The PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim were almost released at the same time, with only a few months separating them. Both consoles were announced on September 7, 2016, but the Slim was released on September 15, 2016.
The Pro, on the other hand, was released on November 10th, 2016. At the time, players could choose between the 4K-capable console and the 1080p console, which had a 1TB hard drive and was smaller but less powerful.
This, however, allowed players who did not own a 4K TV to replace their older consoles with slightly smaller ones that provided comparable, if not identical, levels of performance. So, in this article, I’ll compare the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro to determine which is the superior console and finally put an end to the debate.
Which is More Powerful: PS4 Slim or the PS4 Pro?
The PS4 Pro is easily the most powerful PlayStation 4 console on the market. It can play games at 4K and has a lot more power than the PS4 Slim. The issue with the PS4 Slim is the fact that there have been no real internal upgrades done on the PS4 Slim. The Pro has the better CPU and can be overclocked at 2.1GHz, while the Slim can only be clocked at 1.6GHz.
The PS4 Pro’s GPU has also experienced a significant performance improvement and can now produce graphics at a rate of 4.2 TFLOPS. Graphically speaking, the PS4 Pro is more powerful than the PS4 Slim because the PS4 Slim is severely constrained by its power and can only achieve 2.1 TFLOPS.
The PS4 Pro’s graphical enhancements were specifically designed to enable 4K graphical rendering on the PS4 Pro.
While the PS4 Slim is only able to render images at 1080p, the PS4 Pro also has a boost mode feature which allows it to natively boost the performance of games which do not have a 4K patch.
This is a very useful feature because it allows players to load up older games and get native 4K resolutions when they previously couldn’t.
This also provides gamers with a slight boost in frame rates and graphical fidelity, making it able to outperform the PS4 Slim with minimal effort.
To free up the faster GDDR5 RAM for gaming performance, the Pro also has an additional 1GB of DDR3 RAM for non-gaming applications. At the same time, the PS4 Pro has 256MB of DDR3 RAM to handle non-gaming and background tasks.
Which has Better Graphics; PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro?
The graphics on the PS4 Pro are, without a doubt, the best of the two. The PS4 Pro can scale down its 4K output to produce sharper and crisper 1080p images even if you don’t have a 4K TV, and it doesn’t stop there. With excellent results, the PS4 Pro can support high-fidelity 4K gaming on a 4K TV.
Games with stunning graphics on the PS4 Pro include God of War 2018 and Horizon Forbidden West, to name just two. If you don’t believe me, compare Horizon Forbidden West on the PS4 Pro to the PS4 Slim, and you should be able to see the difference very clearly.
When you pair it with an HDR-capable TV, the graphics even start to soar. Right now, there isn’t even a difference between the PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim. The PS4 Pro clearly outperforms the PS4 Slim, thanks to all of its graphical improvements.
The PS4 Pro’s HDR implementation is quite impressive, and the colours appear to have a wide range and to be extremely deep. This is due to the PS4 Pro’s increased power and ability to produce colours with higher quality and a wider gamut.
Which is Cheaper; PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro?
At launch, the PS4 Slim cost about $300, but the price has gone down but not drastically, and I was able to find it on Amazon for $250. However, if you are looking to get it for even less, then you should check it out on eBay. I found one there for $170. However, the PS4 Pro is enjoying a bit of a resurgence in most storefronts.
This is because of the ongoing situations around the PS5’s launch and its pricing. So, most people are shifting their attention to the PS4 Pro as the next best alternative. I have seen PS4 Pros go for over $400 on other platforms, but I managed to find one on Amazon for $385, which seemed like a fair price to me.
Which has More Storage: PS4 Slim or the PS4 Pro?
The PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim have the same amount of storage. Both consoles have a 1 TB hard drive. However, the PS4 Slim has a cheaper 500GB model. Also, both models can be upgraded to include a 1TB SSD, which is very nice. Both consoles can also store games on external hard drives to allow for more room and more games.
Which has More Features: PS4 Slim or the PS4 Pro?
In terms of features, the PS4 Pro has more features than the PS4 Slim. It can play games in 4K, improve frame rates and provide graphical boosts. The PS4 Pro can display more images on the screen at once, as well as more intricate imagery than the PS4 Slim.
The PS4 Pro also has boost mode, which allows it to give a graphic and frame rate boost for games that did not have a pro mode patch. However, the PS4 Pro does not have an UltraHD Blu-ray optical drive, but the PS4 Slim can play UltraHD Blu-ray videos.
The PS4 Pro also has an HDMI 2.0 port. The Pro also has a much-improved performance over the PS4 Slim when playing games on the PSVR headset.
Which is More Popular; PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro?
Even though the PS4 Pro has more power, the PS4 Slim is actually more in demand. It is less expensive and gives players a 1 TB hard drive. The primary cause of this is the requirement of a 4K TV to appreciate the graphical fidelity provided by the PS4 Pro fully.
However, both consoles fall short when compared to Sony’s second-best-selling PS4 base model. Having sold well over 75 million units throughout its existence, the Pro and Slim models have made up the difference.
Conclusion
The PS4 Slim is a great option for those considering purchasing a new PS4 console but who do not own a 4K TV. Even though it is not as powerful as the PS4 Pro, it still offers great visuals and frame rate improvements.
However, if you do have a 4K TV, the PS4 Pro is the way to go. You will be blown away by the difference in graphics and performance. The difference is quite noticeable.
I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comment section below. Thank you for reading!
Image Gallery – Which is Better: PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro?
References: What is PS4 Pro All About?
