Who says GameStop, with its trade-in program, is the only one using the hype (and criticism) surrounding the PlayStation 5 Pro and its extremely high price point? Sony is also interested in joining this holiday season’s expected surge in sales by adding a new item on its lineup of PlayStation 5 units by selling “Certified Refurbished” units with factory warranties.
This new program will see the Digital Edition PS5 priced at a mere $349.99, which is nearly half the price of the PS5 Pro and $50 cheaper when compared to the original retail price of the Digital Edition. For those preferring the flexibility physical media, especially now that the PS5 Disc Drive is selling out everywhere, a refurbished PS5 with a disc drive is also available $399.99, representing a $100 reduction compared to their brand-new counterparts, making the current-gen gaming experience more accessible than ever.
Sony’s timing of this announcement, coinciding with the reveal of the premium PS5 Pro, appears strategic. By offering a more affordable option alongside its top-tier hardware, the company can sell to more people—certainly a way to drive up revenue as Sony has admitted to struggling with generating profit.
The PS5 Pro, set to launch on November 7, boasts impressive upgrades including a GPU with 67% more compute units, 28% faster memory, and enhanced ray tracing capabilities, although industry experts are doubting if this will translate into marked improvements. Either way, the PS5 Pro’s lack of a disc drive and vertical stand as standard features means additional costs for some users, potentially pushing the total investment over $800, a steep price considering the recent price hikes for the base PS5 model in Japan and other territories.
In contrast, the refurbished PS5 models offer a compelling value proposition. Sony assures potential buyers that these lower-priced consoles went through a rigorous recertification process, meeting the same functional standards as new PlayStation products. Each refurbished unit comes with all necessary accessories, cables, and manuals, packaged in branded Certified Refurbished packaging. To further instill confidence, Sony backs these products with a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty.
But, that’s not all. The refurbishment program also includes DualSense Controllers, now priced at $64–a $10 saving compared to new units.
It’s worth noting that the refurbished consoles appear to be based on the original PS5 model rather than the newer slim version. While this means a slightly bulkier design and smaller storage capacity (825GB vs. 1TB in the slim), many gamers may find the trade-off worthwhile given the substantial cost savings.
Sony’s refurbishment initiative also aligns with growing environmental concerns in the tech industry. By giving new life to existing hardware, the company is taking a step towards reducing electronic waste and promoting sustainability in gaming.
As of now, Sony has not announced a specific release date for the refurbished units, simply stating they are coming “soon,” but the wait shouldn’t take too long since the holidays are coming up.
Speaking of the PS5 Pro, if you’re interested in pre-ordering one, PlayStation Direct will open pre-orders on September 26.
