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PS5 Pro: Power Up or Price Gouge?
21 Oct
Summary
- PS5 Pro doubles in price on the used market.
- Pro offers better ray tracing and AI upscaling.
- The Pro lacks a disc drive, unlike the Slim.
The PlayStation 5 Pro, officially priced at $899, is proving elusive at retail and is being resold for significantly higher amounts, often between $1,200 and $1,700. This premium price point for the enhanced console is under scrutiny when compared to its less powerful counterparts or even gaming laptops.
The PS5 Pro offers distinct advantages over the base PS5 models, including improved ray tracing capabilities for more realistic lighting and reflections, though these enhancements are game-dependent. It also introduces PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), an AI-based upscaling technology designed to deliver sharper 4K visuals and potentially higher frame rates in optimized titles.
However, the benefits are not universal, with only a limited number of games receiving the 'PS5 Pro Enhanced' status. Furthermore, the PS5 Pro comes without a built-in disc drive, unlike the PS5 Slim, necessitating an extra $79.99 purchase for physical game support, pushing the total cost even higher.
Storage is a clear win for the Pro, featuring a 2TB SSD compared to the Slim's 1TB and the original's 825GB. It also supports the newer Wi-Fi 7 standard, offering faster wireless connectivity. Despite these upgrades, the exorbitant resale prices make a compelling case against the PS5 Pro for many consumers.
