Sony PlayStation 3 Limited Edition Azurite Blue 500GB Super Slim Console

At launch, the PS3 was an awesome bit of kit - housing the first blu-ray system for console gamers (and still one of the best on the general market), and packing in enough tech to make the PS2 and original XBox look like Casio watches. It was also bloody enormous, weighing an arm-aching amount, and though the design was sleek and a lot less eye-catching (in the right way) than the XBox 360, it was a little unwieldy and took up a fair amount of space on the entertainment unit. So when the PS3 Slim was released back in 2009 it went some way to sorting out those issues, offering a much more reasonably sized console, and now, for fans of extra space, Sony have also released the Super Slim model - some 25% smaller, and 20% lighter than the Slim model. The basic design is similar to the preceding models - simple and black without an awful lot of frills, and though there was some compromise in the aesthetic quality when the PS3 was replaced with the Slim, and some might think that this Super Slim looks just a little cheaper than the last model, I actually prefer the new design, especially the Azurite Blue variant with its more feminine curves and contrasting textures. It looks very lovely with a vertical stand too. The biggest draw for some people will be the change in size - it is noticeably smaller than the Slim, but when stood side by side with an original, the achievement of stripping the design down becomes even more obvious and more impressive. Sony have basically got rid of half their console, in both bulk and weight. Also the Azurite blue edition comes with 2x 'Dual Shock 3' controllers, which is a big saving considering the price of official PS3 pads hasn't changed from the standard £35-£40 for years. I got mine brand new for £200, this includes the 500gb blue console, and the 2x blue controllers which is an absolute steal. But shop around, as the Azurite blue edition has now been discontinued, and some seller's are over charging more than what it originally retailed for in 2013. Set-up is a simple affair, though it is a little irksome to discover that the Super Slim doesn't come with a HDMI cable, though perhaps Sony are expecting their users to already be equipped given this is meant to be a replacement console and not a supplementary one - so it's a forgivable oversight in that respect. The most taxing aspect of the set-up comes with copying your data over - but this is an awful lot less complex than the Xbox 360 process (which was convoluted further by the introduction of a new transfer cable with the new model console), though again this is relatively simple as long as you chose the transfer option when setting up your old system. All previous downloads can be accessed using your PSN ID, and navigating to the Downloads section of the Store, from where they can all be downloaded onto your system. It all makes for a simple transition, which is half the battle with a console update. The performance differences aren't a major change from the Slim model, but the one overriding thing to notice from the performance is the quietness of the system. Where once the fans would kick out an almighty racket, especially when the system over-heated, the Super Slim is impressively silent by comparison, even after extended periods of activity. In place of the load-out disc tray, the Super Slim features a sliding tray, opened by pressing the side-mounted eject button. It is a less elegant solution to the loading need, and it's accompanied by an unfortunate clunky noise, and the compromise is continued in the disc reading noises, which are noticeably louder than with the Slim. It's hardly a fatal design flaw by any means, but it's certainly something of a shame when the rest of the design works so well. The Super Slim is a great bit of kit and excellent value for money - there are of course a few design compromises, but they are far from fatal, and the improvements on the original PS3 model in particular make it an essential purchase for those gamers who didn't update to the Slim in 2009 or since. The differences between Original and Super Slim put the consoles worlds apart, in all honesty, and the drop in price represents a further advantage, particularly for those looking to take advantage of the extra storage space, and download some new digital copies to boost their non-boxed collection.

If I had to buy a PS3 again I'd buy a different model as this one looks a bit cheap,and tacky the way they have designed it, sort of like they made a budget version

This console is more easier to use and lighter to use ("well that why it called super slim") also I already upgrade the 500GB to 1TB 2.5inch "make more space" (includes 9.5mm type) with a latest system firmware (requires USB stick to install the latest version) "full info from Playstation Website/Wikipedia" (also much more quieter that the fat model) Note: only work for slim & light and super slim model, does not apply for fat model -install/format automatically does not need to use usb stick to install- I highly recommend buying it and the good things is the the price have gone down a lot (due to the launch of the Playstation 4 "PS4") ^o^

Arrived early in 5 days before due delivery date. PlayStation 3 was of good quality and started up immediately with no issues.

Sony have quite clearly cut a lot of corners with this 'new' PS3 console. Had mine for less than a week till it started to power down by itself for no apparent reason. On closer inspection the AC power connection at the rear was extremely loose. The power port felt broken and I was able to wobble it around with one finger. Needless to say the console has gone back to Amazon for a refund. A quick google search reveals that this is quite a common problem with the super slim PS3's. I really wish I had known this before ordering. Has Sony quality control gone out the window now the PS4 is nearly here....?

Its a PS3, its blue, it has a 500gb hard drive whats not to love? Its so much quieter than the original PS3 and uses far less power. I miss the 4 usb ports as this one only has 2 and the disc tray has to be opened like the old PlayStation 1, but other than that I cant complain. 5 stars!

This is a beautiful console, unfortunately Sony still haven't fixed all the bugs and so this one like all the other PS3s I've went through doesn't cope well with games like Skyrim and The Last of Us. If they develop a download that fixes all that then I'll give the PS3 five stars. Other than that this console is nice to look at and does the same as all the other normal PS3s.

