The original PlayStation 5 debuted in November 2020, marking the start of the current gaming console generation. Three years later, Sony released the PS5 Slim, offering the same performance with a slight storage increase. Now, four years after the original release, we have the first major upgrade: the PlayStation 5 Pro.
Released on November 7 for $700 (£700, AU$1,200), the PS5 Pro delivers improved graphical fidelity, enhanced ray tracing, and smoother frame rates, outperforming its predecessors. It’s the most powerful gaming console available, but at a premium price. Additionally, the vertical stand ($30, sold separately) and external disc drive ($80) are required for physical game support. The Pro is priced $200 to $300 higher than the base PS5, making it comparable to opting for a more expensive graphics card in a desktop PC for better visuals. But is it worth the extra cost? To find out, I compared the PS5 Pro with its older models across various games, including Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Spider-Man 2, and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. The result? A noticeable improvement in detail with no sacrifice in smoothness, making the PS5 Pro the highest-performing console I’ve tested. While expensive, it could be well worth it for gamers seeking the best experience.
PS5 Pro Design: Familiar Yet Sleek
The PS5 Pro draws heavily from the Slim model’s design, with a similar four-panel exterior but slightly altered sizes. As a result, any custom color panels for the original PS5 won’t fit. The Pro also retains the same external disc drive from the Slim model, which attaches to the side. Unlike earlier versions, there’s only one PS5 Pro variant—the digital-only version. To add physical disc functionality, you must purchase the $80 external disc drive. However, if you have a Slim model, its external drive is compatible with the Pro.
The Pro is slightly larger than the Slim, sitting between the original and Slim in size. It features racing stripe-like fins between the top and bottom plastic panels for additional ventilation. Like the Slim, it has two USB-C ports on the front and two standard USB-A ports on the back, with the option to position the console horizontally or vertically. It includes two plastic feet for horizontal placement, but a $30 stand is required for vertical positioning. Sony has doubled the internal storage to 2 terabytes and added support for Wi-Fi 7.
PS5 Pro: Enhanced Graphics and Performance
The PS5 Pro’s three key features contribute to its improved graphics and performance. First is the upgraded GPU, with 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory compared to the standard PS5, enabling 45% faster rendering. The second feature is enhanced ray tracing, which allows for more dynamic reflections and realistic lighting effects, with ray-casting speeds up to three times faster than the base PS5. Lastly, AI upscaling, called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, uses machine learning to sharpen images and provide higher resolution visuals automatically.
Game Performance on the PS5 Pro
On the standard PS5, gamers typically have two visual modes: Performance (lower resolution, higher frame rate) or Resolution (higher resolution, capped frame rate). With the Pro’s increased power, games can now target a full 4K resolution while maintaining 60 fps. Games look sharper, with more detailed environments and smoother performance.
Despite this improvement, the two graphic modes still exist. However, in several titles like EA Sports F1 24, the PS5 Pro allows for higher resolutions (8K) or frame rates (120 fps). While I couldn’t fully test 8K visuals due to the lack of an 8K TV, it’s worth noting that many gamers won’t benefit from this yet. In Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, the Pro offers much sharper details in textures, such as denser foliage, compared to the standard PS5. Similarly, in Spider-Man 2, the Pro model shows more detailed NPC shadows and a livelier city compared to the base PS5.
In Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, the Pro’s Performance mode targets 60 fps with a high resolution, while the Fidelity mode drops the frame rate to 30 but adds more ray-tracing effects. The Pro also boosts texture density and artifact cleanup, making character models more detailed.
While some games show clear improvements, not every game will see a performance boost out of the box. Developers must release patches to optimize titles for the PS5 Pro. Sony has confirmed that about 50 games will support the Pro’s enhanced features at launch, with more expected in the future. For example, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth had a great demo update on the PS5 Pro, but it wasn’t available for testing at the time of this review.
For PS4 games, the PS5 Pro introduces an “Enhance Image Quality” option, which improves visuals in some older titles. I tested this feature with Spider-Man (2018), and saw noticeable graphical improvements, which is a welcome addition for players with a PS4 backlog.
Is the PlayStation 5 Pro Worth It?
Priced at $700, the PS5 Pro is the most expensive console on the market. However, when considering the added cost of a vertical stand ($30) and the external disc drive ($80), it’s still not overly overpriced. Whether it’s worth the investment depends on whether you already own a PS5. The base model retails for $450, and adding 1TB of storage would cost around $100, making the price difference for the Pro around $150. If you’re not already set on upgrading, it may be better to hold off and wait for discounts on the base PS5, especially with Black Friday coming soon.
For those looking for a future-proof console with the best performance, the PS5 Pro is a solid investment. It ensures that gamers will be able to enjoy the next decade of PlayStation games without issues. Even if a PS6 arrives in four years, the PS5’s vast install base means it will continue to receive support. However, if you already own a PS5, the Pro may not be a must-have just yet, as the base model still holds up well in many areas. If you can get a good trade-in deal or are buying your first PS5, the Pro is definitely worth considering.
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