PlayStation gamers who want maximum performance are about to get a better option. Sony has confirmed that the PS5 Pro will launch on November 7, 2024. The new console is set to take what was already great about the standard PlayStation 5 and supercharge it with better performance and a slightly tweaked design.

Curious again PlayStation 5 Prowhat does it have to offer and what exactly makes it better than the PS5 that was released a few years ago? Here’s what you need to know and where to order it.

What’s new in PS5 Pro?

As you might expect, the big updates for PS5 Pro they mostly come in the form of performance improvements. In other words, while the console may not look that different from the standard PS5 on the outside, under the hood, it will make games look better than ever.

More realistic and faster action

The standard PS5 already supports ray tracing, which helps games look more realistic by simulating how light reflects off surfaces like water and metal. However, the PS5 Pro takes this effect to the next level. The PS5 Pro features Sony’s advanced ray tracing technology, and while this only works for games specifically designed to take advantage of it, those games will look a bit more realistic.

In addition to advanced ray tracing, the PS5 Pro also features a new upscaling technology that Sony calls PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, or PSSR. This technology essentially upscales videos to a 4K resolution while maintaining the same high frame rate. According to Sony, upscaled 4K games now run at up to 120 frames per second, which is the highest frame rate offered by most consumer TVs right now.

There are other smaller improvements as well. The PS5 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7 instead of Wi-Fi 6 and has more storage, with 2TB instead of 1TB. You’ll need that extra storage now that the PS5 Pro comes standard without a hard drive, though you can buy one separately to install on your console.

For the most part, the improvements from PS5 Pro they are intended for serious players who notice every detail. The vast majority of gamers who have a PS5 and don’t find it lacking, may want to ditch the new Pro model.

Other PS5 models available now

Sony’s other PlayStation models aren’t going away with the launch of the Pro model, so if you want a PlayStation 5 now or in the near future, you don’t have to pay extra for the PS5 Pro. Instead, you can still buy the non-Pro PS5 if you want. The standard current-gen PS5 is technically called the PlayStation 5 Slim, but don’t worry, the PS5 Slim offers the same overall performance as the first-gen PS5, just in a slimmer body and at the same price.

The PS5 Slim Digital Edition is the base model PlayStation 5 right now, priced at $450. The term digital edition refers to the fact that this version of the console does not have a disc drive, meaning you can only play games you download from Sony versus physical games on a disc you buy from a third party part. For many who prefer physical media, this is a deal-breaker, given the fact that it means you can’t buy used games. But for those who prefer digitally downloaded games, the PS5 Slim Digital Edition works perfectly. It is worth noting that it is the least expensive of the consoles. By the way, the same disc drive accessory that works with the PS5 Pro also works with this console, so you can also add a disc reader later.

Compared to the new PS5 Pro, the PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition isn’t as powerful and won’t offer the same advanced ray tracing technology or AI upscaling features. However, it still has upscaling technology; you just won’t get the combination of high resolution and high frame rate that you’ll get on the PS5 Pro.

If you go to a retailer today and buy a PlayStation 5, this is probably what you’ll get: a PS5 Slim with a disc reader. This particular version of the PS5 Slim has a built-in disc reader, meaning you can play games from physical discs that you buy directly from Sony or from retailers like GameStop. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use your console to download digital games. You’ll still have access to Sony’s digital store directly on your console to download games if you want. Buying the PS5 Slim is cheaper than buying the PS5 Slim Digital Edition and the disc drive accessory separately, so if you know you want a disc reader, you should only buy the console that has one built in.

Other than the disc drive, the differences between the PS5 Slim and the PS5 Pro are the same as the digital edition. Its performance is slightly lower and it doesn’t have the same ray tracing or upscaling technologies. For most, it’s still pretty strong, though.