KEY FEATURES
- 4K and HDR
- 1TB storage
- Release date: 10 November 2016
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Review Price: £349.00
This is a review-in-progress. I spent a day in the company of Sony and some game developers, and then took the console home for the weekend. As soon as I’m satisfied I’ve thoroughly tested the product, I’ll update this review. Stay tuned for a final verdict later this week.
WHAT IS THE SONY PS4 PRO?
The latest PlayStation 4 had a few nicknames before Sony settled on ‘PS4 Pro’. “PS4 Neo” was a popular one, as were “PS4K” and “PS4.5”. I feel the last one is the most appropriate: this is an upgrade, not a proper level up like the PS5 would be.
That means you’re not getting a next-gen console, but rather the best possible version of a three-year-old machine. Sony calls it “the super-charged PS4”, which seems fair. It’s bigger than ever, with more power under the hood, and it can handle 4K and high dynamic range (HDR) video.
Sony’s biggest problem is Microsoft’s Xbox One S, itself a 0.5 upgrade. But while Microsoft generously added UHD Blu-ray playback during the refurb, Sony hasn’t. The PS4 Pro is completely focused on gaming performance and fidelity.
The PS4 Pro is a bit familiar, but it’s also the most powerful gaming console you can buy in 2016. While it doesn’t do enough to make existing PS4 owners rush out to upgrade, anyone about to join #teamSony is in for a treat.
SONY PS4 PRO – DESIGN AND FEATURES
The PS4 Pro is a beast. It’s a little taller than original PS4, and clearly wider and deeper. The overall effect is more of a slab than a box.
I’m okay with this. The Xbox One S could afford to go smaller than its predecessor since the core specifications are the same. The PS4 Pro has a bigger engine – you can’t stick a V12 in a Mini. Well you can, but that would be ridiculous.
In other design news: the parallelogram shape remains but the sharp corners have been rounded off. A chrome-effect PS logo at the top is the only thing that really stands out from the matte black plastic. It adds a premium vibe, which is just as well as the very thin power and eject buttons don’t feel luxurious at all.
The original’s two-deck design is now a three-deck. There seems to be no functional point to this extra deck, besides maybe confusing people into inserting games where there is no disc drive.
As before, two USB ports hide in a gap at the front, but Sony has – at last – added a third to the back. It makes me very happy to know that I can finally charge my controller without a cable sticking out the front.
The other connections are as before: Ethernet, HDMI out, Aux (for the PS4 camera), optical out, and power. Note that the power lead is no longer a figure-of-eight cable, but a kettle lead.
Under the hood, the PS4 Pro promises twice the power of its predecessor. That means the Pro can run games faster, with fewer framerate drops in intensive games. Most importantly, the PS4 Pro supports 4K and HDR.
A quick word on these, for the uninitiated: 4K refers to the picture resolution, and is roughly four times the number of pixels you get on a regular Full HD picture – about eight million pixels. Theoretically, that means finer detail and greater clarity.
HDR, or high dynamic range, means a wider range of brightness, contrast and colour. This technology has come along because traditional production and display technologies don’t show nearly as much information as our eyes can see. A higher dynamic range means a more realistic picture.
The fact that the PS4 Pro can handle 4K and HDR simply means better looking games. New PS4 games will have a ‘Pro’ option for enhanced visuals, and some older games are getting patched too.
Don’t worry about compatibility, because all PS4 games must work on standard and Pro consoles. That’s the rule – nobody gets left out in the cold. Otherwise, it’s entirely up to the developers how they make use of the extra power on the PS4 Pro.
For a list of PS4 Pro supported games, check out our PS4 Pro vs PS4 feature.
SONY PS4 PRO – PERFORMANCE
I played Gran Turismo Sport, Uncharted 4, The Last of Us Remastered, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Horizon Zero Dawn, all on 4K and HDR-compatible TVs. The results were very impressive, but differed depending on the game.
The Last of Us Remastered looks better than ever in 4K and HDR. Textures on the clothing are finer. Colour shading is more subtle. There’s much more of a kick to sun beams and shadows are both murkier and yet contain more detail. Revisiting Joel and Ellie on the PS4 Pro is almost like playing the game for the first time.
Then there’s Rise of the Tomb Raider, a newer game and already a stunner. This game’s PS4 Pro mode ignores HDR entirely, and instead focuses on detail and framerates. You get to choose between visual fidelity and stability. Stick with 1080p and you can run the game at 60fps. I chose the 4K option, which is capped at 30fps. That slight drop in smoothness was worth it for the lush scenery.
I was most blown away by Gran Turismo Sport, which runs at 4K (using 1800p checkerboard rendering) and HDR at 60fps. Ferrari red is accurately rendered, which is a big deal because it wasn’t possible until now, and always appeared a little too orange. It’s a subtle thing, but when everything looks a little more realistic, it all adds up.
Less subtle is the matter of contrast. Sun glinting off a shiny bonnet ought to make you squint, and here it definitely does. Combined with the fine bumps and scratches on the metal, that’s the most lifelike video game rendering of cars I’ve ever seen.
All this, and the PS4 Pro is only just getting started. I’m really looking forward to the flood of games that will make full use of all this extra power.
SONY PS4 PRO – EARLY VERDICT
Should you buy the PS4 Pro? Well, it offers the best graphics currently available on a games console. If you’ve yet to adopt a console of this generation, I’d say it’s a no-brainer. You won’t find better graphics on a games console this year.
But what if you already have a PS4? That’s a less obvious choice, considering the PS4 also gets HDR – without the 4K – which narrows that gap quite a bit. As an original PS4 owner, I am sorely tempted to upgrade, but then again I’m an AV geek.
Then there’s the Xbox One S, which doesn’t have the sheer grunt of the PS4 Pro, but does offer a 4K Blu-ray player. If you want an all-round media machine, Microsoft has a distinct advantage in that arena. Another thing to consider is the proper next-gen consoles. Microsoft has its next Xbox in the pipeline, codenamed Project Scorpio, and that’s bound to be a clear step up.
Ultimately, it depends how much importance you attach to that extra step towards realism. From my few days with the PS4 Pro, I’d say it’s impressive, but not exactly essential. Check back later this week for the final verdict.
Sourse: trustedreviews.com