PS4 Pro vs PS4: Which PlayStation console is right for you. What is the best ps4 console

The Switch will likely receive support longer than PS4; just remember that it’s not that powerful. As a result, cross-platform games like Doom Eternal and Overwatch are not as smooth on the Switch.

Is It Still Worth Buying a PS4 in 2021?

PS4 launched in 2013 and was a huge success. But is the PS4 still worth buying in 2021? Here’s what to consider.

image Credit: George Dolgikh / Shutterstock

While PlayStation 5 is Sony’s newest console, PlayStation 4 is still on the market, at least as a used system. The question is, should you buy a PS4 in late 2021?

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why purchasing a PS4 may still be profitable for you, along with some cautions about buying a console this late.

PS4 and PS5 Pricing in 2021

It’s hard to put a precise price on the PS4 at the moment as the console is mostly sold used and in bundles. Overall, however, the manufacturer’s price tag for the PS4 Slim is $ 300, while the PS4 Pro is $ 400.

The main difference between them is that the PS4 Pro can play games in 4K resolution due to the more powerful hardware. Unfortunately, Sony did not lower the suggested price of any system after the launch of the PS5.

On the other hand, the PS5 Digital Edition (without a disc drive) costs $ 400, while the standard PS5 costs $ 500. Prices aside, there are still reasons to consider a PS4 if you can’t find a PS5 (or just don’t want to go the next generation yet).

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process to break through the noise and find the best products in that space. Guided by the experts, we spend hours analyzing the relevant factors to present these choices.

PS4 Pro vs PS4 – Dimensions

The graphics processing unit (GPU) in the PS4 Pro – this is the element that generates 3D graphics in games – is slightly more than twice as powerful as in the PS4. Sony has also upgraded the processor that handles things like physics and artificial intelligence in games.

Sony says the new PS4 Pro can run at 4.2 teraflops, compared to 1.84 teraflops on the original PS4 – teraflops are a simple measure of computer performance, a bit like power in cars. A little later we will find out how this power is used.

Also, while the PS4 Pro has the same amount of memory as the original PS4 – 8GB GDDR5 – it runs at a higher speed to improve performance. The PS4 Pro also comes with an additional 1GB of memory for non-gaming apps like Netflix. This means they won’t waste any space your games can use, and it means you can switch between apps faster.

Here are the PS4 Pro specs compared to the original and “Slim” for PS4:

PS4 (2013)	PS4 (2016)	PS4 Pro
Processor	aMD Jaguar 8-core 1.6 GHz	aMD Jaguar 8-core 1.6 GHz	aMD Jaguar 8-core 2.1 GHz
GPU	1.84 TFLOP AMD Radeon	1.84 TFLOP AMD Radeon	4.2 TFLOP AMD Radeon
Memory	8 GB of GDDR5 memory	8 GB of GDDR5 memory	8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 1 GB
HDR	Yes	Yes	Yes
4K	No	No	Yes
Storage	500 GB	500 GB and 1 TB	1TB
USB	2x USB 3.0	2x USB 3.1	3x USB 3.1
Wi-Fi	wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n (2.4 GHz only)	wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz)	wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 2.1	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0

PS4 Pro vs PS4 Graphics Comparison

It depends on the game. Developers can use this extra power for whatever they want, within reason. Most will increase the resolution – the number of pixels making up an image – of their games, making them sharper on 4K TVs, but that’s not all.

Developers can also use the PS4 Pro’s more powerful GPU to improve the quality of the textures and lighting effects, leading to more realistic graphics and smoother performance with fewer slowdowns. The only request from Sony is that the games have to play as well on the PS4 Pro as they do on the PS4 and vice versa.

But watch out for YouTube videos that compare the two. Unless you’re watching 4K movies on a 4K TV, it’s really hard to tell the difference. In this case, still images are often the best comparison. Look carefully at the examples below:

Related: Latest PS5 News and Gossip
Here’s a shot of the demo running on PS4.

And now the same demo running on PS4 Pro.

The most obvious difference is the lighting. “Divine rays” give the scene a new dynamism, illuminating the rocks and enhancing the contrast of the scene.

Leaves are another benefit. There is a lot of extra green like extra plants, grass and vines. The PS4 version has simpler, flatter textures that don’t add much.

PS4 Pro isn’t just about making things look sharper. More power allows developers to render more in-game items, which helps create worlds full of more interesting detail.

Ben is the editor-in-chief of MakeUseOf. He quit his job in IT to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. Has been involved in tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more for over seven years.

PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Understanding 4K and HDR on PlayStation

PlayStation 4 Pro also offers 4K video streaming and enhanced graphics on supported titles. Game developers can provide PS4 Pro players with better graphics, clearly marked on the PS4 Pro Enhanced box.

