Sony PlayStation 3 Slim 320 GB Review: the old console that still works fine for cheap gaming and Blu‑ray

I’ve been using a PS3 Slim 320 GB on and off for a while now, mainly as a cheap console for older games and a backup Blu‑ray/Netflix box in the bedroom. It’s obviously not new tech anymore, but if you’re looking at this model today, you’re probably like me: you don’t want to spend PS5 money, you want to replay some classics, or you just need something simple that plugs into a TV and works.

In day‑to‑day use, it still does the basics well: it plays PS3 discs, it handles Blu‑ray movies, it connects to Wi‑Fi, and it has enough storage so you don’t have to micromanage space every week. Don’t expect miracles on speed or modern app support, but for what it is, it’s pretty solid. Most of the issues I ran into are tied to its age and Sony’s ecosystem, not the hardware falling apart.

I’m not going to dress it up: this is an old machine, discontinued, and you’re probably buying it used or refurbished. That means you have to factor in fan noise, possible disc drive wear, and the fact that some streaming services are dropping PS3 apps. On the flip side, prices on used games are low, and the library is still great: Uncharted, The Last of Us (PS3 version), Gran Turismo, God of War, plenty of JRPGs, etc.

So the real question is not “is this console powerful?” because it’s not by today’s standards. The real question is “does it still make sense for the price and for what you want to do?” I’ll break down design, performance, durability, and value so you can decide if a 320 GB PS3 Slim is a decent buy for you, or if you should just save up for something newer.

Value on this console depends a lot on the price you find it at and what you want to do with it. If you can grab a clean 320 GB Slim with a controller, cables, and maybe a game or two for a low price, it’s a pretty solid deal for what it offers: a big library of cheap used games, a Blu‑ray player, DVD playback, and a basic streaming box. You’re not paying ongoing online fees like Xbox Live Gold just to use Netflix, which was one of the strong points users mentioned even back when this was current.

The 320 GB drive is a nice sweet spot. It’s big enough that you don’t have to constantly delete installs and demos, but not so big that you’re paying for unused space. For most people, 320 GB will comfortably last until they either stop using the console or move to a newer system. If you’re a heavy downloader or hoarder of demos and media, you can always upgrade the drive later; the process is simple and 2.5" drives are cheap now.

Where the value drops is if sellers try to charge “collector” prices for a basic used unit, or if you’re planning to use this as your main modern console. It’s not worth it if it’s too close in price to a used PS4, because the jump in performance, game library, and app support on PS4 is huge. In my opinion, the PS3 Slim 320 GB makes sense if it’s clearly in the budget range, you care about PS3 exclusives, and you still watch physical media like Blu‑rays.

So, in practice: if you want cheap access to older games and a Blu‑ray player in one box, the value is good. If you’re chasing the latest titles and fast online features, skip this and save for a PS4 or PS5. It’s a decent workhorse for what it is, but it’s not a modern all‑rounder anymore.

The PS3 Slim 320 GB looks exactly like what its name says: a slimmer, cut‑down version of the original PS3. The charcoal black finish is matte, which I liked a lot more than the glossy fingerprint magnet of the first PS3. It blends nicely under a TV, doesn’t scream for attention, and the size is manageable even on a small TV stand. It’s not pretty in any fancy way, but it’s compact and doesn’t look cheap from a distance.

Up close, the plastic does feel a bit basic. The top has that ribbed texture with the PS3 logo, and the front has a slot‑loading disc drive with two USB ports. Buttons are physical, not touch‑sensitive like the fat model, and honestly that’s an improvement. You press power, it clicks, and that’s it. No accidental touches when dusting or moving the console. The disc slot on my unit still pulls discs in and spits them out without drama, and other users report the same when the console has been cared for.

One thing I liked is how light it is. At around 5 pounds, you can easily move it from one room to another. I’ve done that a lot: living room for weekend gaming, bedroom for Netflix or Blu‑rays. It’s not like lugging a big AV receiver. Ventilation is mostly on the side and back, so you just need a bit of space around it. Don’t cram it in a closed cabinet and you’re fine.

On the downside, there are only two USB ports on the front, which gets tight if you’re charging multiple controllers or using accessories like the PlayStation Eye or Move controllers. You can fix this with a cheap USB hub, but it’s still a limitation. Also, no front door or covers: ports are always exposed, which is convenient but collects dust. Overall, the design is simple and practical: nothing fancy, nothing fragile, and it fits easily in most setups.

The console itself obviously doesn’t have a battery, but the included DualShock 3 controller does, and that matters a lot in daily use. On a decent used controller, I usually got around 8–10 hours of play before needing a charge. If the controller is older or heavily used, that can drop quite a bit. Some people get less than that and end up playing plugged in half the time. The good news is you can replace the battery fairly cheaply if you’re willing to open the controller, but it’s not as simple as just popping in AA batteries like on an Xbox 360 pad.

The USB cable that comes in the box is short. On my setup, with the couch about 7 feet from the TV, I basically had to sit on the edge of the couch when the controller was charging. It’s annoying. My quick fix was buying a longer USB cable and leaving the original one as a backup. If you plan on long gaming sessions, just budget for a longer cable or a second controller so you can swap when one dies.

