Hands-on review: PlayStation 5 Pro

Console revisions are nothing new because companies have re-released their hardware multiple times during the same console generation. Nintendo released many different versions of the Game Boy Advance, while the PS3 had lots of iterations too.

However, it wasn't until the release of the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X did the consoles changed their internal specs. The PS4 Pro and Xbox One X consoles were more powerful compared to the original PS4 and Xbox One hardware. They weren't just "slimmer" versions like in past generations.

While it does not look like we are getting an Xbox Series X Pro anytime soon, Sony has decided to release the PS5 Pro this 2024 holiday season. The demand for a more powerful PS5 came because many gamers want to play games in 4K but at 60 fps. While the original PS5 is powerful, many games still run at 30 fps with the highest graphical fidelity setting.

Price and what's included

Before I talk about the PS5 Pro console itself, the first thing buyers should know is the price and what it comes with. Without adjusting for inflation, the PS5 Pro is the most expensive console I have seen in New Zealand during my lifetime.

I was too young to remember if the Panasonic 3DO or Philips CD-i ever came to New Zealand, but I do recall the original 60GB PS3 costing around $1200 NZD back in 2007. If you want a PS5 Pro in 2024, you will have to fork out $1,379.95 NZD. This is roughly $200 NZD more than the PS3 was back in the day.

Aside from the console itself, the PS5 Pro comes with one DualSense controller, an HDMI 2.1 cable, a power plug, and one USB-C able to charge the controller at the front of the console. Preferably, you will also have to pay for an ongoing PlayStation Plus account to play non-free multiplayer video games online.

Why upgrade to PS5 Pro?

The question on everyone's mind is if the PS5 Pro is worth it if you already own a normal PS5. One of the biggest upgrades of the PS5 Pro is that it includes a much bigger solid-state drive (SSD). The original PS5 is kind of stingy because it only includes an 825 GB SD. If you play games like Call of Duty, you'll know that this is not enough space.

The PS5 Pro is a lot more generous because it comes with a 2 TB SSD. I was able to install games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Spider-Man 2, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and Horizon Forbidden West. Even with all of these games installed, I still had over 1 TB left to install more games!

The other reason to upgrade to a PS5 Pro is because it will make your games look and run better than ever before. Many PS5 games are getting exclusive "PS5 Pro Patches," and when installed on PS5 Pro, it will give you new options to run your games smoothly and for them to have higher graphical fidelity too.

For example, both Horizon games have a new "Pro" setting that allows you to play the games with the highest graphical fidelity while still running the game at a smooth 60 fps. The PS5 Pro has a new AI learning tool called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) that is able to upscale most games to 4K while still running games at a smoother frame rate.

I was also surprised by how good Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered looks on PS5 Pro. When the game was first announced, I thought it would be another boring remaster that looked the same as the PS4 original. No, I was super wrong because Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered looks more like a remake because the character models have been overhauled, and the environments are more beautiful this time around.

I am not exaggerating when I say this, but the two Horizon games are the best-looking console games I have ever seen when I played them on PS5 Pro. We have gotten to a point in technology where in-game graphics look better than some older animated movies like 2006's Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children film.

Speaking of Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is arguably the game that all people should buy if they want to see the power of the PS5 Pro. Some areas of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth looked blurry in performance mode on the original PS5, but things are smoother and much clearer when playing on the PS5 Pro. PS5 Pro manages to run Final Fantasy VII Rebirth at 60 fps, but you also get the goodness of playing the game at 4K thanks to PSSR. 

Spider-Man 2 isn't as impressive looking as the other games I mentioned, although you can now play the game at 60fps with ray-tracing features on. Ray-tracing means you can see more realistic reflections, so I noticed the windows on buildings and vehicles looked shinier than ever before. The game is also impressive when New York is raining, too.

While my TV cannot output 120 fps, some games will support this framerate when the PS5 Pro launches. Again, you will have to do some of your own homework because not every game can be played at 120 fps, but I'm sure they'll look amazing.

Another feature that wasn't advertised is that there is an option to smooth out some compatible PS4 video games too. The differences are quite small, but the PS5 Pro can smooth out a game like Bloodborne to make the graphics slightly sharper than they appear on PS5 and PS4 hardware.

Not all games have PS5 Pro patches yet

It's also worth mentioning if you are planning to buy a PS5 Pro at launch; not every game has received a PS5 Pro patch just yet. Sony has revealed that over 50 games are PS5 Pro enhanced on launch day, with more on the way next year. However, there are many games that I own that have not been enhanced yet like Tekken 8, Mortal Kombat 1, Returnal, and even Gran Turismo 7. If your favourite game hasn't been enhanced yet, it may be best to wait until they have been patched before you buy the PS5 Pro.  

What's not included 

Another thing casual buyers like parents need to know about the PS5 Pro is that it DOES NOT come with a disc drive to play physical game discs. You will have to have an active PSN and internet account to download video games from the PlayStation Store instead.

If you want to play physical video games, you have to buy the disc drive separately for around $169.00 NZD. Sadly, the disc drive seems to be sold out at most New Zealand retailers, so you may have to wait until next year to play physical games on the PS5 Pro when stock becomes available.

Personally, I wasn't able to play Tekken 8 and Hitman 3 because I own those games on disc. That being said, I don't buy physical games often anymore because most game reviews now come on digital codes.

The PS5 Pro also does not come with its own vertical stand. For gamers who like to display their consoles vertically, you will have to pay an extra $54.00 NZD at most Kiwi retailers to get one. However, the PS5 Pro can stand vertically without a stand, but it won't be as sturdy if a cat runs by.

Size

This is going to be a short paragraph, but don't expect the PS5 Pro to be a small console. The PS5 Pro is pretty much the same size as an original PS5, with the only difference being the lack of a disc drive included. It's still taller and slightly heavier compared to the newer PS5 slim consoles that Sony has released recently. Not to mention original PS5 faceplates don't work on the PS5 Pro because it has a different shape.

Is it worth the high price?

The PS5 Slim with disc drive costs around $899.00 NZD in New Zealand, and a PS5 Slim Digital console costs $769.00 NZD. The PS5 Pro, as aforementioned, retails at $1379.95 NZD, making it around $500 NZD more expensive than a normal PS5 with a disc drive!

The only types of people I think should buy the PS5 Pro are hardcore gamers who own decent 4KTVs. These are the types of people that will notice the differences in resolution and the higher frame rates in video games. I doubt people who own 1080p displays will notice a difference between a PS5 or PS5 Pro video game.

I do feel the PS5 Pro might be worth it if you can get a discount by trading in your original PS5 along with some disc-based PS5 games you might own. EB Games is currently offering the PS5 Pro for $849.00 NZD if you trade in your original PS5 disc console along with four physical PS5 video games.

Conclusion

For gamers who love games running at 60 fps (or higher) and like seeing high-quality graphics, then the PS5 Pro is perfect for you. It might be an expensive investment, but the visual upgrade is worth it if you own a decent 4KTV to notice all the differences.

For everyone else, I think it's best to wait until the PS5 Pro goes on sale if you want an upgrade. The original PS5 still looks fine, plus it's cheaper because it has a disc drive. Not to mention some people can get an original PS5 lower than the retail price if you can get one second-hand.