PS5 Pro vs PS5 Slim Digital
The PS5 Pro and the PS5 Slim Digital share their roots, so the useful question isn’t which is “good” but where each one differs. Of the 2 areas we compared, the PS5 Pro wins 2. If one area explains the result, it’s performance. Add $250 of difference in launch price, and the PS5 Slim Digital has a strong argument before a single spec is compared.
At a glance
- Performance PS5 Pro wins
- Memory & Storage PS5 Pro wins
- Price PS5 Slim Digital wins
- Performance10.0
- Memory & Storage10.0
- Performance5.4
- Memory & Storage6.7
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The PS5 Pro has 62% more GPU compute
For gpu compute (fp32), the PS5 Pro leads by a wide margin: 16.70 TFLOPS versus 10.28 TFLOPS. The PS5 Pro’s extra compute gives games more room for higher resolutions and richer effects.
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The PS5 Pro has 1,000 GB more built-in storage
This is a headline difference. With 2,000 GB to the PS5 Slim Digital’s 1,000 GB, the PS5 Pro has a lead that’s easy to see on paper and in practice. With the PS5 Pro, you can keep more games ready to play without deleting old favorites.
-
The PS5 Slim Digital has a 1.10 lb lighter body
Put simply, the PS5 Slim Digital is far ahead here: 5.73 lb compared with 6.83 lb. The PS5 Slim Digital is easier to carry around, which is a real plus if you play away from your TV.
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The PS5 Pro has 29% more memory bandwidth
The PS5 Pro’s 576 GB/s leaves the PS5 Slim Digital’s 448 GB/s well behind, so if this spec matters to you, the choice is easy. Memory bandwidth decides how quickly the console can move data to its GPU, which matters for high resolutions.
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The PS5 Pro has a 10% faster CPU clock
Not a close call. The PS5 Pro lists 3.85 GHz and the PS5 Slim Digital lists 3.50 GHz. That’s a substantial gap. The PS5 Pro’s higher clock gives developers more headroom for crowded scenes and higher frame-rate modes.
Design & Size
- PS5 Pro 15.28 in × 3.50 in × 8.50 in
- PS5 Slim Digital 14.09 in × 3.15 in × 8.50 in
The PS5 Slim Digital is the smaller console here, which some buyers will see as a plus and others as a compromise. Pick the PS5 Slim Digital and you save 1.10 lb.
Design & Size
| Spec | PS5 Pro | PS5 Slim Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 15.28 in | 14.09 in |
| Height | 3.50 in | 3.15 in |
| Depth | 8.50 in | 8.50 in |
| Weight | 6.83 lb | 5.73 lb (winner) |
Performance
PS5 Pro leads
The PS5 Pro wins the performance section decisively. In its favor, the PS5 Pro has 62% more GPU compute. GPU compute is a headline figure for graphics power, and more of it usually means sharper images or smoother frame rates. If this section decides it for you, choose the PS5 Pro.
GPU compute (FP32)
PS5 Pro: 16.70 TFLOPS PS5 Slim Digital: 10.28 TFLOPS Teraflops don’t capture everything (memory, upscaling and optimization matter too), but they’re a useful yardstick.
CPU max clock
PS5 Pro: 3.85 GHz PS5 Slim Digital: 3.50 GHz CPU architectures differ between consoles, so clock speed is one piece of the performance puzzle.
Memory & Storage
PS5 Pro leads
For memory & storage, the verdict is easy: the PS5 Pro leads, and not by a little. The PS5 Pro has the edge with 1,000 GB more built-in storage. Modern games are large, so more built-in storage means fewer installs to juggle. For memory & storage, the PS5 Pro is the one to beat.
Built-in storage
PS5 Pro: 2,000 GB PS5 Slim Digital: 1,000 GB Check the expansion options in the table; extra storage can often be added later, at a cost.
Memory bandwidth
PS5 Pro: 576 GB/s PS5 Slim Digital: 448 GB/s The PS5 Pro’s extra bandwidth helps keep its GPU fed in demanding scenes.
Features & Media
The features & media comparison is about what’s inside rather than how much. See the table for the PS5 Pro’s and the PS5 Slim Digital’s entries.
