There’s never been a better time to treat yourself to a PS4 Pro, PS4 Slim or PS4, even if it isn’t Christmas.
Not only are there plenty of PS4 bargains to be had, there’s also Horizon Zero Dawn right around the corner. That’s a game that every discerning gamer deserves to play.
But the questions is, do you get a PS4, PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro?
Quick overview:
- PS4 Pro – Thanks to its upgraded hardware and focus on HDR and 4K Support, this is largest and most expensive PS4.
- PS4 – This model is ageing but is also the most affordable.
- PS4 Slim – This is the slimline edition of the basic PS4 console, complete with revamped design.
Whichever PS4 you decide on, we’re here to guide you through the buying process, making sure you spend your money wisely.
PS4 vs PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro Size Comparison
There’s nothing worse than a chunky console taking up serious real estate underneath your TV – yes, we’re looking at you, Xbox One.
That’s probably why one of the most asked questions about the different PS4 models has to do with their size.
So just how big are the PS4, PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim?
Well, the PS4 Pro is the chunkiest of the three, with an additional ‘tier’ on its design to accommodate the beefed up innards it packs.
The PS4 Slim is the smallest, most discrete of the PS4 models as it’s designed to be the slimmed-down version of the 2013 PS4. Of course, that means that the original PS4 falls between the PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim size-wise.
The dimensions for each model are as follows:
- PS4 Pro – Approx. 295 x 327 x 55mm (11.61 x 12.87 x 2.17 inches)
- PS4 – Approx. 275.1 x 305.1 x 53.1mm (10.83 x 12.01 x 2.09 inches)
- PS4 Slim – Approx. 265 x 288 x 39mm (10.43 x 11.34 x 1.54 inches)
PS4 vs PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro Price
Another major consideration you might have before you decide which PS4 console is right for you is the price.
Technically, the PS4 Slim replaced the original, more angular PS4 model in retail outlets, so you might now find it difficult to get one. However, if you can, they do tend to be on the cheaper side.
Saying that though, this is now a console model that’s over three years old, so we’d recommend getting the latest tech – either the PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro – to help ensure longevity.
- PS4 Pro price: $399.99/£349.99
- PS4 Slim price: $299.99/£249.99
- PS4 price: $269.99/approx. £260
PS4 vs PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro Specs
Both the PS4 and PS4 Slim have identical hardware, so pack identical specs. If you’ve already got a PS4, there really isn’t any reason to upgrade to the PS4 Slim unless you’ve got hardware problems or really want a slightly smaller console.
But the real hardware difference is between the PS4 Pro and the standard PS4.
Thanks to some internal hardware tweaks, the PS4 Pro has roughly double the GPU or graphical power of the original console. Combine that with a faster processor and speedier RAM and you’ve got a PS4 that’s capable of running your games at better frame rates and at higher resolutions.
Take a look at the full specs below:
PS4 Pro
- 2.1GHz eight-core AMD Jaguar processor
- 8GB GDDR5 at 218GB/s
- 1TB hard drive
- 4.20 teraflop AMD Radeon GPU
PS4 Slim/PS4
- 1.6GHz eight-core processor
- 8GB of GDDR5 RAM at 176GB/s
- 500GB or 1TB hard drive
- 1.84 teraflop AMD Radeon GPU at 800MHz
PS4 vs PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro Controller
The PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro both come with a slightly revamped controller design compared to the original machine.
If you wanted something totally revolutionary, you’re out of luck, but there are some nice tweaks that make the new iteration a better pad.
When you power up this brand new beast, you’ll notice there’s a new slither of light bar at the top of the touchpad. It’s a great addition because you’ll suddenly realise how active that little guy is as you play.
It’s also had a bit of a colour scheme change. The D-Pad, thumbsticks and face buttons have all been given a more classic PlayStation grey hue.
Other than those two differences, you’re looking at exactly the same gamepad.
PS4 vs PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro Graphics
Graphics are the key difference between the three PS4 consoles and will be integral to your decision over which model you purchase.
As you’ll probably know, both the PS4 Slim and PS4 run games at a maximum resolution of full 1080p HD, and frame rates of 60fps.
That’s certainly nothing that can compete with PC gaming, but it’s a good start.
But the PS4 Pro is focused on delivering native 4K gaming and HDR too. However, it’s worth noting that the original PS4 and PS4 Slim both also support HDR thanks to an update released at the end of 2016.
The only console that can currently offer 4K gaming – so far – is the PS4 Pro. Microsoft’s Project Scorpio is due out at the end of the year, but until then your solution for 4K gaming without investing in a high-powered PC is the PS4 Pro.
You can already get plenty of games that will run at (not-quite-native) 4K and HDR on the PS4. They include:
- Ratchet and Clank
- FIFA 17
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Final Fantasy 15
- inFamous Second Son/First Light
PS4 vs PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro Games
The great thing about the three PS4 consoles is that they all play the same games.
There are no PS4 Pro exclusives, it’s just a case of whether a game has been patched for the model with 4K and HDR support.
Sony’s latest PS4 update introduced a new Boost Mode for the PS4 Pro. This special new feature, exclusive to the Pro, improves frame rates for games that haven’t had a specific PS4 Pro patch.
That will mainly affect older games launched towards the early PS4 days, as we’d be very surprised if any games going forward aren’t optimised for the PS4 Pro.
So whether you’re hankering to play a launch title like Killzone Shadow Fall or one of 2017’s games like God of War or Days Gone, you can play them all on any PS4 console you own.
Which Should You Buy – PS4, PS4 Slim or PS4 Pro?
So, there’s a clear winner here if you’re looking for the best current PS4 console, but also one that’s future proof – the PS4 Pro.
The PS4 Slim is still a great option though if you’re not bothered about 4K/HDR and just want to play the latest PS4 titles.