PS4 PRO vs. PS4 Slim: which model is right for you?

With the launch of PlayStation 5, the price of PlayStation 4 will go down. So it is expected that many people will buy this console. If you are one of those people but want to know who wins the PS4 Pro vs. PS4 Slim, you've come to the right article! Let's clarify which one you should buy and why!

PlayStation Slim: specs

The PS4 and PS4 Slim don't have any difference apart from the size and the fact that the PS4 Slim is marketed with 1 TB of hard drive. The original PlayStation 4 always arrives with 500 GB, being necessary to buy an external HD to be able to have more games.

Today it is much easier for you to find the PS4 Slim for sale. So let's see what its specs are:

PlayStation 4 Pro: specs

The PS4 Pro is considered a mid-generation console, just like Slim. In fact, both were announced together in 2022. This version, however, is more powerful. Both its CPU and GPU have been improved, and 4K technology has been integrated into the Pro. The RAM memory is the same, but there is 1 GB dedicated entirely to non-game apps, such as Spotify.

See the PS4 Pro specs:

Comparisons between PS4 models

If you don't understand the console's specifications very well, you may have a hard time understanding the real difference between one console and another. First of all you need to understand that TFLOPs or Teraflops are the equivalent of horses in a car. That is, it is the real power of the video game processor.

As you can see, in fact, the Pro's processor is almost triple that of the PlayStation 4 Slim. But what does this mean in practice? In practice it means that game developers can not only improve the resolution of their games with Pro, but also give that boost to the details.

Lights, shadows, facial expressions, everything is more realistic in the Pro. This guarantees smoother graphics, in addition to not losing performance because of it. But Sony requires studios that games run the same way on all PlayStation 4 consoles.

Red Dead Redemption 2 – PS4 vs. PS4 Pro Frame Rate Test & Graphics Comparison

The main perceived difference is in the light effects. Sunbeams, candlelights are much more real and beautiful on PlayStation Pro. The very details of the scenery, such as rocks, mountains and even the clouds in the sky are better rendered.

With greater rendering power, studios are able to create games with more detailed and wider worlds. All without slowing down games and almost infinite loading screens. Assassin's Creed Odyssey example, which on PS4 Slim takes a long time on loading screens.

The PS4 Pro's native 4K... Isn't it native?

This still causes a lot of controversy in the gaming world. To answer this question, let's go to the fact that a gaming PC with native 4K would cost a lot more to your pocket than a PS4 Pro. So, technically speaking, no, the 4K of the Pro is not native. In very heavy games, like Red Dead Redemption 2 seen above, 4K doesn't even show up.

But the difference is minimal! The PS4 Pro comes in at 3,200 by 1,800 lines and comes very close to 4K. Sony has employed a technology that makes the resolution climb agile. It takes a VERY trained eye to see the difference.

HDR and 4K without a TV for that is a waste of money

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and is basically a technology used to make images brighter, sharper and more detailed. Together with 4K it can make games even more beautiful and smooth. The problem is if you don't have a television that supports these technologies.

A PlayStation Pro on a "standard" television, without HDR and 4K, will display graphics identical to those presented by the regular PS4. So if you can't afford a TV with these built-in technologies, it might not be worth buying a Pro.

Size and physical dimensions

Thinking about this aspect is essential. Not everyone has a large game room to install a console. So before opting for one of the PlayStation 4 models, consider the sizes:

• PlayStation 4: 27.5 30.5 x x 5.3cm
• PlayStation 4 Slim: 26.5 28.8 x x 3.9cm
• PlayStation 4 Pro: 29.5 32.7 x x 5.5cm

Overall, the Pro is 20% bigger than the first console and almost 80% bigger than the Slim.

Games that look better on PS4 Pro

We can't always notice an evolution in games from one console to the other. Remember that it depends a lot on each title. Studio developers use the power of Pro at their disposal in their own way.

Anyway, let's clarify below which games look better on the most powerful version of PS4:

• Battlefield 1
• Hitman
• Horizon: Zero Dawn
• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
• Rise of The Tomb Raider
• The Last Guardian
• The Last of Us Remastered
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
• Watchdogs 2

Conclusion: which model to buy?

We have 3 answers to this question.

Answer 1: The first one is: if you have a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation Slim and a television with 1080p, forget about upgrading the model. Unless you decide to buy a television with 4K, it's not worth spending money on the Pro, as it will be a waste of money and the potential of the console.

Answer 2: Now if you have a standard console model and you have a 4K TV, ok, buy the PS4 Pro. The graphics, resolution, details and even sound are much better with the Pro + 4K TV + HDR TV combination. HDR detail is very important. If the television does not have this technology, then there is no point in upgrading.

Answer 3: if you don't have a PlayStation 4, nor a 4K TV, we advise you to go for Pro. Even without a perfect television for it, the Pro gives a change to the look of games. Even if it doesn't, the speed of the games gets higher. Performance is considerably better.

But of course: if you can't afford a Pro, don't be discouraged. Both the original PS4 and the Slim are great models and will bring you wonderful fun times!

See also:

• PS4 game releases
• best games for ps4
• PS5 game releases
• best games for ps5
• Xbox Series X vs. PS5