PS5 Professional: Two-minute assessment
The PlayStation 5 Professional is Sony’s enhanced mid-generation gaming console, and it’s categorically higher than its PS5 brethren. I’ve spent one of the best a part of a full week with the PS5 Professional now, and have been constantly impressed with its upgrades. Again and again the PS5 Professional has wowed me with unbelievable graphical high quality and splendidly excessive body charges and given me crisper, smoother photographs and experiences over my base PS5 in nearly each sport I’ve tried.
From confirmed PS5 Professional enhanced video games, to ‘common’ PS5 video games and PS4 video games, and on each a 60Hz 4K TV and 120Hz-capable 4K gaming monitor, I’ve been blown away by the expertise on the PS5 Professional. On a technical stage, that is going to be one of the simplest ways to take pleasure in the remainder of the technology, however there’s a sting within the tail that signifies that it isn’t fairly a slam dunk.
Whereas it delivers on its transient of delivering a mid-gen graphical improve – although maybe not fairly to the identical diploma because the PS4 Professional did when capitalizing on the rise of 4K TV adoption – its graphical boosts, whereas tangible, aren’t seismic or groundbreaking; definitely not for the overwhelming majority of PS5 gamers anyway. As such evolutionary-not-revolutionary steps gained’t be sufficient to steer most.
It additionally has a worth drawback which I discover irritating, unhappy, and baffling in equal measure. At $700 / £700 it’s the most costly Sony house console ever; and this can be a mid-generational improve, keep in mind – not an entirely new system. It additionally doesn’t include a disc drive or a vertical stand which suggests you’re taking a look at north of $800 / £800 to even mirror the setup you bought initially with a $500 / £450 launch PS5. Contemplating the PS5 Professional is a premium gaming console and one that may most enchantment to PlayStation gaming lovers like myself, it’s exhausting to not really feel dissatisfied. Pair this with the baffling choice to depart out a disc drive – most lovers are bodily media proponents and the most probably to have bodily sport collections – and the frustration grows a little bit extra.
The important thing improve is basically the convergence of graphical constancy and efficiency with video games now capable of faucet into the PS5 Professional’s {hardware} and options to shine in each methods – on the identical time. The wizardry of Sony’s proprietary Ps Spectral Tremendous Decision (PSSR) helps enormously in its AI-driven upscaling tech, and the outcomes are wonderful. The likes of Horizon Forbidden West and Horizon Zero Daybreak Remastered, and The Final of Us Half 1 and Half 2 Remastered, really shine on PS5 Professional and have new efficiency modes that run extremely easily at excessive body charges and have a stage of element you’d be exhausting pushed to say weren’t a full-fat constancy mode.
The enhance to ray tracing that’s on supply is completely stunning too. Approaching prime of the boosts to constancy and efficiency, now you can take pleasure in a few of the greatest ray-tracing PS5 has to supply in a efficiency mode, concentrating on 60 frames per second, which is really particular in video games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The boosts to non-enhanced PS5 and significantly PS4 video games are more durable to discern at present, however the video games I’ve examined present what may be achieved with the PS5 Professional’s {hardware}.
In case you have been considering of upgrading your TV to a 120Hz display, or have lately obtained one such monitor or TV, then the advantages of the PS5 Professional develop additional nonetheless with additional modes within the likes of Horizon Forbidden West that provide much more refined balances of graphics and efficiency to focus on super-high ranges of constancy and intermediate body charges similar to 40 frames per second. Nevertheless people with TVs that are not 120hz succesful can nonetheless get nice advantages that I can attest to – the moment-to-moment expertise of a sport’s Efficiency Professional (or different equally named) modes is sensible and means you may be getting a beautiful picture and backbone and, in impact, making absolutely the most of your TV’s 60Hz refresh fee.
The aforementioned PSSR is in some ways the headline act of the PS5 Professional’s upgraded function set with it being the primary AI-driven upscaling tech in a Sony house console, and the outcomes mentioned above imply that it has nice promise and is providing one thing spectacular already. Mixed with upgrades to reminiscence, graphics card, storage, and Wi-Fi, the PS5 Professional does supply greater than only a area of interest graphical improve package deal too.
