Less than a month ago, we saw that Sony presented a new version of the PlayStation 5, lighter and with internal changes that were ultimately positive for users and for the Japanese company, as they allowed it to reduce costs. This new model was designated as IFC-1200.

According to new information, this revision of said console, specifically identified as CFI-1202, not only brings internal changes to reduce weight and improve the cooling system, but also APU “Oberon Plus” made on TSMC’s new 6nm node. This means that Sony has already reduced the manufacturing node of the brain of its console, without introducing a Slim model.

The design and specifications of the new 6nm “Oberon” APU are identical to those of the 7nm version, meaning that it maintains a custom Zen 2 CPU with 8 cores and a Radeon GPU with 2,304 shaders and no infinite cache. There is no improvement at the performance level, but a slight improvement in consumption and operating temperature can be expected.

For consumers, these types of changes are positive because in the end it means using a chip that is at least as powerful, but at the same time more efficient and fresh. It’s also a win-win for Sony as it ultimately allows them to cut costs significantly. The “Oberon Plus” APU is smaller than the original (it has a footprint of 260mm square versus 300mm square for the 7nm model), which means its impact on the wafer is significantly reduced and you can get more chips per wafer.

On the left Oberon APU on 6nm and on the right on 7nm.

By getting more chips per wafer PlayStation 5 production costs are reducedAnd the same goes for the weight reduction and redesign that Sony has applied internally to its console. If we put this into perspective and add it to the recent increase in the price of the PlayStation 5, the conclusion we can reach is very clear, the current situation and the huge success of its next-generation console has allowed Sony to adopt a completely different strategy. than what we saw with the PlayStation 4, and it’s very likely that there’s money behind every console sold.

Will we see a PlayStation 5 Slim in the short or medium term?

As I said before, Sony used a new APU built on an upgraded node when they released a Slim version of their console within each generation. With the PlayStation 5, the Japanese company made an important exception, namely sowed doubts about the future of the Slim version of the said console.

It’s impossible to predict what Sony will do with the PlayStation 5, but I guess we should not doubt the future launch of the PS5 Slimafter all, this has always been part of the Japanese company’s strategy and has been a fundamental pillar in its renewal in various cycles. However, it is quite likely that it will take longer this time.

On the other hand right now Sony has no reason to lower the price of the PlayStation 5. The console continues to sell amazingly well, so much so that demand continues to greatly outstrip supply and the Japanese giant continues to struggle with high production costs despite the changes they are making to the console.