Hardware Review: PlayStation 5 Pro
What is it?
PlayStation 5 Pro
$699.99
Available from November 7, 2024 at
An updated, high-end version of Sony's four-year-old PlayStation 5 console, the new "Pro" model promises improved visuals—think 4K at high frame rates—thanks to three major changes. Those include an upgraded GPU, more powerful ray tracing, and an AI-driven technology that Sony is calling "PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution," or PSSR, that aims to increase clarity and detail of images through machine learning. (Your PS5 Pro is unlikely to become self-aware, but treat it nicely just in case.)
The PS5 Pro should even improve the visuals of older, backward-compatible PS4 games, though it is the PS5 games that are optimized for the new console (our friends at GameSpot have a list of the 50+ titles available at launch) which will demonstrate the biggest improvements. For previously released games on the list, those enhancements will come through free patches in the coming weeks.
One thing the new console does not have: a disc drive. If you have a library of physical games, you'll need to spring for an external drive on top of the already significant cost of the Pro console. (And if you want a vertical console stand, or a second DualSense controller, plan on paying even more.)
What are critics saying about the PlayStation 5 Pro?
Is the new hardware actually worth that hefty pricetag? Below are reviews of the PS5 Pro console from a variety of professional sources. (Click on any publication name to read the full review.) Scores (converted to our 0-100 scale) are listed ONLY if one has been assigned by the publication itself; otherwise, we have grouped the reviews into rough categories, from most to least positive, based on the conclusions of each reviewer (and not necessarily their exact scores).
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CNET:
"In scene after scene, I saw improved details with no sacrifice in smoothness, a combination that makes the PS5 Pro the highest-performance game console I've ever tested. Yes, it's expensive, but for gamers who want the best experience, it could be worth the price. ... If you already have a PS5, then I think you're better off saving your money and not getting the new machine. ... But if you can find a good trade-in deal, or you're thinking of getting your first PS5, then I definitely think the Pro is worth it."
Digital Foundry:
"The truth is, the standard PS5 is still the best choice for most people - but for the core enthusiast looking for the best possible experience, the Pro option is there for you, albeit with a substantial premium."
70
Digital Trends:
"I wouldn't call the PS5 Pro a quantum leap over the base model by any stretch. This is an incremental improvement that mostly benefits those with giant monitors or 8K TVs."
88
Engadget:
"The PlayStation 5 Pro is the most powerful console ever made, but you'll pay dearly for its performance. ... The PS5 Pro clearly isn't meant for anyone who is prioritizing value — unless, of course, you're comparing it to a full-fledged gaming PC. If you want 4K-like graphics with ray tracing at 60 fps, the PS5 Pro is simply your best choice under $1,000."
80
Gamereactor UK:
"Sony has really designed a high-end Pro console here, no doubt about it, and across our test suite there are impressive graphical differences. Furthermore, it's not particularly large, produces no noticeable heat or noise, comes with 2TB of space and is, still, a pretty fantastic console all round. It's a shame then that small attempts to push the consumer by omitting something as fundamental as a Vertical Stand should spoil the overall impression here, and Sony really should have introduced small software quirks in the interface that made it clear to a Pro owner that they've spent the extra money. That said, this is a solid upgrade for the kind of consumer who already has an interest in optimised console gaming, no doubt about it."
80
GamesHub:
"If you're somebody who appreciates the finer things in life, then this is a fantastic console. But it is worth noting it does everything the base PS5 console does, just slightly better. In physical media terms, it's the difference between watching a Blu-ray film, and watching a 4K film."
70
GamesRadar+:
"I'm arguably Sony's target audience for the PS5 Pro - a long-time PlayStation fan, with an aging day-one console, an appreciation for technological progress, and a budget for my gaming hobby. And yet I still wouldn't buy a PS5 Pro. ... The graphical boosts and framerate improvements aren't for the living room dwellers - they're for those up close and personal with their screens. The best PS5 monitors will show you all the ray tracing and detailing effects you've spent that money on in glorious clarity at speedy framerates. You simply won't see that in a couch setup unless you've got an 80-inch display parked six feet from your eyes."