Particularly, the enhance to 2TB of storage within the Professional makes an enormous distinction that might in any other case value round $100 / £100 so as to add to another PS5, whereas the addition of Wi-Fi 7 for higher web connectivity, is welcome, particularly contemplating the Professional begins off life as a digital console.
From a purely aesthetic view, the PS5 Professional console is straight away lower from the PS5 household fabric when it comes to design and construct and sports activities all of the aesthetic touches to the ports that you simply’d need from one other PS5 console. Coming in at across the identical thickness because the PS5 Slim, and the identical peak because the launch PS5, the Professional is a curvaceous and fairly slick-looking factor.
The smooth white panels – a matte end, not shiny just like the Slim – are elegant, whereas the black center and contours of black fins new on the Professional present wonderful distinction. It gives the identical ports because the PS5 Slim too so that you’re properly lined with two USB-Cs on the entrance, two USB-As on the again, an HDMI, an ethernet, and the ability port on the again. Sadly, these panels are usually not interchangeable with those who match the PS5 Slim, and it additionally doesn’t include a disc drive or a vertical stand which does appear at odds with its positioning as a premium PlayStation-enthusiast console.
The PS5 Professional is probably the most full PS5 package deal now, however its core advantages and upgrades are a little bit area of interest, and the developments are refined – not ground-breaking – so it’s not going to be an excellent worth funding for everybody.
In case you’ve a eager eye for element, are a PlayStation fanatic who needs to be on the bleeding fringe of the model’s console and needs probably the most performant PlayStation console going, otherwise you’re a graphics obsessive who needs one of the best expertise going, or are a PS5 consumer with a brand new 120Hz-capable gaming TV or PS5 monitor, then the gaming experiences supplied by the PS5 Professional are going to be very tempting certainly. For everybody else, it’s simply going to be too costly.
PS5 Professional: Worth and availability
- Listing worth: $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199
- Doesn’t embody a disc drive or vertical stand
- Launched on November 7, 2024
For the reason that day of its reveal, the PlayStation 5 Professional’s worth has been an enormous speaking level – and it stays so. Reducing to it, $700 / £700 for a mid-generation improve console is steep and makes it the most costly Sony house console ever. It additionally is available in at $200 / £220 greater than the listing worth of the PS5 Slim, the present ‘base’ model of the console.
By comparability, the PlayStation 4 Professional launched on the authentic PS4’s worth which felt proper – particularly given the bottom console’s simultaneous everlasting worth drop. If the PS5 Professional’s worth had come even a little bit nearer to the PS5’s worth ($499.99 / £479.99) then this new console could be critically tempting, and extra so for present PS5 house owners.
The additional sting within the worth division is that the PS5 Professional console doesn’t include a disc drive or vertical stand. The latter Sony has earlier kind with regarding the PS5 Slim additionally not coming with one, however the lack of a disc drive, when positioned as a premium, fanatic console is an enormous disappointment – and a bit baffling, regardless of being offset by a few of the different PS5 Professional specs on supply.
A welcome level on this class although is, in contrast to the PS5 at launch, the PS5 Professional is extensively obtainable all over the place at time of writing. PS5 Professional pre-orders briefly offered out at PlayStation Direct on the day they began (September 26), however since then inventory at Sony’s personal storefront and different retailers has remained regular and available.
PS5 Professional: Specs
Worth | $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199 |
Dimensions (WxHxD) | 15.2 x 3.5 x 8.5in / 388 x 89 x 216mm |
Weight | 6.8lbs / 3.1kg |
Storage capability | Customized 2TB SSD |
Storage enlargement | M.2 NVMe SSD slot; exterior storage through USB |
Connectivity | WiFi 7, ethernet, Bluetooth 5.1 |
CPU | 8 core / 16 thread AMD Zen 2 |
GPU | 16.7 TFLOPs, AMD Radeon, RDNA-based graphics engine |
Reminiscence/RAM | 16GB GDDR6 / 2GB DDR5 |
Upscaling | PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Tremendous Decision Upscaling) |
Ports | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Ethernet, 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A |
PS5 Professional: Design and options
- Slick design kind and stylish new tackle the PS5-family aesthetic
- Digital console with no disc drive by default
- Up to date console covers aren’t interchangeable with present PS5 plates
The general design of the PS5 Professional may be very in step with the PS5 technology of console and equipment; a symphony in black and white curves, however finished in its personal fashion that’s each contemporary and new but in addition acquainted. The white panels are usually not as shiny as they’re on the PS5 Slim, as an alternative having a extra matte end, whereas the fins that break up the console throughout its center are fairly placing from a design standpoint and one which I actually fairly like, offering a trendy flash of black throughout the ocean of white.
