Sony quietly revises PS5 Slim cooling to reduce liquid metal leak risk
Sony has started shipping updated PlayStation 5 Slim and standard PS5 consoles with a revised liquid metal thermal interface and heatsink layout based on the PS5 Pro design. The change was highlighted by Polish modder and repair specialist Modyfikator, who opened n ew CFI-2116 units and found a different pattern around the APU. Independent reports now confirm that newer consoles use engraved grooves to contain the liquid metal and improve long term reliability.
Since launch, the PS5 family has used liquid metal TIM to keep the AMD SoC in check, but some early standard and Slim models, including CFI-2016, were allegedly prone to leaks around the die. In problem cases the liquid metal could migrate when consoles were stored vertically or moved often, leading to uneven contact, higher fan speeds, or in extreme scenarios thermal shutdowns. Sony already addressed this on PS5 Pro with deeper grooves and a slightly changed application pattern that keeps the material locked around the chip.
Source: Modyfikatorcasper
That same approach is now rolling out to cheaper models. Newer PS5 and PS5 Slim revisions identified as CFI-2100 or CFI-2200, and the 2025 Slim CFI-2116 B01Y, use the PS5 Pro style liquid metal layout with etched trenches around the APU contact area. The SoC, chassis, and fan design stay the same, but the heatsink base and TIM application have been reworked to cut the risk of leaks and keep temperatures more consistent over years of use.
What’s more Sony implemented a solution in the Slim that was expected to be a hallmark of the Premium console, the PlayStation Pro — the new version is free from the metal leak issue that affected older PS5 FAT/ OG and Slim CFI2016 from 2023. They optimized the heatsink core for… pic.twitter.com/iHfvE0y7kd
— modyfikatorcasper (@Modyfikator89) November 30, 2025
There is also a small convenience upgrade on some CFI-2116 bundles. Certain new Slim units ship with a pre-paired disc drive that does not need an online activation step, which removes one of the more controversial setup requirements of the modular drive design. These bundles appear to be limited to selected retailers for now.
Existing PS5 owners who do not see overheating or abnormal fan noise do not need to rush into service, but anyone worried about long term use or heavy vertical placement should leave any liquid metal work to professional repair shops.
Source: Modyfikatorcasper
