- Sony's PS5 Pro page says PSSR, advanced ray tracing and higher frame rates apply only to select PS5 games enhanced for PS5 Pro, which it counts at over 100 titles.
- Sony's PS5 page says newly released PlayStation games will be sold in digital format only from January 2028, while discs for earlier games can still be played.
- Sony's support pages say 4K at 120Hz needs an HDMI 2.1 port on the TV and the cable from the box or an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K 120Hz.
- Sony's M.2 SSD page asks for a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive of 250GB to 8TB with a heatsink, and recommends sequential reads of 5,500MB/s or faster.
Sony Sells Three PS5 Consoles in the UK
PlayStation UK's PS5 page lists two standard consoles: the PS5 console with a 1TB SSD, which plays PS5 and PS4 games on Blu-ray discs, and the PS5 Digital Edition with an 825GB SSD and no disc drive. Both belong to Sony's slim CFI-2100 model group, according to their product pages. The third is the PS5 Pro, which Sony's product page lists with a 2TB SSD, model number CFI-7021, and no disc drive at all.
Sony's footnotes say part of each SSD is reserved for system software, so the usable space is smaller than the headline figure. The boxes are close to identical. Sony lists a DualSense controller, two stand feet for horizontal placement, an HDMI cable and a power cord with each console, plus a USB cable with the PS5 and Digital Edition only. Every product page says the vertical stand is sold separately. Anyone still weighing up a different console can compare Microsoft's line-up in the Xbox Series X versus Series S guide.
The PS5 Pro Adds Power Only Where Games Are Enhanced
Sony's PS5 Pro page lists three headline upgrades. PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) uses AI-enhanced resolution for sharper images on a 4K TV, advanced ray tracing improves reflections, shadows and global illumination, and frame rates run higher and steadier on 60Hz and 120Hz displays. The footnote matters most: each feature is only available on select PS5 games enhanced for PS5 Pro, and the enhancements vary by game. Sony counts over 100 enhanced titles, and its PlayStation Blog launch post says they carry a PS5 Pro Enhanced label.
Under the bonnet, that launch post says the Pro's GPU has 67% more compute units than the PS5 and 28% faster memory. The Pro page also lists an Enhance PSSR Image Quality setting for titles built on the original PSSR, and a PS5 Pro version of Game Boost for some PS4 and PS5 games. The library is the same either way, because Sony's FAQ says the Pro plays all PS5 games. Without a 4K TV or a shelf of enhanced games, most of the extra goes unused.
The PS5 Pro and Digital Edition Share Sony's Disc Drive
Sony's PS5 Pro product page is blunt: it is an all-digital console with no disc drive, and the Disc Drive and Vertical Stand are sold separately. Sony's Disc Drive page says the same accessory, model CFI-ZDD1, fits the PS5 Pro and the slim PS5 Digital Edition (CFI-2000 and CFI-2100 model groups). It plays 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD discs as well as PS5 and supported PS4 games, needs an internet connection to pair with the console at setup, and comes with a white cover, two plastic stand feet and a manual.
Before buying into discs, read Sony's notice. The PS5 page and the Disc Drive page both say that from January 2028, newly released games on PlayStation will be sold on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital format only, while discs for games released before then can still be played. A drive still earns its place for an existing collection, earlier games and films on disc. Sony's PS5 page adds that upgrading eligible PS4 disc games to PS5 versions needs a PS5 console with a disc drive.
4K at 120Hz and VRR Need HDMI 2.1 and the Right Cable
Sony's 4K resolution guide says the PS5 supports the HDMI 2.1 specification and 4K output at 120Hz, and its troubleshooting checklist is short. Use the cable included with the console or an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K 120Hz, plug it into an HDMI 2.1 port on the TV, and leave Resolution on Automatic, which Sony says picks the highest resolution the TV supports. The checklist also flags a receiver between the console and the TV as something that could affect the signal.
