PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro: What Is The Difference & Which One Should I Chose?

What Is The Difference Between PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro, Which One Should I Chose? [Simple Answer]

Play Station pundits have their work cut out for them with the way Sony is churning out new upgraded devices, making it hard to spot the differences. While the market was still agog with the base PS4 console, the company released PS4 Slim on September 16, 2016, with some notable but not so outright differences in the specs. Apparently, Sony wasn’t ready to allow the excitement die off before they raised the bars higher with the release of the PS4 Pro on November 10, 2016, stirring up confusion in terms of which of the game consoles (PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro) to go for.

Let’s help you out with making that choice by picking out the specs that make the difference between the PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro. This piece will also help you decide if it’s necessary to upgrade to the latest version if you are already getting your money’s worth from the former.

PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro: What Is The Difference?

The PS4, PS4 Slim, as well as the latest in the family – the PS4 Pro were all built with the same operating system and UI but there are a few features that make each of them stand out from the pack. Between the base PS4 and it’s successor, the PS4 Slim, there are not many differences in terms of underlying specs and performance which doesn’t mean they are entirely the same as there are some contrasts, one of which is that the PS4 Slim is lighter in weight and slimmer, as the name implies.

While the differences between the PS4 and PS4 Slim are largely based on physical features, the same cannot be said for the PS4 Pro which comes with higher functionality differences. The performance disparity, however, is more pronounced when a 4K television with HDR support is involved.

For its Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), the PS4 Slim features an integrated AMD graphics, clocked at 800MHz alongside 1.84 teraflops of performance whereas the PS4 Pro flaunts a 4.2 teraflop GPU clocked at 911MHz. The latest PS4’s GPU is equally based on AMD’s Polaris micro-architecture.

A scrutiny of the CPU reveals the PS4 Pro comes with an 8-core AMD custom Jaguar. At 2.1GHz frequency, the PS4 Pro’s CPU is faster than the PS4 Slim by 500MHz – if compared to the latter’s 1.6GHz.

The RAM is another important fact to take note of in the comparison of the PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro. Just like the former, the PS4 Pro came with 8GB of GDDR5 memory but not without some icing on the cake as it has an additional 1GB of conventional DDR3 RAM. This extra feature helps in ensuring a wonderful experience with the 4K video streaming applications.

Operating on a replaceable hard drive might be one thing they share in common, but the PS4 Pro adds a SATA III-based storage interface to its features. This trumps the SATA II-based solution of the original model. In other words, an SSD in the Pro would place it on a speed lane of up to six Gbps. The PS4 Pro has 1TB for its storage while the Slim comes with a 500GB replaceable hard drive.

The Pro version of the PS4 franchise is basically built to keep up with the 4K which is more graphically demanding.

Let’s also delve into the physical features that set the Pro and the Slim aside. Looking at the design, the Pro comes in black and white as well as the Slim version.

The Pro is heavier, weighing in at 7.2 pounds with 11x10x1.5 inch dimensions. Compared to Slim’s 4.6 pounds, it’s easy to imagine the size difference in both consoles.

The shape of the PS4 Pro is remarkably similar to the debut PS4 device but comes with the rounded corners we were introduced to upon the release of the PS4 Slim. Also in front of the new piece, there’s a new power LED light bar.

Another difference that can be spotted on the Pro is that it sports the SPDIF port to go with soundbars in need of an optical connection. And unlike its antecedents, the Pro hardware boasts three USB 3.1 ports.

In case you are still fiddling with the idea or caught in the PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro crossfire, be sure to note that the prices are also far apart. The Slim is available at $299 while the total of $399 is the amount you have to fork out to get your hands on the Pro.

PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro: Which One Should I Chose?

One of the perks of having different versions of game consoles is to present gamers a chance to choose between the level of gaming experience that would suit their taste and expertise. It is already clear that upgrading from the original PS4 to PS4 Slim is not such a good idea considering the technical differences between the two are not much but getting a Pro is one thing that will guarantee a wonderful gaming experience for anyone; especially if matched up with a 4K HDR ready TV or monitor.

On PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro, there’s no doubt that the latter is a better option in terms of performance boost and all-round superiority but don’t forget to budget for a 4K TV if you don’t have it already as it completes the whole Pro package. On the other hand, a PS4 Slim is not bad at all as it also guarantees a wonderful gaming experience and can suffice if you are not ready to throw in a huge sum for a console.

Read Also: PlayStation 5 Release Date, Price, Specifications, News and Rumours

More Questions

• ps4 and ps4 slim are they the same?

Though not technically the same, both consoles are powered by the same GPU, CPU, and RAM, and operate on the same level of proficiency.

• Is ps4 slim better than ps4?

Among other things, the PS4 Pro delivers a boost of over 30% CPU and 100% GPU against the PS4 Slim.

• PS4 vs Xbox One, which is the better console?

The PlayStation 4 runs on an 8GB GDDR5 RAM against the Xbox One’s 8GB of DDR3 RAM and with its higher native resolutions, the PS4 can easily take the crown as the better gaming machine.

• How is the backward compatibility of the PS4 slim?

The PS4 is not backward compatible which makes it impossible to play PS3, PS2, or PS1 disc-based games on the console.

• Does PS4 support 4k discs?

PS4 is not built to play 4K Blu-ray discs but it can be rigged to do that. Also, the PS4 Pro is able to stream 4K content but not play it from discs.

• Will PS5 be backward compatible?

Although it’s yet to see the light of day, the future Sony console -PS5, could be backward compatible, especially with PS4 games.