Alleged PS5 slim (CFI-20xx) leaks in Photos and new Video

Scene member BwE, whom we already know very well on this site for his PS4/PS5 Syscon patching tools, has published a video showcasing what appears to be a PS5 Slim case. BWE says this is the case for model CFI-20xx, aka the PS5 Slim. BwE’s video corroborates initial picture leaks of the device (or at least its outer shell) that originated on Chinese forums earlier this week.

PS5 Slim alleged case video leak

In the leaked video, someone is holding a plastic case (which feels empty) of what is alleged to be the PS5 Slim. The device clearly shows a slot for the Blu-Ray drive, while the PS5 Slim was rumored to be “digital only with an optional, detachable, disc drive“. BwE believes that what we are seeing on the video here is actually the console with its detachable disc drive mounted. Without its drive (which apparently would require to completely replace one of the faceplates too?), the device could actually be significantly slimmer.

Note that the SKU on the case doesn’t have A or B (Disc/Digital). So my guess is that it comes without the drive and you buy it and attach it later like in the video? Would it then be slim enough to call it a slim? Maybe. It’s definitely thinner when you compare the bottom.

BWE had originally been hesitating to publish the video, stating it was not “his” to leak. It appears the “Friend in a factory in China” he mentioned earlier has given the “ok” signal to publish the video eventually.

People are generally not impressed by the design shown on the leaked footage. Some are saying (hoping?) this might be a fake, potentially taken from one of the many PS5 replicas that can sometimes be found on Aliexpress and the like (where the case actually contains a low-end computer with emulators installed). I have to say I was expecting a more radical design change, and the device doesn’t appear so Slim to me, but we’ll have to wait and see actual confirmation from Sony. Again, if that disc drive on the video actually is detachable, the result (without the drive) could actually be quite slim for the digital edition.

No new details have leaked on technical specifications for the PS5 Slim, but we are not expecting any significant changes in performance. Typically, the goal of these “Slim” devices is a refresh on the look of the console, not significant performance changes (and certainly no backwards compatibility nightmares for developers)

Earlier leaked picture of CFI-20xx

What is known about the PS5 Slim

Apart from these leaked pictures and videos, the industry predicts that the PS5 Slim will cost about $400 at launch, and that it is set to release in 2023 or 2024. It is believed it will be a digital edition only, with a detachable disc drive that can be bought as an option.