Our verdict
The PlayStation 5 Pro is a PlayStation 5 built for extra graphics power. Tom's Guide reviewed the US version. Games that Sony has updated for the Pro, called Pro Enhanced, can look sharper, add ray tracing (more realistic reflections and lighting) or run more smoothly. It also has PSSR, Sony's AI upscaler that sharpens the picture, though Tom's Guide said you may need a side-by-side comparison to see it. The 2TB SSD (about 1.9TB usable) holds many large games. There is no disc drive; it is sold separately. It is £699 for the 2TB digital console as of 1 August 2026.
Buy it if
- You have a good 4K TV and notice sharper detail and smoother motion
- You want 2TB of storage for a large game library
- You play games that have been updated for the Pro
Skip it if
- Your favourite games have not been updated for the Pro
- You have a disc collection and do not want to buy the separate drive
- You have a modest budget, since games, subscriptions and storage add to the cost
How it would fit your home
Choosing a mode
In some games you pick between Pro Performance, which aims for smoother motion, and Pro Fidelity, which aims for sharper visuals. Try both.
A large digital library
The 2TB SSD suits players who install many big games and do not want to delete titles to make room.
Before you buy
Check that your favourite games are Pro Enhanced and that your TV can show sharper detail and smoother motion before paying £699.
The details, in plain English
Graphics and speed
The Pro's main feature is its graphics chip. Compute Units are the parts of the chip that do the graphics work, and more of them lets a game run smoother or at higher detail. The gains apply mainly to games Sony calls Pro Enhanced, so check which of your games are on that list. Other games in your library may see less change.
Picture sharpening and ray tracing
PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) is Sony's AI upscaler, which builds a sharper image from a lower-resolution one. Tom's Guide described the improvement as noticeable but said it took a side-by-side comparison to appreciate fully. Ray tracing, which makes light and reflections more realistic, appears in enhanced titles such as Hogwarts Legacy, Alan Wake 2 and Spider-Man 2, though some games need a lower frame rate to use it.
Storage and disc drive
The reviewed console has a 2TB internal SSD, of which Tom's Guide lists about 1.9TB usable. That holds many large games at once. It is a digital console with no disc drive, and the drive is sold separately, so budget for it if you own physical games. Tom's Guide gave a US price for the drive; check UK pricing at the time.
Modes and ownership cost
Some games have a single Pro mode, while others make you choose between Pro Performance and Pro Fidelity. That means trying each mode on your own TV. Ownership costs also go beyond the £699 console: games, online subscriptions and any extra storage add to the total. The right library and play style matter more than the headline power.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- 2TB SSD (about 1.9TB usable, per Tom's Guide): room for many large installed games
- A powerful graphics chip for sharper or smoother games in Pro Enhanced titles
- PSSR upscaling uses AI to sharpen the picture; Tom's Guide called the improvement noticeable
- Ray tracing in enhanced games, such as Hogwarts Legacy, Alan Wake 2 and Spider-Man 2
- Digital console: disc drive sold separately, so you choose whether to add one
What to watch out for
- Games, subscriptions and extra storage increase the real ownership cost
- Only games updated for the Pro get the full benefit, and Tom's Guide found the PSSR improvement needed a side-by-side comparison to appreciate fully
- Some games ask you to choose between a Pro Performance mode and a Pro Fidelity mode
- No disc drive included, so it does not play discs unless you buy one
- Tom's Guide reviewed the US version, so its pricing and availability do not apply here
The PS5 Pro's value depends on your game library, whether you need the disc drive and how much you value sharper, smoother games. Add up the total cost, including the drive and subscriptions, before deciding.
Make the Sony PlayStation 5 Pro easier to live with
Add-ons that answer a drawback we named above. Check compatibility with your exact model before buying.
Solves: no disc drive included, so it does not play discs unless you buy one
Sony Disc Drive CFI-ZDD1 for PS5 Pro and listed slim Digital Edition models Not yet reviewed by us
Adds the disc-reading hardware missing from the Pro, if you own compatible physical games or films and accept the extra cost.
Check first: Internet connection required for initial pairing. Check exact console model group; it is not for the original large digital PS5. New-game disc plans after January 2028 need checking; earlier compatible discs remain playable.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Sony PlayStation 5 Pro (this one) | A good fit for keen players with a good 4K TV who want sharper, smoother games and room for a large digital library. | £789.99RRP · 2TB digital console, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Sony PlayStation 5 Slim (Disc Edition) | The safest conventional console for most game-first households, especially if you want to buy, borrow or resell games on disc, though Sony says new games will be digital only from January 2028. | £569.99RRP · disc drive, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition | A good fit if you are happy to buy games digitally and have a compatible 4K TV; choose a disc model if you buy secondhand games. | £519.99RRP · 825GB digital console, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Microsoft Xbox Series X 1TB | Worth considering as a powerful, quiet console with a disc drive and a large SSD, if you accept that games, subscriptions and storage add to the cost. | £669.99RRP · 1TB disc console, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
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Where our findings come from
Research-based review: we did not test this console. Specifications and findings come from Tom's Guide's review, which covers the US version, so we used it only for hardware and performance points, not prices. Percentages and comments on picture quality are Tom's Guide's, not ours. Sony's UK page was used to identify the model.