As for the console’s power usage, it’s lighter than the original fat PS3 but not as efficient as newer systems or streaming sticks. The fan does spin up after a while, especially in hotter rooms or when playing heavier games. On my unit, the fan noise is there but not crazy. It’s quieter than my old 360 used to be, louder than a PS4 Slim at idle. If you put it in an open space and keep dust under control, it’s fine for normal living room use.

Overall, the power and battery story is simple: expect to charge the controller regularly, get a longer cable, and don’t be surprised if the fan is audible during longer sessions. It’s not unbearable, just not silent. For a console of this age, that’s pretty normal, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re sensitive to noise or hate being tethered by a short cable.

The PS3 Slim line has a decent reputation for durability, especially compared to the infamous red ring issues of the early Xbox 360. My own 320 GB Slim has survived moves, dust, and a lot of power cycles without any major problems. It boots, reads discs, connects to Wi‑Fi, and the hard drive hasn’t thrown any errors so far. A lot of long‑time owners say the same: their Slims just keep going, while they’ve replaced multiple 360s over the years.

That said, you’re not buying a new console here. Every PS3 Slim 320 GB out there is used or refurbished, and that means you’re rolling the dice on how well the previous owner treated it. Common issues on old units are: noisy fans due to dust build‑up, disc drive failing to read certain discs, and controllers with weak batteries or sticky buttons. When I bought mine, I opened it up carefully to blow out dust (after the warranty was irrelevant) and that helped keep fan noise reasonable.

The hard drive is a standard laptop drive, so if it fails, you can replace it with another 2.5" SATA drive or even an SSD if you want to go overboard. Sony actually made this quite easy. I’ve upgraded PS3 drives before and it’s not hard if you follow a guide. That’s a big plus: you’re not stuck with a dead console just because the drive died. Replacement parts like controllers, power cables, and HDMI cables are easy to find and cheap.

In short, the hardware itself is fairly tough, but the age factor is real. If you can, buy from a seller that clearly states it’s been tested and cleaned, and ideally offers some kind of return window. Don’t expect perfection: some fan noise, a bit of wear on the controller, maybe a scratch or two on the case. For gaming and movie watching though, most decent units will still work reliably if you don’t abuse them and keep them ventilated.

In terms of raw performance, you have to remember this is a 2010 console. For PS3 games, it runs exactly as intended: frame rates and graphics are what developers targeted back then. Games like Uncharted 2, Gran Turismo 5, and the COD titles still look decent on a 1080p TV, even if you’re used to PS4 or PS5 visuals. Compared to an Xbox 360, some people find certain games smoother on one or the other. Personally, with COD on both, I found the Xbox 360 slightly smoother and snappier in menus, but in actual gameplay it was close enough that I stopped caring.

Where the age really shows is loading times and system navigation. Installing a big game like Gran Turismo 5 is slow: you’re sitting there for several minutes while it copies data to the hard drive, and then it might offer additional installs to speed up loading. Even lighter titles take noticeably longer to boot than on newer consoles. Menu navigation in some games (especially older CODs) feels a bit more sluggish on PS3 compared to 360, which matches what other users reported.

Online performance over Wi‑Fi was decent for me. I didn’t have major lag issues, and PSN being free is a big plus. Compared to Xbox Live, the PS3 network feels a bit more bare‑bones: fewer bells and whistles, smaller overall user base now, but it just works. The downside is that some online features and servers for older games are shutting down, so don’t buy this expecting long‑term online support for every title.

The system software itself is stable but slow. Booting up, signing into PSN, checking the store, and downloading updates all feel heavy compared to even a cheap modern streaming device. It’s usable, but you need patience. If you’re okay with that and you’re mainly here for single‑player games and Blu‑rays, the performance is perfectly acceptable. If you’re coming from a PS5 or even a PS4 and expect similar responsiveness, this will feel dated fast.

The 320 GB Slim is basically the mid‑life PS3: slimmer and lighter than the original fat model, with a bigger hard drive than the early Slim units. In the box (assuming a fairly complete used or refurb set), you usually get: the console, one DualShock 3 controller, a power cable, and a USB cable for charging the controller. Some sellers throw in an HDMI cable and a few games, but don’t count on it unless it’s clearly listed. Mine came with HDMI, which saved me a few bucks.

Out of the box, the setup is straightforward but a bit more clunky than modern consoles. You have to create a local user, then a PSN account, and the difference between the two isn’t super clear if you’re new to PlayStation. Once that’s done, the XMB (the cross‑media bar menu) is simple: horizontal icons for categories (Games, Video, Music, Settings, etc.) and vertical lists under each. It’s not flashy, but it’s logical once you get used to it.

The headline features are still the same as when it launched: a built‑in Blu‑ray player (including 3D Blu‑ray), Wi‑Fi, free access to PlayStation Network for online play, and a decent 320 GB hard drive for game installs, saves, and some media. It supports Netflix and a few other apps, but depending on where you live and when you read this, some services may have dropped support. For me, Netflix still ran, but the app felt slow compared to a cheap streaming stick.

In practice, this machine is now more of an all‑in‑one “retro” entertainment box: PS3 games, PS1 classics (downloaded), DVDs, Blu‑rays, and some streaming. If you expect 4K, HDR, or super fast downloads, you’ll be disappointed. If you just want a cheap box that plays older games and physical movies, it still gets the job done just fine.