Only one controller and the disc cover on the front is missing, how can this be described as good. I have given it one star as I can't give it no stars.

As a long-standing Nintendo loyalist, I had remained aloof of high-definition gaming, being more than happy to play away on my Wii. It would have remained thus had my younger sibling not developed a keen interest in the Diablo series. Since the PC/Mac version of its latest iteration (Diablo III) had onerous online requirements, I'd hoped that it would come out on the Wii U. Once it was evident that this would not happen, I opted to do what needed to be done: I purchased a Playstation 3. I was not entirely unfamiliar with SONY's console. When the original Playstation came out, I was initially dismissive, but after purchasing the Connectix Virtual Game Station (a PS emulator for the Macintosh), I acquired a grudging respect for the console's games, if not the console itself. I ignored the Playstation 2, which I consider to be woefully inferior to the Nintendo Gamecube, though I must give SONY credit for introducing backward compatibility. The Playstation 3, however, did catch my attention long before I bought it, not least because, for once, SONY was making the mightiest game system of its generation, and also removing region-restriction (an annoying hindrance that Nintendo still insists on applying). Nonetheless, the size of the console and the abundance of titles on the Wii meant that my interest in the system did not lead to a purchase, until late this year. This background information should indicate the perspective underlying the following evaluation. The Good: There is so much to be said in favour of the PS3 that details must be sacrificed in the interests of brevity. The Playstation 3 is backward-compatible with Playstation 1 games (so I can play those old games I purchased for the Connectix VGS); it plays CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, PS3 games are region-free (as previously mentioned), and it is compatible with a variety of USB gamepads. Speaking of gamepads, the PS3 controller can be charged via the USB connection and then played wirelessly for a long time (over a dozen hours at least) - this is an excellent feature not only for the user, but also for the environment (since it saves on batteries). The console is easy to set up, supports HDMI and other video output types, and the super-slim edition is less bulky and heavy than the earlier versions. The hard disk space (250GB) is appropriate, given the size of many PS3 games and demos. Last but not least, amazon shipped this in an unbelievably short time (less than three weeks), considering that I was ordering it half-way around the world from Canada. The Bad: After starting up the console and going online, one naturally updates the system software in order to maximise functionality and security. In the course of the update on the European Playstation Network Store, SONY surreptitiously installed an unwanted program in the games section of the PS3 (Singstar) and provided no means of removing it (short of formatting or hacking the console). Nintendo never indulged in such callous and potentially criminal, behaviour, and neither should SONY. I was fortunate since, as a new user, I could simply create a new account, register on the North American PSN store (which doesn't install this trash it seems) and play my games via this account: but the old-time Playstation veterans were not so lucky (since their saved games and trophies were on the Euro account) and it was very stupid on SONY's part to alienate them. The Amazing: The preceding paragraphs may give the impression that SONY's online service leaves much to be desired: this is definitely not the case. It is thanks to SONY's online capabilities that its console has given me an experience I've never had on any other. Though demos have been common PCs and Macs for decades, they are relatively new on consoles - and it is the PS3 that finally enabled me to download free versions of interesting console titles. This might seem like a minor matter, but it makes all the difference. Hitherto, I had to read reviews, watch trailers and study screenshots in order to estimate whether a console game was worth buying or not: as a result, I missed out on a number of good titles (Phantasy Star Online and Wario World, to name two Gamecube ones). Now I can download and try games thoroughly, thereby clearly ascertaining whether they suit me or not: I've already done this for over half-a-dozen titles - the PS3 downloaded and installed all of them smoothly. These free demos with their superb HD graphics provide an exceptional experience - one available to every PS3 owner with a good internet connection. Among the very best of these demos is that of the game which got me onto the Playstation 3 in the first place: Diablo III. To conclude, should you buy a PS3 this late in the console's lifespan? If you are a SONY supporter, you already have one and do not need to ask this question. If you are a customer of Microsoft's console, you will not be reading this. If you do not fall into any of those two categories, the answer is an unequivocal yes. The PS3 is smaller and less expensive than the PS4; most versions have greater internal storage capacity than the Wii U; it is more suited to gaming than a PC (and you don't have to worry about viruses, adware, malware, etc... as long as you avoid the European PSN store); and it offers free online multiplayer gaming (for those interested in that sort of thing; there's plenty for those who prefer offline singleplayer gaming like myself). By combining many of the best features of a console and a computer, it has earned its place in my home.

j'adore cette ps même si parfois des petit freez se produit très rarement je conseille cette console à tout ceux qui veulent une nouvelle ps3

The console works perfectly but the controller coming with it doesnt work and when its plug on the console makes it laggy

après avoir reçu l'appareil ( attention prise anglaise!) rien à redire excellent choix impeccable superbe et fonctionnalités multiples très utiles.

I always had doubt of buying used electronic equipment from anyone. Let say that I had bad experience in the past. But....my present experience; Fast delivery. As mentioned on my order, we received the unit according to the suggested date. My kids spent time testing different games on the PS3. Trust me, I would hear something from them if anything was not working properly. Why I bought this old type unit. I broke their console! They have a PS4 but a lot of PS3 games and I felt guilty. Reliable service from this seller. Thumb Up!