Sony has officially revealed the PlayStation 5 Pro, and gamers are eager to see how it stacks up against the original PS5. As with the previous generation’s PS4 Pro, this mid-generation refresh promises a host of performance improvements and new features. If you’re wondering whether the PS5 Pro is worth the upgrade, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a breakdown of what the PS5 Pro offers compared to the base PS5.
Release Date and Pricing
The PS5 Pro is set to launch on November 7 at a retail price of $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199.95. Pre-orders will be available starting September 26. Included in the package are a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a digital copy of Astro’s Playroom. For those wanting a disc drive, Sony offers it as a separate purchase for $79, with an additional $29 for a vertical stand. These add-ons can push the total cost up to $810.
By comparison, the original PS5 starts at $499 (with a 1TB SSD and built-in disc drive) or $449 for the disc-less version, making the Pro version significantly more expensive.
Design: Familiar but Tweaked
Visually, the PS5 Pro retains much of the design language of the original PS5, with some added tweaks. It resembles the PS5 Slim, with some black stripes running down its middle, maintaining the black-and-white color scheme of the original. The key difference is its four removable faceplates, which allow for customization.
For connectivity, the PS5 Pro mirrors the PS5 Slim with two USB-C ports in the front, two USB-A ports, and an Ethernet port on the back. However, the PS5 Pro lacks a built-in disc drive, so there is no eject button. If you’re looking for a physical disc experience, the external Blu-Ray disc drive is a must-have accessory.
Performance Upgrades
This is where the PS5 Pro truly shines. The 67% increase in Compute Units and 28% faster memory results in 45% faster rendering for smoother and sharper visuals. The PS5 Pro also takes ray tracing to the next level, providing more lifelike reflections and lighting in games, as demonstrated in Gran Turismo 7 during its official presentation.
Additionally, the PS5 Pro features PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), an AI-powered upscaling technology akin to Nvidia’s DLSS or AMD’s FSR, which enhances visual clarity without compromising frame rates.
Boosting Older Titles
One of the PS5 Pro’s standout features is PS5 Pro Game Boost, which promises to improve the performance of over 8,500 backward-compatible PS4 and PS5 games. This means games that may have been limited by older hardware will now benefit from higher resolution and stabilized frame rates. It’s a massive upgrade for gamers with large PS4 libraries.
Storage: Bigger and Better
The PS5 Pro comes with a 2TB SSD, doubling the storage capacity of the original PS5, which was marketed with a 1TB SSD (though it only offered around 825GB of usable space). This will be a game-changer for players with large game libraries, as modern titles can easily consume over 100GB of storage each. For example, Horizon Forbidden West takes up 150GB, meaning the Pro version’s storage can handle significantly more games before requiring an upgrade.
Should You Upgrade?
At a hefty $700, the PS5 Pro is a considerable investment. If you’re already satisfied with the performance of your PS5 and aren’t looking to squeeze out every drop of graphical fidelity or performance boost, sticking with your current console might make more financial sense. However, if you’re an enthusiast seeking the best possible gaming experience, or you have a large collection of PS4 games that could benefit from Game Boost, the PS5 Pro might be worth considering.
Keep in mind, though, the current generation has been somewhat lackluster in exclusive titles that fully leverage the power of the PS5 hardware. Unless developers start pushing more PS5-specific content, it could be challenging to justify the price difference between the base model and the Pro.
Final Thoughts
The PS5 Pro represents a significant step up from the original PS5 in terms of performance, storage, and graphical fidelity. However, its high price point could be a sticking point for many gamers, particularly with fewer exclusives that fully utilize its power. The question you need to ask yourself is whether you want the absolute best gaming performance, or if the base PS5 is more than enough for your needs.
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