Community Question: Are You Planning to Buy One of the New Slim Consoles?

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It's that time of the generation: Both Microsoft and Sony are releasing slim versions of their respective consoles (the Xbox One S is already out). We recently discussed the reports of the PlayStation 4 Slim and how it can entice those who haven't yet bought into the current generation, and now we want to hear your thoughts.

Are you planning on picking up one of the slim consoles? Are you content with your launch console? Or are you just avoiding this console generation entirely? Check out our responses below, then share your thoughts in the comments!

Jeremy Parish, Editor-in-Chief

I picked up an Xbox One S to review it, and it turned out to be a nice-looking system with a few pleasant perks over the original One. But I wouldn't die without it. I don't really see myself picking up a PlayStation 4 slim unless it offers some wildly unexpected improvement. The One S at least looks a lot nicer on my shelf than the original console did, so there's at least aesthetic justification. From what I've seen of the PS4 slim, it doesn't offer an appreciable visual upgrade. So… eh. I'll wait and see what Neo has to offer.

Mike Williams, Associate Editor

I'm definitely the guy who wants to live on the edge. If I could afford it, I'd have an Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. I want a new 4K Ultra HD television. I'm looking forward to PlayStation VR. I love hardware design in general, so I like to see subtle updates to existing hardware. So yes, part of the idea of the Xbox One S and new PlayStation 4 model intrigue me.

Could I live without them? Yeah. Do I want both regardless? Yep. For me, it's a matter of finances through. I can justify a PlayStation 4 Neo more than a PlayStation 4 Slim. In that transaction, I'm getting a more powerful system. I need a little bit of that justification in order to really take the plunge.

I bought the new Nintendo 3DS partially because of the swappable faceplates, but also because of the inclusion of the C-Stick and the additional system power. I purchased an Xbox 360 Elite because I wanted the HDMI out that was missing on the previous system. I purchased the DS Lite because of size, brightness, and general battery life. I brought the GBA SP for portability and the lit screen. It doesn't take a ton of new features in order to get me in the door, but I do need some. I need bought a PSOne for example, as the system didn't add anything I really needed over the original PlayStation.

In world without the Neo and Scorpio, maybe I would've picked up one of these. But I move forward. Onward to bigger and better things.

Kat Bailey, Senior Editor

My first inclination was to say, "No." But then I realized that I usually end up picking up a slim console one way or another.

My introduction to the PlayStation era was via the PS2 Slim, which I picked up once I finally wasn't so broke from college. This being early 2005, I was legitimately blown away by how much I had missed to that point.

Fast-forward to around 2012, which was the year that the Xbox 360 Elite I had purchased from a friend started eating discs. As it was squarely in the middle of the holiday season and I needed a console at the time, I quickly went out and bought an Xbox 360 Slim. Naturally, the Slim broke down six months later and I had to send it in for repairs. The Xbox 360 was remarkably consistent in its shoddy unreliability.

I don't know if the streak will continue with this generation; but with my launch PlayStation 4 starting to wheeze a bit, it feels like only a matter of time before I find my investing in a PlayStation 4 Slim or Neo. If anything, slim consoles seem like the better investment since they usually iron out most of the kinks from the launch version.

... Usually. I'm looking at you, Xbox.

Nadia Oxford, Staff Writer

Nnnnnaaaaaaaah.

I wish I had a more interesting answer, but I’m blanking. Maybe part of my apathy is connected to irritation. I’ve spent most of my adult life being poor, see, and this generation marks the first time I’ve owned all the consoles -- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Wii U. So I’ve been proud to keep up with the Joneses for the first time in forever, and now I’m being told to spend more money. No thanks.

Besides, my lack of interest in VR and 4K TV means the purchases would probably be redundant, anyway. If we see some surprise features, like the consoles transforming into tiny butler-robots that serve tea, I’ll consider it. Otherwise...