The PlayStation 5 (PS5) and PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4) are some of the most sought-after consoles for gamers to take advantage in the gaming market. Despite being from different generations, both PS5 and PS4 Pro offer their pros and cons. While Sony’s new console can be found in two different models, with a disc player for $499 and another digital-only one for $399, their stocks are limited. The PS4 Pro, on the other hand, can be purchased more easily but is priced at $494, even though it is from the old generation. Check out, below, a little more about the two consoles.
PlayStation 5 vs PlayStation 4 Pro Datasheet
| PlayStation 5 | PlayStation 4 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | November 12th, 2020 | November 10th, 2016 |
| Price | 399 (digital), $499 (Disc) | $494 |
| CPU | AMD Zen 2 at 3.5 GHz | AMD Jaguar at 2.1GHz |
| GPU | AMD RDNA 2 itself at 2.23 GHz (variable) | AMD Radeon 36 UCs at 911 MHz |
| Computational performance | 10.28 teraflops | 4.2 teraflops |
| Storage | 825 GB SDD | 1TB to 2TB |
| RAM | 16GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR5 + 1GB extra |
| Disc player | Blu-Ray UHD (digital edition does not have) | Blu-Ray |
| Ports and interface | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB-C, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 | 3x USB 3.1, 1xGigabit Ethernet, 1x PS Camera, Optical Audio Out, HDMI 2.0 |
| Dimensions and weight | 390 x 260 x 104 mm; 4.5 kg | 327 x 295 x 55 mm; 3.3 kg |
Design
The look of the PlayStation 4 Pro is not very different from the PS4 model. The only visible difference is in the body of the device, which is divided into three parts instead of the two parts of the original model. The Pro can also be stood upright, via a separately sold stand, but the weight and size of the console make it look a bit awkward.
The design of the PlayStation 5 was the subject of much debate and jokes on the Internet when it was first announced. It is a large and heavy console, measuring 390 x 260 x 104 mm and weighing 4.5 kg, the device is much larger than the PS4, which measures 327 x 295 x 55 mm and weighs 3.3 kg.
This size difference, however, has a purpose. The PlayStation 5 is designed to be quieter than the standard PlayStation 4 and its Pro model. Sony’s previous-generation console was known for its noisy cooler whenever it ran heavy games, something that the PS5 tries to avoid with a large heatsink, cooler and extra cooling space.
Specifications
The PlayStation 5 is a generation ahead of the PlayStation 4 Pro, and thanks to backward compatibility, it can run virtually every game available on the previous device. Sony’s new console also offers a video card with support for Ray Tracing lighting technology, a new feature that the PS4 Pro does not have.
The processor of the PS4 Pro is the same as the standard PS4, but faster, an AMD Jaguar accompanied by a Radeon graphics card with 36 processing units to generate images even in 4K. The PS5 has its processor based on AMD Zen 2 with a video card inspired by AMD’s RDNA 2, which results in a higher quality image than the old model.
Storage
When it comes to storage, the PS5 offers its own 825 GB SSD that has great data read and write speeds. However, if the user wants to upgrade it, it is more expensive to expand its capacity. Users can use external hard drives to store games, including PS4 games, but if they want to enjoy the titles with faster loadings, they will need to install them on the SSD in the console.
The PS4 Pro comes standard with 1TB of storage, but there are also options with 2TB. This is a normal HDD, so users can easily expand their storage with external hard drives. Check out our guide on how to do it and which hard drives are compatible with Sony’s console.
Available games
The PlayStation 5 can run almost all PS4 games through backward compatibility, with better performance in some cases. This includes a good number of high-quality and critically acclaimed exclusive games such as God of War, The Last of Us Part 2, Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghost of Tsushima, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and many others.
At the launch of the PlayStation 5 and in its initial months, some games exclusive to Sony’s new generation were released, such as the remake of Demon’s Souls and Returnal. However, the company has revealed that some upcoming titles will be released on both PS5 and PS4, these are Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Sackboy: A Big Aventure, Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, and God of War: Ragnarok.
Price and availability
The PlayStation 4 Pro is a deluxe edition of the standard PS4 for gamers who want to play their games with the best possible performance, in 4K and at a frame rate of 60 FPS. For this reason, it is a rather expensive product and may be available in the national market for a high price, it can be seen on Amazon $494. In other words, it costs almost as much as the PlayStation 5, a console with more innovations for the user.
Although the PS5 is much more advantageous in theory, in practice it may be difficult to find it in stock. The console has had difficulty keeping its production at the level of demand due to the shortage of electronic chips during the pandemic. This has also caused high prices in parallel markets, where the PS5 can sell well above Sony’s prices of $499 (disc edition) and $399 (digital edition). The PS4 Pro can then become a good option to not be left without playing Sony’s exclusives with the best possible performance.
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