PS4 Pro Review: The 4K Console to Beat
Our Verdict
The PlayStation four Pro offers 4K gaming and streaming, gorgeous HDR furnishings and a good for you game library with VR support.
For
- Supports 4K gaming and streaming
- HDR compatible
- PS VR uniform
Against
- Tin't play UHD Blu-ray discs
- A tad expensive
Tom's Guide Verdict
The PlayStation 4 Pro offers 4K gaming and streaming, gorgeous HDR effects and a healthy game library with VR support.
Pros
- +
Supports 4K gaming and streaming
- +
HDR compatible
- +
PS VR uniform
Cons
- -
Can't play UHD Blu-ray discs
- -
A tad expensive
While information technology'southward no longer the latest Sony console, the PS4 Pro still has the potential to offer a bully gaming feel. Although good luck finding information technology in stock.
A tuned-up version of the basic PS4, the PS4 Pro'southward headline feature is 4K gaming, just like the current-gen consoles and the rival Xbox One X. It's not quite as powerful every bit the Ane X, but Sony's library of exclusives, many of them offering "PS4 Pro Enhanced" features, will aid you forget all about the TFlop departure.
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The PS4 Pro is still a mighty panel, even though it now stands in the shadow of the PS5. While it'southward merely as difficult to notice as the new PlayStation in some cases, the PS4 Pro arguably offers a meliorate value suggestion since its library is almost identical to the PS5 while withal offering 4K resolution. If you're after a new panel only not bothered about going next-gen just nevertheless, in that location's yet a reason to purchase a PS4 Pro.
PS4 Pro: Cost and availability
PS4 Pro specs
Size: 295×55×327 mm
Weight: 3.three kg
CPU: x86-64 AMD "Jaguar", 8 cores
GPU: iv.xx TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ based graphics engine
RAM: 8GB
Max. resolution: 4K
Storage: 1TB
The PS4 Pro launched in November 2016, meaning it's a ways past its fourth birthday. Its MSRP is $399, which is $100 more the $299 PS4 Slim, virtually $100 cheaper than the standard PS5 and the same every bit the PS5 Digital Edition. Unfortunately you'll likely struggle to observe a PS4 Pro still for sale now retailers have cleared their stocks to make style for the PS5, merely you lot might still find some, even a few with bundled games, if you lot search for them.
PS4 Pro: Design
With the PS4 Pro, Sony has doubled up on the stacked design of the original model. For all intents and purposes, information technology looks like someone cut a PS4 Slim in half and placed one of the halves on acme of another PS4 — similar a techie double-blimp Oreo cookie. That triple-decker design adds a flake of bulk to the PS4 Pro at vii pounds and 15.half dozen 10 xi.6 x 2.6 inches, which is much larger than the original PS4 (6.1 pounds, x.8 ten 12 x ii.ane inches).
Compared to the Xbox 1 X, which stands at 11.8 x 9.4 x 2.4 inches and 8 pounds, the PS4 Pro is lighter, but a piffling larger in all dimensions. Neither panel is particularly dramatic looking, but the triple stack of the PS4 Pro looks a little more interesting than the rectangles of the Xbox.
The PS4 Pro has a pair of USB iii.0 ports along the front with another forth the rear. The back of the console besides holds an HDMI-out port, an optical out, an Ethernet, an Auxiliary and a power port. As far as Wi-Fi, the Pro has been upgraded to 802.eleven ac, which is a big step up from the PS4'south 802.11n and will definitely come in handy for quicker digital downloads.
The PS4 Pro looks similar someone cut a PlayStation Slim in one-half and placed one of the halves on top of a PS4 — like a techie double-stuffed Oreo cookie.
My favorite role of the blueprint is the textured matte black plastic finish. Information technology's a lot more sophisticated than the hodgepodge of glossy and matte materials the original system used. Similar to its predecessor, the Pro can exist positioned vertically or horizontally to save space in your amusement center.
Accented with a single chrome PS keepsake in the center, this panel is more than interested in blending into your living room than drawing attention to itself. That's what the games and apps are for.
PS4 Pro: Controller
The PS4 Pro ships with Sony's DualShock iv controller. Outside of a small-scale LED strip built into the touchpad, there aren't that many glaring differences between the one that comes with the standard PS4 or PS4 Slim. The new controller gets rid of the shiny surface surrounding the D-Pad and confront buttons. The D-Pad buttons are also now a matte gray instead of a shiny black. The device retains the raised texture along the back and sides, which deliver a house, comfortable grip for those extra-long gaming sessions.
