Compare Sony PlayStation 3 Slim vs Sony PlayStation 4 Slim

In this technical comparison between the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim and the Sony PlayStation 4 Slim, we analyze the key features to help you choose.

Choosing between these two Home Consoles models often comes down to your budget, with prices around $299 (at launch) and $299 USD.

Specifications Sony
PlayStation 3 Slim
Sony
PlayStation 4 Slim
Sony PlayStation 3 Slim Sony PlayStation 4 Slim
Launch
Version September 2009 September 2016
Performance
CPU 3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine 8-core x86-64 AMD Jaguar @ 1.6 GHz
GPU 550 MHz NVIDIA RSX 'Reality Synthesizer 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon-based Graphics Engine
GPU Power ~230 GFLOPS 1.84 Teraflops
RAM 256 MB XDR Main RAM / 256 MB GDDR3 VRAM 8 GB GDDR5
Storage 120 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB, or 320 GB HDD 500 GB or 1 TB HDD (User-replaceable)
Expandable User-replaceable 2.5" SATA Internal HDD External USB 3.0 Hard Drive support
Disc Drive 2x Blu-ray / 8x DVD / 24x CD Standard Blu-ray / DVD (Does not play 4K UHD Blu-ray discs)
Video Output
Resolution 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p 1080p (Full HD); also supports 720p and 1080i
Max FPS 60 FPS Up to 60 FPS
HDR No HDR10 support (Enabled via firmware update 4.0)
VRR No No
Ray Tracing No No
Audio
Formats LPCM 7.1, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Linear PCM 7.1
Headphones Bluetooth or USB headsets (No 3.5mm jack on controller) 3.5mm jack on DualShock 4 controller
Connectivity
HDMI 1x HDMI 1.3a 1x HDMI 1.4 out port
USB 2x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (Front)
Ethernet 10/100/1000 Gigabit Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000)
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g Dual-band 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) - A major upgrade over the original PS4
Bluetooth Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) Bluetooth 4.0 (LE)
Services
Online Multiplayer PlayStation Network (Free) PlayStation Plus (Essential, Extra, or Premium)
Cloud Saves Available with PlayStation Plus Available with PlayStation Plus subscription
Subscription PlayStation Plus (Launched in 2010) PlayStation Plus (includes Game Catalog and Ubisoft+ Classics)
Remote Play Yes (with PSP and PS Vita) Supported on PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and PS Vita
Controller
Included DualShock 3 Wireless Controller 1x DualShock 4 (V2)
Features Six-axis motion sensing, vibration, internal rechargeable battery Integrated light bar on the touchpad, built-in speaker, motion sensors, and capacitive touchpad.
Compatibility
Backward PS1 Discs (Yes); PS2 Discs (No—removed in this model) No native disc support for PS3/PS2/PS1; select titles available via PS Plus Premium streaming/emulation.
VR Support No (though some games supported 3D TV output) Full support for PlayStation VR (PSVR)
Physical
Dimensions 11.42" x 2.56" x 11.42" (290 x 65 x 290 mm) 10.4 x 1.5 x 11.3 inches (265 x 39 x 288 mm)
Weight 7.05 lbs (3.2 kg) 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg)
Color Charcoal Black (Classic Matte) Jet Black (standard); Glacier White and Limited Editions available.
Power
Consumption ~75W–100W (Game play); significantly lower than the OG model Max 165W (Significant reduction from the original 250W model)
Misc
Inside the Box Console, DualShock 3, Mini-USB Cable, AV Multi-out Cable, Power Cord PS4 Slim Console, DualShock 4 Controller, HDMI cable, Mono Headset, USB charging cable, Power cord.
Price $299 (at launch) $299 USD
Full Details PlayStation 3 Slim - Full Specifications PlayStation 4 Slim - Full Specifications