PS5 Pro: Unveiling Sony's Next-Gen Console Upgrade

Everything the PS5 Pro Improves, and Where It Falls Short

Future-Proofing Your Tech Is Pointless, and These 5 Examples Show Why Quick Links4 Improvements Made by the PS5 Pro Where the PS5 Pro Falls Short Sony has officially unveiled the PS5 Pro, which the company dubs its most "advanced and innovative console hardware to date". But what exactly does it improve and where does it fall short? 4 Improvements Made by the PS5 Pro The main improvements made by the PS5 Pro are aimed at delivering better graphics performance at higher frame rates. But there is also a boost to the storage capacity, as well as Wi-Fi 7 support in territories that support the standard. Better GPU and Memory The upgraded GPU of the PS5 Pro delivers 67% more Computer Units compared to the base PS5 console, along with 28% faster RAM. According to Sony, this means that players will get 45% faster rendering for gameplay on the console. The aim with this upgrade is to close the performance gap between the base console's Performance and Fidelity modes. The PS5 Pro will deliver Fidelity-mode-like detail, at similar frame rates to Performance mode. Advanced Ray Tracing With the PS5 Pro, users will experience more advanced ray tracing. According to Sony, the console will be able to render light effects at more than double the speed of the standard console. AI Upscaling Sony made sure it didn't miss the AI hype train, with the PS5 Pro including AI upscaling to add more detail to gameplay. The feature is dubbed PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution and is expected to add more clarity to games. However, how effective its machine learning algorithms are at upscaling content remains to be seen. In my experience, upscaling can have mixed results, often depending on the clarity and resolution of the source material. More Storage The current PlayStation 5 comes with 1TB of SSD storage. While this seems like plenty, with the size of games nowadays, extra storage space is a benefit for gamers who like to have multiple games installed or who like to record their gameplay. Luckily, the PS5 Pro doubles this capacity to 2TB of SSD storage. Where the PS5 Pro Falls Short With better graphics and more storage, the PS5 Pro is a respectable upgrade. However, its price tag, at $699, diminishes the gains made by the console. Considering that the base model is $499 and includes a disc drive (while the Digital Edition launched at $399) , the $200 increase doesn't feel justified for a slightly better graphics performance and storage. There's also the fact that if you want to play physical games on the PS5 Pro, you will need to purchase a disc drive seperately for around $80. If you want to store the console upright, you will also need to buy a separate vertical stand for around $30. Don't get me wrong, the PS5 Pro looks impressive. But the significantly higher price point and lack of a built-in disc drive and vertical stand make me question whether buyers are really getting their money's worth. I know for me, I won't be upgrading to a PS5 Pro.

PS5 Pro reveal analysis - 5 things we learned about the next PlayStation console

Our thoughts on the biggest takeaways from the PS5 Technical Presentation Today's PS5 Technical Presentation is officially over, but we're still getting to grips with everything that we learned. The event, which lasted for just nine minutes, was presented by PlayStation 5 console architect Mark Cerny and gave us our first official look at the PS5 Pro. From some initial information about the console's specs to an overview of some of its most exciting features of the console and confirmation of a PS5 Pro release date as well as when PS5 Pro pre-orders begin, there is loads to unpack from the stream. While it didn't give us a look at any new games or the long-rumored overhauled DualSense Wireless Controller, there is still plenty to get excited about with the PS5 Pro announced - plus a few things that admittedly left us less than thrilled about what Sony is bringing to the table. If you missed watching the event or just want to get up to speed with all the biggest news, here are some of the key takeaways from what was revealed. As you might expect, the PS5 Pro is shaping up to be a huge technical upgrade compared to the base PS5. Cerny described the 'big three' additions that it brings to the table, including a larger GPU that has 67% more compute units than the current model and 28% faster memory. Sony claims that this will lead to up to 45% faster rendering while you're playing, leading to a much smoother experience overall. Another major addition is advanced ray tracing, which will allow for more dynamic reflections. The example used in the stream showed very life-like reflections on the sides of cars in a match of Gran Turismo 7, an impressive showcase of what the PS5 Pro can do. Finally, the PS5 Pro will utilize AI-driven upscaling or PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). It seems as though this will work similarly to existing upscaling solutions like Nvidia's DLSS and AMD FSR, upscaling an image using AI technology in order to deliver great image clarity and detail while keeping performance stable. We're still waiting for more information to emerge but, judging by everything that we've seen so far, it seems safe to say that the PS5 Pro is very powerful and will really help some of the best PS5 games shine. The price of the PS5 Pro was also revealed and you should probably brace yourself as it might sting. The PS5 Pro will cost $699.99 / £699.99 / around AU$1,052.99, which is an increase of $200 / £200 / AU$253.99 compared to the base PS5. An increased price tag for the PS5 Pro was to be expected given the substantial jump in its power relative to the original machine, but this is still a lot of money to ask for any video game console. It also means that the PS5 Pro is officially now Sony's most expensive console to date. We'll have to wait and see whether this high price tag negatively impacts the number of people willing to invest in the PS5 Pro, but we wouldn't be surprised if it pushes more budget-conscious gamers towards other options from competitors like the Xbox Series X or even a fully-fledged gaming PC. Here's one key upgrade that might be overlooked. We now know that the PS5 Pro will come with 2TB of storage out of the box, a big boost compared to the 825GB of the original model and even the 1TB of the PS5 Slim. This is a massive improvement, especially when you consider the huge installation size of many recent games. To give you a brief idea of what this means in practical terms, 2TB will fit just over 13 installations of the 150GB Horizon Forbidden West. This will be a big deal for those with large libraries who, realistically, are likely to be the main target demographic for a 'Pro' console. Definitely one of the stronger features in the PS5 Pro's repertoire, in our opinion, is PS5 Pro Game Boost. This could potentially achieve great things, applying performance boosts to "more than 8,500 backward compatible PS4 games playable on PS5 Pro" according to the official PlayStation Blog post. What this effectively means is that your collection of PS4 games will run better than ever on PS5 Pro. Potentially, that could extend to games that never received any enhancement patches on either PS5 or PS4 Pro. That certainly makes shopping for older PS4 titles much more enticing whether that's secondhand or when one of PlayStation's digital sales events rolls around. We're going to end on a bit of a downer, sadly. We now know for sure that the PS5 Pro does not ship with a console stand or a disc reader. The PlayStation blog confirms that the "PS5 Pro is available as a disc-less console, with the option to purchase the currently available Disc Drive for PS5 separately." If you're unaware, the Blu-Ray Disc Drive by itself costs $79.99 / £99.99. If you're planning on going physical, then, expect to pay up to $779.98 / £799.98 for the console and disc drive in total. If you already own the Disc Drive for PS5 for your PS5 Slim, though, it seems likely that it will be compatible with the PS5 Pro.

