PlayStation 5 Pro review: The only true alternative to a gaming PC

The PS5 Pro was long awaited. When it was announced, however, it caused a furor instead of cries of joy, as the price of the new console was too high for many.

Nevertheless, Sony has basically delivered exactly what was expected: A sensible upgrade for the PlayStation 5 because the Pro model can finally do what the normal PS5 should be able to do like next-gen graphics (now more like current-gen), stable and high frame rates, 4K gaming, and real ray tracing.

But what exactly do you get with the PlayStation 5 Pro? Does Sony keep all its promises? And for whom is the console actually worthwhile? We have tested the PS5 Pro and are convinced. There’s currently no better gaming package–at least not as a console.

Further reading: Best gaming laptops 2024: What to look for and highest-rated models

PlayStation 5 Pro: What’s inside

On paper, Sony delivers a sensible improvement for the PS5 Pro. Not much has changed in terms of CPU performance, as Sony still uses an AMD Zen 2 processor with eight cores. However, the graphics performance increases noticeably, which according to Sony gives the console 45 percent more power.

The larger storage space is also exciting because what console fans always want is more space for games, especially with titles that can take up several hundred GB of space (the new CoD Black Ops 6 needs around 300 GB), so this is worth its weight in gold.

In terms of RAM, the PS5 Pro gets a small bonus in the form of 2 GB of DDR5 memory, which is primarily reserved for the system itself. This means that games can access the full 16 GB of DDR6 without limitation.

In addition, the PS5 Pro has the same SSD slot as the normal PlayStation 5, so anyone switching from the old version to the new model can simply move their data over with them. It’s a shame, however, that the PS5 Pro is not compatible with the existing PS5 (Slim) covers. So, if you want to personalize your console, you’ll have to wait for new models.

PlayStation 5 Pro: PS5 versus PS5 Pro

	PlayStation 5	PlayStation 5 Pro
CPU	8 cores / 16 threads AMD Zen 2 3.5 GHz	8 cores / 16 threads AMD Zen 2 3.85 GHz
GPU	AMD RDNA 2 18 WGPs 10.3 TFLOPs FP32	AMD RDNA 3.5 30 WGPs 16.7 TFLOPs FP32
RAM	16 GB GDDR6 448 GB/s	16 GB GDDR6 2 GB DDR5 576 GB/s
SSD	1 TB	2 TB

PlayStation 5 Pro: The problem with the stand and drive

As mentioned at the beginning, the fact that the PS5 Pro is supplied without a drive or stand caused a lot of displeasure. This is despite the fact that the PS5 Digital was already a console without a drive, which did not cause an outcry at the time.

This shows that the PS5 Pro has a different target group: The discerning gamer with a flexible budget. The extra hundred dollars or so for the external drive might be a good idea if you want to save money in the long term, especially when buying used or discounted games. Alternatively, there’s always PlayStation’s PS Plus subscription.

The PS5 Pro delivers a sensible symbiosis of performance and graphics.

Unfortunately, the external drive is currently not available anywhere. Although Sony has ensured that the PS5 Pro itself is readily available, it has failed to do so. The stand for the console is also not available even two weeks after release. However, you can at least fall back on other suppliers, but there is no other disc drive that is compatible with the console. In our opinion, Sony has created an artificial shortage that could have been avoided.

The PS5 Pro would definitely have a better overall package with the drive. However, we can’t understand the problem with the lack of a stand, as the console is better placed horizontally anyway, for which small feet are also supplied.

PlayStation 5 Pro: Better, faster, quieter

But what can the console actually do once it’s up and running? Quite a lot. Sony promises that gamers will no longer have to choose between better graphics and better performance. This is because the PlayStation 5 Pro doesn’t deliver graphics cracks like Horizon, The Last of Us, or Final Fantasy VII, which have to make do with a timid 30 FPS, but instead achieve at least 60 fps.

But what Sony isn’t telling you is that you can still choose between two different modes. For some games, however, these are no longer called “Performance” or “Graphics,” but have new names. Other games such as Hogwarts Legacy retain the old modes, so you can still choose whether you prefer higher FPS or better visuals. Some titles also offer a “Versatility” mode that allows you to combine the two.

So, what exactly does this do? Basically, you can experience PS5 games with better graphics and stable FPS. The console also delivers this, as we quickly realized in our test. In Performance mode, both elaborately rendered cutscenes and action-packed battles run smoothly and without stuttering. The new Graphics mode, on the other hand, delivers more details and aims for a constant 60 FPS.

PSSR, Sony’s version of AMD’s AI upscaling technology, is also used to upscale low-resolution images. The additional image enhancer, which ensures a sharper image display for PS4 titles, is also a plus point without having to compromise on performance. However, PSSR in particular can also cause problems with some games and flicker unattractively, while the image enhancer occasionally produces blurred images. Optimization is still required here.

