(CNN) –
Still desperate to update your web browser in hopes of snapping up a PlayStation 5? You’re not alone. The coveted next-gen console from Sony is still very difficult to find months after launch and is usually sold out before you can click “Add to Cart” when a large supply is available.
While trying to land a PS5 feels like a lottery game, there are a few tricks you can use to give yourself the best chance at securing Sony’s console for yourself. This is where you’ll find the big stores to keep an eye out for PS5 reorders, as well as expert advice on how to navigate through the often messy PS5 shopping experience and eventually bring one home.
Most major retailers sell the Digital Edition for $ 499 for the PS5 and $ 399 for the PS5, although it’s usually back in stock at relatively random times and only in a few stores at a time. We’ve put together a handy list of the biggest retailers who have seen PS5 reorders. You can find these below.
Note: We’ll occasionally mark which retailers have the PS5 in stock at the time of writing, but units are selling out quickly and availability is subject to change.
“Best Buy has been most reliable in the past few weeks with PS5 reorders. They offered the console to three on Fridays, while Walmart made bigger drops every two to three weeks, ”says Matt Swider, Managing Editor at TechRadar, who has closely followed PS5 availability and updated its updates quickly than 140,000 followers on Twitter. Swider also notes that GameStop has had decent PS5 availability lately, largely because the retailer sells the console through expensive bundles that don’t sell out anytime soon.
While history can tell us which retailers have been most consistent in offering the PS5, figuring out when they actually have consoles in stock has proven to be much more difficult.
“Reorders can [happen] at almost any time – and that makes chasing these PS5 drops a sleepless 24/7 operation for me, ”says Swider. “Target is doing early morning reorders before stores open on the East Coast, while Amazon previously did surprise 3 a.m. EST reorders.”
Jacob Krol / CNN
While the PS5 usually sells out within minutes of being reused, there are a few steps you can take to give yourself the best chance of getting that majestic confirmation email. Here are some tips for those still on the hunt – note that this advice also applies to those looking for the equally elusive Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
Set up merchant accounts and stay logged in
When you enter your credit card information at checkout, the last PS5 in stock will likely walk out the door. This is why we recommend creating accounts with any major retailer to save precious seconds when checking out. Once you’ve got a user account on sites like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target that has your payment and contact information already set up, you’ll have far fewer clicks after popping it up.
Avoid sketchy websites and resellers
If you are looking for a PS5, you should turn to a reputable retailer like the ones above. According to Swider, sites like TechInn and CheapGameCenter appear to be selling the PS5 but are “either frauds or no orders”. You should also avoid buying the console from resale sites like eBay and StockX, where scalpers are trying to sell the PS5 for $ 700-1400.
Follow the PS5 refill trackers and set up Twitter notifications
In our months of PS5 tracking, we’ve found Twitter to be the most reliable and immediate source of PS5 refill information. That’s because people like Swider and the popular Wario64 Track PS5 gaming account are replenishing daily and posting links to stores that are currently selling the console once it’s back in stock. We recommend signing up for Twitter notifications when you follow these accounts (just click the little bell icon on their profile) so that you will be notified when the second consoles are available.
Use the Amazon Wish List
A unique trick that has been spread around the internet is to add the PS5 to your Amazon wish list and then move it straight to your shopping cart as soon as reorders come in. Several users have reported being successful using this method when the main sales page is not working, and the Tom’s Guide staff were able to successfully replicate this hack multiple times using the Xbox Series X. To easily add the PS5 to your wish list, click the “Add to List” icon in the top right corner of the Amazon list.
Do not get discouraged
Online retail websites can get extremely messy with the PS5 back in stock. So don’t lose hope if the console doesn’t seem to be available right away. Please keep updating this page as soon as there is a larger replenishment. After a few tries, you may be lucky.
GameStop
Some retailers, including GameStop, Newegg, and Antonline, tend to sell the PS5 as part of an expensive package once they have the console in stock. PS5 bundle prices can be staggering at first glance – like this $ 779 Newegg bundle with three games and an additional controller – but they’re also selling out a lot slower than the console itself.
With that in mind, it’s worth considering a bundle if it contains things that you were going to want to buy for your PS5 anyway. Just make sure that the prices for those additional games and controllers are roughly what you would pay to buy each individual game. The last thing you should do is pay a grossly inflated price to bring your PS5 home.
Jacob Krol / CNN
Once the all-too-rare PS5 replenishment has arrived, there is an important decision you need to make: will you buy the $ 499 single-drive PS5 or the cheaper $ 399 Digital Edition? The consoles are identical except for this one big difference, as the standard PS5 can play physical games and 4K Blu-rays, while the Digital Edition is limited to digital games and streaming media only.
The Digital Edition seems like the obvious choice for those looking to save some money. However, having a PS5 with a drive allows you to play physical games, which tend to be on sale more often (and can be bought second-hand) and can save more money overall in the long run. You can also trade in physical PS5 titles that you’ve bought from places like GameStop and Decluttr.
“PS5 disc is easier to buy and the one I recommend,” says Swider.
Jacob Krol / CNN
If you’re still looking for a PS5, don’t give up hope. The console has been back in stock quite a lot lately, and while you need to be vigilant to secure yours, it’s only a matter of time before that checkout button actually works in your favor.
In the meantime, there are still plenty of great PS4 games to play, including titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which will automatically upgrade to their PS5 versions as soon as you receive your new console. And if you want to buy yourself or a loved one a console that is cheaper and more readily available, there is always the excellent Nintendo Switch.
But for those determined to bring home a PS5 at some point in the near future, all you need is patience – and a clever use of online shopping tricks.