We tried out the PS5 Pro and it delivers on its promises but you probably still shouldn’t buy it
SONY’S long-awaited upgrade to the four-year-old PS5 is finally here, and people are left wondering if it’s worth the cost.
With a massive £700/$700 price tag for the PS5 Pro, and an additional cost for the disc drive, it’s a lot for a graphical upgrade.
We got our hands on PlayStation’s latest console to check out just what improvements it makes over the original console.
It took a moment to notice the graphical differences once we turned the console, but eventually, it clicked.
Playing a few hours of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, we noticed a dramatic improvement in graphical quality.
Performance mode has a soft, dream-like quality, which admittedly fits in with the atmosphere of the game.
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However, the claim that the PS5 Pro offers the framerate of Performance mode with the fidelity of Graphics mode is true.
On the new console, Dragon Age looks both smooth and sharp at 60fps, similar to the quality of a high-end gaming PC.
This isn’t true for all games though. We also tested Alan Wake 2 and found that the 60fps Performance mode still held back the graphical fidelity.
At 30fps you can see the full effect of the new ray-tracing features, and while 60fps does have improved graphics, it misses out on this.
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There are issues where the higher fidelity can look worse than the softer settings, though these will likely be solved as PSSR tech improves.
Ultimately, it comes down to whether you have a TV powerful enough to notice the improvements from the PS5 Pro.
Without a TV that is at least 4K, 120Hz and VRR-capable, the Pro is likely a waste of money.
Setting up the PS5 Pro is as simple as it was with the original console, but moving over our data via Data Transfer felt impossible.
We even tried backing up our data via USB, but this bugged and deleted our capture library.
We’ve also received messages from multiple other PS5 Pro users asking how to attach the vertical stand, which is a task that shouldn’t require outside help.
While the PS5 Pro mostly offers the graphical improvements it promises, the high cost, recurring issues, TV needed and difficulty in transferring data will mean it’s not worth it for most.
It does a lot for the small percentage of people who have the equipment required and don’t mind losing their data, but it’s a very niche audience.
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The vast majority of players won’t notice the difference that the upgraded PS5 brings.
If you want to read more about the console, check out how Bloodborne performs on the PS5 Pro.
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Get the lowdown on more of the latest PS5 releases from our expert reviewers.
- Stellar Blade
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- Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide
- Berserk Boy
- South Park: Snow Day
- Alone in the Dark
- Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Skull and Bones
- Helldivers 2
For Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch, check out our full game reviews section.