Some improvements can only be seen in direct comparison, which of course doesn’t happen often in everyday life. However, if you want to experience PS5 games with the best graphics on a console, there is no way around the PS5 Pro, especially as gaming in 30 FPS is no longer up to date.

There are also two other advantages: The PlayStation 5 Pro runs super quietly, so you hardly notice it even when playing performance-intensive games. It also barely gets warm, which is mainly due to Sony’s improved cooling system. It remains to be seen how this will develop in the long term, but our initial impression is very positive.

PlayStation 5 Pro: PS5 Pro versus gaming PC

Let’s move onto the sales argument that Sony should have made. Because an upgrade from the PS5 to the PS5 Pro is honestly not really worth it, even with all the improvements mentioned, at least not at this price.

That said, it may worth buying a PS5 Pro instead of a new gaming PC because Sony delivers such a powerful console for $699, which an equivalent gaming PC simply can’t compete with. You either have to spend more money on a complete PC or make compromises on the components you choose to build yourself.

This is also due to the fact that the PS5 Pro now delivers (almost) true ray tracing. Previously, the PlayStation 5 could also display more complex reflections and shadows, but this was far from the level of an RTX graphics card. The PS5 Pro, on the other hand, supports “enhanced ray tracing” and thus offers more graphic effects that come much closer to ray tracing on the PC.

We tried to put together an equivalent gaming PC for the price of the PS5 Pro ourselves and realized that there’s no “PS5 Pro killer.” The PS5 Pro is simply too powerful for that, so the price-performance ratio is right if we go by the hardware.

In the long term, however, you will spend more money on console games, which you should bear in mind, especially as Sony does not allow the sale of game keys by third-party providers. Nevertheless, the PS5 Pro is well worth considering if you are primarily interested in Sony exclusives, which continue to deliver high quality.

PlayStation 5 Pro: Compatibility

Speaking of exclusive titles, a major advantage of the PS5 Pro is also its disadvantage. This is because you can play all PS5 games already available (and theoretically also PS4 games, provided they are compatible with the PS5 patch) on the PS5 Pro.

However, this is only really worthwhile if the games also get a PS5 Pro Enhanced version. This is a special optimization that Sony currently offers for more than 50 games. These games receive the aforementioned graphics modes, graphical improvements, and optimizations with which the PS5 Pro can shine.

All other games “only” receive the so-called Game Boost, i.e. a slightly higher frame rate but without any significant improvements in graphics quality. This is because older games in particular are too limited to really benefit from the PS5 Pro. It’s not worth switching to the PS5 Pro for these games.

Sony’s flagship titles such as Horizon: Forbidden West, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, and The Last of Us seem to have been made for the PS5 Pro, even if they are no longer cutting-edge. Thanks to good optimization, however, they perform even better on the PS5 Pro.

PlayStation 5 Pro: Power costs and 8K resolution

In our testing, we found that the PS5 Pro hardly consumes any more power than the normal PlayStation 5 despite its higher performance. Although the Pro version can reach slightly higher wattages at peak times, the average values get closer and closer the longer you play.

With the PS5, you get around 200 to 230 watts, depending on the game and the demands on the console. The PS5 Pro is almost identical here and is even slightly more efficient than the PlayStation 5 in some games or scenes, so you don’t have to worry about significantly higher electricity costs.

For the first time, it’s possible to experience native 4K resolution or even 8K resolution (upscaled) gaming with the PS5. So if you have a suitable TV at home, the PS5 Pro is ideal. However, you should make sure that your TV (or screen) is capable of displaying higher FPS numbers.

A current model with at least 120 Hertz (e.g. via game mode), HDMI 2.1 and 4K resolution is almost essential to be able to experience games properly with the PS5 Pro. Otherwise, you can save yourself the price of the console and go for the normal PS5, which could only upscale to 4K.

PlayStation 5 Pro: Conclusion

Sony delivers exactly what was promised as part of a mid-gen upgrade and is possible at all in order not to completely leave the PS5 behind and to be able to play games that have already been released on the new console without much effort.

Thanks to the PS5 Pro Enhanced Patch, many titles receive a decent graphics update and more FPS. Nevertheless, you should think carefully about whether the PS5 Pro is suitable for you. Because depending on whether you prefer to play digitally or on disc, in 4K resolution or less, the purchase may or may not be worthwhile.

With the PlayStation 5 Pro, Sony has managed to deliver a real alternative to a gaming PC for the first time, which should not be underestimated. This deserves recognition, even if the rather high price and the lack of a disc drive have already put off many potential buyers.

However, although the PS5 Pro delivers a sensible symbiosis of performance and graphics, it’s designed with hardcore gamers in mind.