It's tough out there right now if you're on the hunt for a PS5 restock. Whether you're in the US or UK there's next to no availability. Remember, though, that you can request an invite to the next PS5 restock at Amazon US - that should happen fairly soon. Elsewhere, the PS5 was available at a few stores in the UK earlier this week, but is now only available in expensive bundles at a few specialist retailers.
This is the first major drought we've seen in the stock situation for a good number of weeks. Hopefully, though, it'll only be a short wait until availability picks back up again in a few days. At least there are signs we're past the days when it was practically impossible to buy the PS5 for months on end.
We've followed PS5 restocks since the console launched back in November 2020, giving us a solid idea of where to buy a PS5 at any time. Timing is still crucial, so our aim is to give you the most up-to-date PS5 restock info and a regularly updated list of retailers with details on when they might have the console available right here.
Latest PS5 restock news
- US: Register for an invite to the next Amazon PS5 restock
- US: Check other stores daily for potential PS5 stock
- UK: Pricey bundles available at some specialist stores
- UK: Awaiting next PS5 restock at other major retailers
Where to buy PS5 in the US
For the US, we see consoles about once a month at major retailers but it still sells out in a matter of minutes at the likes of Amazon and Walmart - both of which just held a restock.
Still, here are the US stores that carry PS5 and Digital Edition consoles regularly. We update this list as soon as we get news of an upcoming restock with the announced (or rumoured) time and date so you can be best prepared to bag a console.
Where to buy PS5 in the UK
For the UK, the PS5 is in stock most weeks now. It stays available anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days depending on the retailer, the number of consoles in stock or the quality of bundles on offer. Check the quick links below to find out the latest on retailers that hold PS5 restocks in the UK.
Where to buy PS5 in Australia
Where to buy PS5 in Canada
PS5 Restock FAQs
While PS5 restocks are now more frequent and it's become a lot easier to buy the PS5, it can still be a stressful and frustrating experience. In order to get you prepared in the best way possible, we've answered many of the most common questions about PS5 restocks below. We've also dropped in our top tips based on over a year's worth of hunting PS5 consoles in order to give you the best chance of getting one.
How to buy PS5: top tips
How often is the PS5 available to buy?
It can vary depending on region and various other unseen factors but we generally see PS5 restocks at retailers about once or twice a month. That's just on average, though. At some stores it can be as often as every two weeks or at others as infrequent as every two months.
Essentially, it's still far from regular even over a year from the launch of the console. That said, some retailers have settled into a fairly predicating rhythm that allows us to give you a solid idea of when to be ready to buy. Others have taken to announcing when their next PS5 restock will take place so it's less of a guessing game. Either way, we cover all the latest PS5 restock news, rumours and announcements at TechRadar to give you the best chance possible of securing a console.
Should I buy a PS5 today?
The PS5 is still hard to find at a moment's notice so if you've got your eye on one for the near future or as a gift for someone soon then our suggestion is to buy it as soon as possible - especially if you're in the US.
While PS5 restocks are certainly more frequent this year, the console still doesn't stay available for very long and it's best to get one while you can rather than missing out on the opportunity. We definitely want to emphasise this for those in the US as PS5 restocks still sell out in a matter of minutes at most retailers there. Restricting sales to specific retailer membership programs has helped to curb the scalpers but it still requires speed, timing and a bit of luck to buy a console.
However, if you're in no rush and would perhaps prefer to wait for any PS5 bundle deals then you can hold off for now. It might not be some time until the discounts you're looking for are available in stores but who knows what the situation might look like in the upcoming Memorial Day sales or closer to Black Friday.
How much does a PS5 cost?
The PS5 costs $499 (£449 / AU$749.95) - which is the same price as Microsoft's Xbox Series X. The cheaper PS5 Digital Edition is priced at $399.99 (£359.99 / AU$599.95). It's almost guaranteed that both versions of the console will remain at this price for some time. Demand is still astronomically high for the console and Sony sees no reason to discount it for the time being.
Should I buy the PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition?
There are two versions of Sony's latest console: so how do you know whether to buy the PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition? Well, there's one major difference between the two - outside of the price.
The PS5 Digital Edition does not include a disc drive so no physical copies of games can be played on the console and you will have to buy all of your games digitally. All purchases have to be made through the official PSN Store. You will, however, still be able to play old PS4 games as long as you bought a digital copy. With that in mind, if you've fully embraced the digital revolution and are looking to save on the upfront cost of the console then the PS5 Digital Edition may be right for you.
For most, though, we'd suggest sticking with the standard PS5 as it has the added flexibility with the included disc drive. The other major sticking point with the PS5 Digital Edition is that Sony manufactures far fewer of them compared to the normal PS5. When retailers restock the consoles, then, you often have a considerably smaller chance of getting a Digital Edition - if they even have this version on sale in the first place.
I managed to buy a PS5 - what now?
Congratulations! Hopefully, it hasn't been too much of an ordeal and you've only got a short wait until your new console arrives. If you're looking to pass the time while waiting, we've got a lot of great features and deals hubs for you to check out.
First off, head over and grab yourself one of these cheap PlayStation Plus deals so you've got a membership ready to pair with your PS5. It's worth signing up as having an active subscription also gets you access to the PS Plus Collection. This is a selection of 18 of the best PS4 games all ready for you to play on PS5, including God of War, Bloodborne and The Last of Us Remastered. Not a bad way to start if you haven't got any cheap PS5 games to play on the console on day one.
Now the games are sorted, how about some of the best PS5 accessories? We've got you covered here, too, with today's cheap PS5 controller deals if you need another DualSense, the latest PS5 SSD deals if you want more storage space for your games and all the Pulse 3D headset deals.
If nothing specific grabs you - or you'd like to take in everything on a single page - then our massive PS5 deals hub should be your go-to destination. Keep it bookmarked as well as we regularly update it with all the latest offers on games, accessories, PS Plus memberships and more.