70
IGN:
"At $700, it's not cheap, so you have to really desire that visual upgrade knowing that it doesn't transform the gameplay experience at a fundamental level – and to be fair, Sony never said it would. So as it stands, the PS5 Pro isn't essential, but it is certainly nice to have."
Kotaku:
"[Y]ou need to be something of an A/V enthusiast to truly enjoy the PS5 Pro."
Press Start Australia:
"What's on offer here from PlayStation is fairly remarkable from a technological standpoint, and yes the PS5 Pro is expensive, but it does offer a fairly high-end experience in line with a PC that would be far more expensive to put together, and AI upscaling systems only improve over time, so this feels like it's only the beginning in how far the PS5 Pro will be pushed."
80
Tech Radar:
"The day-to-day gaming performance of the PS5 Pro is, all in, a joy to behold and use in action. PSSR works wonders and provides a brilliant experience by blending the best of fidelity and performance modes. While I have found the upgrades tremendous so far, I also recognize that such changes are largely subtle and aren't revolutionary - as a result, I can still see most PS5 owners sticking with their launch or PS5 Slim models."
80
Tom's Guide:
"I can only recommend the PS5 Pro with some pretty significant caveats. The upgraded CPU (which packs 67% more Compute Units, 28% faster memory and enables up to 45% faster gameplay rendering) and PSSR features make a meaningful difference, but the bump in resolution isn't so transformative that sticking with the base PS5 is ill-advised. ... The PS5 Pro is a powerful upgrade to an already excellent console but it's not an essential buy at this price."
80
The Verge:
"Do you sit 10 feet away [from your TV] or more? Then no, the PS5 Pro is probably not worth $700. Not even if you have 20/20 vision like me. The improved visual fidelity just isn't tangible enough at that distance. But if you sit closer, Sony's new game console can make select games look amazing."
80
Wired:
"[T]he PS5 Pro is the most powerful gaming hardware you can put in your living room (designed to be there, anyway). There's nothing you can buy that renders more realistic, vivid, or fully-lived-in game worlds than the PS5 Pro. ... Does that mean you need to upgrade if you already have a PS5? Probably not."
Ars Technica:
"If you already have a PS5, that $700 could instead go toward the purchase of 10 full, big-budget games at launch pricing or even more intriguing indie releases. That money could also go toward more than four years of PlayStation Plus Premium and access to its library of hundreds of streaming and downloadable modern and classic PlayStation titles PS5 titles. Both strike me as a better use of a limited gaming budget than the slight visual upgrade you'd get from a PS5 Pro. ... Even if you're in the market for your first PS5, I'm not sure the Pro is the version I'd recommend."
GameSpot:
"And so, what the PS5 Pro is overall is a device that won't have a huge impact on the way most people play or experience games. The titles that are available at the time of testing show changes that are so minuscule that I can't confidently suggest people buy it instead of one of the existing, cheaper PS5 models. ... And if you're looking to play games in the best way possible, a PC still presents more value for money."
Polygon:
"[S]ome of its graphical improvements are easier to notice than others. And I'd argue that some just aren't noticeable at all if you sit more than a few feet away from your TV."
Rolling Stone:
"Had Sony dropped the price of the base PS5 and made the Pro the better offer at the current entry point, it would be a success. But given the cyclical trends of the industry, we're likely only a few short years away from the PlayStation 6, anyway. Might as well wait."
60
Stuff:
"The PlayStation 5 Pro is a much less enticing upgrade from your base PS5, or even as the go-to first purchase for anyone that's been holding out until now. Beyond the hard-to-stomach price, the enhanced graphics feel so negligible in enhanced titles, and many others still await Pro support. The thinner design is an improvement on the original, but you can get the revised slim PS5 for almost half as much – and with the option of a disc drive from the factory."
The Washington Post:
"I can't immediately recommend spending $700 to upgrade the PlayStation 5 experience to anyone except tech enthusiasts and Sony hype beasts. ... If the PS5 Pro actually becomes 'the best place to play GTA 6,' the pitch then becomes very persuasive. It's best to wait until this thing can do more than give us prettier versions of remakes or remasters of old games."
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