When it comes to HDR support, while all these consoles are technically capable of displaying HDR visuals thanks to a software update from Sony, the HDR content offered by almost every application and game is for nothing but the Pro. HDR is usually tied to 4K content or PS4 Enhanced Content, neither of which will play on these older consoles.

Category	PS4 Slim (2016)	PS4 Pro
HDR output	Yes (via update)	Yes
4K streaming	No	Yes
Remote	720p	1080p
Share the game	720p	1080p

What about the PS5?

source: Jennifer Locke / Android Central

While they are part of the same family, the differences between the PS5 and the PS4 Pro are day and night. The PS5 is faster, more powerful and can run games the PS4 Pro could not even dream of, thanks to its SSD, GPU and PS5 processor. Their controllers are different as well, and the DualSense is much better than the DualShock 4 thanks to adaptive triggers and advanced haptic feedback. There is even a PS5 digital edition that comes without a drive.

PS5	PS4 Pro
GPU	10.28 TFLOPS, 36 CU @ 2.23 GHz Custom RDNA 2	4.2 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon
Processor	8x cores @ 3.5 GHz Custom Zen 2	8x cores @ 2.16 GHz Custom Jaguar
Memory	16 GB of GDDR6 memory	8 GB of GDDR5 memory
Memory bandwidth	448 GB / s	176 GB / s
Storage	825 GB SSD	1 TB hard drive
Backwards compatibility	Yes	No
PSVR support	Yes	Yes
Optical drive	4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive	blu-Ray HD 1080p drive

You can buy a PS5 right now, but it’s very hard to get hold of.

PS Vita is the continuation of the wildly popular PlayStation Portable (PSP) gaming systems. PS Vita supports many PSP titles that can be purchased and downloaded from the PlayStation Store.

PlayStation 4 Pro

PlayStation 4 Pro is designed for serious gamers who want the best graphics and performance. It is twice as powerful as the original PlayStation console and comes with an AMD Jaguar 2.1GHz octa-core processor, 8GB DDR5 RAM, 1GB DDR3 RAM, AMD Radeon 4.2 teraflops graphics processor at 911MHz, 1TB memory, 5 Wi-Fi GHz and AC and Bluetooth 4.0. So what does this mean for you? Improved games that look absolutely gorgeous, with better speeds and faster loading times. It even has an exclusive feature called “Boost Mode” which makes existing PS4 games look better and run smoother on PS4 Pro compared to the other two consoles.

Only the Pro model supports 4K HDR gaming and Ultra-HD streaming from Netflix. This means that the PS4 Pro offers higher peak brightness and more vivid colors. Together, this leads to a much more realistic and engaging picture. Oddly enough, Sony decided to omit the Ultra-HD Blu-ray drive from the system. The console can still play Full HD 1080p Blu-ray discs, however, like the other two PS4 models. You also don’t need a 4K TV to use the PlayStation 4 Pro, but it will look much better on a Full HD 1080p TV.

As for the rear connectors, the Pro is pretty much identical to the standard PS4, aside from adding an extra USB 3.1 port – it has three that will come in handy for charging all your controllers. Unlike the PlayStation 4 Slim, it has an optical audio output and an HDMI 2.0 port to allow it to be played in 4K resolution. It also comes with a Gigabit Ethernet port and a PS Camera slot.

The PlayStation 4 Pro is 1.1 inches wider, 1.57 inches deeper and almost an inch taller than the Slim model. While that might not sound like much, it’s 43% more volume than the Slim, or 20% more than the original PlayStation 4 we mentioned for the first time, and weighs 7.2 pounds. It is also available in black and white.

Which Playstation 4 Should I Buy?

Sony has promised that there will be no gameplay features exclusive to PS4 Pro or the standard PS4, so if you’re not comfortable spending the extra cash on the Pro, you can still feel safe buying a PlayStation 4 Slim.

The PlayStation 4 Slim is great for those on a tight budget who want a stellar little console that’s powerful enough for any game. It may not offer the same 4K performance or quality as the PlayStation 4 Pro, but the graphics are still incredibly detailed and impressive. If you have a 1080p HD TV and are happy with its graphics, the PS4 Slim is a decent console worth considering for extra savings, especially since the Slim is more likely to be bundled with free games and additional controllers.

The original PlayStation 4 is best for those on an extremely tight budget. It’s still a fantastic, modern console, but most likely the three of them will be available at a considerable discount. You can find a nice deal on a used or certified refurbished model.

