Sony’s PS5 Pro is finally out to somewhat mixed reviews. The new and improved PlayStation is currently the fastest among its console peers, but that doesn’t seem enough to please some users.
Launched today, PlayStation 5 Pro comes with some notable improvements. It contains more RAM, more storage for today’s humongous games, and a faster GPU that Sony claims will bring a 45% uplift. The memory being 28% faster does its fair share to improve performance, but it’s the 67% larger GPU that does the heavy lifting.
All the more impressive is that this refresh is actually smaller than the original console and the Slim version if you’re solely considering volume. This dominos into being 100g lighter than PS5 Slim, tipping the scale at 3.1kg.
This iteration comes with lofty promises of finally pushing games above the 60fps mark. Those who will shell out for PS5 Pro can play existing games using the quality mode without being forced into lower frame rates. Better yet, Sony has announced that 50 titles are already optimised to take full advantage of this extra performance.
Thanks to its revamped ray tracing capabilities, Pro should also deliver better lighting and reflections on supported games without impacting performance like before. For example, Alan Wake II delivered much better ray-traced reflections and shadows with fewer artefacts.
Now the question is, do these improvements trickle down to other titles? And, are they worth the higher £699.99 price tag – which, as a reminder, doesn’t include a stand and a disc reader? Here are some of the reviews and what they think about Sony’s latest console.
The reviews
- The Verge (8/10): “The kind of person who should buy a PS5 Pro is the kind of person who doesn’t want to muck around. They’ll want the best console gaming experience money can buy, a large OLED display to go with it, and a plan to park themselves real close to that screen.”
- IGN (7/10): “An impressive console with noticeable boosts in performance and graphics for games that take advantage of its powerful hardware. But for $700, you’ll need to think twice about whether or not the upgrade is worth the price tag.”
- Tom’s Guide (4/5): “PS5 Pro is a powerful refresh of the base PS5 hardware. It’s the best way to experience the PS5’s large library of must-play games and the current pinnacle of console gaming. However, the eye-watering $699 price tag makes it a machine that will only appeal to the most dedicated gamers.”
- TechRadar (4/5): “A superb console and now the best PlayStation 5 machine available. The advancements are glorious and bring a new level of immersion and beauty to games, while also boosting performance levels to offer fluid and smooth frame rates – at the same time – offering a clear advancement over the base PS5, and will be perfect for those enthusiasts yearning for more from the camps of fidelity and performance. The increase to 2TB of storage and the inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 are very welcome and make tangible operational advancements too. However, the headline graphical upgrades aren’t truly groundbreaking and if you’re not a PlayStation fanatic or graphics obsessive then you can likely skip the Pro.”
- Gamesradar (3.5/5): “PS5 Pro only suits its price tag in niche circumstances, but it does deliver on its promise to improve both graphics and framerates. That $699.99 / £699.99 MSRP is still difficult to justify, particularly for those using a standard living room setup with a 50 – 65-inch TV. Those using a large display or a monitor are going to feel the benefits more keenly – especially if you have the funds to stay at the cutting edge of tech.”
All in all, the PlayStation 5 Pro seem to offer a better gaming experience – for those who can afford it. However, for those who already own a regular PS5, shelling out for this one isn’t worth the improvements, unless money isn’t an issue. After all, this is a mid-gen refresh, not a full-blown generational jump.