The shape and total construct share options with the unique launch PS5 and the newer Slim mannequin, too. The four-sectioned exterior and total slender kind may be very harking back to the PS5 Slim, whereas the Professional is available in greater than that customary console, and is nearly as tall as the unique PS5. In chilly exhausting numbers, the PS5 is 15.2 x 3.5 x 8.5in / 388 x 89 x 216mm (WxHxD) in dimension and weighs 6.8lbs / 3.1kg.
Within the field, along with the console itself, you get a typical DualSense Wi-fi Controller, an influence plug on your area, an HDMI 2.1 cable, a USB-C to USB-C cable for the controller, and all the required paperwork.
The PS5 Professional is a digital-only console by default which means there’s no disc drive included. This must be purchased individually and utilized as you’ll on the PS5 Slim – luckily, the Professional is appropriate with the pre-existing PS5 disc drive. There’s additionally no vertical stand included so the PS5 Professional can also be a horizontal console by default with the squat model of the removable legs included within the field.
The PS5 Professional follows swimsuit with the PS5 Slim by providing two USB-C ports on the entrance of the console towards the ability button, and the place the PS5 Professional’s LED lights are too (i.e. not on the ‘flare finish’ as on the launch PS5). On the rear, it’s a extra acquainted state of affairs to these with any PS5 with the ability port, HDMI port, two USB-A ports, and an ethernet port ending the set. The association of the ports can also be extra according to the PS5 Slim nevertheless, with the HDMI port additional up or the left-hand aspect (relying in your view) in comparison with the launch PS5.
The shell of the PS5 Professional is split into 4 plates – every named after a PlayStation form to make sure you don’t ever combine them up, and all are detachable with the same stage of drive as the opposite PS5s. It’s a nice disgrace, nevertheless, whereas the association of the PS5 Professional usually signifies that the bigger decrease panels are precisely the identical because the PS5 Slim – a truth strengthened by the disc drive’s compatibility – however the smaller, prime panels aren’t the identical dimension which is a good disgrace. I examined this myself to verify it, so followers who need to adorn the Professional of their selection of colorway will seemingly have to attend for Professional-specific panels to grow to be obtainable.
Underneath the console covers, the PS5 Professional has the identical PS5 SSD bay that the earlier fashions had and may be engaged with in precisely the identical method too as I skilled by putting in my Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus SSD throughout testing.
While you boot the PS5 Professional up, you’ll be greeted by a consumer interface that’s precisely the identical as the opposite PS5 fashions. It’s a slick and easy-to-navigate setup course of in addition to a wider structure to maneuver round, and except for just a few extra menu choices and toggles, it’s equivalent and will probably be very acquainted to present PS5 house owners. If it’s essential to switch information from a PS4 or one other PS5 to get going, then there’s a easy course of to take action when first utilizing the Professional.
PS5 Professional: Efficiency
- Glorious efficiency mixing constancy and efficiency concurrently…
- …nevertheless, developments aren’t groundbreaking or revolutionary
- Supporting specs supply additional advantages
The proof was all the time going to be within the efficiency and graphics pudding, so I put in a complete host of video games on the PS5 Professional and my common PS5 to match the variations. To this point in my testing, I’ve seen spectacular issues in these enhanced video games I have been capable of run.
The impact of the beefier GPU, and the influence of PSSR is tangible and real, and it clearly helps builders improve their video games to supply their definitive variations. It’s an thrilling proposition for the rest of the PS5 technology and I have already got excessive hopes for Sony’s first-party studios and video games like Marvel’s Wolverine, and no matter is coming subsequent from Naughty Canine, et al.
