Perhaps the biggest change in the new model—and biggest gripe from consumers—is the switch to a manual top-loading disc drive.

The door is thin, cheap-feeling plastic, and means this PS3 now requires overhead clearance to change the disc. No more cramming the PS3 into a short shelf.

We suspect that ditching the tray was necessary to cut both costs and size in the Super Slim. It's a design choice that has been met with a lot of criticism, though, reminding us of another recent size-conscious change.

In addition to the immediate benefit to Sony's margins, lowering production costs also future-proofs the PS3. When the Playstation 4 is finally released, it's almost a certainty that the PlayStation 3 Super Slim will still be sold alongside the new console, but at a much lower price point.