Sony’s PlayStation consoles have consistently set the bar for the gaming experience. With the introduction of the PS5 Pro, Sony takes another massive step forward, bringing unprecedented performance, graphics fidelity, and features to the PlayStation lineup. The PS5 Pro promises not only to meet the growing demand for next-gen gaming but to offer players something more—a console that combines top-tier performance with the visual allure of modern games, all while maintaining smooth gameplay. But does the PS5 Pro truly elevate the gaming experience, or is it just an incremental upgrade?
This comprehensive review covers everything you need to know about the PS5 Pro. From its performance enhancements and display modes to its compatibility with existing games, I’ll break down what makes this console stand out and whether it’s worth the investment. Whether you’re a PlayStation fan, a gaming enthusiast, or someone thinking about upgrading from a base PS5 or even a PS4 Pro, this review will provide valuable insights.
Design and Build Quality: A Familiar Look with Subtle Refinements
Upon unboxing the PS5 Pro, the first thing that stands out is how similar the console looks to its predecessor, the PS5. The design still retains the same sleek, futuristic vibe, with its signature white and black color scheme accented by blue LED lights. However, while the exterior may feel familiar, the internal upgrades make a noticeable difference in performance and efficiency.
Sony has designed the PS5 Pro to be larger than the base PS5, owing to the need for extra cooling power to support its more powerful GPU and CPU. The PS5 Pro is slightly heavier than its sibling, but it is still manageable in terms of size, fitting comfortably in most entertainment setups. The build quality is solid, with a durable plastic finish and refined edges that give the console a high-end feel. The PS5 Pro was designed with longevity in mind, ensuring that it can withstand hours of gaming without overheating, thanks to an improved cooling system.
Enhanced Performance: Powering Next-Gen Gaming
One of the standout features of the PS5 Pro is its enhanced performance. Equipped with an upgraded CPU, GPU, and 2TB SSD, the PS5 Pro offers a truly remarkable leap forward in terms of gaming experience. The combination of these elements ensures that the console is capable of delivering unparalleled graphics, faster load times, and an overall more fluid gaming experience.
The heart of the PS5 Pro is its new AMD custom-designed chip, which offers improved processing power compared to the base PS5. This chip, coupled with the powerful RDNA 3 graphics architecture, allows the PS5 Pro to deliver stunning visuals while maintaining a stable frame rate. Whether you’re playing the latest AAA titles or exploring vast open-world environments, the PS5 Pro ensures that your gaming experience is smooth and immersive.
Additionally, the PS5 Pro features 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, which is more than enough to handle demanding games and multitasking. This memory upgrade helps reduce load times and ensures that the console runs efficiently, even when switching between applications or handling complex in-game scenarios.
PSSR and Display Modes: A New Level of Visual Fidelity
Perhaps the most exciting feature of the PS5 Pro is its use of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology, which upscales games to higher resolutions while maintaining excellent performance. PSSR is particularly effective when paired with the Pro’s advanced GPU, allowing the console to render games in stunning 4K resolution at higher frame rates.
The PS5 Pro offers several display modes to suit different gaming preferences. These modes are designed to provide the best balance between graphical fidelity and performance, depending on what you value most in your gaming experience.
Resolution Pro Mode: This mode prioritizes visual fidelity, rendering games in their highest possible resolution, often at 4K or higher. The resolution boost makes games look incredibly detailed, with sharp textures and impressive world-building. However, this mode can come at the cost of frame rate, with some titles capping at 30fps.
Performance Pro Mode: For gamers who prioritize smooth gameplay over ultra-high resolution, the Performance Pro mode boosts frame rates, often to a stable 60fps, while sacrificing some graphical detail. This mode is perfect for fast-paced action games where smooth frame rates are more important than the minutiae of high-resolution textures.
Balanced Pro Mode: This mode strikes a balance between visual fidelity and performance, offering a targeted 40fps on 120Hz-capable displays while rendering visuals at a slightly lower resolution. It’s an ideal mode for players who want both sharp visuals and fluid gameplay, without choosing between the two.
In my experience, Balanced Pro mode offers the best of both worlds, particularly when paired with an HDMI 2.1 display. The combination of high frame rates and impressive visual fidelity makes the gaming experience feel more immersive and fluid, with very little compromise.
Game Performance: A Leap Forward for Next-Gen Titles
To put the PS5 Pro’s capabilities to the test, I played a variety of next-gen titles across different genres. From action-packed blockbusters to immersive open-world adventures, the PS5 Pro delivers a remarkable upgrade in both graphics and gameplay.
