The PS5 Pro offers tremendous visual upgrades over the PS5, and represents the best way to play PlayStation games - but it comes at a price.
For
- Noticeable performance and visual upgrades over the PS5
- PSSR offering both fidelity and performance is dreamy
- Extra special with 120Hz displays
- 2TB of storage is excellent
- Wi-Fi 7 is a welcome boost
Against
- Graphical advancements are not truly transformative
- No disk drive or stand included
- High price tag directly impacts value
The PS5 is still an excellent machine and offers super performance, graphics, some top exclusive games, and the best controller in console gaming right now.
For
- Gameplay of up to 4K/120fps
- Stunning controller that features haptics
- Beautiful, fast UI
Against
- Size of the OG model is bulky
- Usable space on the 825GB/1TB SSD fills up quickly
- Only a single generation of backward compatibility
With the console announced and PS5 Pro reviews out in the wild, the PS5 Pro vs PS5 matchup has just become very real. It's a comparison that many folks will be making now that the new more-powerful machine is out in the wild.
And that's where we come in. We have had hands-on with the new console and now know what the key differences are between the PS5 Pro and the existing PS5 machine (be it the launch model, or the newer PS5 Slim).
From specs and features to design and price, we're breaking down all the similarities and differences in the PS5 Pro vs PS5 matchup to help you analyze the two machines and potentially inform a purchasing decision - especially if you're thinking of buying a PS5 Pro.
PS5 Pro vs PS5: Price
One of the most important factors for any mid-generation refresh or upgrade for home consoles is always going to be price, and there is some sizeable disparity between the PS5 Pro and the PS5 - even with price rises happening on the latter in recent months and years.
In short, and cutting to it, the PS5 Pro costs $699.99 / £699.99. Whereas the PS5 or PS5 Slim currently retails for $499.99 / £479.99.
This is a jump of $200 / £220 - or a 40% / 45% jump, if you prefer - before we even start to dig a bit. Those numbers and percentages get much bigger once you start to factor in the hard reality that the Pro is an all-digital console at that base price.
If you want to ensure it offers you the same out-of-the-box experience as the launch PS5, in particular, you'll need to buy the disc drive and vertical stand separately which takes the full cost of the PS5 Pro to $820 / £825. This is a steep investment for a mid-gen upgrade and understandably beyond many folks' average budget.
PS5 Pro vs PS5: Specs & Performance
With the console in reviewers' hands and soon to be in players' hands, we now know the full extent of the PS5 Pro specs and how they compare to the PS5.
The beefier GPU is the main upgrade with Sony saying it has 67% more compute units than the PS5, have memory that's 28% faster, and thus be able to render games and action 45% faster overall. This is a chunky improvement and the PS5 Pro GPU has 16.7 TFLOPS compared to the 10.28 TFLOPS of the base PS5.
The boost in graphics over the PS5 that the PS5 Pro also comes in the form of advanced ray-tracing - allowing the Pro to render life-like lighting, shadows, and reflections as shown with Gran Turismo 7 to great effect during the Technical Presentation.
Then there's the AI-driven tech known as PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR for short) which will allow the PS5 Pro's hardware to 'fill in the gaps' in images allowing for immensely greater detail and quality, while not limiting frame rates. Any upscaling on the PS5 is generally limited to the software and what devs can magic up in games, rather than any machine-learning tech like this. Having spent time with the PS5 Pro now, I can safely say that PSSR is the real deal and works absolute magic.
We also know that some existing PS4 and PS5 games can get a performance boost from the PS5 Pro just from its sheer power and capability (similar to that offered by the PS4 Pro over the base PS4 during the last generation) which is most welcome. However, there's also the inclusion of a "PS5 Pro Game Boost" feature that Sony says will improve the performance, stability, and quality (likely in resolution and detail) of more than 8,500 PS4 games through backward compatibility. However, in my real world testing I am yet to see huge differences yet.
The Pro offers a much larger storage capacity than the PS5, which is a very welcome upgrade. Instead of the base PS5's 825GB SSD or the PS5 Slim's 1TB, the PS5 Pro will come with a 2TB SSD by default.
The wireless tech is upgraded in the Pro from the regular PS5 too. The premium console has Wi-Fi 7 as opposed to Wi-Fi 6 and means quicker and smoother downloads, and more stable online play (depending on the quality of your own internet) - and possibly extra stability for remote play too, for those who enjoy that feature or play with a PlayStation Portal.
PS5 Pro vs PS5: Design and dimensions
We know the exact weight and dimension of the PS5 Pro in relation to the PS5.
With the PS5 measuring 15.2 x 3.5 x 8.5in / 388 x 89 x 216mm, it is taller than the Slim and almost the same height as the original launch model. Weighing in at 6.8lbs / 3.1kg, it also weighs near enough the same as the PS5 Slim (7.1lbs / 3.2kg).
The aesthetic of the PS5 Pro is much more similar to the PS5 Slim, however, and they share the same design language and aesthetic - aside from the Pro's multiple black stripes in the middle of the console. There are sweeping white curves that are emphasized in a top (or one-side) fanned finish, slick black panels on the rear and bottom, and a shiny front panel for the power button and two USB-C ports. This similarity in physical size and features extends to users being able to use the disc drive from the Slim on the Pro. Sony has confirmed that you'll also be able to swap out face plates on the Pro when they become available for that console.
It's worth remembering that the PS5 Pro is, by default, an all-digital console. This means it actually has more in common with the all-digital PS5 Slim Digital Edition machine than any other. The Pro will also require separate purchases for the disc drive and vertical stand as they are not included in the box.
PS5 Pro vs PS5: Verdict
Your decision on whether the PS5 Pro is going to be for you over the normal PS5 is going to come down to a couple of things.
If you're a PlayStation and console gaming enthusiast, someone who really wants to be at the bleeding edge of PlayStation tech, and someone who wants to strive for a combination of fidelity and performance in your console games, then the PS5 Pro is going to be for you. It's a premium and pricey machine but if the above describes someone like yourself, then you're likely to be the target audience for the Pro, much like I am. I'd also add here that if you have a 4K 120Hz gaming TV then the case is stronger for the Pro further still - for new folks or upgraders.
Alternatively, generally, if you're happy with the experience you're getting with your current PS5 and don't value graphical advancements that much, or are being budget-conscious ahead of making a leap into this generation, then the regular PS5 is an easy recommendation to make and is likely the better option. It's still a fantastic console and will give you plenty of awesome experiences.
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