PS4 Pro: Specs
Sony didn't reinvent the cycle to enable high dynamic range or 4K, they merely tweaked information technology a little. The Pro has the same AMD processor equally the original PS4. The main divergence is the PS4 Pro'due south CPU has been overclocked to 2.1-GHz, compared with the Slim and PS4's ane.vi-GHz.
The Pro besides features ramped-up retentiveness bandwidth for more efficient performance. As far as the GPU, it still has eight cores, only incorporates many features from AMD's new Polaris architecture, raising the TFLOPs from 1.84 to 4.2, which doubles the Pro'south power, compared with either the Slim or the PS4's power.
All of that piece of work still isn't enough to defeat the Xbox Ane X though. Although the 2 consoles apply near-identical components, the Xbox'south 2.3GHz CPU and half-dozen TFLOP GPU crushes the PS4 Pro. Plus the Xbox's ability to play UHD Blu-ray discs means that ability tin can be put to meliorate use.
PS4 Pro: 4K and HDR
If you don't have a television with high dynamic range (HDR), I highly recommend you make the investment — regardless of the resolution. HDR boosts the effulgence, delivering more range between lights and darks. Combined with the 4K resolution of the 65-inch Samsung KS9000 SUHD 4K TV I tested the console on, I plant it hard to tear my eyes away whether I was gaming or simply watching Netflix.
Rising of the Tomb Raider looked keen in 4K — Lara's brunette mane flowed similar gossamer.
That meant when I watched Cottonmouth fire a rocket into the Genghis Connie'due south restaurant during "Luke Cage," the resulting red, orange, yellow and white plume of fire danced in the dark sky as if revelling in its own beautiful devastation. The mother-of-pearl on the gangster's gun gleamed knowingly, and I could run into every scratch and nick on the well-worn slice. Watching flowers bloom in the "Moving Fine art" documentaries was a fount of lavish pinks, golds, oranges, reds and purples so vivid, I felt equally if I could pluck them from the screen.
And so what'due south it like to actually game in 4K HDR? Right now, information technology'due south a mixed bag. Rise of the Tomb Raider looked great — Lara'south brunette mane flows like gossamer every bit she runs and guns her way to victory. In-game textures were sharp and realistic, especially the waterfalls — which produced fine mists that created subtle rainbows in the lush green hidden valley.
Notwithstanding, newer titles such as Watch Dogs 2 could use a bit more than love. Standing still, the textures expect great — the wear and tear of historic period in a nearby brick wall was impressive, fifty-fifty the places where someone did a slapdash repair. I could even see every knitted detail of my hipsterish fox sweater. Simply when I started running, I noticed a sort of outline actualization effectually my legs as the organization rendered the footing below me. And during driving missions, I noticed definite drops in frame rates.
I'm still puzzled why Sony made the decision not to back up UHD Blu-ray — a feature that the Xbox Ane Southward has
I call up these issues volition be more or less be smoothed out when titles built with native support for 4K and HDR come to market. But for now, it'south something to keep in listen.
While it's definitely absurd that the Pro tin game and stream Netflix and Hulu in 4K, I'thou still puzzled why Sony made the decision not to support UHD Blu-ray — a characteristic that the Xbox Ane X has. When the PS3 debuted dorsum in 2006, the ability to play Blu-ray discs was a defining characteristic that actually helped kill the rival HD-DVD format. Maybe Sony's looking toward streaming every bit the future of media, or it wanted to cutting consumer costs downwardly. Either way, it'southward a noticeable absenteeism.
PS4 Pro: Multiplayer and online
With your PS4 Pro connected to the internet, y'all can open up the panel'south full potential. You can purchase more than games digitally through the PlayStation Store, saving them on your spacious 1TB hard drive, or with a PS Plus subscription, play online multiplayer, get 2 complimentary games a month, cloud storage for your save files and other benefits.
There'due south likewise PS Now, the PlayStation game streaming service which, in return for a $10 monthly subscription, allows yous to play a multifariousness of games from the PS2, PS3 and PS4 libraries. Since it'southward a streaming service, you can also play these games on your PC too, and save your games online so y'all can bandy between devices.
The subscriptions are expensive, 12 months of either costing $60, but it's unfortunately the average rate for these services, with Xbox offering more just for double the price each month, while Nintendo'southward Switch Online is far cheaper but offers fewer goodies.
PS4 Pro: VR
The PS4 Pro is compatible with PlayStation VR, simply there isn't a huge advantage playing with the headset using the Pro console compared to the standard or Slim versions. Although the graphics and text seemed sharper as I blasted my way through hordes of enemy drones in Boxing Zone, it wasn't a substantial leap from using PSVR on a standard PS4. Same goes for PlayStation VR Worlds, which, despite existence a first-party title, didn't deliver much of a notable difference. The frame rates on both titles were smoother, but non enough for me to tell you to purchase the Pro instead of the PS4 to enjoy VR games at their best.
