Compare Sony PlayStation 3 vs Sony PlayStation 4 Slim
In this technical comparison between the Sony PlayStation 3 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 $499 (20 GB) / $599 (60 GB) and $299 USD.
| Specifications |
Sony PlayStation 3 |
Sony PlayStation 4 Slim |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Launch | ||
| Release Version | November 2006 | September 2016 |
| Performance | ||
| CPU | 3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine (7 Synergistic Processing Elements) | 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 | 20 GB or 60 GB HDD (Later 40 GB, 80 GB, 160 GB) | 500 GB or 1 TB HDD (User-replaceable) |
| Expandable | User-replaceable 2.5" SATA HDD | External USB 3.0 Hard Drive support |
| Disc Drive | 2x Blu-ray / 8x DVD / 24x CD / SACD (Super Audio CD) | Standard Blu-ray / DVD (Does not play 4K UHD Blu-ray discs) |
| Video Output | ||
| Image 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, DTS, SACD support | Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Linear PCM 7.1 |
| Headphones | Bluetooth or USB (No jack on controller) | 3.5mm jack on DualShock 4 controller |
| Connectivity | ||
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 1.3 | 1x HDMI 1.4 out port |
| USB | 4x USB 2.0 (On 20GB/60GB/early 80GB models; later reduced to 2) | 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (Front) |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000 Gigabit | Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 b/g (Note: 20GB model did not have Wi-Fi) | 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 | Added later via PS Plus | Available with PlayStation Plus subscription |
| Subscription | PlayStation Plus (Introduced in 2010) | PlayStation Plus (includes Game Catalog and Ubisoft+ Classics) |
| Remote Play | Yes (with PSP) | Supported on PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and PS Vita |
| Controller | ||
| Included | Sixaxis (No vibration) / Later DualShock 3 (With vibration) | 1x DualShock 4 (V2) |
| Features | Motion sensing (Six-axis), Bluetooth, Internal Battery | Integrated light bar on the touchpad, built-in speaker, motion sensors, and capacitive touchpad. |
| Compatibility | ||
| Backward | Full Hardware Support for PS1 and PS2 (20GB/60GB models only) | No native disc support for PS3/PS2/PS1; select titles available via PS Plus Premium streaming/emulation. |
| VR Support | No | Full support for PlayStation VR (PSVR) |
| Physical | ||
| Body Dimensions | 12.8" x 3.8" x 10.8" (325 x 98 x 274 mm) | 10.4 x 1.5 x 11.3 inches (265 x 39 x 288 mm) |
| Weight | ~11 lbs (5 kg) | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) |
| Color | Piano Black (with chrome/silver trim) | Jet Black (standard); Glacier White and Limited Editions available. |
| Power | ||
| Consumption | ~180W–200W (A heavy power draw compared to later slims) | Max 165W (Significant reduction from the original 250W model) |
| Misc | ||
| Inside the Box | Console, Sixaxis Controller, Mini-USB Cable, AV Cable, Ethernet Cable (60GB), Power Cord. | PS4 Slim Console, DualShock 4 Controller, HDMI cable, Mono Headset, USB charging cable, Power cord. |
| Price | $499 (20 GB) / $599 (60 GB) | $299 USD |
| Full Details | PlayStation 3 - Full Specifications | PlayStation 4 Slim - Full Specifications |