Sony Playstation 3 Slim Pro Reviews

As we write this Sony is gearing up to launch the PS4. That console will be out by the end of the year, we think. Does that mean you shouldn't buy a PS3 if you haven't already got one? Absolutely not, if you don't have one, you're missing out on a lot of fun, and that fun won't stop when the PS4 rolls along. For now, this is just about the best media device for the money. It's not perfect, but for video, music and streaming from services such as Netflix, it's utterly brilliant. Add to that an amazing Blu-ray player and games console and you have what we would argue is bargain of the century. Getting the 12GB model also puts the price at about £150, which mentally speaking is a more friendly price than the £230 of the 500GB model. Which one you get should be defined by what you do. If you download movies, TV shows and games, then go for the 500GB model, it's less hassle than fitting the drive yourself, and only a little more expensive than the DIY option. If you're not downloading, and are using the PS3 for disc-based gaming and streaming video/Blu-ray then the SSD model will suit you. As the PS3 officially comes to retirement, this latest update proves one thing very clearly, in console terms: life begins at seven. Buy one now, and we're pretty sure you'll still be having fun with it in three years' time. And so doing will also mean you'll miss the expensive bun-fight likely when the new console launches. But don't tell Sony we said that.

A long-overdue price drop, a hard-drive bump, and a compelling physical redesign make the Sony PlayStation 3 more desirable than ever.

Leaner and fitter for the fight, this is the best PS3 yet, and a decent alternative to a standalone BD player

The fact is that the PS3 Slim costs half of what the original PS3 cost when it first launched. It is also smaller, quieter and consumes less power, making it the cost-efficient choice for an energy-conscious world. And it still manages to keep all the impressive gaming, multimedia, and Blu-ray functionality of previous PS3s. There's a wealth of machine here for £250, making it an ideal gift for a wider audience. In terms of design, yes, Sony has redeemed the PlayStation brand. In terms of features, there remains a long way to go, but I still love it.

Looking past any potential aversion to matte, anyone picking up a PlayStation 3 Slim is getting a significantly better product than an early or even mid adopter. Sony really has come through with a smaller, lighter, quieter, and more energy-efficient piece of hardware, and at $300, even if your sole interest is a Blu-ray player, it's a hard value to beat ...

As Blu-ray players go, the original PS3 was competitively priced. With a slimmer profile, lower price and lower power consumption, the PlayStation 3 Slim (120GB) is arguably the one to beat. Factor in games, social networking features such as PlayStation Home, music and custom video playback, web surfing, and picture browsing, and this may be the best-value Sony game system yet.