Buying a used PlayStation 5

The PlayStation 5 is one of the most in-demand consoles, and a used one is a good option if you check it well. A few PS5-specific points are worth attention before paying.

Disc or Digital edition?

The disc edition lets you buy used games and discs and play physical media, while the digital is cheaper but relies on digital purchases only. Choose by how you buy games — the difference matters for long-term cost.

Check for controller drift

'Stick drift' is a common controller issue. Test the controller in the console menu and confirm the cursor doesn't move on its own. Ask to test every included controller.

Cooling and heat

Run a demanding game for a while and watch the temperature and fan noise. A console running hot or unusually loud may need internal cleaning or servicing.

Account and reset

Ask the seller to sign out and factory-reset the console in front of you. Confirm the number of controllers and included games — a fuller bundle is usually better value.