Best match
Xbox Series S (1 TB)
$599vs $649Save $50 (8%)
Why it's a good swap Current-gen console with 1TB of storage and Xbox Game Pass.
You give up: Weaker graphics than PS5, no disc drive and no PlayStation exclusives.
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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: Weaker graphics than PS5, no disc drive and no PlayStation exclusives.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim, disc) is the Xbox Series S (1 TB), about $599 instead of $649 (save 8%). What you give up: Weaker graphics than PS5, no disc drive and no PlayStation exclusives. The cheapest is the Nintendo Switch 2 at about $499. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap Current-gen console with 1TB of storage and Xbox Game Pass.
You give up: Weaker graphics than PS5, no disc drive and no PlayStation exclusives.
Why it's a good swap Plays on the TV or as a handheld, with Nintendo's own games.
You give up: Far less graphics power and no PlayStation games.
Why it's a good swap Cheapest current Xbox, with Game Pass access.
You give up: Only 512GB, weaker graphics and no disc drive.
Why it's a good swap Same PS5 hardware and games, just without the disc drive.
You give up: Can't play discs, and it is only $50 cheaper.
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim, disc)? It usually sells for about $649. Here are 4 cheaper swaps from $499: the Xbox Series S (1 TB) is the closest match from another brand, the Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (Slim) is a cheaper option from Sony and the Nintendo Switch 2 is the cheapest at about $499. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
The standard PS5 with a disc drive is $649.99 at Sony's official US price. The closest cheaper option is the PS5 Digital Edition at $599.99, the same console without a disc drive. The cheapest current consoles are the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Xbox Series S 512GB, at about $500.
The disc PS5 is worth it if you want PlayStation exclusives and still buy, borrow or resell physical games, or want a 4K Blu-ray player under the TV. It also plays most PS4 games, so it suits anyone moving up from a PS4 collection.
If you already buy everything digitally, the Digital Edition gives you the same games for $50 less. Pick an Xbox Series S if Game Pass and a low price matter more than top graphics, and the Switch 2 if you want Nintendo games or a console you can carry.
Compared on their own pages: Xbox Series S alternatives
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim, disc) | The original | $649 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Close match | $499 | $150 (23%) | Far less graphics power and no PlayStation games. | View ↗ |
| Xbox Series S (512 GB) | Budget pick | $499 | $150 (23%) | Only 512GB, weaker graphics and no disc drive. | View ↗ |
| Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (Slim) | Same brand, cheaper | $599 | $50 (8%) | Can't play discs, and it is only $50 cheaper. | View ↗ |
| Xbox Series S (1 TB) | Close match | $599 | $50 (8%) | Weaker graphics than PS5, no disc drive and no PlayStation exclusives. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Nintendo Switch 2, at about $499 (23% less). Plays on the TV or as a handheld, with Nintendo's own games. The catch: Far less graphics power and no PlayStation games.
The Xbox Series S (1 TB), at about $599 (8% less). Current-gen console with 1TB of storage and Xbox Game Pass. The catch: Weaker graphics than PS5, no disc drive and no PlayStation exclusives.
Yes. The Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (Slim), at about $599 (8% less). Same PS5 hardware and games, just without the disc drive. The catch: Can't play discs, and it is only $50 cheaper.
Yes. Sony says the PS5 takes an M.2 NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen4x4) from 250GB to 8TB, and the drive needs a heatsink or other cooling structure. M.2 SATA drives are not supported. You can also move PS5 games to USB storage, but Sony says they have to be copied back to the console or M.2 drive to play.
No. Sony lists the vertical stand as sold separately. Push Square reported that the slim PS5 comes with a horizontal stand only, so plan to buy the stand if you want it upright.
Microsoft says the Series S is built for 1440p gaming that can upscale to 4K, at up to 120 fps in supported games. It is all-digital and can't play disc games, with 512GB or 1TB of storage. Sony pitches the PS5 for 4K graphics, and the disc model plays game discs. The disc PS5 is $649, the 1TB Series S is $599 and the 512GB Series S is $499.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Compared on their own pages: Xbox Series S alternatives
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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