Is the $700 PS5 Pro Worth It? 5 Subtle Upgrades, Big Performance Gains!

The $700 PS5 Pro offers notable performance improvements, including enhanced visuals and ray tracing, but its upgrades are subtle unless you’re sitting close to the screen. While it enhances older PS4 games and offers a smoother experience in titles like *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth*, it doesn’t deliver a major leap in every game. The optional $80 disc drive and lack of exclusive titles make it a tough sell for some, but it’s a great choice for those seeking top-tier console gaming without building a gaming PC.

CONTENTS:

• Powerful, expensive, enhanced graphics, future-proof.
• Incremental upgrades, strong performance, subtle improvements.
• Enhanced visuals, limited exclusive games, incremental upgrades.
• Subtle improvements, strong performance, selective enhancements.

Is the $700 PS5 Pro Worth It? 5 Subtle Upgrades, Big Performance Gains!

Powerful, expensive, enhanced graphics, future-proof.

Is the $700 PS5 Pro Worth It? 5 Subtle Upgrades The PlayStation 5 Pro, released on November 7 for $700 (£700, AU$1,200), offers significant improvements over the original PS5, especially in terms of graphics and performance. It delivers enhanced visuals with better ray tracing, smoother frame rates, and 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, making it the most powerful gaming console on the market. However, its high price doesn’t include extras like a vertical stand ($30) or an external disc drive ($80).

In terms of design, the PS5 Pro closely follows the 2023 PS5 Slim’s style but is slightly larger and includes racing stripe-like fins for improved ventilation. It features a 2TB internal SSD, Wi-Fi 7 support, and two USB-C ports on the front, but requires an additional disc drive for physical media.

The PS5 Pro’s upgraded GPU, with 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory, allows games to run 45% faster, while advanced ray tracing enables more realistic lighting and reflections. It offers two modes for gameplay: Performance, which boosts frame rates, and Resolution, which prioritizes graphical fidelity. Some titles even allow 8K resolution or 120 FPS, though these options are limited by available technology and personal setup.

Is the $700 PS5 Pro Worth It? 5 Subtle Upgrades While the PS5 Pro offers clear graphical improvements in games like *Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered*, *Spider-Man 2*, and *Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart*, not all games immediately benefit from the enhanced hardware, as developers need to release updates for the Pro’s capabilities. A feature for enhancing image quality in PS4 games is also available, improving older titles as well.

At $700, the PS5 Pro is not cheap, and the decision to upgrade depends largely on whether you already own a PS5. If you’re still using the base PS5, the Pro could be worth it for the graphical boost and future-proofing. However, if you already have a PS5, you might find the improvements modest enough to wait for discounts, especially during Black Friday sales. The Pro is ideal for new buyers or those looking to trade up for long-term performance.

Incremental upgrades, strong performance, subtle improvements.

Is the $700 PS5 Pro Worth It? 5 Subtle Upgrades The PlayStation 5 Pro does indeed have some impressive upgrades, but your observation is spot on: it doesn’t feel as revolutionary as some might expect given its significant price jump. While it boasts more raw power (16.7 TFLOPs of GPU performance) and better specs compared to the original PS5, including a larger 2TB SSD and enhanced AI-driven upscaling via PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), the overall experience is a mix of expected improvements and incremental upgrades. If you’re already satisfied with the performance of the PS5, the Pro model might feel like a “nice-to-have” rather than a must-have.

The design improvements are subtle, with the Pro being sleeker than the original, and the thermals seem comparable, with no significant increase in noise or heat generation. However, the absence of extras like a vertical stand or the Blu-ray disc drive being sold separately adds to the feeling that Sony isn’t offering the best value for money, especially at a $700 price point.

Is the $700 PS5 Pro Worth It? 5 Subtle Upgrades The real differentiator is its ability to offer better performance modes and visual fidelity, such as higher frame rates and enhanced ray tracing. Games like *Spider-Man 2*, *Horizon Forbidden West*, and *The Last of Us Part II Remastered* highlight how the PS5 Pro is able to provide smoother gameplay with more detailed graphics, but there’s still the compromise of having to choose between 60fps or 30fps with upgraded visuals, with some games even offering a “Pro” mode for even more refined performance.

In terms of gaming performance, *Alan Wake 2* and *F1 24* demonstrate how the Pro can take advantage of ray tracing and better frame rates, although not every title utilizes the hardware to its fullest potential. For those who truly crave the best visuals and smoothest frame rates, the PS5 Pro is certainly a step up, but for gamers who don’t mind the occasional compromise, the original PS5 still holds its own.

Enhanced visuals, limited exclusive games, incremental upgrades

Is the $700 PS5 Pro Worth It? 5 Subtle Upgrades The new PS5 Pro, which launched on November 7th for $700, is the most powerful PlayStation console ever made, offering enhanced visual fidelity, a faster GPU, and better overall performance. However, the $700 price tag may not be justified for everyone. If you sit far from your TV, such as 10 feet or more from a 65-inch or 55-inch display, the improvements may not be immediately noticeable.

For those who sit closer to the screen, the PS5 Pro’s upgraded graphics—such as crisper details and smoother images—can make a noticeable difference. Games with enhanced graphics look more defined, with improved textures and details like individual blades of grass or character skin. It’s particularly noticeable with PS5 Pro Enhanced games like *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth*, where the “Versatility” mode significantly improves the visual experience.

Is the $700 PS5 Pro Worth It? 5 Subtle Upgrades Despite its advantages, the PS5 Pro doesn’t deliver exclusive games or a major leap in CPU power, still using the same AMD Zen 2 cores as the original PS5. Many of the visual improvements depend on developer support for “PS5 Pro Enhanced” patches. The console does bring other updates, such as 2TB storage, Wi-Fi 7 support, and a lighter, quieter design, but you’ll need to buy an optional disc drive if you want one, adding an extra $80.

Ultimately, the PS5 Pro appeals to those seeking the best possible console gaming experience, especially if they sit close to a large OLED display, and prefer convenience over tinkering with a gaming PC.

Subtle improvements, strong performance, selective enhancements

Is the $700 PS5 Pro Worth It? 5 Subtle Upgrades The PS5 Pro offers some notable improvements over the original PS5, even enhancing older PS4 games like *Bloodborne* and *Gravity Rush 2* through a new image enhancement feature. However, the difference in visual quality is subtle unless you’re sitting closer to the screen, with noticeable improvements at around 10 feet or less. The standout game for the PS5 Pro is *Final Fantasy VII Rebirth*, where the new “Versatility” mode clears up previous visual issues, offering a much crisper picture, especially in its open world. This improvement is visible even from a distance, making it a game-changer for fans.

While the PS5 Pro doesn’t dramatically change graphics across all games, it does offer enhancements where possible, such as with ray-tracing in titles like *Alan Wake II* and *F1 24*. This is a glimpse of what the PS5 Pro might deliver in the future, particularly if developers optimize more games for the platform. The console doesn’t include an optical drive, which may deter some buyers, but the optional $80 disc drive is easy to install.

For $700, it’s a tough sell for some, especially since the PS5 Pro doesn’t offer a massive leap forward in every title. However, it’s a strong option for those looking for the best console gaming experience without the need to build a gaming PC. If you want top-tier console performance, a high-quality display, and an easy plug-and-play setup, the PS5 Pro is an appealing choice—especially if you sit close to your screen.