The PS5 Professional permits the Northlight engine in Alan Wake 2 to actually shine. As a substitute of including any extra modes, the sport takes benefit of the Professional by providing boosts to its high quality and efficiency modes by way of elevated ray-tracing results, and elevated element. The enhance to each modes in comparison with my base PS5 was instantly noticeable. Ray tracing, reflections, and lighting are all vastly improved in high quality mode, whereas visible boosts and framerate smoothness mix in efficiency mode.
Horizon Zero Daybreak Remastered instantly appears like a sport constructed (properly, rebuilt) for PS5 Professional. The second I booted into the sport and began having fun with the cutscenes and moving into the motion, I used to be knocked down by the beautiful lighting, fabulous reflections, lifelike water and hair element, and an total picture high quality that was stupendous.
This was the case in each video games’ ‘Professional’ model of the prevailing Decision and Efficiency graphics settings. Regardless of the shortage of description within the menu as to precisely what was occurring in every, I discovered the Favor Efficiency Professional to be one of the simplest ways to benefit from the sport: mixing the sensible upgraded visuals and results with a easy, excessive body fee gave me a model new expertise in Horizon that I’d by no means had earlier than.
A 3rd setting is on the market; a Balanced Professional model does exist on 120Hz succesful shows that appear to allow the Professional to get increased body charges than 30fps whereas knocking solely a little bit of high quality off (so most likely a 40fps mode, one thing made doable, and wonderful, with Variable Refresh Charge) to get much more of one of the best of each worlds ought to the show be the best match.
In Horizon Forbidden West, the Decision and Efficiency Professional modes stay the identical as within the remastered first sport, however the Balanced Professional mode is described as very excessive constancy at 40fps when enjoying on a 120Hz-specced show. When enjoying on my gaming monitor that’s HDMI 2.1 succesful, this was maybe my favourite setting of the bunch on each video games.
The Final of Us Half 1 and The Final of Us Half 2 Remastered are each sensible too. The video games share equivalent show choices and reply and current themselves in the identical method. The brand new ‘Professional’ mode is an absolute dream and now my favourite method to play these video games and expertise their worlds. This mode renders the sport at 1440p, then makes use of PSSR to upscale to 4K and targets 60fps. The outcomes are spectacular, and I actually had issue telling the distinction between the general picture high quality of the Professional mode with the PS5’s Constancy mode. World particulars similar to foliage, lighting, and reflections are additional stunning and issues like the main points on Joel and Ellie’s backpacks are crisper than ever – all whereas operating at a smoother, increased body fee.
Zipping round New York in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 couldn’t presumably have felt or seemed higher however right here we’re – the sport is staggeringly sensible on PS5 Professional. The 2 settings – Constancy Professional and Efficiency Professional are each stunning on PS5 Professional. The previous gives unbelievable ray-tracing, reflections, and total sharpness, with just a few choices to vary the depth of some choices which may be altered to achieve some efficiency again.
The latter mode, can also be one thing else, although. Providing a easy 60fps whereas retaining the picture high quality of normal (PS5) constancy mode by way of PSSR, it presents a unprecedented mixture of graphics and efficiency – and all ray-tracing options are on by default on this setting.
To not be outdone by its studio-mate, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside can also be fantastic to play, and simply take a look at on PS5 Professional. The sport options the identical two settings as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (however one fewer ray-tracing settings, the reflections and interiors) with the Efficiency Professional mode being a standout as soon as once more with all ray-tracing options current and PSSR doing a little wonderful heavy lifting to create a implausible picture, and expertise.
I’ve taken Demon’s Souls for a fast spin across the block too which is superb in its devoted PS5 Professional mode – it’s actually known as ‘PS5 Professional’. Evaluating it to the cinematic and efficiency modes that stay within the sport, it’s exhausting to inform the distinction between the general picture high quality of the previous, and the graceful body charges of the latter within the devoted Professional mode.
