Which PlayStation console was the first to have a built-in hard drive?

The PlayStation 3 was the first PlayStation console to include a built-in hard drive.

At launch, PS3 models came with either a 20 GB or 60 GB internal hard disk, depending on the region and configuration. This made storage part of the standard console rather than an optional add-on. Players could use the drive for saved data, downloaded content, installed game data, music, photos, and system files.

The PlayStation 2 had an expansion bay that could accept an optional hard-disk drive when paired with the Network Adapter, but a hard drive was not built into every retail console. That distinction is why the PS3 is the canonical answer to this question. Later PS3 models offered larger capacities, including 120 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB, and 500 GB versions.

The PS3 also made its storage user-upgradeable: owners could replace the internal drive with a compatible larger one. A later 12 GB Super Slim model used flash storage instead, but that exception came after the original PS3 established the built-in-drive feature.