250GB PS3 Slim on the way?

By Oli Welsh Published 19 August, 2009

FCC filing suggests second model.

Sony could be preparing a second model of PS3 Slim with a 250GB hard drive for the market, according to a legal filing uncovered by PS3 News.

A PDF of a radio test report, filed with the FCC back in May - but under the name Sand Dollar Enterprises, so no-one noticed - lists four new PlayStation 3s: two debug test versions, and two production versions with 120GB and 250GB hard drives.

The model number of the 120GB PS3 matches that of the Slim revealed at Sony's gamescom conference yesterday.

It proves no more than that Sony was recently considering a 250GB version of the Slim seriously enough to make a prototype and submit it for tests on its Bluetooth and wifi radio equipment. But that's fairly serious, and a fair indication that we might see a premium PS3 Slim in the future.

Sony's already promised a strong showing at the Tokyo Game Show at the end of September, so watch out for more news in a month's time.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (16) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Golgo #1 3 years ago

    I wish I could be arsed to dig out Harrison's remark way back about not wanting to confuse the consumer with countless different iterations of PS3.

  • Darren #2 3 years ago

    A 250 GB HDD model is a good idea but only if it is reasonably priced. Otherwise you'd be better off buying the 120 GB HDD model and fitting a larger third-party 320 GB or 500 GB HDD yourself as it's a piece of cake. A 320 GB HDD can be bought for around £50 or less these days. Fitting a new HDD doesn't invalidate your warranty either as the PS3 is designed to have its HDD upgraded.

  • bad09 #3 3 years ago

    I hate this gen, all 3 are constantly changing upgrading knocking early adopters again and again. Same goes for Tech in general though I suppose we all get stung along the line.

    If this gen has taught me one thing it's buy a nice big PC and WAIT a long time to get a console now.
    Edited by 1 at 19/08/09 @ 08:54

  • MyPointIs #4 3 years ago

    Please, let them include BC on the premium 250GB one.

  • flaming.carrot #5 3 years ago

    I put a 320Gb 7200rpm HDD in my PS3, took about 10 minutes and cost £49 off eBay. Hope the screws on the slim PS3 HDD are a bit stronger though as it was easy to chew them up on removal.

  • Chufty #6 3 years ago

    It's just a hard drive, there's little difference between the unit price of a 250Gb and a 120Gb hard drive, and they're user-servicable. Calling it a 'premium' model is a bit of an Xbox thing to do.

  • asphaltcowboy #7 3 years ago

    "A 250 GB HDD model is a good idea but only if it is reasonably priced. Otherwise you'd be better off buying the 120 GB HDD model and fitting a larger third-party 320 GB or 500 GB HDD yourself as it's a piece of cake. A 320 GB HDD can be bought for around £50 or less these days. Fitting a new HDD doesn't invalidate your warranty either as the PS3 is designed to have its HDD upgraded."

    Look at the pictures of the thing elsewhere on the site - doesn't look like it's got an upgrade slot for a new HDD! You might be stuck with what you buy?

  • Darren #8 3 years ago

    @asphaltcowboy - The HDD upgrade slot looks like it has been relocated to the right hand front side underneath the BD drive because they appears to be a removable panel there. I'd be very surprised if Sony have redesigned the PS3 to not accept HDD upgrades, that would be a very stupid thing to do when they're about to launch their movie download service, which allows you to actually purchase them (as opposed to renting them as with the 360), not to mention that emphasis on game installs and downloadable content etc. too.

    Having the option to upgrade the HDD with a cheap third-party model is a very nice thing indeed and one thing Sony got absolutely right with the PS3 (and something Microsoft got horribly wrong IMO with their overpriced peripherals). Sony have even thoughtfully included a backup/restore option too which makes the whole upgrade process as painless and simple as possible.

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #9 3 years ago

    "I'd be very surprised if Sony have redesigned the PS3 to not accept HDD upgrades, that would be a very stupid thing to do"

    Those two statements seem to contradict each other.

    It does seem from the pictures very much as though the hard drive is no longer designed to be replaced.

  • 3william56 #10 3 years ago

    Rev - I believe other posters have confirmed HDD replacement is still there (check main Slim thread)

    The real dissapointment is that the filing lists only Wireless B and G. No wireless N yet, which should have been a no brainer for the new model (except for pushing the price/profit margin as far as possible) as a HD media centre. Oh well, will keep my launch chunky until the next iteration.

  • Darren #11 3 years ago

    That doesn't seem to be the case, Rev., if this article has any truth to it.

    http://ww w.destructoid.com/you-can-still...

    It is also confirmed here too:

    http://ne ws.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-1031...
    Edited by 1 at 19/08/09 @ 10:14

  • BritishBlue1 #12 3 years ago

    Golgo:
    "I wish I could be arsed to dig out Harrison's remark way back about not wanting to confuse the consumer with countless different iterations of PS3."

    Well, to be honest a HDD swap is hardly a reiteration. The PS3 Slim itself is a reiteration but even then it still has the same consistent functionality as the fat PS3. It's not a big thing, people swap out their hard drives on the PC/PS3 all the time.
    Edited by 1 at 19/08/09 @ 10:44

  • Bravestinsane #13 3 years ago

    This is just stupid, it will carry a extra £50 premium than the 120GB version, unless it's an extra £10 more i would consider it over an 120GB versions, but this Gen both companies are ripping the public off with hard drives, they can be bought so damn cheeply, i bought a TB hard drive for my Pc for £70 and MS charge that for a 120 Gb it's disgraceful.

    Either way i would most likely get the lower model and upgrade it myself it would be cheeper.

  • Hexagon #14 3 years ago

    Aren't consoles meant to be static? Constantly changing a console and bringing out new SKUs certainly defies the very definition of what a console is meant to be, namely a simple plug-and-play device. I was intent on buying the newest PS3 model but now I feel that a superior model is right around the corner and feel unsure of purchasing a PS3 yet again.

  • zedzee #15 3 years ago

    @ Golgo:

    Is this good enough?

    [link url=http://www.ga mesindustry.biz/articles/gdce-sony-unlikely-to-offer-two-ver sions-of-ps3-says-harrison
    ]http://ww w.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gd...[/link]

    @ Darren:

    You are assuming that the PS3slim firmware will support such large HDD sizes and that the removal of the HDD is as 'easy' as it was with the previous model.

    I think a 250GB model will be extortionately priced - as if the PSPslim isn't still extortionately priced - and as someone said earlier, it will just frustrate and confuse customers. I really don't see anything different in Sony's strategy this time around - console still expensive in relation to their competition, plus more double-talk about "it just confuses the audience. They don't know which one to buy, developers don't know which one to create for, and retailers don't know which one to stock." - Phil Harrison.

  • Preident_Obama #16 2 years ago

    Pure muscle.

    Trey 4 life.
    Edited by 1 at 08/10/09 @ 15:45