On November 7, 2024, I headed to my local Best Buy to pick up the PlayStation 5 Pro I had purchased just an hour earlier. Initially, my expectations were low — I had been skeptical of the console from the start. Now, with several months of hands-on experience, I’m ready to share my in-depth review.

The Design

The PS5 Pro’s design closely resembles the PS5 Slim, maintaining its sleek aesthetic while being slightly larger and featuring three additional lines in the center. Notably, it ditches the glossy top, which, in my opinion, is an improvement. The console has a clean, understated look — nothing flashy, just a refined, slightly expanded version of the PS5 Slim. It’s also worth mentioning that despite the size increase, it remains smaller than the original launch model of the PS5.

The Specs

There are some key differences between the PS5 & PS5 Pro, and Sony lists the "Big Three" as the major ones.

• A Larger GPU: Sony says the PS5 Pro's GPU can reach speeds up to 45% faster than that of PS5
• PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR): PSSR is a new AI-driven resolution upscaler that can turn a low-res frame into 4K
• Advanced Ray-Tracing: The PS5 Pro has more ray-tracing cores than the PS5, and can output more realistic lighting

These upgrades shine in PS5 Pro-enhanced titles, particularly PSSR. The improved GPU delivers smoother gameplay with higher framerates at better resolutions, and ray-tracing looks stunning in games like Gran Turismo 7 and Spider-Man.

Better Storage

One standout upgrade is the expanded storage — a 2TB SSD, a significant jump from the original PS5 models, which shipped with 825GB (with only about 620GB of usable space). The PS5 Slim models improved this to 1TB, but the Pro goes even further.

Personally, I’ve upgraded my PS5 Pro with an additional 2TB m.2 SSD and an 8TB external hard drive for PS4 titles, giving me a total of 12TB of storage — 4TB of which is dedicated to PS5 games.

8K Support

Another notable upgrade is true 8K resolution support. Interestingly, the standard PS5 had an 8K label on the box but didn’t actually support full 8K output. The PS5 Pro corrects that — though curiously, it lacks the 8K tag. Despite its capability, only a handful of games offer native 8K support. Gran Turismo 7 is one of them, though I can’t personally comment on it since I don’t have an 8K display.

No Disc Drive or Vertical Stand

A key detail about the PS5 Pro — it does not come with a disc drive or a vertical stand, both of which must be purchased separately. This caught me off guard, as I had expected Sony to offer a Pro model with a disc drive at a higher price. To make this absence clear, the box is prominently labeled "Disc-Free Console."

However, there is good news for PS5 Slim disc drive owners — you can use that detachable drive with the Pro. Unfortunately, standard PS5 disc edition owners aren’t as lucky, as their built-in drive isn’t removable. If you’re looking to add a disc drive, it currently retails separately for $79.99 USD.

As for the vertical stand, the PS5 Pro doesn’t include one, but it does come with small supports for horizontal placement. This will likely suit most users, but for those wanting a vertical setup, Sony offers a stand for $29.99 USD — or you could find a DIY solution that fits your space.

Final Note: The Price

Let’s get straight to the point — the PlayStation 5 Pro carries a hefty price tag of $699.99 USD. That’s $700 for a console that doesn’t include a disc drive or vertical stand, making it an undeniably expensive upgrade. Accordingly, the internet erupted in frustration when Sony revealed the price — right at the end of their showcase, no less.

So, is the PS5 Pro worth the cost? That depends entirely on what you value. If enhanced performance, higher frame rates, and improved resolution are a priority, the Pro offers a noticeable leap. But if you're content with 30 frames per second on the standard PS5 and don’t have a display that can fully take advantage of the extra power, it might not be a necessary investment.

Overall Rating: 8/10

I give the PlayStation 5 Pro a solid 8/10. It is a great console and an excellent mid-gen refresh, however it loses two points because of its expensive price tag and the lack of a disc drive and vertical stand.

Pros:

* Higher resolutions at higher framerates

* More storage

Cons:

* High price tag

* No disc drive or vertical stand