PS5 Pro: Expected Release Date, Specs, and New Features

The PS5 Pro release date approaches? — and it doesn’t simply look like a rehash or a refresh, but a fairly extensive upgrade of the popular console.

As the gaming community eagerly awaits the next iteration, we explore the PS5 Pro rumors and confirmed specs, comparing the latest model to its predecessors, the PS5 and the PS4 Pro, to give you a comprehensive look at what’s in store.

For fans hoping to be first in line, the PS5 Pro release date looks to be before Christmas 2024, and is likely to be ready for some of the gems that Sony put out during the State of Play live stream at the end of May.

For Xbox fans, three new variants of the Xbox Series X|S are also coming this year, although these appear to be refreshes compared to the fairly extensive upgrade coming for the PS5.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. When is the PS5 Pro coming out?
3. Specs and Features
4. Additional Hardware
5. Price Comparison: PS5 Pro vs. PS5 vs. PS4 Pro
6. The Bottom Line
7. FAQs
8. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. When is the PS5 Pro coming out?
3. Specs and Features
Show Full Guide
4. Additional Hardware
5. Price Comparison: PS5 Pro vs. PS5 vs. PS4 Pro
6. The Bottom Line
7. FAQs
8. References

When is the PS5 Pro coming out?

Expected: Late 2024

The news and rumors surrounding the release date of the PS5 Pro have been a topic of fervent discussion since 2021, just a year after the PS5’s initial launch. In September of that year, YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead suggested a potential arrival of the PS5 Pro by 2023, a prediction that ultimately did not materialize.

However, the channel was back in March 2024, revealing what are alleged to be the full specs for the PS5 Pro, suggesting the PS5 Pro will arrive at Christmas 2024, render 45% faster than the PS5, offer 2 to 3x ray tracing, and support 8K resolutions through future software updates.

Two notably reliable sources contributing to this speculation are Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming and gaming personality Jeff Grub.

Henderson, renowned for accurate PlayStation hardware leaks, has consistently asserted a November 2024 launch. Grub, known for reliable leaks though not flawless, suggested an earlier September 2024 release on his Game Mess podcast.

While disputes over the specific Playstation 5 Pro release date persist, the convergence of these respected sources adds weight to the credibility of a late 2024 launch. Considering the rapidly evolving landscape of gaming hardware and the age of the PS5, now over three years old, a more powerful variant in 2024 seems plausible.

Furthermore, industry dynamics and Sony’s likely desire for a strategic gap between the PS5 Pro and an eventual PS6 launch in 2026 or 2027 contribute to the anticipation.

Reports suggest we may see a new label appear for games — “PS5 Pro Enhanced” likely appearing on game boxes to signify the game gets a boost by running on the PS5 Pro.

If a game employs ray-tracing (more on that below) or sees a significant resolution or framerate boost, it can proudly display the status during marketing.

Specs and Features

Expected CPU/GPU: AMD Zen 4 / RDNA 3 or 3.5

Other: Dedicated AI Chip, DualSense 2.0 Controller, Detachable Blu-ray

Allegedly codenamed “Project Trinity,” the upcoming PS5 Pro is set to redefine gaming experiences with a substantial boost in graphics rendering power compared to its predecessor.

Harnessing the latest technological advancements, the PS5 Pro specs are rumored to include an enhanced AMD APU featuring Zen 4 CPU architecture and RDNA 3 graphics processing, ensuring unparalleled gaming performance. The underlying hardware may even surpass current expectations, potentially incorporating Zen 5 CPU and RDNA 3.5 graphics technology, marking the next evolution in AMD hardware.

The detailed specifications reportedly leaked last year include an 8-core Zen 4 CPU, 30 WGP, 60 CU, iGPU based on RDNA 3 or RDNA 3.5, and an APU with 96 ROPs. The console is believed to boast a TSMC 5/4nm process, CPU clocks at 3.85 GHz, GPU clocks at 2.7 GHz, 16 GB GDDR6 with 18,000 mt/s memory, and a speculated but unconfirmed 33.5 TFLOPs.

While RDNA 2 may be beginning to show its age, first launched in 2020, RDNA 3 brings an estimated 50% increase in performance-per-watt compared to RDNA 2, with improvements expected to filter through to rasterization and ray-tracing performance.

The PS5 Pro is also expected to have a system memory of 576 GB/s, meaning a 28% increase from the standard model, which clocks in at 448 GB/s.

