We got one! TechRadar is the first UK tech site to finally get a hands on of the new retail boxed version of Sony's latest PS3 Slim – set to arrive in UK stores next week on 1 September.
After the initial excitement and hub-bub in the office died down we managed to take a few shots of the PS3 Slim, alongside its older, slightly chubbier sibling (using a test PS3 machine courtesy of CVG.com).
Perhaps the first impression of the new PS3 machine is that it is surprisingly heavy, for its size – what with the power supply unit (PSU) and all of the cooling heatsink and fan hardware packed tightly inside, as revealed from the recent 'teardown'.
Matte or gloss?
Secondly – and opinion in the office was immediately divided on this – the PS3 Slim comes in matte black, which marks it apart from the glossy older model. In our opinion this is a clear bonus, if you don't like getting fingermarks all over your console. However, a number of gamers in the office were not at all happy about the loss of the glossy case, claiming to still prefer the bigger, older games machine.
The size really is the main USP here though. And while the hardcore gamers in our office bemoaned the lack of gloss, the PS3 Slim is going to be far less intrusive in the living room, which we think is going to massively increase its appeal to casual gamers and movie fans that have yet to buy into Blu-ray.
Plus, for fans of shiny things, there is still a bit of gloss on the side panels and on the disc drive – which also features actual Power and Eject buttons that you get to feel and press this time around. Sony has finally plumped for function over fashion – small changes, but vitally important ones nonetheless.
3.0 firmware on the way
The Slim ships with the 2.76 firmware, so you will need to update it yourself to the new 3.0 firmware when that arrives early in September. No great shakes, as getting the PS3 online via Wi-Fi couldn't be easier.
At start-up you will see the new PS3 logo (whereas previously you would see 'Sony Computer Entertainment') and then it is pretty much business as usual.
So, all in, a nice new iteration of one of our favourite bits of kit from the recent generation of gaming. Microsoft is really going to have to do a lot more than reduce the cost of the Xbox 360 Elite by £30 if it still wants to own the UK gaming market 'mindshare' this coming Christmas, as the new PS3 Slim is already solidly at the top of our 2009 list to Santa.
Roll on Uncharted 2, the new Ratchet and Clank and MAG this Christmas!
You can also check out T3's video unboxing of the PS3 Slim
Your comments (5) Click to add a new comment
iggy82
August 27th
5. As tempting as Sony is making the new slim with its 'quiteness' and 'super-cooling', perhaps better performance even; I just cannot justify it.
For gamers new to the PS3 scene, it seems like an excellent price for an amazing piece of kit. However, as an owner of an original PS3 from the beginning I think I would still prefer to buy the old type if mine gave up any time soon.
My main reason for preference over the 'old and fat' version could perhaps be percieved as my 'adverse to change' nature but please try to trust the fact that this is not the case. I've always seem Sony's slimming down of consoles as purely a benefit to thier account books not to my own wallet no matter how they try to spin it! I don't blame them, business is business after all but I love my old chunk as its now come to be called!
Slim versions of playstations just haven't got that quality feel that I've always had from the originals, and thats my opinion for all playstations, not just the PS3.
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henkecelt
August 27th
4. "the PS3 Slim is going to be far less intrusive in the living room"
heck, i like the look of my good ol' ps3 sitting there large and glossy...
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dapperdanuk
August 27th
3. I'd hate to burst your bubble but you do know that MAG has been postponed to March/April time 2010?
I'm gutted!
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mgillespie
August 27th
2. How quiet? My 80GB is pretty quiet, I would expect this to be silent given it's 35% less power consumption.
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dvs
August 27th
1. Can you check if a 12.5mm thick HDD would be able to fit into the PS3 Slim? I know that the previous PS3 could only take 9.5mm drives but I'm keen to know if Sony have made room for slightly larger drives as WD's latest 1TB drive is 12.5mm.
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