Introduction
Over a year has passed since Sony launched the PlayStation 5 Pro, and now that the excitement surrounding it has dissipated, let’s talk about the real deal. When it first came out in late 2024, many were taken aback by the hefty price point of $700, so they said, over a cup of coffee. They asked, “Do we really need this?”
Fast forward to early 2026, and it’s a much more relevant conversation. Not only is Grand Theft Auto 6 steadily approaching its November release, but a title like Ghost of Yōtei is straining the limits of even the current PS5.
I’ve spent the past six months digging deep into games on the PS5 Pro, putting the “mature” version of the PSSR upscale to the test, revisiting games like *Monster Hunter Wilds*, and sweating through benchmarks to optimize performance. Is it a necessity for true gaming enthusiasts or simply another overpriced paperweight?
And here is the definitive version for 2026
Table of Contents
PS5 Pro Overview
The PS5 Pro is here to finally resolve the old tug-of-war between performance and fidelity. For quite a long time, console gamers have chosen between a reliable 60 FPS with softer visuals or crystal-clear 4K at a stuttering 30 FPS.
The Pro finally cracks this problem by providing 4K visuals with a silky-smooth 60 FPS courtesy of AI upscaling.
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Design & Build Quality
If you thought the previous model PS5 was mammoth in size, the Pro doesn’t exactly cut down on the dimensions; it’s like the PS5 Slim went to the gym and came back swinging.
The Look: Beyond its paint, it retains those signature “racing stripe” vents, those three black strips crossing the mid-plates. It looks bold, aggressive, and unmistakable.
The Disc Drive Issue: Even for 2026, it is annoying how a ‘Pro’ edition console is only available digitally. You still need to purchase the separate disc drive for about $80, which is just an additional tax on collectors.
Ports: Dual USB-C ports are located on the front panel; the back panel contains standard HDMI 2.1 ports. The good news: It has Wi-Fi 7, which has really been a blessing for downloading those 150GB patches.
Hardware Specs
But beneath the surface, this is no ordinary overclock.
GPU: 67% more Compute Units compared to the standard PS5, delivering rendering speeds of up to 45% faster performance.
AI Hardware: A custom-designed NPU Neural Processing Unit dedicated to PSSR PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.
Storage: It comes standard with a 2TB SSD. At last, room enough to keep Call of Duty and Warzone installed at the same time; no need to raid your wedding photos for space.
Performance Benchmarks
The trick, which is not immediately obvious, is PSSR. You can liken this to something like NVIDIA’s DLSS, which takes a lower resolution source frame (e.g., 1440p) and, with the help of some artificial intelligence, upscales it to a sharp 4K.
| Game Title | Base PS5 Performance | PS5 Pro Performance |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | 1080p / 45-50 FPS (Unstable) | 4K (PSSR) / Locked 60 FPS |
| Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | 1440p / 60 FPS (Blurry) | 4K (PSSR) / 60 FPS (Crisp) |
| Alan Wake 2 | 30 FPS (Fidelity Mode) | 60 FPS (Ray Tracing Mode) |
| Gran Turismo 7 | 4K / 60 FPS (No RT in race) | 4K / 60 FPS + Real-Time Ray Tracing |
FPS & 4K Gaming Test
We also tried out the “Pro Enhanced” patches for some of 2025’s biggest blockbuster titles
The blur is off: on the regular PS5, Performance Mode can render the picture blurry and jaggy. On the Pro, PSSR makes the picture look almost exactly like native 4K.
120Hz modes: when playing fast-paced shooter games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the Pro remains locked at 120 FPS at 1440p, while the standard PS5 drops frame rates to the 90s when explosions are happening on screen.
Ray Tracing Improvements
This is a major jump forward. The Pro’s GPU brings a dramatically upgraded ray tracing setup. For one, in Hogwarts Legacy, marble floors reflect with real clarity-no graininess. In Spider-Man 2, you actually see the city reflected in window panes as you swing, all at 60 FPS. It adds depth beyond what the base console can sustain, which would typically dip to 30 FPS.
Loading Speed Test
Boot Time matches the standard PS5 at about 18 seconds.
Speed-wise, the SSD’s theoretical speed will remain the same during In-Game Load, though the enhanced CPU will enable slightly Improved decompression speed. When it comes to open-world games such as Cyberpunk 2077, fast traveling may be 1-2 seconds faster. Not extremely fast, but certainly noticeable.
Heat & Noise Levels
Sony learned from those noisy days of the PS4 Pro era, which were similar to those of the
Noise: surprisingly quiet. Even under full-force Ray Tracing computing, you can barely hear it unless you press your ear next to it.
Heat: it runs warm. The rear exhaust vents a lot of heat, so please do not place it in a closed cabinet.
PS5 vs PS5 Pro Comparison
| Feature | PlayStation 5 (Slim) | PlayStation 5 Pro |
| Target Resolution | Dynamic 1440p-4K | AI-Upscaled 4K (PSSR) |
| Ray Tracing | Limited (usually 30 FPS) | Advanced (often at 60 FPS) |
| Storage | 1TB SSD | 2TB SSD |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Price | $499 | **$699** |
Pros & Cons
Pros:
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PSSR is Magic: The clarity of the images is a huge improvement over traditional FSR image upscaling.
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2TB Storage: This is a requirement for the size of the modern game library.
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Future Proof: This is the only way to play future games such as GTA 6 at a high level of fidelity.
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Wi-Fi 7: This is future-proofing your internet speed.
Cons:
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The Price: sets at $700, which is steep, especially when there is no disc drive attached.
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Disc Drive Sold Separately: It costs an extra $80 to have a disc drive if the user wants to have media
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Vertical Stand Not Included: Yes, even the stand itself, which is an additional $30.
Final Buying Verdict
Here’s the real deal for 2026.
Don’t bother if: You’re playing on a 1080p screen or are a casual gamer that plays FC 26 and Fortnite an hour or so a week. The original PS5 is still awesome for that.
Consider it if: you’ve got a 4K OLED TV and care about picture quality. If “blurry 60 FPS” or “choppy 30 FPS” makes you go nuts, the PS5 Pro has you covered.
The GTA 6 factor: with Rockstar’s new game landing later in the year, the timing is not in their favor come its official release (remember GTA V on the PS3?). For the most streamlined experience of Vice City come November, the PS5 Pro is the must-have model if you’re a fan of the series.
Overall rating: 8.5/10 – a truly excellent piece of hardware, marred only by its high cost.
FAQs
1. Yes, the PS5 Pro improves PS5 games without any patch needed.
When playing with Game Boost enabled, the PS5 Pro stabilizes frame rates for older games. Games that used to struggle now run smoothly at a consistent 60 FPS, such as Elden Ring, without any official patch needed for the PS5 Pro.
2. Is the disc drive from Slim playable in Pro?
Yes. If you own the detachable disc drive from the PS5 Slim, you can directly attach it to the PS5 Pro.
3. Will GTA 6 run at 60 FPS on PS5 Pro?
While Rockstar has stated nothing about this feature, in consideration of its CPU and PSSR technology, this console has a better potential for delivering 60 FPS performance compared to other consoles, which might remain at 30 FPS only for GTA 6.
External Authoritative Sources
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Digital Foundry YouTube Channel – For the deep technical breakdown of PSSR.
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PlayStation Official Pro Site – For the official specs and purchase links.
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Rtings.com TV Reviews – Reference for the best displays to pair with the console.
