PS4 and PS4 Pro are great Sony gaming consoles. So it’s clear why most PlayStation enthusiasts have a hard time picking sides.
But then, one thing is clear; the PS4 Pro is an upgrade on the older but resilient PlayStation 4. So consequently, the Pro version would offer better gaming performance than the original or older PS4.
In this post, we’ll consider the differences between the PS4 and PS4 Pro in detail. Keep reading!
The Sony Playstation 4 Gaming Consoles – A Brief Introduction
The introduction of the various generations of PlayStation consoles into the gaming world thus far, it’s a clear indication that Sony has all under control. Their graphical quality, gameplay, and performances have always turned heads.
Developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the PS4 was launched in November 2013, in South America, Europe, North America, and Australia. It was then launched in Japan in February 2014.
The PlayStation 4 succeeded the PlayStation 3. Furthermore, it was also the 4th bestselling video game consoles in history. Its competitors are the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and the Microsoft Xbox One.
You can download PS4 games digitally via the PlayStation Store. They’re also retailed on Blu-Ray Disc. PS4 games don’t work on older consoles, such as PS3 and PS2.
As of the time of writing, there’re four PS4 consoles; the original PS4, PS4 Slim, PS4 Pro, and PS5. The PS4 Slim is just a slimmer version of the original PS4. But the PS4 Pro is an upgraded console. You’ll find that it’s a bit different from the original PS4.
The Slim and PS4 Pro was announced on September 7, 2016.
Now let’s look at differences between the original PS4 and PS4 Pro, with the latter being an upgraded version, by a reasonably wide margin.
Price Point – PS4 and PS4 Pro
The first angle of comparison is the cost of both gaming consoles. The PS4 Pro is an upgrade on the PS4, so we don’t expect both consoles to bear the same price tag.
You can buy the original PS4 for as low as $299 in the USA, while the Pro version’s price starts at $399 and could go higher.
Note – Although the price of PS4 consoles can change at any time, the original model will always be cheaper than the Pro version, given the extra power the Pro has.
Appearance – PS4 and PS4 Pro
The appearance is one of the apparent differences between the original PS4 and the Pro version. The Pro version is sleek and slightly bigger than the original PS4.
Now let’s get to the specifics. The original PS4’s measurement is 275.1 x 305.1 x 53.1 mm. The Pro version measures 295 x 327 x 55 mm. So you can see that the Pro version is wider and deeper than the original PS4 by 2 cm each.
Besides the difference in size, the original PS4 and Pro versions differ in the number of layers they both have. The original PS4 boasts two layers, separated by a line while the Pro version has three layers.
The Optical Drive – PS4 vs. PS4 Pro
The optical drive is a high-end disc drive. This specification isn’t present on the original PS4. There was speculation that the PS4 Pro will have an optical drive. But that didn’t happen.
The Pro version doesn’t have an Ultra HD Blu-ray player. It still plays Full HD 1080p Blu-ray type of discs, just as the PS4 original version.
Finding this optical drive on the PS4 Pro would have made sense, given that the Microsoft Xbox One already has it. But since it wasn’t part of the PS4 Pro’s specification, let’s assume Sony is saving it for another PlayStation version.
4K TV Performance – PS4 vs. PS4 Pro
If you have a 4K TV and the budget, buying a PS4 Pro sounds more attractive. PS4 Pro supports 4K (2160p), thanks to increased processor speed. But the original PS4’s maximum resolution is the Full HD 1080p.
So, even if you play an original PS4 in a 4K TV, you’ll only get the 1080p resolution.
Again, both consoles support HDR. Unfortunately, the Pro doesn’t support 4K UHD Blu-rays. The implication is that it can’t play physical 4K media.
1080 TV Performance – PS4 vs. PS4 Pro
The PS4 Pro’s graphics is stunning when played on a 4K TV. But how many people can afford the 4K screen, particularly after buying such an expensive video game, the Pro? Not everyone.
The good thing is that both PS4 versions support the Full HD 1080p resolutions. However, what sets the Pro version apart is that graphical quality gets boosted when played on a 1080p screen.
