The PlayStation 5 Pro has arrived, promising to elevate your gaming experience with enhanced visuals and performance for the best PS5 games. But with a premium price tag, is the PS5 Pro truly worth the investment, especially with the PS6 looming on the horizon? This article compares the PS5 and PS5 Pro, examining their specifications, graphical capabilities, price, storage, and game compatibility to help you decide if upgrading is the right move.
PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: Spec Showdown
A PS5 Pro sits on a table with a DualSense.
Now that the PS5 Pro is available, we can delve into the technical details. The Pro boasts several performance enhancements over the base model, improving the experience for both upcoming and existing PS5 games, including thousands of backward-compatible PS4 titles. Here’s a comparison of the two consoles:
| Feature | PlayStation 5 | PlayStation 5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5GHz | 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ up to 3.85GHz |
| GPU | 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (Variable Frequency) | 16.7 TFLOPs, AMD Radeon, RDNA graphics engine |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6/256-bit |
| Internal Storage | Custom 1TB SSD | 2TB SSD |
| External Storage | NVMe SSD slot, USB HDD | NVMe SSD slot, USB HDD |
| Video Output | 4K at 120Hz, 8K | 4K at 120Hz, 8K |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
PlayStation system architect Mark Cerny highlighted the Pro’s GPU, which has 67% more Compute Units and 28% faster memory than the base PS5. Combined, these enhancements result in a reported 45% faster rendering speed during gameplay, a significant boost but not a generational leap. A key advantage is the Pro’s enhanced ray tracing capabilities.
While both consoles use 16GB GDDR6 RAM, the Pro’s memory is faster. Crucially, the CPU remains identical, meaning games with CPU-bound frame rates won’t see significant improvements. However, the Pro will boost frame rates for games where graphical quality was previously a bottleneck. Finally, the Pro offers double the internal storage with a built-in 2TB SSD.
Enhanced Graphics and Resolution
The PS4 Pro and a DualSense controller.
While the output specifications might suggest otherwise, the PS5 Pro delivers a substantial graphical upgrade. The enhanced GPU and PlayStation’s AI upscaling technology, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), are key factors. PSSR adds detail without impacting performance, allowing developers to render games below 4K and then upscale to the target resolution. This is a significant improvement over the base PS5’s checkerboarding upscaling method.
The Pro handles 4K resolution and advanced ray tracing more effectively, resulting in superior reflections and lighting. While not a revolutionary difference, the Pro clearly outperforms the base model in visual fidelity, especially with a compatible display. However, some titles like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and the Silent Hill 2 remake have experienced graphical glitches on the Pro, prompting developer investigations.
The Price of Power
The PS5 Pro’s $700 price point is a significant consideration. This digital-only model requires a separate purchase for a disc drive. The base PS5 remains at $500 with a disc drive and $450 for the digital edition. While the Pro offers the best hardware for the current generation, it’s not essential for those already owning a PS5. The upgrade’s value depends on your budget, the potential resale value of your current console, and your desire for enhanced graphics. Economic factors, such as potential trade tariffs, could also impact console pricing.
Storage Solutions
A man holds a Corsair MP600 PRO LPX PS5 SSD next to an open PS5.
The Pro’s 2TB SSD doubles the base PS5’s storage, addressing a common complaint. However, even 2TB might not be sufficient for gamers with extensive libraries. Expanding the base PS5’s storage with a compatible SSD is a significantly cheaper alternative to upgrading to the Pro.
Game Compatibility and Enhancements
The PS5 Pro won’t have exclusive games. Instead, it enhances existing titles with higher resolutions and frame rates, utilizing performance and fidelity modes. This depends on developer implementation. While the base PS5 will continue to play all released games, the Pro eliminates the need to choose between graphical fidelity and frame rate. However, due to the identical CPU, games struggling to reach 60fps on the base PS5 will likely face the same limitations on the Pro.
Several games, including Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, are confirmed to receive PS5 Pro enhancements. Additionally, over 8,000 PS4 games will benefit from the “PS5 Pro Game Boost” feature, potentially improving resolution, loading times, and frame rates.