Everything We Learned About The PS5 Pro

After months and months of rumors and teases, Sony finally officially unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro. When the console arrives later this year it will be the most powerful PlayStation ever created and will act as a sort of mid-gen refresh, giving devs more power to play around with while also letting Sony sell you a new piece of pricey hardware. Anyway, after today's presentation hosted by Mark Cerny, here's everything we've learned about the upcoming PS5 Pro. The PS5 Pro includes a 2TB SSD, a DualSense controller, a digital copy of Astro's Playroom, and of course, the new console. Not yet! But Sony says pre-orders will go live on September 26. Yes. Here you go. It's about 9 minutes long. Enjoy. Mark Cerny, the lead architect of the PS5, claims it's the most powerful PlayStation console ever made. It features 28% more RAM, and a more powerful GPU with 67% more Compute Units. In the presentation, Sony says this will lead to 45% faster rendering. The PS5 Pro will support PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution AI upscaling. This is basically Sony's spin on AMD's FSR and Nvidia's DLSS upscaling tech and will be exclusive to PS5. In theory, this should let you run games at higher framerates without having to sacrifice high-end visual settings. It will also include WiFi 7. Yeah... it still looks bulbous and a bit odd. But now it has some extra stripes. I assume this helps it go faster. Yes. At least, it is unless you add on a separately purchased disc drive. Yes! In a blog post published by Sony after the presentation, the company confirmed its upcoming console will support 8K and VRR, like the PS5 technically does. (But basically, no games support 8K...yet.) According to PlayStation, a lot of games will see performance and visual boosts on PS5 Pro. We saw Last of Us Part 2, Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart, and Spider-Man 2 running better and looking nicer during the short video. Sony also listed a number of games that will receive updates to become "PS5 Pro Enhanced" including: Alan Wake 2, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, Demon's Souls, Dragon's Dogma 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Gran Turismo 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon Forbidden West, The Crew Motorfest, and The First Descendant, Additionally, the company says "8,500 backward compatible PS4 games" will see performance boosts on PS5 Pro, too. No mention of that during the video or in the blog. I'd say its unlikely. The PS4 Pro never got exclusive games. This isn't a new console, just a more powerful PS5. Yup! Sony says PS5 Pro will support all accessories currently available. Do you care about raytraced reflections, higher quality shadows, 60 fps, and improved draw distances? If not, then you can probably just continue to enjoy your PS5 and not worry about this upgraded machine.