Finally, the PlayStation 4 Pro is much faster and renders games in much more detail than the other two models. We believe that if you don’t already have a PlayStation 4, the Pro model is the one to buy. Standard and PSVR games are likely to perform better on the Pro model in the future. If you already have a 4K TV and are on a budget for it, you should definitely hop on the PlayStation 4 Pro for any other console.

The original PlayStation 4 is best for those on an extremely tight budget. It’s still a fantastic, modern console, but most likely the three of them will be available at a considerable discount. You can find a nice deal on a used or certified refurbished model.

How to turn your TV on automatically

One of the cool features if you have a compatible TV is to turn on your PS4 and even turn on the correct source when starting the console. Go to Settings> System and make sure the Enable HDMI Device Link checkbox is checked.

As with all PlayStation 4 models, you can upgrade the PS4 Pro’s internal hard drive to use more storage space or faster access (such as with an SSD).

Here are the steps that are general for all PlayStation 4, but you’ll find the PS4 Pro drive hidden under a flap on the right side of the back of the machine.

When buying a new drive for your new console, the first thing to remember is that not only does it have to be a 2.5 inch hard drive, it must not be more than 9.5mm deep. Many 2.5 inch drives are too thick to fit in a caddy and therefore a console.

After replacing the drive, you will need to reinstall the latest system software via USB. Download the full software (not the update version) here in the “Perform a fresh system software installation” section. Place it on the USB drive in the PS4> UPDATE folders and insert it into the PS4 Pro when prompted.

You can also expand your storage space by using an external USB 3.0 hard drive with up to 8 TB capacity. A drive, such as the Seagate Game Drive PS4 version, can be plugged into one of the available USB ports on the console, but may need to be formatted before use.

Plug it in, go to Settings> Devices> USB Mass Storage Devices, select the external drive, and select “Format as Extended Storage”.

If you want to use an external drive as the default one for installing a game, you’ll need to go to Settings> Storage, hit the Options button, then select Application Install Location> Extended Storage.

How to link a Bluetooth headset

If you don’t want to use wired headphones or a gaming headset, each of which can be connected to a DualShock 4 controller, you can simply connect any phone or Bluetooth headset to the PS4 Pro.

Go to Settings> Devices> Bluetooth Devices, and if you have the headphones you want in pairing mode, they should be visible on the console and shown on this screen. Just follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

You may need to select the correct audio device before starting to play. Go to Settings> Devices> Audio Devices> Output Device and select the headset you want to use. If you want to use your TV’s speakers or another speaker system, don’t forget to go back and change it again.

The HDMI cable included with the PS4 Pro is optimized to transmit full 4K HDR video signal, with HDCP 2.2 copy protection and surround sound. However, not all HDMI cables are as efficient, and if you need a longer cable, for example, make sure it is labeled “premium” or “high speed”. Moreover, make sure it has 4K-ready on the packaging.

Price

The original PS4 and PS4 Slim had a $ 300 launch price, while the PS4 Pro had a slightly higher $ 400 launch price.

Remember that we’re specifying launch prices not because they’ve dropped since then, but because the original PS4 is no longer in production and you can only buy it second-hand. The prices of Slim and Pro remained the same.

How to Pick

To determine which PlayStation 4 version is best for you, you should consider the following:

Your TV/Monitor

It is quite obvious. Of course, if you have a 4K TV or 4K monitor then the Pro is the obvious choice. But is it worth the money with a 1080p display? The short answer is no. You might have thought you would get better graphics or 60 FPS performance from the Pro at 1080p, but unfortunately that won’t happen.

The only visual improvements the Pro brings to a 1080p screen are supersampling, slightly better effects, and sharper textures. However, they are not even noticeable, unless compared to the images rendered by Slim.

When it comes to frame rates, the PS4 Pro gives the gram a slight FPS boost thanks to raw power when Boost Mode is on, but it’s still not close to 60fps. The problem is that games need to be updated to run at 60 FPS, and only the best optimized games like Metal Gear Solid V or Last of Us Remastered can achieve this.

Virtual Reality

PlayStation VR is Sony’s very own virtual reality headset and has been introduced at a much lower price than competing products such as the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. However, the price gap is much smaller today than it was before.

Now every PlayStation 4 supports PSVR. The only advantage of the Pro in this regard is slightly better graphics. Ultimately, this is sort of the same as the 1080p display, and the improvements are negligible.

Your Budget

In fact, the $ 100 price difference between Slim and Pro is negligible for many people. However, the only specific reason you’ll be spending that extra cash on the Pro is because of its 4K gaming and streaming capabilities.

Alternatively, if you’re on a very tight budget and want your PS4 to be as cheap as possible, the original 2013 version may be your best bet. You can find it fairly cheap if you want to buy a used one.

