PS4 Pro: Review

     PS4 Pro: Review
 Is it good for 4K Gaming?

The PS4 Pro is, for some, a peculiar stopgap in the PS4 lifecycle. Sony's current-generation console launched in 2013, so by now, we should be ramping up speculation around the PlayStation 5. Instead, people are content with the extra power the PS4 Pro affords them. Some corners of the internet begin to dig for clues about what's coming next, but most people are either content with their bog-standard PS4 or the 4K capabilities of the PS4 Pro.

The trouble with this approach is that it's not inherently clear which games will support native 4K over checkerboard 4K. The difference is almost imperceivable at a comfortable distance – with the non-4K image appearing ever so slightly softer than a true 4K one – but if you're picking up a PS4 Pro to indulge in your favourite game running at 4K, it'd certainly be nice to know. Thankfully Sony does have a list of supported titles on its website.

From the handful of games we tested with the PS4 Pro during our review, it's clear the console offers a marked improvement in terms of overall clarity and you don’t have to own 4K TV to see its benefits. Every game we tested also looked and ran better at 1080p.

Zip over to Rise of the Tomb Raider's options menu, and you'll be presented with three different “Enhanced Fidelity” options: High Framerate, Enriched Visuals and 4K Resolution. The first option, as its name implies, prioritises frame rate over visuals, kicking things up to nearer 60fps rather than capping the game at 30fps. Enriched Visuals keeps the 30fps cap in place but enhances the graphics for a “lusher, more realistic experience” according to Crystal Dynamics. 4K Resolution, meanwhile, is the only mode that will display the game at 3,840 x 2,160 at 30fps on compatible 4K TVs.

The PS4 Pro brings improvements, but they're fairly minimal in the grand scheme of things. A few visual improvements here and there do not justify a £350 upgrade for PS4 owners or a £100 premium over the PS4 Slim for new buyers. Sony has long-since confirmed there will be no PS4 Pro exclusive titles, so you don’t need to worry about missing out on any particular games, either. I'm certainly not tempted to pay an extra £350 for the privilege.

The PS4 Pro is a great product, as any small upgrade to a console as successful as the PS4 was inevitably going to be. It’s also, however, disappointing that it isn’t a more significant step forward.