September, Sony announces PlayStation 5 Pro and its price of $700. The reaction online was immediately negative. Many people are confused by the high price and Don’t believe Sony’s original video Game upgrades are like spider man 2 It’s worth it. After trying out the PS5 Pro for a week ahead of its release on November 7, I’m impressed with what it has to offer, but hesitant to recommend that everyone pick one up.
However, for some, the PS5 Pro will be a worthwhile upgrade. The question is: are you one of those potential users who cares about what the PS5 Pro has to offer? Let’s take a look! I’ll ask some questions and we’ll determine whether you should buy a PS5 Pro. I’m here to help, so please answer truthfully and we’ll figure this out together.
Do you have a 120hz 4K TV?
The PS5 technically supports 120 FPS video games, but in reality, most games can only manage 60 FPS on the base console. If this bothers you and you want more opportunities to play 120 FPS games, the PS5 Pro has you covered. But you need a 120hz TV to actually play games at 120 FPS. Likewise, PS5 Pro can run many games at 4K for sharper images thanks to its artificial intelligence upscaling technology called PSSR. But if your TV is only 1080p, you won’t really be able to enjoy the beautifully upscaled 4K image.
I have a large 4K 120hz TV with variable refresh rate (VRR), which ensures that games are generally smooth as my TV adjusts to the game’s frame rate and all the bells and whistles. I bought it a few years ago during a really good Black Friday sale. So I was able to fully enjoy all the features and improvements of the PS5 Pro. If you don’t have such a TV, or you’re not even sure if it supports 4K or 120hz, then you probably don’t need a PS5 Pro.
Do you care about ray tracing?
One of the PS5 Pro’s big selling points is the ability to play games at higher frame rates without sacrificing all the visual features you get from the 30 FPS fidelity mode. For many games, this means being able to run at 60 FPS while still having ray traced reflections or lighting. This can make games look more realistic and better than screen space reflections, which tend to look messy and ugly, especially at too close distances.
Spider-Man: Miles MoraleFor example, when running at 60 FPS on PS5 Pro, S looks incredible, with high-resolution reflections on skyscrapers making it look almost lifelike. Alan Wake 2Reflections in Pro look stunning on Pro, even though the game is capped at 30 FPS. If you don’t care about enhanced reflections and more accurate-looking shiny surfaces, many of the PS5 Pro’s more subtle improvements, such as increased draw distance in some games, may not matter to you either. So you probably don’t need to buy a PS5 Pro.
Do you prefer fidelity mode to performance mode?
When I start a new game, the first thing I do is jump into the settings to see what I can adjust. Can I increase the frame rate of my game? Is there an option to turn motion blur on or off? Is there a way to make it look prettier or work better? So, for someone like me who is obsessed with visuals and performance, the PS5 Pro brings me a lot of fun. Most ProPlus games offer a variety of graphics options and performance tweaks, allowing me to enjoy the game the way I want.
If you’re someone who launches a game and never checks settings unless something goes wrong or annoys you, then the PS5 Pro may not be for you. PS5 Pro is a console built for those who tinker with HDR settings, care about FOV, and switch between different performance options to see what they like better. If this sounds annoying or tiring, then you’re probably not the type to spend more than $700 on a PS5 Pro.
Already own a PS5?
If you already own a PS5 or recently purchased one, upgrading may not be your top priority. However, if you don’t have a PS5 yet and are looking to play current-gen games, you may be wondering whether the PS5 Pro is the best option. You might think it’s the most powerful console on the market, and the best version of the PS5 makes it a pre-purchased device. But, as I said above, the PS5 Pro isn’t for everyone.
If you just want to enjoy PS5 exclusive games, e.g. Spider-Man 2, Horizon: Forbidden West, Silent Hill 2, As well as a bunch of other games (and you don’t have a PC that can run them), a standard PlayStation 5 will get the job done. Games still look great on the console, and most offer solid performance modes as well. The only reason you should consider buying a PS5 Pro as your first PS5 console is if you already own a high-end TV and care about features like VRR, 4K output, and 120 FPS options. Otherwise, just buy the base PS5 this holiday season and enjoy it.
So, who is the PS5 Pro for?
The PlayStation 5 Pro is for the most attentive gamer. This player already owns or plans to buy a high-quality 4K/120hz TV. They’ve invested heavily in the PlayStation ecosystem and have a range of PS5 games that can be played on PS5 Pro. They are the type of people who care about in-game settings and visual options, and are excited about the various graphical settings each game offers. You need to be able to tell the difference between a game running at 30 FPS versus 60 or 120 FPS. Not only should you know what ray tracing is, but you should be excited to enable it if possible.
In other words, you need to be an audio and video enthusiast to truly enjoy PS5 Pro.
I love playing the console Sony gave me last week because I’m the person this $700 super console was designed for. But I don’t believe most people should buy a PS5 Pro. That’s not to say the Pro is worthless or a bad idea.
While some people online scoff at the idea of a more powerful PS5, I think Sony’s plans make sense. Confirmed Sony’s own dataplayers generally prefer performance mode over fidelity mode in most games. Therefore, building a console that focuses on allowing players to enjoy smooth frame rates without sacrificing beautiful visuals or high resolution is a smart strategy.
The challenge for Sony is that many people are satisfied with their base PS5 and the options it offers. After spending a week with them PS5 ProI confidently say that this is indeed for the detail-oriented gamer who is willing to spend $700 to make an already beautiful game look even better on their big 120hz TV. That might not be you, but that’s okay because you won’t miss anything you care about anyway.
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