Fellow OzBargainers, has anyone purchased a PS5 over in Japan recently to bring back?
How was stock availability? Any firsthand issues with voltage, game compatibility, warranty etc?
Also open to other recommendations on things cheaper to take back. Luggage won't be an issue.
TLDR: can I save dollarydoos by buying a PS5 in Japan?
Cheers
Having brought consoles in the past from japan, wouldn't bother anymore. Not massively cheaper, a pain to lug back, no local warranty and they're not really in short supply locally anymore. Don't waste your time in japan trying to save a buck on electronics (or any other material possessions) which you won't care about in 6 months, go drinking/eating and experiencing the country which is invaluable.
I remember buying a Nintendo DS many years back from Tokyo Dept store. Salesman assured me it would work in Aus.
Proudly gave it to my son only to discover there was no English language setting, only Japanese. No way of reflashing it either.
I got lucky as I had to return there a month later for business & managed to get a full refund.
Will never repeat that mistake again
He didn't lie though. It did work. What you meant was that menus weren't in English. Even so, if you kept it and bought Aussie NDS games, they would have worked without issue because there's no region locking. It would have been tough to configure first though, no doubt.
PS5s are all dual voltage so work globally. Standard IEC power cable too so can get local plug easily.
Games are not region locked to device but to PS account region so non-issue. Some Blu-Ray movies might be region locked though.
Warranty will be your main concern. If anything goes wrong, you’re stuffed. Not worth the hassle.
Stock levels are apparently quite low in Japan so probably won’t find one anyway. They’re getting more frequently in stock locally here although mostly game bundle variants.
2 weeks away from the new God of War Ragnarok bundles and there’ll definitely be stock drops here. You’re better off getting one of those.