Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro is now official after a detailed technical breakdown of what it brings to the table by PlayStation’s Lead Architect Mark Cerny. It comes with a larger 2TB SSD and a GPU that is stated to be 45% faster as it powers better Ray Tracing as well as AI-enabled upscaling for many current and future PS5 games. It also brings to the table a feature known as “PS5 Pro Game Boost” that enables it to push as many as 8500+ last-generation titles to higher frame rates and, in some cases, higher fidelity, as Sony hints at post-release patches for some blockbuster PS5 titles in tow.
PlayStation Portal
Sony’s PS5 Pro: Setting The Stage For Broader Upgrades?
There is an ongoing debate about the PS5 Pro’s historically high $700 asking price, especially as it switches out the Blu-Ray drive that prior consoles had for a digital-only offering by default. Users can grab a Blu-Ray drive ($80) to retain the ability to play game discs, but those have seen significantly increased interest and demand from consumers as they gear up to grab a PS5 Pro preorder and secure a unit to avoid hitches post-upgrade.
There are, however, more meaningful upgrades to be had, many of which directly impact one’s interactions with the PlayStation ecosystem and make for a superior PS5 Pro experience when the console finally starts shipping in November 2024. These range from massive generational TV and monitor upgrades to something as simple as a new, more customizable controller from Sony to go with one’s shiny new PS5 Pro console.
The team at Game Rant has curated a list of some of the best candidates one should consider if gamers are waiting to preorder the PS5 Pro below.
LG C4 Series 65-inch Class OLED evo 4K TV
The OLED Premium Play
The LG C4 Series 65-inch Class OLED evo 4K TV is the 2024 iteration of LG’s mid-range take on its premium OLED TV lineup which offers a slightly brighter display, an upgraded processor, and a higher refresh rate versus its predecessor.As a self-lit OLED display, it has significant advantages over conventional TVs and monitors, offering lower latencies than its peers along with better color reproduction backed by the TV’s ability to effectively display infinite contrast while leveraging state-of-the-art HDR technology.
When gaming, there are few displays that can hold a candle to some of the longest-running OLED TV lineups in the market from LG. They offer extremely low response times, low input lag, plenty of HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K 120 or 4K 144Hz output (should the upcoming PS5 Pro support the latter), and outstanding HDR performance that can make playing any game a treat.
The LG C4 Series 65-inch Class OLED EVO 4K TV is the 2024 iteration of LG’s Mid-Range OLED TV lineup that offers plenty of small upgrades over last year’s C3, which alsohappens to be Game Rant’s overall pick for the PlayStation 5. It comes well-endowed, with plenty of gaming-friendly options, including support for Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) that make it a unique offering that is an all-round great gaming TV that would complement the PlayStation 5 Pro’s additional performance and visual fidelity gains with a display that does it justice.
For users looking to use it casually along with the PS5 Pro, the TV’s WebOS offering comes with plenty of applications and streaming services which allow it to be a great standalone entertainment device even when one decides to take some time off from the console. It does, however, trade at a significant premium as an OLED display versus other TVs, but does offer value to more demanding users and those who want a premium option.
GIGABYTE AORUS FO32U2 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor
QD-OLED Superiority
The GIGABYTE AORUS FO32U2 is a high-end QD OLED monitor that delivers a stunning 240Hz refresh rate at a 4K resolution with a bleeding-edge 0.03ms response time in tow.This makes it an ideal display to pair with PCs, as well as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X even as it maxes out both of the latter options with relative ease.The GIGABYTE AORUS FO32U2 comes in a nearly bezel-less design with plenty of ports on offer and a built-in KVM switch for power users.GIGABYTE also offers a user-friendly OLED care suite that includes pixel cleaning amongst other features that allow for powerful user-level control of the display while allowing GIGABYTE to offer a comprehensive 3-year warranty that covers burn-in.
The GIGABYTE AORUS FO32U2 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor marries both an excellent 32-inch form factor and some of the best display tech in the business, leveraging a 4K QD OLED display that can handle up to 240Hz refresh rates with ease. It comes with an extremely low 0.03ms response time, VRR support out of the box, and a display that is reasonably bright compared to some of its OLED monitor alternatives.
It also comes with decent audio out of the box as well as a built-in KVM switch that could make for an easy switch for users looking for a monitor that works with both the PC and their PlayStation consoles alike. As a monitor that sports a bleeding edge display in terms of tech, it does cost considerably more than most of its peers but delivers the goods and then some for its steep asking price as the only monitor users will need in the near future with a PC, PlayStation or any other console for that matter.
With the PS5 Pro’s stated goal being higher fidelity meeting a high or acceptable frame rate, it might be a great time to consider grabbing a gaming monitor that pushes past the 60Hz limit meaningfully. The GIGABYTE AORUS FO32U2 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor is significant overkill in this regard with a 240Hz refresh rate, but its low latency and near-zero response time in addition to infinite contrast and excellent motion clarity making it one of the best candidates for the job - albeit at a high premium.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset
Pro-Grade Gaming Audio
The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset from SteelSeries is a serious gamer’s tool. A gamer who wants the convenience and quality of a feature-rich wireless gaming headset need not look elsewhere. The headset’s premium high-fidelity drivers deliver a clear soundscape and a fully customizable experience with the Sonar Software. It supports 360-degree spatial audio for a more immersive gaming experience and helps users hear every audio cue around them clearly.With active noise-canceling technology enhanced by a four-mic hybrid system, gamers can use transparency mode to tune out any annoying background noises.
