PS4 Pro

What is the PS4 Pro?

The latest PlayStation 4 had a few nicknames before Sony settled on ‘PS4 Pro’. “PS4 Neo” was a popular one, as were “PS4K” and “PS4.5”. I feel the last one is the most appropriate: this is an upgrade, not a proper level up like the PS5 would be.

That means you’re not getting a next-gen console, but rather the best possible version of a three-year-old machine. Sony calls it “the super-charged PS4”, which seems fair. It’s bigger than ever, with more power under the hood, and it can handle 4K and high dynamic range (HDR) video.

Sony’s biggest problem is Microsoft’s Xbox One S, itself a 0.5 upgrade. But while Microsoft generously added UHD Blu-ray playback during the refurb, Sony hasn’t. The PS4 Pro is completely focused on gaming performance and fidelity. And now, as we approach the end of 2017, the Xbox One X is also a huge issue for the company, which no longer boasts the most powerful games console on the market.

The PS4 Pro is a bit familiar, but it’s also the most powerful gaming console you can buy in 2016. While it doesn’t do enough to make existing PS4 owners rush out to upgrade, anyone about to join #teamSony is in for a treat.

Watch: PS4 Pro – video review

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Sony PS4 Pro – Design and Features

The PS4 Pro is a beast. It’s a little taller than original PS4, and clearly wider and deeper. The overall effect is more of a slab than a box.

I’m okay with this. The Xbox One S could afford to go smaller than its predecessor since the core specifications are the same. The PS4 Pro has a bigger engine – you can’t stick a V12 in a Mini. Well you can, but that would be ridiculous.

In other design news: the parallelogram shape remains but the sharp corners have been rounded off. A chrome-effect PS logo at the top is the only thing that really stands out from the matte black plastic. It adds a premium vibe, which is just as well as the very thin power and eject buttons don’t feel luxurious at all.

A quick word on these, for the uninitiated: 4K refers to the picture resolution, and is roughly four times the number of pixels you get on a regular Full HD picture – about eight million pixels. Theoretically, that means finer detail and greater clarity.

HDR, or high dynamic range, means a wider range of brightness, contrast and colour. This technology has come along because traditional production and display technologies don’t show nearly as much information as our eyes can see. A higher dynamic range means a more realistic picture.

Related: Star Wars Battlefront 2

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The fact that the PS4 Pro can handle 4K and HDR simply means better looking games. New PS4 games will have a ‘Pro’ option for enhanced visuals, and some older games are getting patched too.

Don’t worry about compatibility, because all PS4 games must work on standard and Pro consoles. That’s the rule – nobody gets left out in the cold. Otherwise, it’s entirely up to the developers how they make use of the extra power on the PS4 Pro.

For a list of PS4 Pro supported games, check out our PS4 Pro vs PS4 feature.

The PS4 Pro is noticeably quieter than the original PS4. There is inevitably more noise when the disc drive is spinning and the fan speeds up, but once everything is installed and you’re gaming normally, it’s barely audible from the sofa – and almost impossible to notice if you’ve got the TV on.

I downloaded a sound meter app on my phone. It’s not the most scientific measurement but good enough to provide an idea. I placed it over the console’s disc drive and recorded the measurement at the loudest point. The PS4 Pro measured 49dB, while my C-chassis (fairly recent) PS4 measured 53dB. For reference, the coffee table in my living room (to check ambient noise) measured 33dB. What this all means is that console’s sound won’t interrupt your gameplay.

This thing is also fast. The PS4 Pro boasts SATA 3 hard drive, an upgrade from the PS4’s SATA 2. Without going all technical, this means the Pro can transfer data at twice the speed. Big games such as Grand Theft Auto V and Hitman jumped into action noticeably faster, which is brilliant because loading screens kill happiness.

Related: How to transfer data from PS4 to PS4 Pro

SONY PS4 PRO – CONTROLLER

There’s a new controller. Well, a slightly tweaked one. It’s the one released with the new slim PS4, so if you’ve seen that, you’ll know exactly what to expect.

Functionally it remains very much the same. The analogue sticks, face buttons, Options/Share buttons and D-pad have been given a new grey tone to contrast with the black of the controller. It reminds me a little of the PlayStation 20th Anniversary Edition controllers, but that grey a couple of shades darker.