PS4 Pro: Game Library
From 2017, every PlayStation 4 game has been Pro-enabled. That means these titles, identifiable by a "PS4 Pro Enhanced" bluecoat on the box, volition play in 3840 x 2160 and HDR on 4K TVs and could go smoother frame rates on 1080p sets. Sony has patched several older fan favorites, like The Last of Us, Uncharted 4, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of Mordor, and Infamous: First Calorie-free to work in 4K too.
While PS5 titles will not await their all-time on the older console, some will still be available on the PS4 Pro, with a few offering transferrable save games should yous decide to upgrade. It'due south worth checking which games those are in case you lot could afford to relieve money by playing a new release on an older platform.
Nonetheless in terms of titles, you get the same mix of multi-platform and exclusive games that the PS4 gets. If you lot're looking to get into the PlayStation library of games, and then the PS4 Pro is an expensive way to go about it, unless you have the hardware to make the virtually of the 4K enhancements.
PS4 Pro: Interface
The PS4 Pro'south interface is identical to the PS4 and PS Slim. Amid a blue background with white and gray ribbons swirling around, you'll observe tiles for the PlayStation Store, recently played titles, TV and Video, Library, What's New, PlayStation Video and PlayStation Music centrally located. Icons for PlayStation Plus, Notifications, Friends, Settings, Trophies and the time sit merely above the tiles.
The Quick Menu and Share Menus have been overhauled to take up merely a portion of the left side of the screen when launched, so you lot don't have to cease gaming. Overall, it'due south a slick, easy-to-use interface that near gamers can bound right into.
PS4 jailbreaks are at present available, which could open your console up to all manner of homebrew software, but we'd propose you lot avoid this equally it can cause problems.
PS4 Pro: Sharing
PlayStation continues to be the rex of sharing. It's still the simply panel that tin stream to YouTube as well as Twitch. It'south likewise the merely system that tin can share screenshots and video to Facebook and Twitter. Xbox One owners tin only tweet. Some other PS sectional is Share Play, which lets yous cede command of your game for 60 minutes to a friend in another location. This can be a lifesaver when y'all get stuck on a difficult level. Thank you to the Pro's increased performance, Share Play volition now stream in 1080p instead of 720p.
The console's Remote Play feature, which lets you stream your games to a PC or PS Vita, can besides output in 1080p. Not to be outdone, Microsoft recently launched the power to stream Xbox One games to a nearby Windows 10 PC.
PS4 Pro: Upgradability
The PS Pro ships with a 1TB hard drive, which should exist fine for kickoff fourth dimension PS4 owners. Notwithstanding, if yous're like me and already ain a PS4, yous might have already swapped out that smaller drive for something a bit more substantial. You'll retain this power with the Pro as well, although information technology would take been nice if Sony finally allowed gamers to save their games to an external hard drive, like the Xbox One. But c'est la vie.
Similar to the PS4, you can bandy out the included drive for either a 2.five-inch SATA hard drive or an SSD. Whatever you choose, just make sure information technology's 9.five millimeters thick or less. Instead of sliding off the top portion of the PS4, access to the difficult drive is relegated to the back of the organisation. After removing the plastic plate concealing the hard-bulldoze caddy, it's a simple matter of removing a screw, removing the hard drive and installing the new one.
Not ready to swap out the hard drive? You tin can merely transfer your precious gaming data from your old PS4 to the Pro by connecting the two systems with an Ethernet cablevision and follow the prompts when the organization asks if yous want to swap data. But be certain all your game saves and trophies are synced to PlayStation's cloud service — just in case.
PS4 Pro: Bottom Line
Sony has raised the bar for console gamers with a system that can reasonably compete with members of the PC master race. For $399, the PlayStation 4 Pro delivers bona fide 4K gaming with a gorgeous injection of color, thanks to HDR. And when y'all're not gaming, you lot tin watch Netflix and Hulu in 4K. If yous were on the fence about buying that 4K TV, the PS4 Pro makes a strong argument for making the bound.
However, if you're looking for a 4K entertainment hub, the Xbox I X might be your best bet. This also lets you play and stream content in 4K, but too supports UHD Blu-ray — a characteristic the PS Pro lacks. But in the PS4 Pro's defence, yous do get cheaper online services and arguably a better library of exclusive games.
Overall, this PlayStation 4 Pro review shows that the panel is the ane to buy if yous have a 4K HDR TV and want to take your panel gaming to the adjacent level, at least if y'all're content to ignore the newer kids on the block: the PS5 and the Xbox Series X.
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Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/ps4-pro,review-4036.html
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