New PS3 super slim: Direct size comparison, and the new machine examined from every angle (even the pointless ones)

So the new PS3 super slim has been officially unveiled just previous to the opening of the Tokyo Game Show. We already have the launch and pricing details elsewhere on the site, so we're dedicating this article to examining the new machine in detail, from every angle currently made available by Sony's multitudinous press shots.

And because the bit everyone's really interested in when any console goes around claiming itself to be bigger or smaller than another console is just how well (or not) it can back up its gobby claims of size disimilarity, we've put together some direct scale comparisons between all three versions of the PS3 to date so that you can see just how Sony's little console has anti-grown over the years.

As you can see, the new PS3 is indeed smaller than the current slim, but in terms of overall coverage of your floor/table/shelf/cabinet/Greco-Roman holding plinth it will only save you a bit of space in terms of its width. 6 cm to be exact. The length of the console is exactly the same.

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There's even less bulk difference from the front view. The new PS3 super slim is just half a centimetre shorter than the current slim. Though we do like the fact it's bringing back the fat PS3's old right-hand overhang configuration. It always makes us worry that the PS3 is going to fall over, and that's exciting.

Here's the new PS3 super slim from the top. Note how the returning glossy black finish is broken up by a grooved texture which highlights the new slide-cover disc tray. This is not only an interesting textural change, it also means that the PS3 now doubles up as a guiro, a grater for soft cheeses, and a journalistic entrapment device perfect for filtering out and shaming the kind of writers who make jokes based around the word "groovy".

And here's the bottom of the new PS3 super slim. It's not very interesting, But don't worry, you don't have to see it. Only your shelf does. And having to do nothing but hold things all day, shelves have a high boredom threshhold.

And this is the front view of the new PS3 super slim. Note how it has a slightly layered top surface due to the new sliding disc-tray cover. This makes it appear even more top-heavy on the right hand side, making the whole leaning-over-to-the-right situation even more exciting. Also, it looks like we're back to touch-sensitive buttons this time around. And they're absolutely tiny. Usual two front-facing USBs though, so at least some things are sacred.

This is the back of the new PS3. It's basically exactly the same as the back of the current one, and has exactly the same connections (ethernet, HDMI, digital out, multi out, AC). Though curiously, from this angle the console appears to lean over to the left. It can only be assumed from this that the new machine is imbued with either witchcraft or some high technology so advanced as to appear indistinguishable from the mystic arts.

This is the new PS3 as viewed from the left. Much like the bottom view, it's pretty dull. But you'll probably very rarely view it from this angle, unless you have your consoles set up in some tediously quirky, non-traditional fashion. And if that's the case then any boredom will be entirely your own fault.

Using innovative new photography techniques, Sony has managed to create an image of the new PS3 super slim which shows both the top and front views of the console at the same time. With this kind of multi-view imaging technology in the hands of the people behind 3D console gaming and a new VR headset thing , the possibilities are endless.

And finally here's the opposite side-view of the new PS3 super slim. I split the two of them up with the previous image because this one is also very, very boring. In fact it could well just be the first one flipped over in Photoshop. But again, you'll rarely ever see it, so don't worry about it too much. It certainly shouldn't put you off if you're on the fence about buying one.