Playstation 3 Gets Slim, Receives Welcomed Price Cut

We've always been reluctant to recommend the PS3 as a purchase for Blu-ray or as a game system alone. Heck, even those two features weren't enough to justify the $399 base price tag. Luckily, Sony's finally heard our cries, dropping the PS3 to a warm and cuddly price of $299. Additionally, a slimmer model has been announced, which is also priced at $299, and will be released on the first week of September, right in time for the new school year. Pictures and comparisons, after the jump.

Hirai, the announcer at Gamescom, says the new "Slim" model will have the same features and functions as the "old" PS3, but is 33 percent smaller, 36 percent lighter, and comes with a 120GB hard drive - an upgrade from the standard "old" 80GB model.

No word on how the older models will be priced, but we wouldn't be surprised to start seeing 80GB PS3s start selling like hot-cakes now that the price is well below the $299 money-maker mark.

We're just well... not too sold on the Slim redesign yet. Perhaps we've become too accustomed to that shiny, bloated gloss body that we totally forgot how cheap plastic felt like? We'll let you guys be the judge.

(Images: Gamestop, Playstation Blog)

Comments (7)

I agree it's not very pretty, but I couldn't resist the price and just pre-ordered one on Amazon. It will be my first blue-ray too.

posted by etslee on August 18th 2009 at 6:50pm
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Half the thickness from the look of things, but fugly.

posted by sunspot42 on August 18th 2009 at 11:42pm
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from a design pov, its really ugly. the only thing that sold me about the original ps3 when the bf bought one was how impressed i was with how it looked when he took it out of the box....this new design, not so much

posted by niche on August 19th 2009 at 2:17pm
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Off-center indentation.. ahhhhh!

posted by ekoshyun on August 19th 2009 at 6:22pm
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Actually, you shouldn't be so reluctant to recommend it as a gaming console or as a Blu-ray player; it's one of the best Blu-ray players out there (some of the load times on those cheap standalone players are ridiculous), and as a console, it's great. There is no comparison to the Wii as a next-gen console, and the Xbox is pretty unreliable. Combine great gaming with a great Blu-ray player, and it's absolutely recommendable. What would you endorse instead?

posted by Shannon in SF on August 19th 2009 at 6:27pm
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At $299, it's a great deal as a Blu-Ray player, if you're into Blu-Ray.

Personally, I'm just waiting for downloadable HD content. I have no desire to buy movies in yet another physical format that's destined for the dustbin of history in a couple of years.

posted by sunspot42 on August 19th 2009 at 10:53pm
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They are both pretty hideous pieces of design. At least on the new one they got rid of that horrible comic action movie from the 90s typeface. WTF Sony ID department?

posted by alinear on August 20th 2009 at 2:39pm
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