That said, if you want to plan ahead for a potential upgrade to a 4K display or find the benefits above worth that $ 100, you should definitely go for the Pro.

On the other hand, if you only have a 1080p display and have no intention of upgrading to 4K, the $ 300 PS4 Slim will be a better choice.

When it comes to choosing, if you’re on a tight budget and want to save as much as possible buying a used PS4, then the original 2013 version could be even better from then on. They will be cheaper as they are older, but will provide the same performance as the PS4 Slim.

Now every PlayStation 4 supports PSVR. The only advantage of the Pro in this regard is slightly better graphics. Ultimately, this is sort of the same as the 1080p display, and the improvements are negligible.

Sony exclusives

Naturally, PlayStation 4 offers a new generation of exclusive fan-favorite Sony series, allowing players to experience their favorite characters with powerful new graphics and room-shaking sound. The most popular exclusive series of games from Sony are:

God of War series. Players love the theme of Greek mythology, fighting as Kratos, a Spartan warrior who wants to take revenge on various Greek gods. Each title saw more intense action than the previous one, and loyal players have kept the brand alive since 2005.

The series “Unexplored”. Since 2007, players play as Nate Drake, a treasure hunter with a talent for finding trouble along the way. The Uncharted series is particularly popular for its focus on storytelling, outstanding voice acting, and cutscenes.

The series “Little Big Planet”. All Little Big Planet games are aimed directly at kids (and adults who love games for kids) and feature a series of obstacle courses that players must overcome along with their button-sweet hero, Sackboy. Little Big Planet games are great for single players, but the ‘build and share your own obstacle courses’ feature allows players to create wild challenges for themselves, creating endless fun.

“Sony PlayStation have built-in web browsers so you can search and browse the internet from the comfort of your living room. “

Peripheral vision

While the PlayStation 4 offers many of the same titles and features as its main competitor, the Xbox One, there is one key area where Sony offers a gaming experience that Microsoft cannot match: Virtual Reality. “PlayStation VR” is a unique headset that comes equipped with two controllers and allows players to enter a 360-degree world, immersing them in new environments and exciting new challenges.

PlayStation VR supports over 100 exclusive titles, many of which create their own unique experience. For example, “Farpoint” places users on an alien planet, fighting hostile aliens. Other traditionally two-dimensional games offer virtual reality experiences such as “Skyrim”. There are even virtual tours of real-world exotic locations and multiplayer options like “Star Trek ™: Bridge Crew.”

PlayStation VR kits are sold separately and can cost the same as a console – but it’s definitely worth turning your gaming experience into virtual games.

Some players with motion sickness may find that the condition is aggravated by virtual reality games. If you experience any negative symptoms while playing VR games, stop playing immediately and consult your doctor.

Before purchasing a PlayStation console, consider the following tips:

The PlayStation Camera (sold separately) has a built-in microphone that can be used to control the PlayStation 4 using voice commands. Voice commands will also work with third-party headsets that include a microphone. Currently, PlayStation 4 supports basic voice commands that you can use to open applications, browse menus, and even turn off the PlayStation. To take full advantage of PlayStation 4’s availability and enable voice commands, go to the menu under “Settings” and then “System.”

All PlayStation 4 allows users to easily upgrade internal storage. By replacing a solid-state hard drive, users can both increase the capacity of the console and speed up its performance. (Solid-state hard drives run much faster than their platter-based counterparts.) Purchase additional hard drives separately.

The PlayStation 4 supports “remote play” which means you can use your Windows or Mac computer to stream games from your PlayStation 4. While streaming games usually requires a solid home network, it allows you to enjoy PlayStation 4 titles from any computer in home. Turn on game streaming by going to “Settings” and then “Remote Play Connection Settings.”

All Sony PlayStation consoles support High Dynamic Range (HDR) video, allowing gamers to enjoy exceptionally bright colors and lighting on TVs that support HDR.

Q. Can I play my PlayStation 3 games on PlayStation 4?
A. Yes and no. While PlayStation 4 does not accept or work with PlayStation 3 game discs, Sony’s PlayStation Now service allows players to stream older titles from previous-generation PlayStation consoles for a small fee.

Q. How many controllers are shipped with the PlayStation 4?
A. PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation 4 Slim come with one controller. Both Sony and third-party manufacturers produce PlayStation 4 controllers. Up to 4 controllers can be connected to each PlayStation 4 edition.

Q. Do I need a PlayStation Plus subscription to play PlayStation 4 games?
A. While a PlayStation Plus subscription will unlock additional features for most games, it is not required to use the base content of any game purchased. PlayStation Plus membership benefits include access to online games, free games every month, exclusive discounts and sales, and the ability to save game content to the cloud.