PS5 Pro Review: How Well Does It Perform on Your TV?

Sony’s $700 PlayStation is designed for those who want a straightforward, no-nonsense gaming experience.

The new PS5 Pro, released on November 7th, is undoubtedly the most powerful PlayStation ever made. The real question is: Is it worth the $700 price tag, the highest Sony has ever charged for a gaming console?

I think I can answer that—but first, you’ll need to grab a measuring tape.

Select your preferred seating position in front of the television and measure the distance from your head to the screen. Next, determine the diagonal measurement of your screen. Do you possess a 65-inch or 55-inch television, which are among the most common sizes? If you are seated 10 feet away or more, then the PS5 Pro may not justify its $700 price tag, even if your vision is perfect. The enhancement in visual quality is not sufficiently noticeable at that distance. However, if you are seated closer, Sony’s latest gaming console can significantly enhance the appearance of certain games. Details such as blades of grass, rugged stone pillars, and the texture of a backpack become vividly pronounced at higher fidelity. This improvement may compel you to sit nearer, stand, or even connect the PS5 Pro to a 4K computer monitor for a gaming experience akin to that of a PC.

In some instances, playing on the original PS5 can feel akin to viewing through a smudged window. The PS5 Pro possesses the capability to clear that view. It is essential to clarify that the PS5 Pro does not render every game “Pro.” To truly appreciate the enhancements, it necessitates games that are specifically patched as “PS5 Pro Enhanced,” although reputable sources like Digital Foundry have noted that it can also enhance the performance of some standard games.

This is not a PS6. Sony has not indicated that this will initiate a new console generation or feature exclusive titles. It continues to support the same PS5 and PS4 games, utilizing the same AMD Zen 2 CPU cores, receiving identical software updates, employing the same exceptional DualSense controller, and maintaining largely the same connectivity options. If you choose games that already perform exceptionally well on the PS5, such as the outstanding Astro Bot, the differences you may notice will likely be physical, such as the three curved scimitar-shaped fins that separate the console’s upper and lower sections, its cool and quiet operation, or its surprisingly lighter weight. The PS5 Pro is three pounds lighter than the original model from 2020, even with the optional disc drive included. The console is also slightly more compact.

The PS5 Pro is equipped with an additional 2GB of DDR5 memory, offering more than double the storage capacity at 2TB, and, most significantly, features a GPU that is 62 percent faster, delivering 16.7 teraflops of raw graphical processing power. It also incorporates an AI upscaling technology known as PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), making it the most powerful home console ever created. The implications for gaming will vary by studio, but many developers are claiming that players no longer have to choose between smooth performance and high fidelity; they can enjoy 4K-like graphics at 60 frames per second without compromise.

During Sony’s PS5 Pro preview event, I noted that this assertion may not be entirely accurate: with only a 45 percent increase in rendering performance, some graphical trade-offs remain. However, after spending several consecutive days alternating between my original PS5 from 2020 and the new PS5 Pro, testing over a dozen games across various graphical settings, I believe there is merit to the claim of achieving the “best of both worlds.”

In every game I tested—while seated no more than eight feet from a 65-inch television—the PS5 Pro distinctly provided a superior gaming experience.

In The Last of Us, I could discern individual blades of grass rather than just a uniform expanse of green. In Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, I noticed the fine peach fuzz on Aloy’s cheeks. Titles such as Demon’s Souls, Spider-Man 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and The Last of Us Part II showcased enhanced clarity and smoothness, which brought the environments to life, making the castle walls, skyscrapers, floating ships, and post-apocalyptic landscapes feel more tangible. Everything appeared more… defined.

Even PS4 titles benefit from improved clarity on the PS5 Pro: I launched Bloodborne, Gravity Rush 2, and my current favorite, Lego Dimensions, and each game exhibited subtle enhancements once I activated a new PS4 image enhancement feature in the console’s settings menu.

The notable exception I have explored is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Although I cannot fully appreciate all its visual enhancements while reclining on the couch, Rebirth undoubtedly earns the title of Most Improved on the PS5 Pro, eliminating the need to choose between distracting choppiness and frustrating blurriness. Its new PS5 Pro-exclusive “Versatility” mode provides a significantly clearer image compared to the previous muddled options, with the difference being noticeable even from a distance. It is conceivable that some dedicated Final Fantasy enthusiasts might acquire the console solely for this reason, particularly those who have not yet invested in a PS5 and only require justification for an additional $270 for the Pro model.

However, most games do not exhibit such substantial potential for enhancement. One should not anticipate that the PS5 Pro will necessarily elevate graphics in the preferred manner. The open world of FFVII Rebirth still experiences the pop-in effect, where vegetation appears just as the player approaches, and Alan Wake II continues to struggle with the flickering of Detective Casey’s sideburns and facial hair.

