Sony PlayStation 3 Slim review

As well as Blu-ray support, the Slim can happily play video in the H.264, MPEG-2, AVCHD, DivX and WMV formats, as well as MP3 and WMA audio files across a network from a PC. The latest version of the firmware, 3.0, also adds native BBC iPlayer support to allow you to stream shows from the Net at near standard-definition quality. There's still no infrared port, though, so you can't control playback of Blu-ray discs or streamed video via a standard universal remote control, which is rather annoying.

Gaming chops
As a gaming device, little has changed, but the console now comes with the Sony DualShock 3 controller, rather than the older Sixaxis version that lacked rumble feedback. The Slim is still a seriously good gaming machine with many excellent exclusive titles, although, graphically, it's still not the leap on from the Xbox 360 that Sony had originally promised. In fact, there's usually little difference between PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the same titles.

The online PlayStation Network still isn't as slick or easy to use as the Xbox Live service, although it does have the advantage of being free, whereas Xbox users have to pay about £40 a year for the 'gold' membership needed for online play.

This Slim has been timed to arrive just before the Christmas shopping season, but, despite its lower price, the Xbox 360 Elite (with its new £200 price tag) and Wii are still the cheaper options. As a result, we're not sure that the Slim will help the PS3 overtake the 360 or Wii in terms of sales, but we can see it tempting those Wii and Xbox owners who are thinking of buying a second console in the run-up to Christmas

Conclusion
Sony's PS3 Slim is just what the doctor ordered. Not only is it smaller, quieter and cheaper than previous versions, but the features Sony has done away with are those that most gamers simply won't miss. We wish, however, that Sony had retained the more luxurious feel of the original -- the Slim looks like it's the PS3 brought to you courtesy of Lidl.

Edited by Charles Kloet