PS5 restock tracker: How to buy a PlayStation 5 from Target, Amazon and more
Walmart restocked the PS5 on Thursday afternoon and, as usual, the consoles sold out quickly. Those still waiting to get a PS5 might be relieved that Sony is saying
it got enough chips to hit its PS5 production target of 14.8 million consoles
for the fiscal year.
It's not easy to find a PS5. When new ones arrive, console stock quickly runs out without fail. The best way to get one now is to figure out where you're likely to have them next and get them be ready to buy right away. Need help? We've put together this guide to try and make getting a PS5 a little easier.
Why is it so hard to find a PS5?
Sony's latest console is still hard to find, months after its launch. Contributing to the difficulty is the fact that
scalpers use bots
-- and the
global chip shortage
continue. Sony says it is aware of the problem and is working on a solution, but at the moment it is still incredibly difficult.
“We are working as hard as possible to improve this situation,”
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan told Wired
in May."We see production increasing over the summer and certainly in the second half of the year, and we hope to see some sort of return to normal in terms of the balance between supply and demand in the during this period."
This monster machine is a hot item in 2021.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
How do I get a PS5 on PlayStation Direct from Sony?
The store with the most frequent PS5 restocks is still
PlayStation Direct
, where the drops often take place in the afternoon and have people queuing for a chance to buy a console. If you don't get one by then, it's always worth joining the queue, as some patient and lucky customers may receive a priority access email directly from Sony. -marketing emails from Sony and have a PS Plus subscription - and you must be logged into your PSN account. If luck is on your side, Sony may send you an invitation to buy a PS5.
When you're in a queue, one thing to know is how long you have to get to the first row. The shorter the better, but that's not a guarantee. To increase your chances, once you're in a queue, share the link with your other devices like your phone. Make sure each device is using a different IP address (e.g. having your phone on their mobile plan while your computer is using home Wi-Fi). This may improve your chances, as your other device may be placed in a different queue that moves faster. Even if you don't get a PS5, as mentioned previously, you can still get a pass to buy one on the next tour.
What are some useful tips for finding a PS5?
While big retailers like Walmart, GameStop, Amazon, Target, and Best Buy don't typically give much notice before a restock, your best chance of scoring a PS5 is to log in as soon as inventory drops. is guaranteed, but there are ways to improve your odds.
First tip: Don't wait to see an alert for low PS5 inventory. Check links at major retailers for stock updates daily or even multiple times a day. (We've lined them all up below .) If you're having some PS5 availability, go for as many browsers and devices as possible. On a desktop, for example, open the retailer's page in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Then do the same on your phone and tablet. The more devices and browsers, the better. It's like with
lottery tickets
: The more you have, the better your chances of winning.
Tip two: Create accounts with the various retailers and make sure you're already logged in if you're going to try and get a PS5. Make sure all your shipping, billing, and payment information is up-to-date on any device you can shop on, whether it's a laptop, desktop or phone. This makes verification much faster, which is crucial because sites retailers are quickly bogged down causing people to lose their chance of getting a PS5.
Where can I buy a PS5 if I'm willing to pay extra?
If you're starting to crave and are considering buying a PS5 right now (and we know that with the number of
big ps5 games
about to drop over the next few months, the pressure is on), you can, but at the cost of heavy markup on sites like
eBay
and
StockX
On eBay, for example, we've seen PS5 units over $1,000. We think it's worth the wait and getting the PS5 for the sticker price.
PS5 Restock Possibilities
Amazon
You can check out Amazon's page for the $400 Digital Edition via the button below, or if you prefer, queue for the
PS5 with Blu-ray for $500
.
See on Amazon
Target
Target offers the
PS5 with Blu-ray for $500
in addition to the PS5 Digital Edition, which you can find by clicking the button below.
See at target
walmart
You can check inventory for the $400 Digital Edition at Walmart by clicking the button below, or you can try to snag the most expensive
PS5 with Blu-ray for $500
.
See at Walmart
GameStop
GameStop has pages for the $400 Digital Edition (click the button below) as well as the more expensive
PS5 with Blu-ray for $500
.You can also purchase a full line of PS5 accessories from GameStop like the
Pulse 3D wireless headphones for $100
.
View at GameStop
best buy
Best Buy offers the
PS5 with Blu-ray for $500
as well as the $400 Digital Edition (which you can find by clicking the button below). The retailer also offers a slew of accessories on its
PS5 landing page
.
See at Best Buy
Newegg
Newegg's PS5 page has several bundles that include controllers and additional games with the console. You can see the different options by clicking the button below.
View at Newegg
eBay
If you've decided you just can't wait another moment for Sony to pull itself together and flood the market with inventory, eBay is a shortcut to getting your own PS5 right now. That said, let me reiterate our advice : No PS5 is worth spending hundreds of dollars off the list price, and that's exactly what you'll need to do if you're buying from an eBay reseller. The average PS5 price on eBay is around $850.
View on eBay
StockX
OK, you've exhausted all of the online and physical retailers, and you've decided you're willing to pay over $300 to get this pup soon. As friends, we have to tell you:
Do not do it
.But if you don't want to listen to us, you might want to check
StockX
, an eBay alternative that has made a name for itself in the secondary market for designer sneakers and apparel. Last we checked, PS5 prices were hovering around $700.
View at StockX
More PlayStation 5 coverage
Why You Should Save $100 and Get the All-Digital PS5 Version
5 fixes the PS5 still needs
PS5 games are $10 more. Is that fair?
Now Playing:
Look at this:
PS5 review: Full breakdown of all the new features
17:44
CNET Cheapskate
Get all the latest deals delivered to your inbox. It's free!
This story is regularly updated with the latest PS5 stock market news.
CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and more. For the latest deals and updates, follow
on Facebook
and
.You can also
sign up to receive text messages
delivered straight to your phone.Find more great buys on the
CNET Deals Page
and see our
CNET Coupons Page
for the last
Walmart Discount Codes
,
eBay Vouchers
,
Samsung Promo Codes
and even more
hundreds of other online shops
.Questions on the Cheapskate blog?Answers live on our
FAQs
.