It’s additionally price noting that the PS5 Professional, through the above intensive sport testing, would not blow as loudly as its mid-gen predecessor – the PS4 Professional – did in comparison with that technology’s base console. I’ve discovered the PS5 Professional to run no louder than the bottom PS5 at its loudest, and really quieter a number of the time.
These are simply a few of the video games I’ve had the prospect to check up to now – and so they paint a particular image wanting ahead to the complete listing of enhanced video games, in addition to these but to return out. The actual fact stays that for those who’re enjoying a sport that’s been enhanced for PS5 Professional, you completely will get an enhanced expertise – the Professional is noticeably and clearly higher, making video games look much more beautiful and run tremendous quick and easy, concurrently. We will now have one of the best of each worlds, and the outcomes usually really feel like enjoying the definitive model of video games. That is particularly the case if in case you have a 120Hz-capable show that may unlock any balanced or 40fps modes too – that is the purpose at which the PS5 Professional’s influence and efficiency can supply extra and be much more compelling.
A be aware on PSVR 2 video games
Sony has mentioned that the PS5 Professional’s enhanced graphics will enhance and profit PSVR 2 video games vastly. Nevertheless, I haven’t had the prospect to check PSVR 2 with the PS5 Professional but however will probably be updating this assessment, as and once I get the prospect to totally discover this. Sony’s weblog submit operating down the listing of enhanced video games on the PS5 Professional’s launch did embody Kayak VR: Mirage, nevertheless, so we’re hopeful of some tangible advantages to PSVR 2 gaming.
In addition to making non-enhanced PS5 video games look even higher with the {hardware} giving them a lift, the PS5 Professional does embody a brand new, devoted enhance mode of types for PS4 video games: you may allow an choice to reinforce picture high quality for PS4 video games.
The video games do look nice on PS5 Professional, however I’ve struggled to actually select clear variations and upgrades, and have usually discovered myself reaching for highlights and actually peering to see what is likely to be completely different or enhanced. I’ll proceed testing this with extra PS4 video games to see if there’s something definitive but it surely’s not fairly clear what the setting does proper now. I attempted this with Doom, Name of Responsibility Trendy Warfare, Notorious Second Son, Dishonored 2, Purple Lifeless Redemption 2, and Days Gone.
The PS5 Professional incorporates a 2TB SSD which permits a lot extra respiratory room when it comes to storage. For reference and for example of what the enhance means in actual or day-to-day phrases, I had 17 video games put in – from 11.6GB Astro’s Playroom to the 130GB Horizon Forbidden West – and nonetheless had 353GB of area left to make use of.
There’s additionally extra storage on the SSD by default: whereas the unique PS5 solely had about 667GB free to make use of from its 825GB SSD (80% of the drive), the PS5 Professional means that you can use 1.89TB of its 2TB drive, which is 94.5% of the drive. That is wonderful and helps to offer a storage state of affairs the place you could not even want a PS5 SSD that you simply as soon as beforehand did. With 1TB SSDs costing simply north of $100 / £100, broadly talking, this additional capability improve is just not inconsiderable.
Wi-Fi 7 is a welcome inclusion too and I positively skilled faster and extra secure obtain speeds and connection to my PlayStation Portal on my house web. Your mileage could range relying on the standard of the web, but it surely ought to signify enhancements throughout the board given the improve.
The day-to-day gaming efficiency of the PS5 Professional is, all in, a pleasure to behold and use in motion. PSSR works wonders and gives a superb expertise by mixing one of the best of constancy and efficiency modes. Whereas I’ve discovered the upgrades super up to now, I additionally acknowledge that such modifications are largely refined and aren’t revolutionary – consequently, I can nonetheless see most PS5 house owners sticking with their launch or PS5 Slim fashions.
However for folk like me who’ve a eager eye for element and efficiency, the outcomes are terrific and wholly worthwhile. If the brand new {hardware} continues to be embraced by devs, the PS5 Professional might set the usual and be the definitive method to take pleasure in the remainder of the PS5 technology – and likewise trace at the place the PS6 might take issues when it comes alongside.
Do you have to purchase the PS5 Professional?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally take into account
In case you’re not completely offered on the PS5 Professional, then listed here are another consoles to think about by comparability.
