PS4 Pro review

The PS4 Pro was Sony’s most powerful console before the launch of the PS5, but even then, it doesn’t take away from the fact the Pro is still a significant bit of gaming kit. Its slick design and 4K capabilities mean it still performs incredibly well, even when compared to its next-gen equivalent.

Now that the PS4 Pro has been discontinued finding a brand-new one may pose a challenge. Luckily, a pre-owned one isn’t out of the question, and there’s always a chance you may find a decent standard PS4 bundle, but if you’re looking for the latest specs and gaming experience, looking for PS5 bundles may be a better alternative than just a PS4 pro.

Our review of the PlayStation 4 Pro below details everything you need to know about Sony’s 2016 mid-generation upgrade. We've covered the specs, outlined the capabilities and listed some of the games that are great to play. There are other important things to mention too, like whether you should grab a PSVR headset to go along with the PS4 Pro.

The PS4 Pro has the same impressive back catalogue of titles as the standard PS4. The titles released for the PS4 Pro will continue to work on the original console (as well as the PS4 Slim). While the PS Now service is now defunct, you can still get a wide library of games with a PS Plus Extra or PS Plus Premium subscription.

The big question is: should I get a PS4 Pro? That largely depends on what kind of TV you own, and what kind of console you have at the moment. If you don't yet have a PS4 console, then the PS4 Pro gives you 4K capabilities (on some titles) and extra power over the PS4 Slim, in return for paying a bit more money.

You should also note that Sony's PS4 Pro system has a few deficiencies in the home entertainment department: particularly in not having an Ultra HD Blu-ray player installed. If that's important to you, you might need to look elsewhere. Keep reading for our full review of the PS4 Pro.

PS4 Pro: FAQ

PS4 Pro: design

• Slightly bigger than standard PS4
• Additional 3.1 USB port on the rear
• Upgraded Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

We wouldn't say the PS4 Pro's design is a complete copy of the original PS4's, there are a lot of similarities – the first being the decision to keep the console a flat parallelogram.

When Sony first unveiled the PS4 Pro, there were jokes that the system felt like two PS4s stacked on top of one another, but the second you pull the system from the box that observation becomes less of a joke and more a fair observation.

Compared to the original PS4's 27.5 x 30 x 5.3 cm package, the PS4 Pro takes up a bit more shelf space at 29.5 x 32.7 x 5.5 cm (W x L x H). It's both a little wider and a little taller than the original PS4, and a fair bit heavier, too (though unless you carry your console around a lot, that's unlikely to matter).

The system is encased in a matte black shell, similar to the one used on the PS4 Slim released in September 2016. However, this time around you won't find rounded corners along the edges – the PlayStation 4 Pro is sharp in every sense of the word.

Another design difference is the silver PlayStation logo that sits in the center of the top surface, adding a nice touch of elegance. The PS4 Pro also uses a bulkier female connector on its power cable to draw more power, instead of the generic two-prong cable Sony has traditionally supplied with every PS4. 

On the front of the console, you might notice that there are no touch-capacitive buttons: Sony has decided to ditch the accident-prone pads for more traditional plastic buttons, but they do the job just the same.

Next, let's talk inputs and outputs. You've got two Superspeed USB 3.1 ports on the front of the PS4 Pro and one on the back, used for syncing and charging controllers, as well as connecting your brand new PlayStation VR, should you buy one. HDMI 2.0a, Ethernet, optical audio and PlayStation Camera ports line up along the back next to the power connector.

You won't find an HDMI input port here like you would on the Xbox One, but Sony's workaround to its cable conundrum, PlayStation Vue, is an arguably effective one.

One final point here: while the exterior is nice, Sony has spent more time working on the inside of the console. Inside is a larger 1TB hard drive, which is 500GB more than you'll find on the original PS4 or the base model of the PS4 Slim. There's also an improved Wi-Fi antenna that uses dual-band 802.11ac wireless and Bluetooth 4.0 instead of 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1.

While the swapping out of a Wi-Fi antenna may not seem like a big deal, it helps the PS4 Pro download games faster: a 160MB game (Pac-Man 256) downloaded in under a minute on a 15Mbps connection, something that should have always been the case but wasn't on the original PS4.

PS4 Pro: controller

• Minor changes made
• Can be used in wired or wireless modes
• Light bar added to the front

A new system needs a new PS4 controller, and Sony obliges here – the controller that ships with the new PS4 Pro is the same one that will also ship with all PlayStation 4 Slim systems going forward. 

It is, essentially, a very small iteration on the DualShock 4 controller you've probably been using for years. There's now a light bar built into the touchpad – a nice feature when you don’t want to turn the controller over in your hand to find out what player you are – but more importantly the triggers have been tweaked and it feels a bit lighter in the hand. 

Plus, as we pointed out in the PlayStation 4 Slim review, the controller can also switch seamlessly between Bluetooth and wired mode when it's connected to the system via USB cable. While that might not sound like a huge addition, for a pro gamer it can mean the difference between a win (and a pot of esports prize money) or a loss.

• The best PS4 Pro games: push your console to its 4K HDR limits