The touchpad is also now translucent at the top, which lets through a little of the light bar on the back of the controller. It’s an odd move, considering the general apathy (or even disdain) towards the light bar, but it does make it easier for players to see which colour they are in multiplayer matches.

It seems the tweaks are merely aesthetic – another point for the Xbox One S, which added tougher joysticks and a grippier texture. At least PlayStation has licensed third parties, such as Razer, to make ‘Pro’ controllers. Ironically, those look a lot like Xbox pads.

Related: Call of Duty WW2

SONY PS4 PRO – NO UHD BLU-RAY PLAYER

Since its announcement, plenty of people have raged about the fact that the PS4 Pro doesn’t have a 4K Blu-ray player. I was one of those people, and my stance hasn’t changed: I think it’s a mistake. Without UHD Blu-rays, you’re left with streaming, which I’m told is the future. That argument doesn’t hold up right now, because, at least in the UK, the average internet connection is not fast or stable enough for 4K HDR streaming.

Then there’s the matter of content. Your favourite streaming subscriptions only give you TV shows to stream in 4K and HDR. The 4K films must be paid for separately – at the same prices as UHD Blu-rays – and they don’t even offer HDR.

Basically, the only source for 4K HDR movies is UHD Blu-ray, which means the PS4 Pro will not scratch that particular itch. Your only option is to get a dedicated player, or an Xbox One S.

Sony argues that the omission of the UHD Blu-ray component is down to the popularity of streaming, but this conveniently ignores the fact that Sony has made its own 4K Blu-ray player.

So why no 4K Blu-ray player? The only compelling argument for this omission is the price. The Xbox One S sports a 4K player but is fundamentally the same machine that launched three years ago. Sony, meanwhile, has piled in the upgraded components, and they’re not cheap.

For the equivalent graphics on PC, it’ll cost you a lot more than the £350 Sony wants for the 1TB version. Suddenly the lack of 4K Blu-ray is more forgivable.
For this argument to hold up, the gaming experience would need to be significantly enhanced – and it is.

Related: Last of Us Part 2 latest news

Sony PS4 Pro – Performance

I played Gran Turismo Sport, Uncharted 4, The Last of Us Remastered, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Horizon Zero Dawn, all on 4K and HDR-compatible TVs. The results were very impressive, but differed depending on the game.

The Last of Us Remastered looks better than ever in 4K and HDR. Textures on the clothing are finer. Colour shading is more subtle. There’s much more of a kick to sun beams and shadows are both murkier and yet contain more detail. Revisiting Joel and Ellie on the PS4 Pro is almost like playing the game for the first time.

Then there’s Rise of the Tomb Raider, a newer game and already a stunner. This game’s PS4 Pro mode ignores HDR entirely, and instead focuses on detail and framerates. You get to choose between visual fidelity and stability. Stick with 1080p and you can run the game at 60fps. I chose the 4K option, which is capped at 30fps. That slight drop in smoothness was worth it for the lush scenery.

Related: FIFA 18

I was most blown away by Gran Turismo Sport, which runs at 4K (using 1800p checkerboard rendering) and HDR at 60fps. Ferrari red is accurately rendered, which is a big deal because it wasn’t possible until now, and always appeared a little too orange. It’s a subtle thing, but when everything looks a little more realistic, it all adds up.

Buy Now: Sony PS4 Pro at Amazon from £339.98

Less subtle is the matter of contrast. Sun glinting off a shiny bonnet ought to make you squint, and here it definitely does. Combined with the fine bumps and scratches on the metal, that’s the most lifelike video game rendering of cars I’ve ever seen.

All this, and the PS4 Pro is only just getting started. I’m really looking forward to the flood of games that will make full use of all this extra power.

Related: Middle Earth: Shadow of War preview

SONY PS4 PRO – VR

The standard PS4 is perfectly capable of handling PlayStation VR, but it does sacrifice visual fidelity for framerate stability, which is important to protect users from nausea. The PS4 Pro has more power, and with great power comes great VR. That’s the theory anyway.

Sony says you’ll benefit from more detail and better rendering in the headset. One of the “Pro” patched VR titles is Battlezone, which is supposed to have enhanced resolution and in-cockpit lighting and reflections. In practice, I’m not sure I noticed any difference. Then again, it’s not really a game that lends itself to visual critique.

