The PS5 Slim may not be just about a smaller frame or storage cuts. A recent round of tests suggests Sony’s latest console revision might also be the quietest PlayStation 5 yet.
PS5 Slim uses revised fans and a cooling system
Sony made subtle but important changes with the CFI-2116 PS5 Slim, especially in the European release. Teardowns have shown a modified heatsink, fresh fan design, and an internal layout aimed at better heat dissipation. These shifts, while not flashy, appear to make the system run cooler and quieter.
Polish hardware modder modyfikator89 ran a five-hour test on the system and measured sound levels at just 34.7 dB during idle. Under heavy load, noise levels rose slightly to 38.2 dB. Compared to earlier PlayStation models, that’s a noticeable drop even if exact comparisons weren’t provided.
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The PS5 Slim might be a better fit for quieter setups
For players who keep their consoles in shared spaces, the reduced noise could be a key selling point. Interestingly, the console ran quieter when standing vertically, suggesting better airflow or less vibration in that orientation.
Even YouTuber Austin Evans, who didn’t use a meter, noted how the system sounded quieter during basic use. He stopped short of calling it silent but clearly noticed the difference.
What the PS5 Slim noise tests reveal (and what they don’t)
Here’s what the early testing confirms and what’s still unclear:
Confirmed from the tests:
- Lower decibel readings in idle and stress
- Improved cooling performance
- Quieter operation in vertical mode
Still unknown:
- Whether coil whine has improved
- How it compares side-by-side with earlier PS5 units
- Long-term durability of the quieter design
Quieter, cooler, but not perfect
Even though the fan noise is lower, there’s no guarantee the PS5 Slim is totally silent in real-world use. High-pitched coil whine can still sneak through in some systems often too subtle for decibel meters to catch but loud enough to bother certain players.
The CFI-2116 version may also skip some conveniences: it ships with reduced storage and no flip-flip feet, and early batches have only been seen in specific regions.
It takes one step closer to silence
While Final Fantasy bosses and racing engines still roar on screen, your console doesn’t have to hum in the background anymore. The latest PS5 Slim shows that quiet performance doesn’t always need a hardware overhaul it just takes a smarter cooling setup.
Silent machines whisper louder than noisy ones.