PS5 Professional | PS5 Slim | Xbox Sequence X | Nintendo Swap | |
Worth | $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199 | $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95 | $449.99 / £429.99 / AU$699 | $259.99 / £259.99 / AUD$435 |
Dimensions (WxHxD) | 15.2 x 3.5 x 8.5in / 388 x 89 x 216mm | 14.1 x 3.8 x 8.8in / 358 x 97 x 224mm | 5.9 x 5.9 x 11.9in / 151 x 151 x 301mm | 4 x 9.4 x 1.1in / 102 x 239 x 28.7mm |
Weight | 6.8lbs / 3.1kg | 7.1lbs / 3.2kg | 9.8lbs / 4.5kg | 0.9lbs / 398g (with Pleasure-Con connected) |
Storage capability | Customized 2TB SSD | Customized 1TB SSD | 1TB SSD | 32GB (64GB on Nintendo Swap OLED) |
Storage enlargement | M.2 NVMe SSD slot; exterior storage through USB | M.2 NVMe SSD slot | Storage card enlargement slot | Suitable microSD playing cards |
Connectivity | WiFi 7, ethernet, Bluetooth 5.1 | WiFi 6, ethernet, Bluetooth 5.1 | WiFi 6, ethernet | WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, (ethernet on Nintendo Swap OLED) |
CPU | 8-core / 16 thread AMD Zen 2 | 8-core / 16 threads, AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5GHz | 8-core @ 3.8 GHz (3.6 GHz w/ SMT) Customized Zen 2 | Nvidia Customized Tegra processor |
GPU | 16.7 TFLOPs, AMD Radeon, RDNA-based graphics engine | 10.28 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon, RDNA-based graphics engine | 12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Customized RDNA 2 GPU | Nvidia Customized Tegra processor |
Reminiscence/RAM | 16GB GDDR6 / 2GB DDR5 | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 | 4GB LPDDR4 |
Upscaling | PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Tremendous Decision Upscaling) | N/A | Some FSR-compatible video games | Some FSR-compatible video games |
Ports | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Ethernet, 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x ethernet, 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A | 3 x USB-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x energy, 1 x ethernet, 1 x storage enlargement | 1 x HDMI, 1 x USB-C, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 x microSD card slot (1 x ethernet on Swap OLED) |
How I examined the PS5 Professional
- Examined for a lot of hours a day for round every week, enjoying and operating a spread of video games
- In contrast design, construct, options, and efficiency on to PS5 Slim and launch PS5
- Examined obtain speeds, transfers, load instances, and gameplay enhancements
I examined the PS5 Professional for a couple of week for assessment. I put in almost 20 video games from each my PS5 and PS4 libraries on it and in contrast them operating on the PS5 Professional to my customary PS5 console. I spent hours observing how the video games seemed and carried out in all modes – and tinkered with settings – on the PS5 Professional in comparison with the PS5 which allowed me to identify variations between the 2 consoles.
Comparisons between the fashions didn’t cease at video games, nevertheless, as I additionally in contrast the PS5 Professional on a bodily stage to the PS5 Slim and base PS5 launch mannequin, taking a look at bodily look, dimensions, weight, footprint, taking console covers off and reapplying them, including an M.2 SSD, port association, utilizing it each vertically and horizontally, testing noise air pollution, in addition to observing obtain and set up speeds and testing connectivity by way of Wi-Fi and ethernet.
I additionally, merely, used it as my each day gaming platform, enjoying a wide range of video games, each single-player and on-line, looking the menus and interesting with completely different settings, transferring video games and apps from storage areas, and extra.
I used the PS5 Professional on each a gaming monitor and TV for testing; the previous being an Acer Predator X32Q FS 4K display that supplied a top quality display to check the Professional’s 120Hz capabilities, and the latter being a Samsung Q6F QLED 4K TV, enabling me to check it with a non-120Hz show.
When it comes to complementary gear and equipment, I examined the PS5 Professional with the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds the Sony Inzone H9 headset, the Steelseries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi, a number of DualSense controllers, a Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus PS5 SSD, a Essential X8 exterior exhausting drive, and a PlayStation Portal.
First reviewed November 2024