PS5 Slim vs PS5 Pro: Which One Should You Get?

Read every detail about the new PS5 Pro console and how it measures against the PS5 Slim, and which one is worth buying for you.

PS5 Slim VS PS5 Pro: Which is better for you? (Image via PlayStation)

Preorders for the brand new PS5 Pro started on September 26th, and console enthusiasts were naturally excited. With it being released on November 7th, we can finally debate whether it measures against the PS5 Slim, which was released a year ago in October. There are several factors to consider when deciding which one you should get, the PS5 Pro or the PS5 Slim. The specifications, designs, prices, performance, and features all matter when deliberating over this topic. In this guide, we will be going over those factors and help you arrive at a conclusion.

PS5 Slim vs PS5 Pro: Specifications and Performance

Perhaps the factors that are the most important to several people when deciding between the two console versions would be their specifications and performance. The table below gives a complete overview of the specifications of both these consoles.

PS5 SlimPS5 Pro
ProcessorCustom AMD Ryzen “Zen 2”, 8 cores/16 threadsCustom AMD Ryzen “Zen 2”, 8 cores/16 threads
GraphicsAMD RDNA 2, 10.3 Teraflops, 2.23 GHz16.7 Teraflops, AMD Radeon RDNA graphics engine
Memory16 GB GDDR616 GB GDDR 6 + 2 GB DDR5
Storage1 TB SSD, M.2 NVMe SSD slot2 TB SSD, M.2 NVMe SSD slot, USB external storage
Max Rated Power225 W390 W
NetworkingGigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.1
Ports2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x Ethernet, 1x HDMI 2.12x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x Ethernet, 1x HDMI 2.1
Dimensions (WxHxD)358 x 97 x 224 mm388 x 89 x 216 mm
Weight7.1 lbs6.8 lbs
UpscalingPlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR)
Price$699.99$499.99

Perhaps the most surprising detail you get from this specs table is that the PS5 Pro is actually slightly smaller and about 100 grams lighter than the PS5 Slim, though the latter is still slimmer. Yet the main attraction of the PS5 Pro is the massive upgrade to the GPU. When compared to the original PS5’s GPU, the Pro version’s GPU has a 67% higher count of computing cores, and the RAM is 28% faster. Sony claims that with this they are able to achieve a 45% increase in rendering speed. The calculation speed of the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro GPUs has a considerable gap between them too, at 10.3 and 16.7 Teraflops, respectively.

However, the CPU is the same on either console. They come with varying storage capacities, the Pro sporting 1 TB more than the Slim. Though they are equal in terms of speed. The PS5 Pro can also be fitted with a USB as an external storage if the 2 TB is not enough already.

PS5 Pro: New Features and Upgrades

Another factor where the PS5 Pro has an upper hand is that it can employ AI-based spatial upscaling technology to deliver a smoother and richer gaming experience. This new technology is called the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, or PSSR. With PSSR in its arsenal, the PS5 Pro can use machine learning technology to fill in the missing pixels, thereby increasing the quality and detail of each frame. There is no negative impact of the FPS either. Previously, upscaling on consoles was bottlenecked by the hardware and could only be done to an extent by the software. After looking at the difference, it is easy to notice that it’s rather substantial.

Graphic comparison between PS5 Slim vs Pro (Image via GamingTech/YouTube)

The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 instead of Wi-Fi 6 is a welcome upgrade on the PS5 Pro. This will help increase the quality of the users’ experience in a number of ways. Now, the gamers can enjoy faster download and upload speeds to get games and upload their in-game clips quicker. This will also help in making the network connection more stable, leading to fewer ping fluctuations, packet loss, or disconnections. Of course, that also depends on your own network as well.

PS5 Pro: Better Ray Tracing

With the help of Ray Tracing, graphics cards are able to simulate the way light travels in the real world, in the form of rays, and adapt it to the gameplay of any game that supports ray tracing. This is done by tracing the ray’s path from where it hits a surface and bounces off or refracts. The use of Ray Tracing leads to the game’s graphics feeling more realistic and increases the fidelity.

Better and faster Ray Tracing (Image via: Sony PlayStation)

Though Ray Tracing is available in both consoles, it has been upgraded for the PS5 Pro. Sony claims that the PS5 Pro is able to deliver advanced Ray Tracing, work more intensively, and perform the same function 2-3x faster. So, the PS5 Pro will be capable of creating a more immersive gaming experience while performing faster.

