PS4 Pro vs PS4 Slim Which PlayStation is Right For You Tom's Guide Skip to main content Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. PS4 Pro vs PS4 Slim Which PlayStation is Right For You By Richard Priday published 27 May 2022 In the battle of PS4 Pro vs. PS4 Slim, which the best option for you? (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Update: 2025 is the year Sony will stop releasing games for the PS4 and PS4 Pro. With the PS5 now available, you might think it odd to be chewing over the PS4 Pro vs. the PS4 Slim. But thanks to the ongoing struggle of PS5 restocks, tracking down Sony's latest games console can be a pain. But the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro are still being made and offer a compelling gaming experience given they can run some cross-generation games. so picking up one of the last-generation consoles might not seems so strange. The $299 PS4 Slim (which is now simply known as PS4) replaced the original model with a slightly shrunk-down design. The $399 PS4 Pro is a 4K entertainment machine that can play games and movies in ultra-high resolution. Now that the PS5 is out, these two consoles might seem obsolete. However there's not a lot of next-gen-only games available yet, plus PS5s are very tricky to get a hold of right now. We've also heard recently that Sony's continuing PS4 production for longer than expected to try and satisfy the demand for consoles. Read on for a head-to-head between the PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim, so if you're also fed up of not getting a PS5 you'll know which back-up choice to go for. PS4 Pro vs PS4 Slim features (Image credit: Future) The PS4 Slim is the refreshed version of the standard PS4, with a design that Sony says is 30 percent smaller, 16 percent lighter and consumes 30 percent less power than the launch model. So unless you really need those few inches of extra space, folks who already own a PS4 have virtually no reason to buy the Slim. At $299, however, the Slim is the cheapest barrier of entry for aspiring PS4 owners who want to play Ghost of Tsushima or Death Stranding. Also, the Pro won't do you much good if you don't have a good TV with 4K compatibility, so if you don't already own a 4K TV or don't have the budget to buy one, go with the Slim.Today's best Sony PlayStation 4 Slim deals882 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆ (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$289.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$548.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)No price information (opens in new tab)Check Amazon (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices If you don't have a PS4 yet, own a 4K television and can afford to spend a little more, you should absolutely go for the PS4 Pro. For $100 more, you get a console capable of playing games and streaming movies in 4K resolution. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) So should existing PS4 owners upgrade to the Pro? That's a tougher call. The ever-growing list of PS4 Pro enhanced games includes Red Dead Redemption 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Uncharted 4 and Destiny 2, so it all depends on what you play and how badly you want to see those games in shiny 4K. Naturally, due to its extra power, the PS4 Pro is notably chunkier than the PS4 Slim, which you may notice if you're trying to fit it under your TV or in a narrow cubbyhole.Today's best Sony PlayStation 4 Pro deals358 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆ (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$399.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$749.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)Black bundle (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,399.97 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices PS4 Pro vs PS4 Slim PlayStation VR and HDR The PlayStation VR headset works on any PS4, though you'll get the smoothest virtual reality experience possible on the Pro when getting immersed in games like Tetris Effect and Resident Evil 7. Both the PS4 and PS4 Pro support High Dynamic Range for richer, brighter colors on supported TVs. So whether your screen of choice can use HDR or not, it won't make a difference to your buying decision. PS4 Pro vs PS4 Slim Game Library One thing you won't have to factor in when choosing your PS4 is game selection. All current and upcoming PS4 games work on PS4, PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro - the only difference is they might look a little prettier on the Pro. That means that you'll get to play excellent exclusives like Spider-Man, God of War and Uncharted 4 as well as third-party blockbusters such as Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare no matter which console you choose. Even new first-party exclusives like God of War Ragnarok are still coming to PS4. PS4 Pro vs PS4 Slim What About the PS5 If you're debating between the PS4 and PS4 Pro, perhaps you're also wondering whether you should get a PS5. The next-gen PlayStation is more powerful, offers new features like its haptics-heavy DualSense controller and 3D audio and comes with some new exclusive games. But it's more expensive, and difficult to buy due to ridiculously high demand. Besides, it probably won't come into its own for another year or two yet, once developers have got to grips with making games for the system. The PS4 Slim is arguably better to buy right now because it's cheaper, leaving you more money for the PS5 when you fancy picking one up. However now Sony has ended production of most PS4 models, you may just accept the wait for the PS5 to come back into stock. PS4 Pro vs PS4 Slim Bottom Line All in all, the PS4 Slim is a good budget buy, while the PS4 Pro is a wise choice for gamers with 4K televisions who want the very best experience available. That is, if you want a PlayStation right now. Waiting for the PS5 might be a good idea if you want to make more of an investment, albeit a more expensive one, in long-term gaming enjoyment. You also shouldn't forget about Microsoft's offerings either, even if you consider it blasphemy to buy a non-Sony console. There's the $249 Xbox One S, which has a 4K Blu-ray player and offers HDR gaming, as well as the $499 Xbox One X, which offers even more 4K power than the PS4 Pro, although it does cost more. Then there's the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the next-gen Xbox consoles. Like the PS5, they are more expensive and harder to find than the older models, but will have a longer life overall. Be In the Know Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Richard PridayStaff WriterRichard is a Tom's Guide staff writer based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee. Topics Gaming See all comments (6) 6 Comments Comment from the forums NEO_2_ What I want to know is. If I buy a PS4 Pro? In 1080p will it look the same as a Ps4/Ps4slim? Because from what I'm reading is that the Pro version is just to support 4k resolution. So if you plug a Ps4 Pro into a 1080p tv will it give me a benifit? Reply NEO_2_ If I plug a Ps4 Pro into a 1080p tv? What benefit will I have vs a ps4 slim? Reply Bruno_23 It will not run games in 4k, it can stream video but not games. Thus comes the HDR, "it's almost 4k". Reply rgd1101 The pro version should get better fps on 1080p compare to the standard version Reply NEO_2_ Should? Do we know this for a fact? Reply NEO_2_ I'm good to buy a Ps4 Pro if it actually gives me improved graphic details and more fps in 1080p. A 4Tflop pc graphics card delivers 100+fps. It almost seems like the Pro is just for 4k resolution and depending on where you sit or the quality of the 4k tv. It just may have a lot of folks spinning their wheels. 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