For a bigger visual challenge, I tried Batman Arkham VR. This game didn’t get a patch but I was curious anyway. I didn’t notice any improvement in definition, but I did notice fewer texture pops, as the game benefitted from the Pro’s faster rendering. Loading times were better, too.

The problem with these titles is that they were built with the standard PS4 in mind. I’m certain that upcoming PSVR or PSVR-compatible games will benefit from the extra power.
After trying Gran Turismo Sport on a 4K HDR TV, I tried it in PSVR. What I experienced was detailed and stable – way better than the blurry mess that is DriveClub VR.

The annoying thing about using PSVR with the PS4 Pro is that the VR’s processing box doesn’t pass through HDR. It has no problem with 4K, but if you have that processing box connected, the image on your TV will not be HDR. You’ll have to unplug the VR and connect the PS4 Pro straight into your TV. Every time. That’s very annoying, especially for anyone with a nicely integrated entertainment centre, built to hide away cables.

Related: Destiny 2 review

SHOULD I BUY THE PS4 PRO?

The PS4 Pro has some niggles, but it also offers the power that you’d struggle to find out of a high-end gaming PC. If you’ve yet to adopt a console of this generation, I’d say it’s a no-brainer. You won’t find better graphics on a games console this year.

But what if you already have a PS4? That’s a less obvious choice, considering the PS4 also gets HDR – without the 4K – which narrows that gap quite a bit. As an original PS4 owner, I am sorely tempted to upgrade, but then again I’m an AV geek.

Then there’s the Xbox One S, which doesn’t have the sheer grunt of the PS4 Pro, but does offer a 4K Blu-ray player. If you want an all-round media machine, Microsoft has a distinct advantage in that arena. Another thing to consider is the proper next-gen consoles. Microsoft has its next Xbox in the pipeline, codenamed Project Scorpio, and that’s bound to be a clear step up.

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Samsung Galaxy S8

Long-term review: Is the Samsung Galaxy S8 still the Android phone you should pick?

Samsung made a big splash with its S8 and S8+ handsets, and considering how flat the Note 7 fell, it was a necessary move. It’s been a few months now since the S8 hit shelves and with the Note 8 coming later in the month, is the S8 still the best phone you can buy?

Related:  Samsung Galaxy Note 8 – is it better?

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Yes, I think it is. But the competition is strong, and the S8 isn’t a clear winner in every area.

Take the camera, for example. Many flagships have excellent cameras, and the S8 is certainly one such device, but the HTC U11 and Google Pixel just edge it thanks to sharper pictures and more natural looking colour reproduction. Performance, too, is an area where the S8 has already started to flounder. It’s by no means slow, but theOnePlus 5 and the iPhone 7 both feel nippier in everyday use.

The Galaxy S8 remains the best-looking phone out there, however. The curved front and back, along with that stunning Infinity Display, combine to create a device that feels futuristic – and one that will continue to do so for some time to come. For the most part the design has survived daily use.

I have to admit that I’ve smashed one S8 by dropping it off my bed onto the floor; but the pricey replacement I’ve subsequently dropped has escaped unscathed. I’ve taken to keeping the device well protected in a case – one of Peel’s very thin ones – and, aside from a mark on the screen, it’s held up well.

There’s no doubt that the display is well engineered, but it still stands as the finest screen on any phone I’ve used. It’s obviously high resolution, but the deep and rich colours produced by the large AMOLED panel make it a joy to use.

The S8 is thin and incredibly light at 155g, but it feels sturdy and precisely made. The last time Samsung opted for a huge change of direction with its flagship, many of the basic features were lost in the transition. Thankfully, this isn’t the case here. A microSD slot continues to sit tucked away with the nano-SIM, the criminally underrated Qi wireless charging is also present, and the device is IP68 water- and dust-resistant too, so it will survive a dunk in water for 30 minutes to depths of 1.5 metres.

Samsung has also retained the headphone jack; I’d be very surprised to hear that anyone thinks that’s a bad idea. Apple’s decision to remove a physical headphone connection looked like it might signal the demise of the 3.5mm jack, but Samsung has gone in the other direction, by including a pair of very good AKG wired buds in the box.

Like the recently launched LG G6, the front of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is almost all screen – and it’s this that really makes the S8 stand out. Unlike with the G6, though, the display here melts into the sturdy metal rim.