PS5 Pro: Enhanced Games

What makes it more enticing for the gamers to pay the big bucks for the new PS5 Pro is that they can play several of their beloved titles on it. This means that a bunch of games on the PS4 and PS5 will be playable on the PS5 Pro, reaping the benefits of the boost in performance and quality. Besides older titles, you will also be able to enjoy several PS5 Pro enhanced games. 

Below is a table of all the games that are part of the growing group of PS5 Pro enhanced games:

Alan Wake 2AlbatrozApex LegendsAssassin’s Creed Mirage
Baldur’s Gate 3Call of Duty Black Ops 6EA Sports College FootballDead Island 2
Demon’s SoulsDiablo IVDragon Age: The VeilguardDragon’s Dogma 2
Dying Light 2 Reloaded EditionEA Sports FC 25EnlistedF1 24
Final Fantasy VII RebirthFortniteGod of War RagnarökGran Turismo 7 (coming soon)
Hogwarts LegacyHorizon Forbidden WestHorizon Zero Dawn RemasteredKayak VR: Mirage
Lies of PLords of the FallenMadden NFL 25Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man RemasteredMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesNaraka: BladepointNBA 2K25
No Man’s SkyPalworldPaladin’s PassagePlanet Coaster 2
Professional Spirits Baseball 2024-2025Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartResident Evil 4Resident Evil Village
Rise of the RoninRogue FlightStar Wars: Jedi SurvivorStar Wars: Outlaws
Stellar BladeTest Drive Unlimited: Solar CrownThe Callisto ProtocolThe Crew Motorfest
The FinalsThe First DescendantThe Last of Us Part IThe Last of Us Part II Remastered
Until DawnWar ThunderWarframeWorld of Warships: Legends

There is another feature to look out for when considering buying the PS5 Slim or PS5 Pro. With the PS5 Pro, gamers will be able to use a new feature called the ‘PS5 Pro Game Boost’. Using that, not only can they play over 8,500 PS4 games on the new console, they can enjoy improved graphics fidelity, quality, and a more stable performance output.

PS5 Slim vs PS5 Pro: Price

Like other factors, when it comes to deciding whether to go for the PS5 Slim or PS5 Pro, your budget and the price of the console are absolutely crucial to this debate. Whether you are simply planning on getting a new console or upgrading your current one, your budget may very well be the only decisive factor in many cases. This is because there is a considerable gap between the prices of the two consoles.

On one hand, the PS5 Slim is available for purchase at the same quote as the PS5, $499.99. On the other hand, the PS5 Pro weighs in at a whopping $699.99. That is a difference of $200, which is definitely not a small amount. Even when talking about the past, the PS4 Pro was only $50 more expensive than the PS4 at launch. Moreover, the PS5 Pro is a completely digital console, which means that you will have to invest even more money. Going for a vertical stand and disc drive for the Pro means that the effective cost of the console jumps to almost $810. It can easily and understandably be over the budget for a lot of folks who are debilitating between the two consoles.

PS5 Slim vs PS5 Pro Conclusion: Which One Should You Get

Now that you have a lot of details to compare between the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro, let us talk about which one you should get. If you want a budget-friendly console that lets you play all the new games and portability is a factor that is really important to you, the PS5 Slim is definitely a real choice for you. There is plenty this console is capable of. It is powerful enough to let you enjoy all the latest games.

The PS5 Pro has many fantastic upgrades and new features that make buying one a very attractive idea. Squeezing out more performance, faster and better ray tracing, better networking, bigger storage, AI-based upscaling technology, and the Pro Game Boost, who wouldn’t want it all? But it is certainly for the console enthusiasts out there for whom the hefty price of the console is not an issue.

Moreover, without a great TV or monitor with a refresh rate of 60 Hz to 120 Hz as well as higher resolutions like 4K or 8K, we doubt squeezing the PS5 Pro’s worth would be an easy task. What is the point of having the best performance when you can’t even see it in action? Of course, if you are someone who values having the very best console gaming experience and are willing to pay for it, the brand new PS5 Pro is definitely the better choice for you.


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