The PS5 is now almost three years old, and it’s finally (mostly) easy to buy – though depending on where you live it might not cost the same as at launch.

The console was almost impossible to buy for years after launch, but it’s much easier to find these days. Stock is still a little unpredictable, but you can usually buy one from most of the usual retailers.

Ahead of the launch of the PlayStation VR2 headset in February 2023, Sony claimed it is now delivering “increased supply of PS5 consoles,” and promised that fans “should now have a much easier time finding one at retailers globally.”

Judging by the improved situation now, that seems to be the case. In this article, we’ll run through the pricing and availability in both in the US and UK. You may also be interested in our full PS5 review.

How much does the PlayStation 5 cost?

The PS5 is available in two models. At full price, standard PS5 costs $499/£479, while the cheaper Digital Edition without a Blu-ray drive costs $399/£389.

Note that those UK figures are £30 higher than at launch due to a price increase, though there’s no change for US customers.

If you’re not sure which to buy, check out our PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition comparison for a more detailed breakdown of the differences.

Where to buy the PS5

The following retailers are selling the console in the US, though there are no discounts currently:

Amazon – standard and digital (only available used)

Best Buy – standard and digital (sold out)

PlayStation Direct – standard and digital

Target – standard and digital

Walmart – standard and digital

GameStop – standard and digital (both out of stock)

But in the UK, a big saving is available. The deal from the PlayStation Direct Store ends on 7 September, so that may be the same for other retailers:

Amazon – £80 off standard, no discount on digital

AO – £80 off standard, no discount on digital

Argos – £80 off standard, no discount on digital

Box.co.uk – £80 off standard, no discount on digital (only with extra controller)

EE – £60 off used standard model, no other availability

Currys – £80 off standard, no discount on digital

Game – £80 off standard, no discount on digital

PlayStation Direct – £75 off standard, no discount on digital

ShopTo – £80 off standard plus choice of free game, no discount on digital

Smyths Toys – £80 off standard, no discount on digital

Very – £80 off standard, no discount on digital (only bundles with extra controller or God of War Ragnarök available)

Simply Games – standard and digital (both out of stock)

In the UK, BT and EE both make the console available to their customers. BT customers can order the PS5 via their MyBT account, while EE customers can order the PS5 and split the cost of their monthly mobile plan. The payment will be divided into 11 interest-free instalments via EE’s Add to Plan service.

There are also independent sellers on eBay auctioning the PS5, though we’d advise going through standard retailers if at all possible to avoid potential complications – and exorbitant prices.

StockX, another marketplace auctioning site, is also selling the PS5, but again we’d advise going through standard sellers for the same reasons we advise against buying from no-name sellers on eBay.

Is the PS5 ever on sale?

With stock so limited for so long, Sony didn’t really felt the need to discount the PS5 to drum up sales.

But that finally changed in July and August 2023, with discounts of up to $50/£80 on the Standard edition with a disc drive. But these limited-time offers didn’t last for long, and it’s not clear when the next price drop might be available. Perhaps around Black Friday?

We could also see price drops if/when the rumoured PS5 Slim or PS5 Pro, but be warned: there’s no guarantee either are imminent.

If you’re lucky enough to grab a console, here’s our guide to turning the PS5 off. No, really – it’s harder than you’d think. 

You might also like our advice on how to reset your old PS4 before ditching it, how to play PS4 games on PS5 and, with such limited storage space on offer, here’s how to delete games on PS5 too – or install a PS5 SSD if you decide to upgrade instead.

Of course, you’ll also want to make sure you buy some of the best PS5 games to play on your new hardware. If you want to brighten things up, then here’s where to buy the official PS5 console covers and the colourful DualSense controllers.

Gaming