Most probably, you are now tempted to get a PlayStation 4 in order to play the latest triple-A titles. However, Sony has released two new versions of the gaming console, which are PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation 4 Slim. Read the comparison between PlayStation 4 Pro vs Slim below to determine the most suitable version for you.
Continue reading below to learn about:
– The size and weight of each PlayStation 4 model
– The connectivity features available on each PS4 version
– The storage capacity of each PS4 version
– The special features and capabilities of PlayStation 4 Pro
– The performance of PlayStation 4 Pro vs Slim
– Which PS4 version that is generally more recommended
Dimensions
As expected from the name of the product, its dimensions become PlayStation 4 Slim’s defining characteristic. It is much thinner and lighter than the original PlayStation 4 or the PlayStation 4 Pro. Not to mention that it is also quite more affordable than the Pro version. See also: Playstation TV vs Sling.
PlayStation 4 Slim measures 288 mm x 265 mm x 39 mm (11.3 inches x 10.4 inches x 1.54 inches). The weight is about 2.1 kg (4.6 lbs). The slim design looks cool and modern, and it is definitely space-friendly.
So, PlayStation 4 Slim can be a great choice if you prefer something that is easy to fit into your crowded room. You can also choose this version if you want to spend the least amount of money required to play the latest game titles.
PlayStation 4 Pro vs Slim is a thud larger than the original version. PlayStation 4 Pro is significantly thicker and heavier than the Slim version. PlayStation 4 Pro measures 327 mm x 295 mm x 55 mm (12.9 inches x 11.6 inches x 2.17 inches) and weighs about 3.3 kg (7.3 lbs).
PlayStation 4 Pro, from a visual-perspective, does not look as nice as the Slim version. It is fat and bulky, and is not exactly discrete. And it requires more space, so it may be more difficult to fit into a room with a severe space limitation. But, of course, many people will argue that what lies inside is more important than the physical attributes of the gaming console, so let’s continue the comparison in other aspects.
Connectivity
One notable difference between PlayStation 4 Pro vs Slim is the connectivity. Well, both PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation 4 Slim come with Blu-ray optical drives that are DVD-compatible, just like the original. Plus, they both step up from USB 3.0 to USB 3.1. However, PlayStation 4 Pro has some additional connectivity options that aren’t available on PlayStation 4 Slim.
PlayStation 4 Slim only has two USB 3.1 ports, one Gigabit Ethernet port, one HDMI 1.4 port, and one PS Camera port. It does not have an optical audio output, which was found on the original version.
PlayStation 4 Pro comes with three USB 3.1 ports, one Gigabit Ethernet port, one HDMI 2.0 port, one PS Camera port, and an optical audio output. The additional USB port will be invaluable if you are planning to use PlayStation VR, as the Move Controllers require USB ports for charging. In addition, the HDMI 2.0 support is essential for 4K.
Nevertheless, both PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation 4 Slim come with upgrades to their Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Previously, the original PlayStation 4 only supports Bluetooth 2.1 and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. Its wireless connectivity is limited to 2.4 GHz networks. Both PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation 4 Slim now support Bluetooth 4.0, which is much faster. They also support 802.11ac Wi-Fi for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. So, you can expect better wireless performance from either version.
Storage
PlayStation 4 Slim is available with a 500 GB or 1 TB HDD. The lower capacity is cheaper, but if you have a huge collection of game titles, the one with a higher capacity is definitely better. As usual, you can replace the HDD, so there is no need to delete your old games to make room for new ones.
PlayStation 4 Pro is only available with a 1 TB HDD. There is no problem with that, considering that games nowadays come in huge sizes. The HDD is also user-replaceable.
4K and HDR Support
When choosing between PlayStation 4 Pro vs Slim, you need to consider whether 4K support is important for you or not. If you have a 4K monitor, you definitely want to get the most out of it. However, if you only have a 1080p display and you are not planning to upgrade your monitor, 4K support is not needed.
