Sony has announced two new updates to their PS4 systems. The Pro has a powerful upgrade under the case. The Slim is just as its name suggests – Slim.
The Ps4 Pro
The biggest change in the Pro is the ability to play 4K and HDR graphics. Microsoft’s Xbox came out with this feature, and it was wondered why Sony kept it out of the original system. Andrew House, president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, said “Our goal is to deliver high-fidelity graphical experiences. We aim to provide developers with tools to further their visions.”
Inside the Pro is a 1TB hard drive and doubled GPU power. The CPU is an x86-64 AMD “Jaguar” with 8 cores. The GPU is a 4.20 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon based graphics engine. Memory is GDDR5 8GB. The size is 295x55x327mm and it weighs 3.3kg. There’s no 4K Blu-ray drive, however.
Current games will have patches available so they can take advantage of the improved graphics. EA and Activision have announced games designed to take advantage of the 4K upgrade. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and a remastered Modern Warfare 4 were announced by Activision. FIFA 17, Battlefield 1 and Mass Effect: Andromeda are going to support the Pro, EA announced. YouTube, Netflix and other services will offer 4K/HDR streaming on the console.
The PS4 Slim
The PS4 Slim is closer to the original PS4. The design of this console is thin, professional and spartan. The power and eject buttons have been changed to physical buttons. Bigger USB sticks will have more room with the USB ports being spaced further apart. There’s no optical port and less venting on the console. The casing won’t stand on its own like the original PS4, so you may need a stand if you want the PS4 Slim to be vertical.
Unlike the PS4 Pro, the Slim doesn’t have a 4K/HDR upgrade. The Slim works the same as original PS4. The control pad has been upgraded as well. It’s not worth going out and buying a new controller, but the slight upgrade works. The improved texture on the D-pad and analogue stick make it easier to use.
The PS4 Pro will be priced at $399 in the US and £349 in the UK. The Slim is being released in most markets on the 15th September. The price will be $299 in the US and £259 in the UK.