The Video Output menu holds the 120 Hz Output switch and VRR (variable refresh rate), which Sony says lets the refresh rate adjust in real time with TVs and games that support it. That matters more on the Pro, whose page ties its higher frame rates to 60Hz and 120Hz displays. Sony also lists 8K output for the CFI-7000 model group only, needing a screen that handles 8K at 60Hz with Display Stream Compression, and VRR is disabled during 8K. The HDMI cable guide explains the Ultra High Speed label.
M.2 SSD Expansion Follows Sony's Size and Speed Rules
Sony's M.2 SSD support page sets out the rules for adding storage. The drive must be a PCI-Express Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD (Key M) of 250GB to 8TB, in a 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 size, and Sony recommends sequential reads of 5,500MB/s or faster. Including any heatsink, it can be no wider than 25mm and no thicker than 11.25mm, with up to 8.0mm above the board and 2.45mm below. Sony says a cooling structure such as a heatsink is required, and the console needs the latest system software first.
Fitting works the same way on the slim PS5 and the Pro, which Sony's page groups as the CFI-2000/7000 model group: remove the triangle cover, take out the expansion slot screw with a #1 Phillips or cross-head screwdriver, insert the drive and format it on first use, which erases it. Sony also says games may not match the internal SSD's performance and that the PS5 does not support Host Memory Buffer. The SSD upgrade guide covers drive types in more depth.
PlayStation Plus and a Wired Connection Shape Online Play
Sony's console pages say a paid PlayStation Plus subscription is required for online multiplayer. PlayStation UK's PS Plus page lists three tiers. Essential covers online multiplayer, monthly games and cloud storage for saves. Extra adds the Game Catalogue of hundreds of games, and Premium adds the Classics Catalogue, game trials and cloud streaming, which Sony says needs at least 5Mbps, or 15Mbps for 1080p. The same page notes that from January 2026, PS4 games are added only intermittently.
For the connection itself, Sony leans towards a cable. Its support page for error CE-109503-8 says to use a wired connection if possible, and its DualSense product page recommends a PS5 connected by LAN cable for Remote Play. The PS5 Pro page lists Wi-Fi 7 with a compatible router, says Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 routers also work, and notes that wireless performance depends on the home network. Where a cable cannot reach, the gaming router guide covers routers that keep latency down.
Controllers and Storage Worth Adding to Any PS5
Two caveats come first. Sony's DualSense page says a controller bought on its own comes without a cable and should use the USB cable supplied with the console, yet the PS5 Pro box list has no USB cable. Sony's M.2 page also says it cannot guarantee every compliant drive will work. Console stock comes and goes, so the table sticks to add-ons.
Sony's PS5 Pro FAQ says the Pro uses the DualSense and works with the DualSense Edge. The Midnight Black DualSense bundle adds a 1.5m USB-C cable by Sony's product page, and the pad's 3.5mm jack takes a gaming headset. Sony's DualSense Edge box lists back buttons, six stick caps, a braided cable and a carrying case, and both work on a computer, as the controller on PC guide explains. Samsung's UK page says the 990 PRO with Heatsink is compatible with PlayStation 5, and SanDisk says its Optimus GX PRO 850P is officially licensed for the PS5 and PS5 Pro. For VR, Sony's PS VR2 page says a PS5 console is required, as the VR headset guide covers.
The consoles themselves sell through PlayStation Direct and other retailers, and stock on Amazon UK comes and goes, so this link runs a search of Amazon UK for PS5 consoles rather than pointing at one listing. Check that the seller is Amazon or Sony and that the console is new before ordering.
| Product | Best for | Key specs | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | DualSense Wireless Controller, Midnight Black + USB Cable Spare pad | A second controller, with the cable the Pro box lacks | Haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, 1.5m USB-C cable | Check price → |
 | DualSense Edge Wireless Controller, Midnight Black Pro pad | Competitive play and custom control profiles | Back buttons, remappable controls, braided cable, case | Check price → |
 | Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 1TB Storage | More room for PS5 games in the M.2 slot | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, M.2 2280, up to 7,450 MB/s read | Check price → |
 | SANDISK Optimus GX PRO 850P 1TB for PS5 Licensed | A drive officially licensed for PS5 and PS5 Pro | PCIe 4.0 NVMe, M.2 2280, heatsink built for the PS5 slot | Check price → |