Related: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 review

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It’s a much subtler curve than on the Galaxy S7 Edge; far more like the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 in fact, which makes it a lot easier to use. Accidental touches were common on older Edge phones, with your hand hitting the screen when you were just holding the device, but I haven’t experienced this with the S8. There’s still a bit of extra reflection on this portion of the screen, but it’s a small trade-off for such an eye-catching look.

As with any phone, though, not everything is perfect. Having such a big display and tiny bezel means there’s no room for the fingerprint-sensing Home button to sit on the front.

Instead, it’s on the back, next to the camera, and I hate it more every time I use it. First, it’s tiny, meaning those times I actually hit it, it doesn’t recognise my finger. But its real issue is the positioning; it’s so unintuitive. You have to wiggle your finger around the camera – which, incidentally, throws up a message on opening the app to remind you to clean dirty smudges of the lens – and guess where the scanner is?

I don’t understand why it isn’t at the centre, as it is every other phone that has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. I suspect Samsung wanted to build it into the display, but just ran out of time.

I’m also not convinced about how well this phone will hold up after months and years of use. The addition of Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back should offer a little more protection, but I’ve ended up with both a cracked Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7 after drops onto carpet from barely 2ft high. Hopefully, things will be different with the Galaxy S8 – but it feels like a delicate phone.

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The strange position of the fingerprint scanner

The phone is also prone to showing fingerprints, but that’s par for the course with this amount of glass and shiny metal. I’d go with the Midnight Grey colour option if you’re really averse to smudges.

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Samsung Galaxy S8 – Screen

Not only has Samsung crafted what is, in my opinion, the best-looking phone out there, but it’s slapped on the finest display too. Although, when you consider that Samsung has demonstrated the best screen tech for a number of years, this isn’t really a surprise.

There’s more to the display than just the curves. First, it has a new aspect ratio of 18.5:9, rather than 16:9. This means it’s taller, essentially giving you more space in a body that isn’t that much bigger than that of the S7. While the Galaxy S7 had a 5.1-inch display, the S8 bumps that to 5.8.

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It sounds huge, but the phone itself is compact and Samsung is keen to point out that it can still be used comfortably in one hand. I wouldn’t say that you can do quite ‘everything’ with one hand – especially reaching to pull down the notification tray – but this is far from a phablet.

The 5.8-inch display size is in some ways deceiving, however. Don’t pick up this phone thinking it will have the same size of screen as the Nexus 6P or HTC U Ultra in a much smaller body. This is a tall screen and it’s bigger than the S7, but it’s much narrower than proper phablets. Width-wise, it’s barely wider than an iPhone 7 and noticeably narrower than the Pixel XL.

Related: What is HDR?

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Like the majority of Samsung phones, the panel is AMOLED and has a slightly odd quad-HD+ 2960 x 1440 resolution. It’s also ‘Mobile HDR Premium’ certified, so you’ll be able to stream HDR (high dynamic range) shows from Amazon Prime and Netflix when those apps are updated. Arguably, HDR is the most important evolution in TV techis recent years, offering better contrast and a brighter picture.

Colours are gloriously vivid, but it manages to avoid oversaturating brighter shades while still displaying the deepest black. Like the iPhone 7, it covers the DCI-P3 cinema-grade colour gamut for a much wider spectrum of colours, and in certain situations, the brightness can break the 1000-nit barrier. Considering most phones, including the LG G6, only go up to about 650 nits, this is seriously impressive stuff. In fact, this screen is so bright that I can keep it on 25% brightness and it’s perfectly visible indoors.

In a move that’s surely to try to stretch out the fairly small 3000mAh battery, when you unbox your Galaxy S8 it will be set to display at 1080p rather than quad-HD. Most people probably won’t notice the difference – and that’s fine. But I’d suggest hopping into Settings and switching things up. Downscaling can leave some apps with oddly big fonts and a softer look on texts and icons; considering you’re spending £600/$700+ on a phone, you’ll probably want it to look its best.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the best phone out there for media binging, and I’ve started picking it up instead of my iPad when I want to watch something on the go. There’s a clever mode called ‘Video Enhancer’, which boosts the contrast and brightness in certain apps – Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and so on – to give a pseudo-HDR effect. I wouldn’t recommend keeping it on all the time, due to the increased battery drain, but it does make a fantastic display even better.

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