PS4 Pro, PS4 Classic, PS4 Slim: Which one to buy ?
The PS4 Pro was revealed yesterday during the Playstation Meeting. Is $399.99 a fair price for this newer, more powerful PS4? In this guide, we will set out the facts and opinions that may help you choose between a PS4 Pro, PS4 Slim or Classic PS4.
PS4 Slim or Classic PS4 ?
Before getting to the PS4 Pro, one ought not to forget about the new PS4 Slim that was announced during the Playstation meeting as well. Out on September 15, 2016, the PS4 Slim will have a price tag of $299.99. While it seems like the price is not too high, we advise you to go search for better prices on starter packs with the PS4 classic. Indeed, many retailers are advertising packs with a classic PS4 and several games ( up to 4) for less than $399.99. It is hence preferable and more profitable to buy this model of PS4, with a few games included. If however, you already own a classic PS4 that is broken, then it is obviously better for you to buy a PS4 slim without the games, since you already own them.
A PS4 Pro not only dedicated to 4K and HDRI TV’s
If there’s one thing to remember from the PS4 pro announcement, it’s that it will enable some PS4 games to have better graphics, fluidity and resolution. What we can say for now is that the PS4 pro will fully unveil its potential on Full HD TV’s, rather than 4K . If you do not have 4K-ready / HDRI TV , purchasing a PS4 Pro will boost the graphics of your games. As an analogy, it would be the same as setting the visual effect on “ Ultra” on your PC, while keeping the PC analogy, the classic PS4 would be the same as setting the effects on “ normal” . In 1080p, the PS4 pro is twice as powerful as the classic one, which will enable the developers to fully express its possibilities in this resolution. And in 4K?
The everlasting dilemma of fluidity against beauty
The PS4 pro is a 399-dollar console. At this price, do not expect 4K gaming with graphics in 1080p / 60fps. Sony took the decision of not implementing a 4K Blu-ray player in the PS4 Pro in order to push the power of the console a little further. However, the current AMD architectures does not allow games in native 4K. A fair number of the games presented yesterday during the PlayStation meeting were not 4K native, but had a tad lower resolution.
For instance, Rise of The Tomb Raider will have you choose between three display settings. You will be able to choose between the 4K mode ( normal 4K graphics in 30fps), the enhanced graphics experience ( better graphics but 1080p / 30 fps ) or the Fluidity mode ( 1080p/60fps with normal graphics). The instance of Tomb Raider is highly representative of the ecosystem. As of yet, it is unknown to us whether other developers will give players such options but it is a fact that players will not be able to play in Ultra 4K / 60fps on a machine like the PS4 pro.
Another example that is however a bit different is Mass Effect Andromeda. EA declared that its game will work in 30fps on PS4 as well as on PS4 Pro, but changes in resolution will be noticeable between both consoles. A frostbite Engine engineer also declared that the resolution in Mass Effect will be the result of neither a 4K upscaling nor a 4K native, but rather that of a hybrid compromise.
Finally, for Days Gone, developers told us that the title will be much better-looking on PS4 Pro in 1080p but eluded the question of 4K in their latest production.
Is 4K a serious marketing strategy?
You may have already understood , the 4K strategy for the PS4 pro is nothing short of… marketing. Indeed, it will be possible to play 4K videos on PS4 pro via Netflix or Youtube, but the result will not be the same for videogames. Sold without a 4K Blu-ray player, the PS4 pro should not be bought as an all-in-one device for your 4K TV. On this very point, the Xbox One-S does better since it comes with a 4K/UHD Blu-ray player.
Sony likes to be first since the built-in DVD player in the PS2, but they are changing strategies by remaining focused on videogames.
On the videogames point, the PS4 pro seems very appealing to us if you own a 4K TV . Even if the 4K modes do not allow better graphics than on the Classic PS4 in 1080p, the better resolution triggered by the PS4 Pro is undeniable and will make the graphics better in 4K, especially if you own an HDRI-ready TV. It is also highly likely that the developers will fiddle with the resolution and the graphics to give us games in “adaptive 4K”, which basically means that the games will seem like they are in 4K with hybrid setting ( much like Mass Effect Andromeda) but with greater details in graphics. It is typically what happens in Horizon: Zero Dawn, which benefits from better environments than on the classic PS4 , while nearing 4K in resolution.
Free enhanced games on PS4 Pro
Some games that have been already released will see their performances boosted by a free patch. Here is the list of these games:
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Watch Dogs 2
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
- Killing Floor 2
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
- FIFA 17
- Battlefield 1
- Dishonored 2
- Mass Effect Andromeda
- For Honor
- Spider-Man
- Horizon Zero Dawn
Best configuration to fully take advantage of the PS4 pro
Under what circumstances can the PS4 pro exploit its potential to the best? It clearly depends and what you look for in a videogame. To us, the best way to take advantage of the power of the PS4 Pro is to own a full HD, HDRI-compatible TV ( 1080p). There are not that many around but if you own such a TV, you will be able to see the outstanding graphics in 1080p. If you already own a 4K-ready TV, you will fall in the classic dilemma that most PC users have. You will have to choose between a better resolution with less details , or a richer and smoother 1080p resolution. On the latter, it will be up to the developers to do what they can not to lose the players in difficult choices.
PS4 Pro VS PS4 ? Which one to pick ?
With the PS4 pro, Sony gives us a much more powerful console in Full HD, which will allow games to be better-looking and smoother. However, with this big advantage comes a bigger dilemma for players. Indeed, gamers will have to choose between “ better looking and less detailed” and “ better-looking but less smooth”. We, at playerone.Tv, like to pop a game in and enjoy a game as closely to how developers made it as possible, without having to pick and choose. The release of the PS4 Pro and later, that of the Scorpio, mark the end of this era because console manufacturers want to keep their consoles for as long as possible.
In all honesty however, we would advise any interested and hesitant players to buy a PS4 Pro rather than a slim. “Only” $100 separate the two machines, and the Pro version is better equipped to go through this generation which promises to be long sprinkled with updated console every three or four years.
In conclusion if you wish to invest in a PS4 now, invest in the Pro version. However, if playing in 4K with detailed graphics is what is of interest to you, then we would advise you to wait for the release of Project Scorpio, or invest in a high-end PC. However, be advised that it might cost you more than $399.