Sony is trying something new in the current generation of game consoles: selling a technologically improved version of the PlayStation 4.
The PS4 Pro, which is slated for release on Nov. 10 for $399, is sure to cause some confusion as we head into the holiday season and the layperson tries to figure out the difference between the Pro and the regular PS4, and whether the new version is worth a buy if they already have a regular PS4.
But don’t worry, we’re here to help.
As mentioned above, the PS4 Pro is an improved version of the PS4, which first launched back in November 2013. I’ll allow Sony’s press release to explain the advantages of the Pro:
“By boosting the performance and capability of the system architecture including the CPU and GPU, PS4 Pro allows games to deliver graphics with far more detail and unprecedented visual precision. Users with 4K TVs will be able to enjoy all PS4 titles in higher quality, such as 4K quality*1 resolution and faster or more stable frame rates. In addition, PS4 Pro supports 4K video playback to deliver 4K streaming video services such as Netflix and YouTube.”
In simpler terms, many games will look better when played on the PS4 Pro than they will on the regular PS4, and the Pro will be able to stream video in 4K resolution, whereas the regular PS4 is limited to 1080p. All PlayStation 4 games (“those already available and those launching in the future”) will play on both the regular PS4 and the PS4 Pro. So there won’t be any games that will play on the PS4 Pro but not the regular PS4. The PS4 Pro will not have an upgraded Blu-ray drive, however, and will not be able to play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.
The 4K stuff won’t matter to most people right now, as the vast majority of consumers don’t have a 4K TV. That goes triple for HDR imaging, a feature that was touted at length during Sony’s press conference announcing the Pro — HDR was just introduced in some high-end 2016 model 4K televisions, so adoption of that tech is much lower than even that of 4K itself. Right now, it’s mostly just tech and home theater enthusiasts who can can use the PS4 Pro’s HDR capabilities.
Since we’re still a few years off from seeing widespread 4K and HDR TV adoption by regular people, the main perk of the PS4 Pro for most potential buyers is that it will have increased graphical horsepower. How exactly that will manifest is still unclear, but PS4 Pro owners can expect a few extra visual bells and whistles and a better and more clear overall look in some games — whether a developer chooses to harness the extra power of the Pro is entirely up to them.
The PS4 Pro will also bolster PlayStation VR, offering improved visuals there, should you decide to go in on Sony’s virtual reality headset. PlayStation VR will, however, also work on the regular PS4 (it has to, since it’s launching in October ahead of the PS4 Pro).
When the Pro launches in November, it’ll cost $399. A regular PS4, which is being re-released with a slim model on September 15, will cost $299. If you don’t already own a Playstation 4, the Pro will probably be worth the extra $100 in the long run. If you do have a Playstation 4, then the upgrade to the Pro probably won’t be worth it. And, given this precedent, by the time 4K TVs become the norm in three or four years, there will probably be another new model of PlayStation on the horizon anyway.
I should note that Sony, being a multibillion-dollar tech megacorporation, is also in the business of selling TVs. It’s very possible there will be bundles containing a PS4 Pro and a Sony 4K HDR TV at some point in the future, if not at launch.
For now, the PS4 Pro is aimed squarely at enthusiasts. And so if you’re not the sort of person who loves to rush out and buy all sorts of expensive tech (new iPhone) as soon as it becomes available, you’ll probably be just fine with the regular PS4.