Full Specifications
Performance
| Spec | PS5 Pro | PS5 Slim Digital |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Zen 2, 8 cores / 16 threads | AMD Zen 2, 8 cores / 16 threads |
| CPU max clock | 3.85 GHz (winner) Fastest CPU clock | 3.50 GHz |
| GPU | AMD Radeon-based, up to 2.35 GHz | AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based, up to 2.23 GHz |
| GPU compute units | N/A (not specified) | 36 |
| GPU compute (FP32)Manufacturer figure | 16.70 TFLOPS (winner) Most GPU power in class | 10.28 TFLOPS |
| Max output resolution | 8K output; 4K at 120 Hz | 8K output; 4K at 120 Hz |
| Max frame rate | 120 fps | 120 fps |
| Hardware ray tracing | Yes | Yes |
| Upscaling | PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) | N/A (not specified) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | PS5 Pro | PS5 Slim Digital |
|---|---|---|
| System memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory bandwidth | 576 GB/s (winner) Most memory bandwidth | 448 GB/s |
| Built-in storage | 2,000 GB (winner) Most storage in class | 1,000 GB |
| Storage type | Custom NVMe SSD | Custom NVMe SSD |
| Storage expansion | M.2 NVMe SSD slot; USB extended storage | M.2 NVMe SSD slot; USB extended storage |
Features & Media
| Spec | PS5 Pro | PS5 Slim Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Disc drive | None (detachable drive sold separately) | None (detachable drive sold separately) |
| Handheld play | No | No |
| Built-in screen | None | None |
| Backward compatibility | Most PS4 games | Most PS4 games |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
Design & Size
| Spec | PS5 Pro | PS5 Slim Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 15.28 in | 14.09 in |
| Height | 3.50 in | 3.15 in |
| Depth | 8.50 in | 8.50 in |
| Weight | 6.83 lb | 5.73 lb (winner) |
Price
| Spec | PS5 Pro | PS5 Slim Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $700 Priciest in class | $450 (winner) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
This is not a small price difference: $250, or 56%, separates the two launch prices. For $250 more, the PS5 Pro adds 62% more GPU compute and 1,000 GB more built-in storage. Whether that’s good value depends on how much you need those upgrades.
All prices are official US launch prices, last checked November 2024. Actual prices at stores may differ.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the PS5 Pro if…
- you want more GPU compute for sharper, smoother games (16.70 TFLOPS vs 10.28 TFLOPS)
- you want room for more games before juggling installs (2,000 GB vs 1,000 GB)
- you want more memory bandwidth (576 GB/s vs 448 GB/s)
- you play CPU-heavy games like big simulations and open worlds (3.85 GHz vs 3.50 GHz)
Choose the PS5 Slim Digital if…
- you move your console between rooms or take it on trips (5.73 lb vs 6.83 lb)
- you’d put the $250 saving toward something else
- you prefer something easier to fit into tight spaces
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the PS5 Pro or the PS5 Slim Digital?
For most people, the PS5 Pro is the stronger choice, unless you specifically want a 1.10 lb lighter body, where the PS5 Slim Digital has the edge.
Which is larger, the PS5 Pro or the PS5 Slim Digital?
Going by the official dimensions, the PS5 Pro is the bigger of the two at 15.28 × 3.50 × 8.50 in. The PS5 Slim Digital measures 14.09 × 3.15 × 8.50 in.
Which is faster, the PS5 Pro or the PS5 Slim Digital?
The PS5 Pro has the edge in performance thanks to 62% more GPU compute and a 10% faster CPU clock.
Which costs less, the PS5 Pro or the PS5 Slim Digital?
The PS5 Slim Digital is the cheaper option, launching at $250 less than the PS5 Pro (launch prices as of November 2024).
Is the PS5 Pro lighter than the PS5 Slim Digital?
Going by the official figures, the PS5 Slim Digital weighs 1.10 lb less than the PS5 Pro.
Which has more storage, the PS5 Pro or the PS5 Slim Digital?
The PS5 Pro comes with more room: 2,000 GB versus 1,000 GB.
Executive Summary
A lineup gives you options, and options give you headaches. Let me try to cure this one: the PS5 Pro or the PS5 Slim Digital. In daily life, I think the first difference you’d notice is 62% more GPU compute, and that goes to the PS5 Pro. There’s a bonus as well: the PS5 Pro has 1,000 GB more built-in storage. That said, the PS5 Slim Digital answers with a 1.10 lb lighter body, which some people will value more.
Choose by what you’d use most: performance leads to the PS5 Pro, portability leads to the PS5 Slim Digital.
My pick: the PS5 Pro, with one exception: if you’d trade the rest for a 1.10 lb lighter body, go for the PS5 Slim Digital.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.