Picking the right time to upgrade your console is a serious choice to make, and in this economic climate, it’s not one that comes easily. It used to be that you could comfortably upgrade your console every generation, but as time has gone by, it’s becoming more and more common to make the jump mid-generation instead.
It’s exactly the same case with the PlayStation 5, and knowing whether to make the jump to the PS5 Pro, especially with the latest round of price increases. It’s an incredibly difficult decision to make, but luckily for you, Insider Gaming is here to help you settle the score.
Here are the differences between the standard PS5 and PS5 Pro, as well as whether it’s worth picking up the upgrade.
What Are The Differences Between The PS5 & PS5 Pro?
The biggest gap between the PS5 and PS5 Pro comes down to performance. The Pro model is designed to deliver higher frame rates alongside noticeable visual upgrades, making it the most powerful console currently available.
A major factor behind this leap is improved ray tracing performance and the introduction of PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution). This AI-driven upscaling technology enhances image quality while maintaining smoother performance, allowing games to look sharper without sacrificing frame rate. It’s a feature exclusive to the PS5 Pro and one that significantly elevates its overall output.
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Here’s how the two consoles compare on paper:
| Specifications | PS5 Pro | PS5 Slim |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8 core, 16 thread AMD Zen 2 | 8 x Zen 2 core |
| GPU | 16.7 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon, RDNA-based graphics engine | 10.28 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon, RNDA-based graphics engine |
| Memory/RAM | 16GB GDDR6, 2GB DDR5 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Upscaling | PSSR Upscaling | — |
| Storage Capacity | Custom 2TB SSD | Custom 1TB SSD |
| Ports | 1x HDMI 2.1 1x Ethernet 2x USB-C 2x USB-A | 1x HDMI 2.1 1x Ethernet 2x USB-C 2x USB-A |
In short, the PS5 Pro offers a sizeable boost in raw power, double the storage, and access to advanced upscaling tech that simply isn’t available on the standard model.
It’s all well and good being a stronger console; that much is obvious, but is it worth the price? Because a console this strong doesn’t come cheap.
What Is The Price Difference Between The PS5 & PS5 Pro?
The PS5 Pro is bound to be a hot topic due to Sony’s recent price increases to all PS5 hardware, with the PS5 Pro suffering the most.
Following recent price increases, the PS5 Pro now sits at around $899, marking a $150 jump from its original pricing. Meanwhile, the standard PS5 comes in at $649, leaving a significant $250 gap between the two.
That price difference is hard to ignore. For many players, that extra spend could go towards additional accessories, games, or even another piece of hardware entirely (such as the freshly-priced PlayStation Portal). When you factor in ongoing costs like PS Plus subscriptions and new releases, the Pro quickly becomes a serious financial commitment.
It’s also worth noting that the PS5 Pro is entirely digital—unless you buy the separate disc drive. So, if you’re a collector or believer in physical media, you’re going to have to cough up even more money to buy into the cause.
Should You Upgrade To The PS5 Pro?
Ultimately, whether you upgrade comes down to how much you value performance—and how much you’re willing to spend to get it.
There’s no denying that the PS5 Pro is the superior console. It offers better frame rates, improved visuals, and a level of future-proofing that the standard PS5 can’t quite match. If you want the best possible console experience over the next few years, it’s the clear choice.
Timing also plays a role. With hardware prices trending upwards, waiting could mean paying even more down the line. If you’re already considering the upgrade, there’s a strong argument for making the jump sooner rather than later.
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Then there’s the games. Upcoming heavy hitters like Grand Theft Auto 6 are expected to push current hardware to its limits, and rumours suggest that the PS5 Pro may be the only console capable of delivering a stable 60fps experience. The same applies to demanding titles like Crimson Desert, which has already highlighted performance gaps between the two systems.
That said, the standard PS5 is still a very capable machine. If you’re happy with current performance and don’t feel the need to chase cutting-edge visuals, sticking with what you have remains a perfectly valid choice.
In the end, the PS5 Pro isn’t essential, but if you want the best version of console gaming available right now, it’s hard to beat.
Will you be buying a PS5 Pro? Share your thoughts in the official Insider Gaming Discord Server.
For more Insider Gaming PlayStation coverage, check out the dynamic prices that offer wildly different discounts for some games.
Charlie is one of Insider Gaming's Guides Writers who's been in the gaming industry for a little over a year. Unfortunately for him, he enjoys every video game genre out…
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