A brand new gaming console is usually an opportunity to look into a whole new future for gaming trends. After years of both developers and players dissecting the older consoles inside and out, a new console has managed to break itself with the past. It typically introduces some new features, new exclusive game franchises, and some innovative components that would further improve overall gameplay, which would include graphics and processing power.
The PlayStation 4 Pro
The PlayStation 4 Pro is quite unconventional. As you might already know, the Pro represents more of a split in the current era of the PS4 instead of a complete break from its traditional roots. Sony has considered that every console game it creates or authorizes for the foreseeable future will be able to run on both the PS4 and the PS4 Pro, making them basically one platform from a software perspective. According to Sony, those games will of course look and perform better on the Pro hardware, sporting higher resolution, better framerates, and more detailed character models.
The PS4 Pro Box
In terms of physical features, the triple-decker PS4 Pro seems to have added an additional story to the standard PS4 and smoothed out the ceiling as well. While the Pro is only a couple of millimeters taller than the older PS4, the new casing does add a couple of centimeters to the width and depth of the older system, which could make a whole lot of difference in a tightly-packed entertainment unit. The ports on the back of the unit can make it a little bit harder to access as well.
PS4 with or without 4K TV?
It's good to keep in mind that if you don't have a display capable of 4K resolutions or high-dynamic range colors, you should probably not consider purchasing a PS4 Pro until you manage to get one. While users with standard HDTVs can get some benefits from the PS4 Pro's additional horsepower, the difference is so unnoticeable that it's not even worth the investment.
What does PS4 Pro do on HDTVs?
On a standard HDTV, the PlayStation 4 Pro's extra horsepower sometimes means an improvement from a lower resolution to 'true' 1080p high definition. For other games, the extra horsepower is utilized for supersampling, which renders a game at an internal resolution that is higher than that on the display, then uses that extra pixel data to smoothen outlines and edges through improved anti-aliasing.
Is it worth the money?
If you already own a PS4, these conditions would make the PS4 Pro a very questionable value proposition even if you already own a 4K TV. Your money doesn't get you any access to new games and would only get you improved graphics and performance on a select subset of current games. When you could buy close to seven $60 games, or even invest in a PlayStation VR headset, for the cost of the upgrade. You definitely have to seriously consider whether graphical quality or gameplay quantity is more important to you before making your verdict.