Users looking to splurge on a gaming headset upgrade for their PlayStation console can opt for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset, which happens to be one of the best in the business, offering users excellent audio, active noise canceling, and a considerably long battery life. For users who do not want to wait for their headset to charge, the Nova Pro Wireless comes with hot-swappable batteries, making it a great option to go for in terms of convenience and zero downtime between sessions.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset not only works with consoles and PC but also comes with a dedicated Bluetooth mode that allows it to pair wirelessly with a variety of devices, making it a great all-arounder to get. While Steelseries' noise cancelation on offer is hit or miss for most users, unlike more established competitors in the headphones market, it still does a great job for most gamers, offering a comfortable, if slightly pricey option to get for their gaming needs on the PlayStation 5 this year.
The Arctis Nova Pro is forward-compatible with the PS5 Pro, making it a great high-end headset to grab for an enthusiast-class gaming console and its unique features make it one of, if not the best gaming headsets with bragging rights in tow for what is a premium asking price at the time of writing.
PlayStation DualSense Edge Wireless Controller
A Highly Customizable Premium Choice
The Playstation DualSense Edge wireless controller is Sony’s first attempt at a premium controller, and it does not disappoint consumers desirous of a better experience versus the entry-level DualSense.
While the PlayStation 5 Pro’s specs have been heavily discussed (and been the subject of multiple unconfirmed leaks), it is still expected to ship with the standard DualSense controller. Getting game-ready by scoring a DualSense Edge controller might be the right approach for most enthusiasts and multiplayer enthusiasts. The controller comes directly from Sony, unlike 3rd party options which could have some of their functionality limited or restricted, such as haptic feedback, and offers a degree of customizability that was historically only available on the Xbox Elite series controllers.
The DualSense Edge comes with its own carrying case, mappable back buttons, and adjustable triggers, all of which can deliver a key advantage to gamers by catering to their comfort needs while allowing for custom remapped button layouts for maximum impact in competitive multiplayer titles or even something as simple as a Soulsborne title demanding an extra degree of finesse for execution.
It also happens to be, to date, one of, if not the best gaming controllers in general and has the same status that the Xbox Elite Series 2 currently has for Xbox gamers making it a must-have for most gamers aiming to ‘Go Pro’ with their console choice this holiday season.
SAMSUNG 990 PRO w/ Heatsink SSD
Fast, Durable Powerhouse
The Samsung 990 Pro is the fastest PCI-E Gen 4 SSD that Samsung has to offer, and it comes with a new, bold design on the heatsink that should blend in with most gaming PCs and allow the PlayStation 5 to use it optimally. Trading at an impressive discount over MSRP, the Samsung 990 Pro is pretty much the maximum performance that users can eke out on most modern gaming PCs from the 2TB SSD.
While the PlayStation 5’s successor is expected to come with as much as 2TB of storage out of the box, more storage is never something that goes amiss for gamers, even as modern titles balloon past the 50GB mark easily on average, with some AAA titles touching or moving past 200GB of storage when all is said and done. The Samsung 990 Pro is the answer to the needs of users looking to get an expansion driver they should be able to add to a newer PlayStation console down the road.
It comes in the same M2 form factor that Sony recommends for the PS5 with the requisite heatsink in play to cool the PCI-E 4.0 drive. It exceeds the speed requirements of the PS5 console handily and comes with an extensive warranty and a durability rating that makes it an essential, if slightly expensive, choice for gamers looking to upgrade storage meaningfully on their console.
The PS5 Pro does come with a larger 2TB drive than its predecessor which caps out at 1TB out of the box but given how most game titles are moving in terms of size, an extra 2TB of storage might just be the exact future-proofing that most enthusiasts would be looking for with 4TB of total storage in play.
PlayStation On The Go
While not exactly a PSP successor, the PlayStation Portal solves an age-old issue of having to share one TV in a household. This remote play device allows users to stream whatever is happening on their PlayStation 5’s directly to the large 8-inch 1080p LCD screen. What makes the PlayStation Portal unique is that it comes packed with all the advanced technology of the DualSense wireless controller, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. One downside is that it doesn’t feature Bluetooth support for wireless audio, but it does work with the PlayStation Pulse earbuds and headset, while also sporting a 3.5mm audio jack for wired audio.
Not all users prefer having a large screen or have the ability to play in their bedroom or living room, opting for remote play instead, a feature that the PlayStation 5 console allows. The PlayStation Portal takes things a step further, offering a bright and sharp 8-inch display that can do 60FPS and comes with a controller fused into the package that offers the complete DualSense experience, including haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
This makes for an excellent remote play device that does not deviate from an authentic PlayStation experience while on the go, leveraging the full power of the PlayStation 5 console sans the need to carry it around or power it in a variety of locations. While the PS Remote Play application does exist and works well with a variety of mobile devices, the PS Portal is a notch above when it comes to streaming a title without the extra baggage that most of its peers come with.
Users should, however, be advised: the PS Portal does not have Bluetooth for audio and requires proprietary Sony PlayStation-branded headsets to function for users needing a wireless option. It does however offer the best small-screen remote play experience that most gamers can hope for, with official support from Sony being a key differentiating factor.
FAQ
Q: When is the PlayStation 5 Pro expected to launch?
While the PlayStation 5 Pro is a rumor currently, most publications expect to see it in some form or shape before the end of this year.
Q: How much is the PlayStation 5 Pro expected to cost?
The PlayStation 5 Pro is expected to cost $600 or more at launch based on pricing rumors.
