PlayStation 5 Pro Review – Beautiful Power, But At a Cost

PlayStation 5 Pro Review

The PlayStation 5 Pro wasn’t exactly on my bingo card for this year. Don’t get me wrong—after experiencing those jaw-dropping visuals in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on the PS5 Pro, I can say it’s undeniably impressive. The console fully delivers on its promises of performance and graphical fidelity. But if I’d made predictions at the start of the year, I would’ve bet on seeing a Nintendo Switch 2 before another PlayStation console.

I mean, do we really need a new PlayStation? Not necessarily. The base PS5 is excellent, and games look and run brilliantly on it. I don’t feel any pressing need to upgrade, and I know plenty of others probably feel the same. That said, there are gamers who crave the latest and greatest tech, and Sony has a passionate fanbase that will buy nearly anything they release.

To be clear, the PS5 Pro truly feels next-gen, with visuals so sharp and immersive that you do feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. But it’s not for everyone—and as powerful as it is, PC gamers won’t feel compelled to switch over anytime soon.

A Gut Punch

When I opened the box, I quickly found myself frustrated. I knew the PS5 Pro didn’t include a disc drive—a serious downside—but discovering that it didn’t even come with a stand was disappointing. At a premium price of $699.99 USD, the console should include either a stand or a disc drive, if not both. As someone who still enjoys physical media, I found this particularly limiting. Realizing I couldn’t play my copy of God of War: Ragnarok without an additional purchase felt unfair. Having to buy these add-ons separately is inconvenient and adds to the cost of an already expensive console.

If you have a lot of disc-based games, you’ll likely want to spend the extra $80 to buy the disc drive. But good luck finding one—at the time of writing, they’re incredibly hard to come by.

The console itself is impressive. Unboxing it felt great, and its sleek, futuristic design should blend seamlessly into any setup. The PS5 Pro feels like a premium product, with a clean, refined look that perfectly complements its high-performance internals. While the design will feel familiar to PS5 players, the Pro model features distinctive black stripes across the middle, setting it apart in the lineup. It shares the height of the original PS5 and the width of the PS5 Slim. Plus, it’s fully compatible with all current PS5 accessories, including the PlayStation Portal, PSVR 2, and DualSense Edge.

Gear Down, Big Rig

Setting up the console is quick and easy. However, there’s a drawback for those opting for a wireless setup. One unexpected downside of the PS5 Pro is the lengthy file transfer time from an old PS5. Although the process is straightforward, it can take an agonizingly long time—especially over Wi-Fi. In my case, it took nearly 16 hours, which is disappointing for a console focused on high-speed performance. If you’re planning to gift this console, setting it up in advance is a good idea to avoid a wait that could dampen the excitement.

A Well-Oiled Machine

Despite its flaws, there’s a lot to love about the PS5 Pro. Starting with storage, the included 2TB SSD offers plenty of space for today’s hefty game files. With games like Black Ops 6 requiring massive amounts of storage, this addition is a welcome improvement, allowing you to store more games without constantly managing your library.

Performance-wise, the PS5 Pro is a beast. With a 67% increase in GPU Compute Units and memory that’s 28% faster than the original PS5, the console delivers about a 45% boost in rendering speeds. This translates to smoother, more fluid gameplay and significantly reduced lag. Playing Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, I immediately noticed the difference in speed and responsiveness, even in highly detailed, chaotic scenes. The console handled every moment seamlessly even when the action on screen became ridiculously chaotic.

The new Wi-Fi 7 compatibility (in supported areas) should also enhance online gaming, offering quicker downloads and improved streaming quality. While I wasn’t able to test Wi-Fi 7 personally, it’s a promising feature for the future. That being said, aside from that slow transfer process, I experienced no noticeable slow downs and my connection was rock solid from beginning to end.

Easy on The Eyes 

The PS5 Pro pushes visual fidelity to the next level with enhanced ray tracing and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), Sony’s advanced AI-driven upscaling technology. The improvements are especially noticeable in visually rich games like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, where lighting, reflections, and textures come to life in ways the original PS5 struggles to match.

For instance, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on the PS5 Pro is breathtaking. Enhanced character models, ultra-realistic foliage, and sharper textures bring Aloy’s world to life like never before. Lighting and shadow effects are incredibly realistic, and every scene feels like a cinematic experience. It felt so good going back to play Horizon all over again, especially with that brilliant splash of paint and a console that runs like a Ferrari.

Granted, the differences can be subtle. To the untrained eye, spotting upgrades between the PS5 and PS5 Pro might be challenging. However, side-by-side comparisons reveal clear improvements in detail and realism. According to Sony, the new ray tracing system renders reflections and light refractions up to three times faster than the base PS5. The result is incredible. It’s hands-down the best-looking games I have ever played on a console.

Tough Pill to Swallow

At launch, over 50 games were available with PS5 Pro optimizations, including titles like Alan Wake 2, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Baldur’s Gate 3, Diablo IV, God of War Ragnarök, and Spider-Man 2. While this lineup is impressive, the lack of exclusive, system-selling launch titles for the Pro is a missed opportunity. At least one AAA game specific to the PS5 Pro would have been pretty cool but alas that isn’t happening.

At nearly $700 USD, the PS5 Pro comes with a steep price tag. Internationally, the cost climbs even higher due to currency conversion. Given that the base PS5 already delivers solid performance and includes a disc drive at a much lower price, the Pro might not be essential for everyone.

If you already own a PS5 and consider yourself a casual gamer, the Pro likely isn’t for you—stick with your current console, as it’s already fantastic. However, if you’re a hardcore PS5 fan who craves the best tech and have the budget to spare, the PlayStation 5 Pro is definitely worth considering. It’s also an excellent choice for streamers seeking butter-smooth performance to enhance their gaming experience.

Final Thoughts

The PS5 Pro is an incredible machine, combining raw power with a sleek design. For those who crave peak performance and ultra-realistic visuals, this console won’t disappoint. Games like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart look spectacular, showcasing the Pro’s next-gen capabilities. However, its hefty price tag, lengthy file transfer times, lack of bundled extras, and absence of a dedicated AAA system-seller make it a tough sell for everyone. If you’re seeking the pinnacle of PlayStation performance, the PS5 Pro is a powerhouse worth considering—but it’s not an upgrade everyone needs.

***PS5 Pro was provided to COGconnected by PlayStation Canada***