Sony launches PS5 Pro: More powerful GPU, no disc drive, shocking price

Sony has officially unveiled the PlayStation 5 (PS5) Pro following months of speculation. The announcement came through a dedicated 9-minute presentation on PlayStation's YouTube channel.

The design of the PS5 Pro matches the long-standing rumors, resembling the standard PS5 but with the addition of three black stripes.

Sony has put emphasis on enhancing the graphical performance of the PS5 Pro. The company has revealed that the GPU in the PS5 Pro boasts 67% more Compute Units compared to the current PS5 and the memory is 28% faster. Consequently, the PS5 Pro offers a rendering speed 45% faster than the PS5 in certain games, delivering a smoother gaming experience. Significant enhancements have been made to the ray-tracing capability of the PS5 Pro, delivering superior reflection and light refraction effects. The ray-tracing speed of the PS5 Pro is up to two or even three times faster than the current PS5.

The PS5 Pro is equipped with Sony’s new PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), a performance-boosting technique akin to NVIDIA's DLSS or AMD's FSR, aimed at improving frame rates and image quality in PlayStation games.

In terms of features, the PS5 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and 8K resolution. Game updates will be necessary to leverage some of the PS5 Pro’s features, and Sony has confirmed that developers are working on free software updates for existing titles. Additionally, Sony is introducing a “Game Boost” feature for the PS5 Pro, which will extend to over 8,500 PS4 games compatible with the console, potentially enhancing the performance of supported PS4 and PS5 games.

It also comes with a 2TB SSD, a DualSense controller, and a pre-installed copy of Astro’s Playroom. Notably, the PS5 Pro is designed to be an “all-digital” gaming console by default, meaning it does not include a Blu-ray drive. Users will need to purchase an external drive separately if required.

As for pricing, the PS5 Pro will be available for purchase at $699.99. This represents a $200 hike compared to the standard PS5 with a disc drive, making the PS5 Pro Sony’s most expensive console to date. Importantly, the price does not cover the cost of a Blu-ray drive, which can be obtained for an additional $80.

Interested users can pre-order the PS5 Pro in specific countries and regions from September 26, and the console will officially launch on November 7.And while waiting for the next big thing for your gaming machine, you can try exploring our comparator to discover the best deals on your upcoming favorite game.