The release of the PlayStation 5 Pro is brand new gamers are excited about its promises to take the best PS5 titles to a different level. But in return, there is an accompanying hefty price.
Just like the DualSense Edge controller, the Pro model is built for those who want the best out of gaming performance. Is it worth spending massively more than the base PS5, or is it better to save some money on the standard model and add things like another SSD?
So, let’s have a look at a comparison between PS5 vs PS5 Pro, to help you make up your mind whether or not the Pro is really worth the splurge.
Performance Upgrades: PS5 vs PS5 Pro
While not every bit of the PS5 Pro tech was announced, the essential upgrades were so widely discussed in the official announcement.
Many of its performance benefits aren’t just meant for future PS5 games, they’ll actually improve older games too through patches, and over 8,000 PS4 backed compatible games.
The biggest change is greatly improved GPU. The base PS5’s GPU comes with 25% more Compute Units and 28% faster memory, which puts the Pro at 67% more Compute Units, according to PlayStation 5 system architect Mark Cerny.
Taken together, these improvements enable the Pro to game 45 percent faster, offering significantly better visuals and performance in any game that supports advanced ray tracing.
We expect the RAM to stay the same at 16GB GDDR6, with a speed upgrade for more overall smoothness. The CPU, however, stays the same base PS5.
It means games with CPU bound frame rates will see no performance change, but games that impose some kind of graphical quality limitation might see an improved GPU leading to smoother gameplay.
The Pro’s 2TB SSD, way more than double the base model’s 1TB storage, is also a primary upgrade. This is an improvement and welcome, but it may not be enough for players with large collections of games who will soon find themselves in need of more storage upgrades later.
Graphics and Resolution: A Step Ahead
While the PS5 Pro won’t deliver a noticeable graphical leap on paper, the new GPU and better performance paints a much different picture.
One thing that stood out to me when comparing the Razor Blade Pro to the current generation of MacBook Pro is that it’s able to do ray tracing more efficiently, giving games more realistic lighting and reflections, without scarring the frames rates.
While ray tracing is currently only available on the base PS5 on certain games, it’s usually not at a price of reduced frame rate.
And PS5 Pro also sports PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), an AI-driven upscaling trick. Games can be rendered at lower resolution, upscaled all the way up to 4K, with pleasant experience without ruining the gameplay.
The base PS5 on the other hand uses a checkerboard rendering scheme that’s less efficient. Players will get smooth 4K gaming, while graphical features have become enhanced with the Pro.
But in order to savor all these improvements you’ll need a 4K TV that’s top quality. Without one, the two models may not look so different in visual performance.
Price and Value for Money
It really comes down to price with the biggest difference between PS5 and PS5 Pro. The disc drive, which is optional at $700, is not included with the Pro. On the other hand, the standard PS5, including the disc drive, costs $500, while the digital only model is $450.
If you’re a gamer who hasn’t picked up a PS5 yet and want the best performance for the rest of this console generation, Pro may be the better option.
Yet for those who already have a PS5, it’s the question of whether the $700 price for the fancy graphics and performance is worth it, particularly when the base model’s eventual resale value will inevitably be factored in.
Game Compatibility and Storage
Game library is one of the many PS5 Pro questions. Luckily there won’t be any Pro exclusive games. Instead, PS5 titles will see their existing versions enhanced running at higher resolutions and frame rates where possible with future releases, too.
Some confirmed titles receiving Pro enhancements include Final Fantasy VII: The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Rebirth, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
The Pro has more storage as its 2TB SSD beats the base models 1TB, but this won’t last for those that play a bunch of big games. Both models can be expanded with external drives, a more affordable way to add storage than springing for a Pro for nothing but storage.
Conclusion
The PS5 Pro offers many nice upgrades, most of which are graphical and storage related. The Pro might be a sound investment for gamers prepared to roll the dice and possibly get screwed over, future proofing their console and to sacrifice cutting edge visuals in the process.
But if you like the performance of your base PS5 and aren’t too fussed by the little graphical touches, an investment in storage improvements might be the smarter option, while sticking with the original model. Ultimately, it boils down to what you want and what you’re willing to spend.
Also read: The Best RPGs for Xbox Series X
