We may be four years into a console generation, but this holiday shopping season is a big moment for players. There are new Xbox models out, the Meta Quest 3S, and the brand new PS5 Pro. You might be tempted to pick up those shiny new items this holiday season, but the hot new thing and the most practical deal aren’t always the same thing.
Case in point: the PS5 Pro. If you don’t have a PS5 and are looking to pull the trigger this holiday, you may feel pressured to go for what’s billed as the most powerful version of Sony’s system. Trust me when I say that that’s not the way to go. Why spend $700 when you could get a regular PS5 Digital Edition for $375 instead this Black Friday?
I know what you’re likely thinking: “Why get the old version instead of the new one?” It’s a fair question. The PS5 Pro is certainly the superior system when it comes to power. It harnesses the power of AI-upscaling to play select games at 4K while maintaining 60 frames per second (fps). It gives a big boost to games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Dragon’s Dogma 2, bringing their performance closer to what you’d expect on a great PC. But are those upgrades worth $700?
That’s a complicated question that will differ from player to player, but as someone who has tested the PS5 Pro extensively, I don’t think it’s enough of a boost for the price.
The fact of the matter is that the base PS5 model is already the best console you can buy. It’s a powerhouse piece of tech with innovative features thanks to its DualSense controller and a deep library of exclusives that take advantage of it. If you don’t have a PS5 at all, the regular version will feel like a huge step up from what you’re used to. You’ll be none the wiser about the comparatively subtle performance tweaks you’ll get from the Pro. For most gamers, it’s all the power you’ll really need. And as a bonus, you’d be getting the system’s slimmer design, which is more compact than the PS5 Pro.
More than anything, though, it’s the price point that makes the base PS5 a no-brainer this holiday season. $375 is a steal for the PS5, even if you’re getting the version that doesn’t come with a disc drive. It’s likely the most inexpensive the console has ever been — and it may never go lower. With the threat of new tariffs looming in 2025, there’s a good chance that the price of video game hardware could skyrocket. Black Friday may end up being a last hurrah of sorts for anything resembling an affordable console.
So, while you may be tempted to go big or go home, I’d recommend taking advantage of a good deal while you can. There are exceptions to that, of course. If you’re a PC gamer making the jump to console, the Pro’s extra power might be worth it. After all, it does stabilize performance in games that really need it. But if you’re the kind of person who can’t spot the difference between 45 fps or 60 fps, you’re better off buying a great system for nearly half the price.
