How to Tell the Difference Between the PS4 and PS4 Pro

In the eyes of many, the PS4 Pro is seen as the larger version of the PS4. However, this is not entirely accurate. The PS4 Pro is, in fact, larger than the PS4; however, the two consoles are not similar in design. The difference in both consoles is quite noticeable if you take the time to compare them side-by-side. However, some might have trouble differentiating the two at a glance.

In this article, I’ll go over the differences between the PS4 and PS4 Pro so you don’t buy one for the sake of the other or are persuaded to buy one over the other when you don’t need it. So I’ll explain how they differ in terms of power, specifications, and features.

How to Tell the Difference Between the PS4 and the PS4 Pro

The easiest way to tell the difference between the PS4 and PS4 Pro is in their appearance. The PS4 is a bit smaller than the PS4 Pro. It also has two separate faceplates, one glossy black and one matte black. The PS4 also has the PlayStation logo painted silver at the bottom of the console. The PS4 Pro is all-matte black, with the PlayStation logo now painted glossy black in the middle of the console.

How do the PS4 and PS4 Pro differ in terms of Specs and Features?

In terms of specs, the PS4 and PS4 Pro are quite similar, but they do have some very key differences. They may share the same CPU architecture, but the PS4 Pro has been boosted to outperform the PS4.

The PS4 Pro can be overclocked to 2.1GHz, while the PS4 can be overclocked to 1.6GHz. This means that the PS4 Pro’s CPU is faster than the PS4’s CPU even though they both share an AMD Jaguar x86-64 8-core CPU.

Sony has also made slight upgrades to the PS4 Pro’s GPU, which is why the PS4 Pro can play games at 4K resolutions. This is because the PS4 Pro takes full advantage of AMD’s Polaris architecture, which gives it a boost in performance and power.

This can be seen in the number of TFLOPS the PS4 Pro can hit. The PS4 Pro can achieve an impressive 4.2 TFLOPS of graphical output, while the PS4 can only hit 2.1 TFLOPS. This means the PS4 Pro is twice as powerful as the PS4. This allows the PS4 to render games at 4K resolutions.

The PS4 Pro’s Bluetooth was also updated from v2.1 to v4.0 and now supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Additionally, to free up the faster GDDR5 RAM for gaming performance, the Pro also has an additional 1GB of DDR3 RAM for non-gaming applications.

In terms of features, the PS4 Pro has the edge over the PS4 because it can play games in 4K resolutions, hit higher frame rates, have improved graphical fidelity, and have better environmental features. This produces very authentic images and improves the level of immersion players experience when playing on the PS4 Pro.

How do the PS4 and PS4 Pro differ in terms of Performance?

In terms of performance, the PS4 Pro clearly outperforms the PS4 in many areas. As previously stated, the PS4 Pro has a maximum performance of 4.2 TFLOPs, as opposed to the PS4’s 1.84 TFLOPs. In terms of performance, the PS4 Pro’s ability to render games at 4K resolution should not be overlooked, as this is where the PS4 Pro shines and puts all of its power to good use. When paired with a 4K TV, older games get a significant performance boost, thanks in large part to the use of upscaling technology to produce natively 4K boosts.

Although the PS4 Pro is primarily intended to supplement 4K televisions, it will also provide a graphical boost when used with a 1080p screen. Some of these enhancements are deliberate, such as using super-sampling to increase the amount of detail in a given scene while also increasing the number of pixels visible on the screen.

As a result, the PS4 Pro has more pixels to render images at higher densities, allowing it to create more detailed images on a single frame than the PS4.

As a result, games like Uncharted 4 and Ghost of Tsushima get a significant boost in graphical fidelity, particle effects fly off the screen, and contrast ratios skyrocket.

However, it is important to note that not all games have native 4K resolutions out of the gate. Many of them, however, support 4K Pro mode, which upscales performance and increases graphical fidelity, and it all looks great on a 4K TV.

How do the PS4 and PS4 Pro differ in terms of Price?

In terms of pricing, the PS4 Pro is much more expensive than the PS4. When I was shopping on Amazon, I found the PS4 Pro going for between $400 and $450. These prices are due to ongoing price hikes, inflation, and chip shortages, which make the PS5 very expensive.

This drives demand for previous generation consoles, which in turn increases the price of the PS4 Pro. However, the base model PS4 can still be found for about $200-$280 on several storefronts, including Amazon, eBay, and even Walmart.

How do the PS4 and PS4 Pro differ in terms of Games?

In terms of games, the PS4 and PS4 Pro share all of the same video games. There are no PS4 Pro-exclusive games. So, all the games that have been released on PS4 are also playable on the PS4 Pro.

They both share the same library of games, and any game that will work on the PS4 will also work perfectly on the PS4 Pro. The only difference is that games look way better on the PS4 Pro than on the PS4, but that doesn’t mean they won’t play on the PS4.

How do the PS4 and PS4 Pro differ in terms of Backward Compatibility?

The PS4 and PS4 Pro are not backwards compatible with PS3 games, making it impossible for them to play any PS3 titles. With the PS5, however, this is not the case because PS4 games can be played on the PS5.

All PlayStation games that have been released work on the PS4 Pro, so there are no backwards compatibility issues between the PS4 and PS4 Pro.

This means there are no games exclusive to the PS4 Pro; all PS4 games work on both consoles. However, emulated versions of some PS2 games that have been upscaled to high definition can be bought from the PlayStation store. Also, PS3 games are available for streaming via a PlayStation Plus premium subscription.

How do the PS4 and PS4 Pro differ in terms of design?

In terms of design, the PS4 Pro and PS4 are two very different-looking consoles. The PS4 Pro is slightly bigger than the PS4, and the PS4 Pro is also slightly heavier than the PS4. From its appearance, the PS4 has this spaceship look to it, with sharper corners and straight edges.

 The PS4 has a glossy black finish on the hard drive cover, while the other faceplate has an all-matte black finish. It seems very reminiscent of the old PS2 slim, with the disc drive being the one that was painted in a glossy black finish.

It also has a silver PlayStation logo at the bottom of the console, while the PS4 Pro has an all-matte black finish with the PlayStation logo now in the middle of the console and painted in a glossy black finish to make it pop.

The PS4 Pro also has curved edges and rounded corners, giving it the appearance of a short flight of stairs, as well as a three-layered design. The PS4 Pro looks better than the PS4, in my opinion, even though both consoles have very different design choices. Although, it may just be because of my bias toward matte black colour designs.

How do the PS4 and PS4 Pro differ in terms of overall value?

If you could get the PS4 Pro for $400, you would be getting the better console. You will get better graphics, more storage, and improved performance from the PS4 Pro. However, all of that is dependent on you having a 4K TV because you won’t be able to get the most out of your PS4 Pro if you are using a basic 1080p display.

However, using a 1080p display with the PS4 Pro will still give you a slight graphic improvement. Therefore, in my opinion, the PS4 Pro still offers the best overall value. I just think it does more than the base model PS4.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the PS4 Pro and PS4 are two very different gaming consoles. The PS4 Pro is more powerful and has better graphics than the PS4, but it is also more expensive. The PS4 is a great console for people who are on a budget or who don’t need the extra power that the PS4 Pro offers. 

However, if you are looking for the best gaming experience possible aside from the PS5, the PS4 Pro is the way to go.

Image Gallery – How to Tell the Difference Between the PS4 and PS4 Pro

References: Sony Playstation.