Here's Why I Won't Be Upgrading to the PS5 Pro

This Is What's Slowing Your Phone Charger Down (but You Can Make It Faster) Quick LinksIt's Hard to Stomach the $700 Price Tag Performance Is Great, but It's Lacking a Disc Drive There Aren't Any Groundbreaking Features to Explore After plenty of leaks and speculation, Sony has officially pulled back the curtain on the PS5 Pro. It's an improvement over the existing PS5 -- but I don't think I'll be adding it to my game room. Here's a look at why I'm taking a pass on the PS5 Pro, even though it's the most powerful console on the market. It's Hard to Stomach the $700 Price Tag The main reason I'm choosing not to pick up the PS5 Pro is its eye-watering price tag. Clocking in at $700, it's a full $200 more expensive than the PS5 Slim. Not only does my current PS5 play all the same games as the PS5 Pro, but it's unclear how many upcoming titles will make full use of the PS5 Pro's improved power -- or what exactly they'll look like. The technical presentation showed off snippets of titles like Horizon Forbidden West, Spider-Man 2, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart running on the PS5 Pro, and they all looked great in action. But I'm not looking to replay games I've already beaten. And while Sony says upcoming games like Assassin's Creed: Shadows will run better on the PS5 Pro, that's not nearly enough to get me to buy in. Until I see extended gameplay sequences of multiple upcoming games (and a comparison to PS5 gameplay), it's hard to justify the price tag. Performance Is Great, but It's Lacking a Disc Drive With a GPU capable of churning out 45% faster rendering than the existing PS5, enhanced ray tracing, and new AI upscaling, the PS5 Pro lets you run games with high fidelity graphics at a buttery smooth 60fps. But while the hardware inside the PS5 Pro is impressive, there's one noticeable omission -- a disc drive. That means I'll need to drop another $80 for the PS5 Disc Drive to play the dozens of physical titles I already own. It seems like a big oversight, especially when the rest of the hardware is such a marked improvement. Many players (including myself) love the ability to buy and play physical games. It's also nice that my existing PS5 can double as a Blu-ray player, allowing me to watch films and TV shows from my collection. Moving to a system without an optical drive would be a step back in that regard, even if the rest of the hardware is an undeniable upgrade. There Aren't Any Groundbreaking Features to Explore The PlayStation 5 Pro isn't a PlayStation 6. That means all the features available on the PS5 Pro (DualSense controllers, swappable faceplates, trophies, etc.) are already present on the PS5. Your $700 investment is essentially allowing you to play games with slightly better performance. There's no exclusive DualSense controller, no exclusive in-game content, and no other features to sell the console beyond its enhanced graphical prowess. For shoppers who need the most cutting-edge gadgets on the market, that might be enough. Personally, I'd rather take that $700 and buy ten new PS5 games. I've had no problem running all my PS5 games in Performance Mode over the past few years, as they still look great and benefit from 60fps. And with so many big titles arriving in the coming months, that $700 could be better used to continue building my library. Maybe the PS5 Pro will get a price drop for the holidays. Maybe we'll get a closer look at how upcoming games will make full use of its new hardware. Or maybe I'm just not the target audience for this expensive console. Whatever the case may be, I'll continue to enjoy my time with the PS5 -- and if I need the benefit of better graphics, I'll jump over to my gaming PC.

PS5 vs PS5 Pro specs compared: how does the next console match up?

Here's how Sony's mid-cycle refresh compares to the original console Mark Cerny is done talking up the new PS5 Pro and we now know what's in store for us when the mid-cycle refresh lands in our living rooms. On paper, the PS5 Pro represents a marked step up from the original console, boosting overall rendering power by 45% thanks to a "larger" GPU, though exactly what that GPU is remains to be seen. The console looks to boost your game fidelity while maintaining higher framerates, all but removing the need for a 'performance' vs 'fidelity' decision when loading up a title. How? Through its new GPU boasting 67% more Compute Units than the original console, additional ray tracing effects, and AI upscaling via the brand's PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution software. That's everything we heard about in the recent Technical Presentation, but Sony has explained more of what makes the PS5 Pro different from the PS5 on its official blog. The new console will feature Game Boost which can bring more than 8,500 games from the PS4 back catalog up to date with boosted image quality. It also packs WiFi 7, whereas the original PS5 was limited to WiFi 6. Virtual refresh rates are also on the table, as are 8K TVs. Of course, the original PS5 also launched with 8K compatibility slapped across the box, but this has been removed in the last few months. Outside of specs, there are some design changes to the latest PS5 Slim. Most noticeably, the PS5 Pro now sports a wider set of grills running along the middle of the console to keep it visually distinct. Interestingly, though, the blog posts explains that the "height is the same size as the original PS5, and the width is the same size as the current PS5 model". That likely means we're going back to a taller console design, while keeping things skinnier in the process. Finally, the new PS5 Pro beats the PS5 in storage as well. Whereas the original model launched with 825GB of space, we're getting a 2TB SSD inside November's release, likely the same custom model as was featured originally. Sony didn't make any mention of upgraded CPU features or system memory in its blog post or demonstration. For now, we're assuming that means the PS5 Pro is using the same AMD Zen 2 structure and 16GB high-speed RAM.