Difference Between PS4 Slim And PS4 Pro

So you’ve been looking around for a PlayStation 4 to start using in your home, and one insane thing you’ve probably noticed in that search is just how many different models there are to choose! Add different bundles to the mix, and choices get even more diverse. You have the traditional PlayStation 4, the PlayStation 4 Pro, and even the PlayStation 4 Slim. They come at all different price points, but the differences between all three aren’t immediately clear to the average person. The differences between all three is a pretty deep conversation, which is why we’re going to only be diving into the differences between the PlayStation 4 Slim and the PlayStation 4 Pro in this guide.

Follow along with us below, and we’ll show you everything you need to know about the two consoles, and hopefully help you make a decision on what the best value for money is for you. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

PlayStation 4 Slim

The first one that we’re looking at is the traditional PlayStation 4 Slim console. This one is generally going to be your most affordable console. Coming in between $269 and $300 — all depending on retailer pricing and current sales, as well as bundles that you might decide to pick up — the traditional PlayStation 4 Slim is your cheapest PS4, that is, if you cannot find an original PlayStation 4 anymore. It still has really great hardware in it, and it can play all of your favorite PlayStation 4 games in high definition; however, it won’t be able to play any 4K content whatsoever — the hardware just isn’t powerful enough for that, and so, you’re limited to 1080p playback with pretty much everything here; there isn’t even 4K Blu-Ray playback like the Xbox One S has.

Don’t let that scare you away, though. The PlayStation 4 Slim is a great console. You won’t have to worry about upgrading it or it going out of style for years to come. It’s a fairly cheap solution to get into if you’re holding it for the next-gen gaming consoles from Sony.

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PlayStation 4 Pro

That said, the PlayStation 4 Pro improves upon the PlayStation 4 Slim in almost every way. You get improved hardware — primarily increased GPU performance — better wireless hardware, and even some upgraded RAM to top it all off. All of that put together, this means that you should be able to easily play games in 4K or HDR, as well as any 4K streaming playback; however, neither the PlayStation 4 Pro or the PlayStation 4 Slim support 4K Blu-Ray playback. The PlayStation 4 Slim doesn’t support 4K or HDR at all, actually.

The PlayStation 4 Pro also has some major design differences. It’s significantly larger than the PlayStation 4 Slim, and that partially has to deal with the improved hardware. Not only that, but it does have a sleeker look and an improved color finish. It comes with some extra ports on the back of the console as well, including upgraded HDMI tech.

The upgraded hardware in the PlayStation 4 Pro also means that you’ll get increased performance when it comes to using PlayStation VR. Not by much, but it will be a whole lot smoother than on the original PlayStation 4 Slim.

And now we look at the price disparity between the PlayStation 4 Pro and the PlayStation 4 Slim console. All of this extra hardware and improved technology comes at an added cost, after all — you certainly aren’t going to be able to obtain a PlayStation 4 Pro even remotely close to the pricing of the Slim variant. A PlayStation 4 can be had for around $200, but a PlayStation 4 Slim will cost you between $269 and $300, possibly more depending on any bundle models. That said, a PlayStation 4 Pro costs substantially more: a whopping $500 or more. But that’s not the only price to consider here — you’ll need to make sure that you have a TV that can support 4K HDR content, which can potentially double that price or more, if it doesn’t.

Really, when it comes down to it, the PlayStation 4 Pro is more of an incremental upgrade than anything. It cannot support full 4K playback, such as in the case of Blu-Rays, but it will be able to support 4K playback with, say, games that are optimized for the Pro, as well as over streaming. So is it worth the $500? If you’ve got the cash to drop, and you want to stay on the edge of technology, then definitely! Is it worth upgrading from a PlayStation 4 Slim to a PlayStation 4 Pro? The value is a whole lot less, but it all depends on what you want out of your console, though it’s generally not worth it.

Verdict

As you can see, the differences between the PlayStation 4 Slim and the PlayStation 4 Pro are purely incremental. The major differences between the two consoles come right down to hardware — the Slim cannot support 4K playback at all, but the PlayStation 4 Pro can. There are some small design differences as well, such as the PlayStation 4 being larger, but sleeker overall. However, the overall differences just aren’t major or overhauled enough to justify the upgrade. The difference is actually a whole lot more incremental than what the Xbox One X is to the Xbox One S — the 4K support just isn’t that great in Sony’s offering, thus why it might be better to buy a traditional PlayStation 4 Slim, and then hold out for the next-gen gaming consoles from Sony.