PlayStation 5 Pro Review: Is Sony’s Most Powerful PS5 Worth It?

The PlayStation 5 Pro is Sony’s most powerful PS5 console, designed for players who want better graphics, stronger ray tracing and higher frame rates without sacrificing image quality.

Its biggest upgrades include a more powerful GPU, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), advanced ray tracing, 2TB SSD storage and Wi-Fi 7.

PlayStation 5 Pro Specs

Sony says the PS5 Pro GPU contains 67% more Compute Units and 28% faster memory, enabling up to 45% faster rendering compared with the standard PS5.

Gaming Performance

Performance is the main reason to buy the PS5 Pro.

The upgraded GPU allows supported games to combine higher visual quality with smoother frame rates.

Instead of choosing between a high-resolution Fidelity Mode and a faster Performance Mode, many PS5 Pro Enhanced titles can deliver higher-quality graphics at around 60fps.

Compatible games can also reach up to 120fps on supported 120Hz TVs and monitors.

PSSR AI Upscaling

One of the PS5 Pro’s biggest technologies is PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, or PSSR.

PSSR uses machine-learning-based upscaling to reconstruct a sharper 4K image from a lower internal rendering resolution.

This allows developers to increase frame rates while maintaining high image quality.

Sony introduced an upgraded version of PSSR in March 2026, and games such as Saros and 007 First Light are already using the newer system for sharper and more stable images.

Advanced Ray Tracing

Ray tracing is another major improvement.

Sony says the PS5 Pro can calculate ray-traced effects at approximately 2× and sometimes 3× the speed of the standard PS5.

This can improve:

• Reflections
• Shadows
• Lighting
• Water reflections
• Glass and metallic surfaces

The improvement is most noticeable in games specifically optimized for PS5 Pro.

4K and 120Hz Gaming

Sony says compatible PS5 Pro games can combine:

4K output
60fps or up to 120fps
Ray tracing
PSSR AI-enhanced resolution

You will need a compatible 4K/120Hz HDMI 2.1 television or monitor to take full advantage of the highest refresh rates.

PS5 Pro Enhanced Games

Games carrying the PS5 Pro Enhanced label can receive improvements such as:

• Higher resolution
• Better ray tracing
• More stable frame rates
• Improved graphics settings
• PSSR upscaling

Examples have included Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered and Horizon Forbidden West.

Enhancements vary by game, so not every title receives the same improvement.

2TB SSD

The PS5 Pro includes a 2TB SSD, double the storage of the standard 1TB PS5 Disc Edition.

This is a major practical advantage because modern PS5 games can consume well over 100GB each.

You can also expand storage using a compatible M.2 NVMe SSD.

Wi-Fi 7

PS5 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7.

With a compatible Wi-Fi 7 router, Sony says users can benefit from more available bandwidth, improved stability and potentially lower latency.

It remains backward compatible with Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 routers.

No Built-In Disc Drive

One of the biggest disadvantages is that the PS5 Pro is digital-only out of the box.

There is no built-in Blu-ray drive.

A compatible PS5 Disc Drive can be purchased separately and attached to the console.

The optional drive lets you use compatible:

• PS5 game discs
• PS4 game discs
• 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays
• Blu-rays
• DVDs

For players with a large physical game collection, the extra cost should be considered when comparing the PS5 Pro with the standard PS5 Disc Edition.

PS4 Backward Compatibility

PS5 Pro can play more than 8,500 PS4 games.

Sony also includes PS5 Pro Game Boost, which can improve performance or frame-rate stability in some PS4 and PS5 titles even without dedicated PS5 Pro enhancements.

DualSense Controller

A standard DualSense wireless controller is included.

It supports:

Haptic feedback
Adaptive triggers
Motion controls
Built-in microphone
USB-C charging

PS5 Pro also works with DualSense Edge and other compatible PS5 accessories.

Tempest 3D Audio

PS5 Pro retains Sony’s Tempest 3D AudioTech.

Supported games can create more accurate positional audio through compatible headphones and TV speakers, helping sound appear to come from different directions around the player.

PS5 Pro vs PS5

The PS5 Pro does not have exclusive PS5 Pro games. It plays the same PS5 library, but supported titles can run with improved visuals and performance.

Pros

✓ Most powerful PlayStation console
✓ PSSR AI upscaling
✓ Improved PSSR in 2026
✓ Advanced ray tracing
✓ Up to 45% faster rendering
✓ 2TB SSD
✓ Up to 4K/120fps gaming
✓ Wi-Fi 7
✓ PS5 Pro Game Boost
✓ Excellent PS4 backward compatibility

Cons

✗ Expensive compared with standard PS5
✗ Disc drive sold separately
✗ Vertical stand sold separately
✗ Visual improvements vary significantly by game
✗ Not every title is PS5 Pro Enhanced
✗ Standard PS5 plays the same game library

Long-term testing has found the improvements particularly noticeable in well-optimized first-party titles, while some third-party games show more modest gains.

PlayStation 5 Pro Rating

Gaming Performance: 9.8/10
Graphics: 9.8/10
Ray Tracing: 9.6/10
Storage: 9.7/10
Game Library: 9.7/10
Controller: 9.8/10
Value: 8.4/10

Overall: 9.5/10

Verdict

The PlayStation 5 Pro is the most powerful PlayStation console available, and its biggest advantages are improved GPU performance, advanced ray tracing, PSSR AI upscaling and a large 2TB SSD.

The upgraded PSSR technology introduced in 2026 also makes the Pro more capable than it was at launch, with supported games producing cleaner and more stable reconstructed 4K images.

The main drawbacks are price and the absence of a built-in disc drive. The standard PS5 still plays the same games, so the Pro’s extra cost primarily pays for better image quality and performance.

For players using a high-quality 4K/120Hz OLED or Mini LED TV and who want the strongest PS5 experience available, the PS5 Pro provides the most advanced PlayStation hardware.