The new PlayStation 5 Pro or PS5 Pro recently dropped to represent the brand’s mid-lifespan upgrade to its gaming centerpiece. It boasts upgrades to its processing and graphical capabilities, along with a sleeker and more sophisticated aesthetic. However, it commands a considerably higher price point than the original release, so the question of its worthiness comes up a lot.
PS5 Pro Tale of the Tape
The PS5 Pro’s most important upgrade is its new 8-core 16-thread AMD Zen 2 processor and 16.7TFLOP RDNA GPU. The latter has 67% more compute units and faster memory, enabling the device to provide a 30% performance uplift across games while consuming the same power as the original PS5. The latter has a 10.23TF GPU, so that’s definitely an advantage in graphics output.
That 30% performance bump may not sound much, but it’s a huge bump for a console that promises 120 FPS in 4K. There are reports where the PS5 couldn’t reach its 120Hz max output, but the new hardware should change that for the older games. Newer releases will be optimized for the new model as well, so framerates and ray-tracing should be improved as well.
Another significant upgrade to the PS5 Pro is its PSSR or PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution feature. It’s a proprietary AI-based upscaler that boasts significantly improved framerates and clarity at the same time. It analyzes each frame and optimizes it for clarity and details without sacrificing your framerate, so it will come in handy for 4K visuals.
Another immediately noticeable change on the console is its aesthetic which incorporates a few design improvements. Its slimmer and it has a smaller cooling fan, but it has more cooling pipes to enhance the efficiency of heat transfers and management. Construction quality is much better as well, and the CMOS battery is now easier to access for troubleshooting.
Another big bonus is the PS5 Pro’s 2TB NVMe SSD compared to the PS5’s less than 1TB. That’s not a massive upgrade, but it basically saves you from paying a hundred or so for a larger SSD and the trouble of installing it. 2TB isn’t a whole lot if you consider today’s storage requirement for the latest games, but it will certainly help you keep a decent rotation.
Is the PS5 Pro Worth It?
The PS5 Pro’s main Achilles heel is its whopping $699.99 price tag which makes it the most expensive gaming console to date. Its understandable considering the upgrades, but it breached new pricing territory by a large degree. $700 is gaming PC territory already, especially when there are holiday sales which will let you get a better-equipped pre-built.
The feedback about it is mixed as well, based on thousands of comments and writeups from users and reviewers. Some say that its amazing, but others think that the only real benefit to it is the larger NVMe SSD. A lot of gamers are still questioning whether if it’s a must-have or not since it’s a steeper than usual investment.
We think that most won’t need to get the PS5 Pro if you already have the original or slim consoles. The performance difference isn’t immediately noticeable so casual gaming won’t have a benefit to it. The Pro-optimized games will still work on your PS5 without issue, so reinvesting more money into Sony’s gaming systems isn’t practical.
However, the other side of the coin is that the PS5 Pro will be a great buy for everyone if they have a larger 4K TV. Pixel density drops when you increase the screen’s size, so the PSSR feature will come in handy. It will lessen blurring and deterioration in the graphics’ clarity, so it’s a must-have to enjoy the system’s true power.
Games have to be optimized for the system to make use of its true power, but older gamers look crisper and smoother on the new system. Combine that with the larger SSD and you get a more enjoyable system that can handle a lot more than the older variant. More power in the gaming world means it will last and stay relevant longer.
Some users are also worried about the longevity of the 5th generation of the PlayStation since rumors of the PlayStation 6 are starting to surface. However, Sony says that the new version is still 3 to 4 years away, so you will get a lot of use before needing to upgrade it again. Graphics technology has somehow caught up with the current display technology, so you won’t need next-gen hardware anytime soon.
Eagerly awaited games like Grand Theft Auto 6 are still scheduled and on track for the PS5, according to their publishers. That means that you will get to enjoy them once they drop without needing to wait for the 6th gen. Even the PS5 still has a lot of mileage left, and going with the Pro will extend that further.
Should I Buy The PS5 Pro?
The short answer is yes, since having the latest and greatest is always ideal if you want to stay abreast of the latest gaming releases. The PS5 Pro’s improved specs will provide great performance until the 6th generation comes in a few years. It’s also more efficient and better cooled, so it generates less heat and lessens the load on your electric bill.
However, current PS5 owners will have to think twice, especially if the TV they are using is on the smaller side. Another $700 bucks is no joke if you’ve already invested in the original, and it is impossible to get a higher used sale price or trade-in value for the old model. The PS5 Pro is superb, but consider these points before you decide.
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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