There’s a good reason why there’s speculation about a PS5 Pro launching, although there’s no evidence it’s currently being worked on and the PS5 is still fairly new. Sony releasing the PS4 Pro back in 2016 suggests they know how to build on the previous console, and given the popularity and success of the PS5, making something even bigger and better is an almost guaranteed sale.
But the lack of evidence doesn’t mean Sony isn’t planning on releasing a more capable model in the coming years. It’s unclear at this point, however, what exactly a PS5 Pro might improve on – we’ve still not seen 8K resolution support on PlayStation 5, and we’ll have to wait for a PS5 Slim if we want to see a noticeable difference from a smaller console.
Still, it’s always fun to speculate and wrap up all the rumours, so let’s dive deep into the possibility of a PS5 Pro, we’ll make a few predictions along the way.
PS5 Pro price and release date
We can make an educated guess about when the PS5 Pro will be released alongside its price, based on what Sony did with the PS4 Pro.
The PS4 Pro launched in 2016, three years after the original PS4 came out. That means we could see a PS5 Pro release as early as 2023, as the PS5 launched in November 2020. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing component shortages could push the launch of a PS5 Pro well into 2024 or beyond.
In terms of price, the PS4 Pro launched at the same price as the original PS4, which is $399 / £349. We’ve recently seen the PS5 get a price hike with Sony blaming it on rising global inflation, so the PS5 currently costs £ 479.99 / €549.99 / AU$799.95. It’s likely that Sony could offer the PS5 Pro for the same price, assuming it follows the same strategy as for the PS4 Pro.
PS5 Pro design
The PS5 is already a gigantic machine, which means that unless Sony can make drastic improvements, a PS5 Pro could match the size of a regular PlayStation 5 or even be bigger. A similar situation occurred with the PS4 Pro, which outsized the original PlayStation 4 by some margin.
Fortunately, a PS5 Slim will probably be available around the same time for those who really want a smaller system. We imagine that, as with the PlayStation 4 Pro, Sony’s design builds on the console’s existing futuristic look, but could include some extra embellishments not present on the current system.
PS5 Pro specs
This is where things get a lot harder to predict. The PS5 is already an extremely powerful console, capable of 4K gaming at 120Hz in specific titles, ray tracing and generally luscious visuals across the board. A PS5 Pro would certainly help developers achieve even higher resolutions and frame rates, but it’s unlikely to be a tangible jump like we saw from 1080p to 4K.
However, since the PS5 still can’t run games at 8K despite the feature being advertised on the console’s box, perhaps the PS5 Pro will target the next-generation resolution standard. We’ve already seen one game, The Touryst, running at 8K/60fps on PS5, but you can only watch it in 4K at the moment.
8K isn’t widespread right now, but three years from now, 8K panels will likely be more affordable and accessible to non-enthusiastic consumers. Let’s not forget that Sony also produces TVs, and the Japanese company may want to use the PS5 Pro to boost sales of its 8K sets, similar to how the PS3 helped win the disc format war with Blu-Ray.
The PS5 Pro could have an AMD Zen 4 CPU and RDNA-3 GPU, but we’ve seen both Microsoft and Sony decide to opt for slightly improved versions of the Xbox One and PS4 CPUs in their upgraded models. So we expect more investment in the GPU than in the CPU with the PS5 Pro.
PS5 Pro: What else can it offer?
We’d expect the PS5 Pro to also include a larger SSD than the original PS5, as 825GB wasn’t exactly generous to begin with, and some games have hefty file sizes. A 1TB version would certainly help add more value, and we expect the ability to install one of the best SSDs for PS5 to be retained.
And what about a PS5 Pro Digital Edition? Will Sony also release a version without a disc drive? Maybe not. The PS5 Digital Edition serves as a cheaper alternative to the PS5 for those happy to go without, but it would probably be a bit frivolous to release two versions of the PS5 Pro, which admittedly won’t appeal to everyone.
Do we even need a PS5 Pro?
Not technically, but in two or three years developers may run into more hurdles due to the PS5’s aging hardware, resulting in noticeable compromises in games, such as lower frame rates or resolutions. A PS5 Pro could breathe new life into many older games if enhanced, as we saw on PS4 Pro, and the extra horsepower should ensure that newer titles aren’t held back too.
Should I wait for a PS5 Pro or just buy a PS5?
You always get a better deal if you wait, that’s just the nature of technology. However, the PS5 is an excellent console with great games you can play right now. Yes, a PlayStation 5 Pro will be able to provide a better overall experience, but think how much fun you’re missing out on by waiting?