Other reports suggest that the PS5 Pro is expected to feature a dedicated AI engine (dubbed ‘Neural Processing Unit’) and a hybrid-core design (Zen 5 and Zen 5c) for increased computing power. Leaks suggest the console is deep into development, with game developers receiving development kits to optimize their upcoming titles.

Notably, the PS5 Pro’s 33.5 TFLOPs would give it twice the raw processing power of the current PlayStation 5. One effect may be that existing games that struggle to hit a consistent 60 FPS run smoother, while helping the growing range of PS5 games that include ray-tracing, such as Hitman 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Elden Ring.

When PS5 games do offer ray-tracing, it often leads to a trade-off of reduced resolution, dropped frames, or a reduced FPS across the board. While ray-tracing on a top-end gaming PC can be breathtaking, we have yet to see a console provide it without a few compromises.

A theory is taking hold that the PS5 Pro may be backward-compatible with the rumored Playstation 6. The PS5 Pro has an overclock mode, “High CPU Frequency Mode,” to allow this.

The way Sony handles BC is very complex, and it requires the new HW to run at the same or higher clock speed, even if the new HW is faster at lower clock speeds.

If they are using Zen6 dense cores for PS6, they can't target 4GHz+ for the PS5 Pro as that could break BC.

— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) March 17, 2024

Will the PS5 Pro bring 8K gaming to the living room? While the PS5 technically can support 8K resolution, the console limits its output to 4K. Only one game runs at 8K — The Touryst — but the PS5 downscales it to 4K before it ever reaches your screen.

With the PS5 so close to hitting that benchmark but held back from delivering it, we may see the PS5 Pro open the gates for native output at 8K, in turn inspiring developers to take the technological leap.

Insider Gamer, quoting sources from leaked documentation sent in January to third-party developers, suggested 8K gaming will arrive with a future software development kit (SDK), allowing developers to unlock the higher resolution.

Additional Hardware

Detachable Blu-ray Player and New Controller?

Regarding additional features, speculation surrounds a detachable Blu-ray player akin to the new PS5 Slim. This would provide?players with an all-digital option for the Pro variant, with the possibility of a $70 add-on as an accessory. This innovative approach would allow players to seamlessly transition between physical discs and digital downloads, a flexibility not present in the original PS5 editions.

Rumors swirl that Sony is expecting to address concerns with the DualSense Wireless Controller through a second iteration. A new controller, recently spotted on a BestBuy Canada listing, would aim to extend the short battery life to 12 hours. The listing on BestBuy was swiftly removed and replaced with the standard DualSense listing — so we are waiting to see if this was in error or a genuine leak.

PS5 vs. PS5 Pro specifications

Price Comparison: PS5 Pro vs. PS5 vs. PS4 Pro

Expected price: $600 (€560, ￡480)

As speculation swirls around the potential PS5 Pro price, the general consensus suggests it will likely be more expensive than its predecessor.

While the PS4 Pro debuted at $399 in 2016, the PS5 Pro could be priced at $499, mirroring the launch price of the PS5 Disc Edition in 2020.

Notably, Sony has a history of introducing Slim variants at the same price point, introducing flexibility into their product lineup. With the PS5 Pro on the horizon, Sony faces a choice between launching a more powerful device or offering discounts on the slimline consoles to cater to a broader market.

Generally speaking, the nomenclature “PS5 Pro” aligns with Sony’s convention for upgraded consoles, following the release pattern seen with the PS4 Pro three years after the PS4.

Additional speculations about the PS5 Pro’s price range vary from $600 to $700, reflecting assumptions about typical price differentials across models.

However, uncertainties about the internal specifications and ongoing supply chain pressures make any estimate challenging, leaving $600 as a reasonable projection for a slightly higher-end model.

The Bottom Line

The rumored late 2024 release of the new PS5 Pro promises a gaming powerhouse with advanced AMD technology, potentially priced around between $499 and $600.

If leaks hold true, the console could also introduce a detachable Blu-ray player and address DualSense controller issues.

Sony may need to work hard to convince existing PS5 owners to upgrade, but if gamers can enjoy 8K gaming, improvements including ray-tracing without compromising resolution or framerate, the cost may be worth it.

However, uncertainties and supply chain challenges make it wise to approach these details with caution until Sony makes an official announcement.

FAQs