What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £160 (~$213) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £136 (~$181) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £104 (~$139) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £72 (~$96) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £40 (~$53) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Missing proprietary cables and power supplies, controller stick drift, and optical drives that spin but no longer read.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a PS4 is worth what is being asked:
- Loud fan noise, very common on original launch units
- Controller stick drift
- Disc drives that struggle to read or eject
- Console-only listings with no controller
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Slim and Pro revisions over the original launch model
- A controller that holds charge and has no stick drift
- Larger internal drives or an upgraded SSD
- All cables and the original box
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit cartridges are common in retro titles and usually give themselves away on label print quality and the screws used on the shell.
Ask for a photograph of the console powered on with a game running, and for a list of exactly which cables and controllers are included.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a PS4, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Run a game and listen. A quiet PS4 is genuinely unusual and worth advertising; a loud one still sells if you say so and price it.
Test both sticks. DualShock 4 drift is very common and buyers expect the question answered.
Check the model number on the rear. The Pro is worth noticeably more and the models are easily confused.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Identify whether you have the original, Slim or Pro
- Run a disc-based game to confirm the drive reads cleanly
- Test the controller sticks for drift
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The console as it will be handed over, front and side
- Everything included, laid out in one frame
- The rear ports and model sticker
- The controller thumbsticks close up
Details to confirm before you commit
- Model — original, Slim or Pro — and storage capacity
- Everything included: power lead, HDMI, controllers, games
- Fan noise, honestly described
- Whether the console has been opened, cleaned internally or repaired
Live PS4 listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse gaming for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady but declining as the generation ages, with a Christmas lift. Bundles with popular games sell considerably faster than bare consoles.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a PS4 sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell PS4 for what to photograph and how to price, or what PS4 is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used PS4?
Around £52 to £104 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a PS4 before buying?
Ask for a photograph of the console powered on with a game running, and for a list of exactly which cables and controllers are included.
Is buying a PS4 second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Missing proprietary cables and power supplies, controller stick drift, and optical drives that spin but no longer read.
See also: all buying guides · PS4 value guide · selling PS4 · Gaming · condition grades.