PlayStation 4 Slim does not support 4K. It only supports 1080p. It should be your choice if you are sticking to a 1080p display. For sure, the image quality is great. But if you have a 4K display, this version is not recommended; there is too much potential that is wasted if you use a 4K display for 1080p content.
Technically, PlayStation 4 Slim is capable of delivering HDR content. However, since most HDR content is tied to 4K or PS4 Pro Enhanced content, you probably won’t benefit much from its HDR support.
PlayStation 4 Pro offers 4K video streaming and HDR support, and it can also provide enhanced graphics on particular game titles. Sony gives an option to game developers to create higher quality graphics for PS4 Pro users, and the games will be labeled as PS4 Pro Enhanced. Besides the fact that most new games for the console are made to be PS4 Pro Enhanced, many old games are updated or remade to support the enhancement as well.
But, if you have a 1080p monitor, is purchasing PlayStation 4 Pro for the 4K capability a good decision? The short answer, no. PlayStation 4 Pro won’t give a significant visual improvement over PlayStation 4 Slim on a 1080p monitor. Indeed, if you compare them closely, you may notice slightly sharper textures and slightly more detailed visual effects. But they are hardly noticeable.
Also, keep in mind that despite the 4K capabilities PlayStation 4 Pro does not have an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive. In other words, the disc content quality is still limited to 1080p.
PlayStation VR
All PlayStation 4 versions now support PlayStation VR. Sony has released its own virtual reality headset to allow VR gameplay. Compared to other competing products, such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, Sony’s PlayStation VR is quite more affordable.
It is said that PlayStation 4 Pro has been designed to better support PlayStation 4 VR. However, the difference is not exactly dramatic. Older game titles only look a little bit better on the Pro version, without a real improvement in transition speed.
Meanwhile, games that are labeled with PlayStation 4 Pro Enhanced indeed look considerably than the standard PlayStation VR. But what you can expect is only more detail. The images are sharper and more detailed, and are generally more pleasing to look at. But PlayStation 4 Pro won’t make smoother transitions or anything like that.
Performance
Finally, there are some notable differences in the performance of PlayStation 4 Pro compared to PlayStation 4 Slim. In terms of raw processing power, the Pro version easily takes the cake. But it is not entirely without a weakness.
PlayStation 4 Pro is armed with the 2.1 GHz eight-core AMD Jaguar CPU, 4.2 TFLOP AMD Radeon GPU, and 8 GB DDR5 + 1 GB RAM. According to the company, PlayStation 4 Pro offers 30% and 100% more power in CPU and GPU, respectively. The additional 1 GB RAM is reserved for non-gaming functionality, so the entirety of the 8 GB RAM is dedicated for gaming.
PlayStation 4 Pro can deliver higher framerates than PlayStation 4 Slim, simply because it has more raw power. Loading times are lower, too. However, note that there are very few titles that can run in 60 fps. Games typically require a patch in order to run in 60 fps, and not many developers can get that right.
The weakness of PlayStation 4 Pro is that it can be a bit noisy when working intensively. And it consumes more electrical power. The power consumption is rated at 310W. For comparison, the original only consumes 250W of power, and PlayStation 4 Slim is even less greedy at 165W.
PlayStation 4 Slim, on the other hand, is packed with the 1.6 GHz eight-core AMD Jaguar, 1.84 TFLOP AMD Radeon, and 8 GB DDR5 RAM. This is pretty much similar to the original version. The overall performance is still great.
And PlayStation 4 Slim is typically whisper-quiet. One reason is that it does not need to do as much processing as PlayStation 4 Pro with the Enhanced content, so the internal fan doesn’t need to go crazy. And as mentioned, the power consumption of PlayStation 4 Slim is only 165W.
PlayStation 4 Pro vs Slim
Conclusion
In general, PlayStation 4 Pro is still the best choice because of the 4K and HDR support, numerous Enhanced game titles, and greater processing power. Plus, it has more connectivity options. But if you only have a 1080p monitor and you don’t care about the extras offers by the Pro, PlayStation 4 Slim can be your choice.