The good The PlayStation 3 still offers palpable gaming and entertainment value, with a nearly unrivaled library of games, strong array of streaming services( including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, HBO Go and Vudu) and the fact that it doubles as a great DVD/Blu-ray player. Optional add-on services like PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now add more gaming choices to the mix.
The bad Sliding-top disc door feels downmarket; no IR port limits universal remote compatibility; PS4 will pick up momentum in 2015 and beyond as it gains more exclusive next-gen titles.
The bottom line While it will begin to cede its position to the PS4 in 2015, the PlayStation 3 still delivers impressively strong value for gaming and video entertainment.
CNET REVIEW
Sony unleashed the PlayStation 3 to the world in 2006. Over the next few years we would see the console go through a number of design changes, although hardware features have largely remained the same. It started with the original PS3( now referred to as the Fat model), then came the PlayStation Slim in 2009 and finally the so-called Super Slim, which arrived in late 2012. These days the PS3 is available in a number of different game bundles for around$270 in the US, £200 in the UK, and AU$370 in Australia.
Of course, the PlayStation 3 is now the old man on the block. It’s coming up on its ninth birthday, while the red-hot PlayStation 4 is brand new. And Sony even has a new PlayStation TV microconsole that you can buy for less than half the price of the PS3 and play Vita games on a big-screen TV.( And that’s not even counting the Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii U, all of which continue to compete for your gaming dollar as well.)
So is it even worth still considering this last-gen system? The answer may be closer to yes than you’d think. We’ll examine the pros and cons of buying a PS3 in a post-PS4 world, below. 20 Photos
Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim( 250GB)
PS3 bundles: What you get right now
Inside of the box you get a Super Slim model with a meaty 500GB hard disk, a wireless DualShock 3 controller, an AC power cord and USB cable( for charging the controller) . For reasons known only to Sony, the company also throws in a composite AV adapter rather than an HDMI cable.
Each bundle is basically the same save for the included game. In the US, you can buy it with Destiny, The Last of Us, or - as of November 11 - Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham and The Sly Collection( that final one, obviously, being best for young children) . There’s also a 12GB PS3 that’s available solo or( in the US) comes bundled with Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes for around$200. But we strongly recommend that you avoid the 12GB model and stick with the 500GB one. Once you download a game or a few apps, you’ll want the extra space almost immediately.
The entire PS3 family
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If you see a PS3 available with different pack-in game( or none at all), it’s probably a retailer exclusive or an older bundle that’s now out of print. As long as you’re getting that 500GB hard drive( and you like the included game, of course), it’s a safe purchase.
PS3 Pros
Even though the PS3 is almost a decade old, it’s still got a lot going for it.
It’s still adding new features
To be clear: Sony has not abandoned the PS3 now that the PS4 has been released. Far from it. In fact, Sony continues to introduce new features and services to the PlayStation ecosystem. First it was the gaming subscription service known as PlayStation Plus, which offers up discounts and free games each month, and the 3D virtual social platform known as PlayStation Home.
There is now a new service, known as PlayStation Now, that offers up old PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 titles for gamers to rent. Most games are available to rent for 4 hours, 7 days, 30 days, or 90 days, with prices in the US ranging from$3 for 4 hours or as much as$50 for 90 days, depending on the game.