So the difference in graphics is notable. The PS4 Pro delivers better graphics than the original version on a 1080p screen.
The PlayStation VR – PS4 vs. PS4 Pro
Compare the PS4 and Pro’s VR. You’ll find that the latter is a bit sharper in some video games. The reason is that most developers have perfected the super-sampling techniques.
As a result, they can render games in such high resolution that enhance details. The super-sampling techniques help to take away jaggy edges from video games.
But we can’t just sit there and use the PlayStation VR as a difference between the original PS4 and Pro version. That’s because the difference in PlayStation VR for both gaming consoles is too slight to be considered a difference.
Internal Specifications – PS4 vs. PS4 Pro
The internals is another area where you can identify notable differences between the original PS4 and Pro version.
Let’s start with the hard disk drive. Both have a replaceable hard drive, but the PS4 Pro boasts a 1TB hard disc. The original PS4 has 500GB of storage space.
So you can see that the PS4 Pro had a significant upgrade in the storage space department. This huge storage space means you can download more games and add-ons on your PS4 Pro. Isn’t that interesting? You can even move games from your PS4 to your storage device too.
Another notable difference is the GPU. While the original PS4’s integrated AMD graphics is pegged at 800MHz, the Pro has been upgraded to 911MHz.
The GPU also leaped from the original PS4’s 1.84 teraflops of performance to 4.2 teraflops of performance in the PS4 Pro. All these are to enable the smooth running of the 4K functionality.
The PS4 Pro also got some significant upgrades on its USB port department. First, it boasts 3 USB ports, as against the 2 USB ports in the original PS4. Furthermore, the PS4 Pro came with USB 3.1, while the original PS4 version boasts USB 3.0.
The USB 3.1 is twice as fast as the 3.0. So you can understand how significant this upgrade is.
In the area of networking, the PS4 Pro enjoyed a significant upgrade. While the original PS4 has Bluetooth 2.1, the Pro version is impressing avid gamers with its Bluetooth 4.0.
The Pro’s Bluetooth upgrade to 4.0 is a wise addition to this gaming console. It offers improved wireless audio performance and increased power-efficiency.
The RAM is another feature that separates the PS4 Pro from the original PS4. The Pro version boasts an 8GB GDDR5 + 1GB DDR3, while the original PS4 has an 8GB GDDR5 RAM.
So you can see that the PS4 Pro has an additional 1GB RAM. This DDR3 RAM can be used for your non-gaming applications to allow the gaming GDDR5 RAM to improve gaming performance.
On the Wi-Fi department, the PS4 Pro supports 2.4GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, which is very much faster than the original version’s 2.4GHz. You’ll also find this incredible Wi-Fi upgrade enjoyable if you possess a router that can utilize it.
Weight – PS4 vs. PS4 Pro
The next area of comparison is the weight of both consoles. It’s crucial, particularly for those that will be moving their video games around.
Looking at the PS4 Pro, you can tell that it weighs more than the original PS4. It has three layers instead of two, which the original PS4 has.
The PS4 Pro weighs 7.2 pounds while the original PS4, on the other hand, weighs 6.2 pounds. The difference in weight between both consoles is 1 pound.
Conclusion – What PS4 Console Should You Get?
Now that you know the differences between the original PS4 and Pro version making a choice shouldn’t be that difficult or confusing to you any longer.
The PS4 Pro is a step up from the original PS4. But the upgrade isn’t that much of a generational leap that avid gamers are expecting.
The PS4 Pro is more on the expensive side. It cost more than the original PS4 console. But if you have the budget, the Pro isn’t a bad idea.
The Pro boasts a faster GPU, though both consoles have a similar CPU. Overall, the upgrade on the PS4 Pro’s internals helps in delivering better gaming performance.
The Pro supports 4K screens, which is also one of the exciting features of the video game. If you have a 4K television, you can consider upgrading your old PS4 to the PS4 Pro. But if you don’t have a 4K TV and have no plans of buying one soon, there’s no point ditching your old PS4 for the Pro version.
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