Horizon Forbidden West: The PS5 Pro excels in delivering an enhanced version of this visually stunning game. Playing on a 120Hz display with the Balanced Pro mode, the game runs at a smooth 40fps while offering highly detailed environments, lush foliage, and beautiful lighting effects. The world of Horizon Forbidden West feels more alive than ever, and the smoother frame rate adds a layer of fluidity that was missing on the original PS5.
The Last of Us Part 1 & 2 Remastered: Both of these titles benefit greatly from the PS5 Pro’s upgraded hardware. With the new Pro mode, the games are rendered at 1440p and upscaled to 4K using PSSR, all while maintaining a steady 60fps. The graphical improvements are significant, with more detailed character models, sharper textures, and improved lighting. The enhanced ray tracing further elevates the experience, making the environments more realistic and immersive.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Perhaps the most visually impressive game on the PS5 Pro, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 showcases the console’s ability to handle high-end ray tracing, reflections, and detailed character models. In Fidelity Pro mode, the game delivers incredible visuals, with all ray-tracing features enabled, offering players a true next-gen experience. The Performance Pro mode, however, offers a steady 60fps without sacrificing visual quality, making it the perfect option for smooth gameplay during fast-paced web-swinging sequences.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: The PS5 Pro takes Ratchet & Clank to new heights, with Performance Pro mode providing excellent visual fidelity and smooth frame rates. The game’s vibrant worlds look even more stunning, thanks to improved reflections and ray-tracing effects, while PSSR ensures that the overall image remains sharp and clear.
Demon’s Souls: The PS5 Pro also shines in titles like Demon’s Souls, where its dedicated ‘PS5 Pro’ mode brings enhanced graphical fidelity and smoother performance. Whether you’re exploring treacherous dungeons or battling massive bosses, the PS5 Pro ensures that every detail is crisp and the action stays fluid.
Backward Compatibility: Improving PS4 Games
While the PS5 Pro is designed primarily for next-gen gaming, it also offers improved performance for PS4 titles. Sony has added a dedicated boost mode for PS4 games, allowing them to benefit from the PS5 Pro’s enhanced hardware. This feature isn’t as transformative as the upgrades seen in PS5-native games, but it’s still an appreciated bonus for players who have a library of PS4 games.
During testing, I played several PS4 titles, including Doom, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and Red Dead Redemption 2. The difference in graphics was subtle but noticeable. Games ran at a higher resolution and with more stable frame rates, especially when compared to the PS4 Pro. While it’s not a groundbreaking change, it’s a significant improvement, especially for gamers who are transitioning to the PS5 Pro but still enjoy playing older titles.
Storage and Connectivity: More Room for Games and Faster Speeds
Another major improvement of the PS5 Pro is its 2TB SSD, which provides a substantial increase in storage capacity compared to the base PS5. The original PS5’s 825GB SSD offered only around 667GB of usable space, while the PS5 Pro’s 2TB drive gives players access to approximately 1.89TB. This increase in storage space means that gamers can install more titles without the need to constantly uninstall and reinstall games.
The PS5 Pro also supports Wi-Fi 7, which offers faster and more reliable wireless speeds. During testing, I noticed quicker download speeds and more stable online connections, which will be especially beneficial for online multiplayer games and cloud gaming.
PSVR 2: Future-Proofing for Virtual Reality
While PSVR 2 gaming has yet to be fully tested on the PS5 Pro, Sony promises that the enhanced graphics will benefit virtual reality titles as well. With its improved GPU and advanced ray tracing capabilities, the PS5 Pro should deliver a more immersive VR experience, with sharper visuals and more fluid gameplay.
At launch, Sony has already confirmed that Kayak VR: Mirage will be optimized for the PS5 Pro, so we can expect tangible improvements
in VR titles moving forward. For VR enthusiasts, this adds another compelling reason to upgrade to the PS5 Pro.
Final Thoughts: Is the PS5 Pro Worth It?
The PS5 Pro is a powerhouse, delivering an upgraded gaming experience. Whether you’re looking for better performance in next-gen games, more storage for your growing library, or an enhanced virtual reality experience, the PS5 Pro offers it all. The addition of PSSR technology, better ray tracing, and various display modes ensures that you’re getting the best possible performance, regardless of whether you prioritize graphical fidelity or smooth gameplay.
If you’re already a PS5 owner and are considering upgrading, the PS5 Pro is a worthwhile investment if you want to future-proof your gaming setup and experience the best PlayStation has to offer. For newcomers, the PS5 Pro offers an exciting entry point into the next generation of gaming. While it may not be necessary for everyone, for dedicated gamers and those with a keen eye for detail, the PS5 Pro is undoubtedly the ultimate gaming console.
Ultimately, the PS5 Pro sets a new standard for gaming consoles, and with continued developer support, it has the potential to redefine how we experience games in the coming years.