Regarding Alan Wake II, it stands out as one of the few titles enhanced for the PS5 Pro that includes an optional new ray tracing mode. This mode features ray-traced reflections, which is a significant reduction compared to the comprehensive ray tracing available on the most powerful gaming PCs today. Nevertheless, it is impressive to observe the realistic reflections of the entire world in the windows of the Oh Deer Diner, while simultaneously being able to see through them — the PS5 Pro manages this effectively. Although the game operates at a reduced frame rate of 30fps instead of 60fps, the performance decline is not so severe as to render it unplayable. The ray tracing capabilities in Alan Wake II (and F1 24) provide a fascinating glimpse into the potential of the PS5 Pro for the future, contingent upon the console’s commercial success and developers’ willingness to optimize their new titles for it. The PS4 Pro eventually amassed an extensive library of enhanced games, having launched at a price of $400 with an optical drive, attractive trade-in options at GameStop, and a clearer value proposition.

The price of $700 may be difficult for some prospective buyers to accept, particularly given the absence of an optical drive. Personally, a significant portion of my PS5 and PS4 game collection is on disc, necessitating a special order for the $80 optical drive, which is currently in limited supply, to access some of my titles. While Sony provided review codes for certain games, it is important to note that reviewers did not have access to all 55 of the PS5 Pro Enhanced patches that Sony has promised for the launch. As I compose this, major titles that are expected to receive enhancements, such as the recently released Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Star Wars Jedi Survivor, have yet to issue their patches. It is conceivable that some games I have not tested may perform better or worse than those I have experienced. However, I feel I have encountered a range of quality from “good” to “mediocre.” Similar to the PS4 Pro, there is significant potential here if developers choose to leverage it.

Since Sony unveiled the PS5 Pro along with its $700 price and the absence of an optical drive, I have encountered various criticisms directed at the company. Some individuals claim that the difference in visual quality is negligible, while others suggest that building a gaming PC would be a more advantageous option. While that may be true, it is unlikely to be achievable for the same price of $700. For instance, I recently launched The Last of Us Part I on my mid-range gaming PC, which features a graphics card that alone retails for approximately $300. I found myself waiting on a loading screen for 15 minutes to compile the game’s shaders, only to encounter issues such as buggy hair and unreflective dull grey mirrors. I spent an additional 20 minutes adjusting settings to make the game playable.

In contrast, when I connected a PS5 Pro to the same 4K monitor, the game loaded almost instantaneously and was both visually stunning and fully playable right away.

The ideal consumer for the PS5 Pro is someone who prefers a straightforward experience and desires the finest console gaming experience available.

PS5 Pro reviews: Top 3 complaints about the new console

The PS5 Pro is too expensive

The pricing of the PS5 Pro has emerged as a significant point of contention in various reviews. Priced at $700, it poses a challenge for the more casual gamer who may find the performance of the standard PS5 to be more than satisfactory. For the majority of players, the increase in visual quality may not justify the additional expenditure, particularly when the base model continues to provide an exceptional gaming experience at a considerably lower cost.

As noted by Rory Mellon from Tom’s Hardware, this console represents a lavish investment that does not deliver the same value for money as the standard PS5, which remains a highly competent gaming system. This perspective is widely shared among reviewers. Although the PS5 Pro offers certain improvements, it does not significantly alter the gaming experience enough to justify the higher price for those who are not dedicated enthusiasts.

There’s no disc drive

The PS5 Pro presents a significant barrier to entry, particularly as it lacks a disc drive. Michael Higam noted in his review for IGN that, given its price point, consumers may feel let down by the absence of numerous features typically expected in such a premium product.

On a more positive note, Sony has provided a solution for those who prefer physical media: an optional disc drive can be added to the PS5 Pro. However, this addition comes at a cost of $80. Furthermore, the vertical stand is also sold separately. This decision by Sony raises questions, especially considering that a substantial overlap likely exists between dedicated console enthusiasts willing to invest $700 in the Pro and those who value physical game copies.

For a company that relies heavily on its most loyal customers, imposing additional charges for fundamental components appears to be a miscalculated approach.

Lack of games

One of the less prominent criticisms of the PS5 Pro is the lack of compelling games that would encourage potential buyers to invest in the console, which adds to the ongoing debate about the platform’s game library.

While Sony’s premier first- and third-party titles have received updates to leverage the PS5 Pro’s advanced features, these updates are essentially just enhancements.

As highlighted by Cameron Faulkner in his review for Polygon, the graphical upgrades across the 50 Sony titles that received patches are somewhat inconsistent.

Reviewers generally agree that as the PS5’s lifecycle progresses, particularly in 2025 and beyond, upcoming games will likely be designed to fully utilize the console’s graphical and performance capabilities. If this occurs, the Pro may become a more attractive option given its price point.