Not for me: PS5 Pro
Graphical upgrades don't justify the high price
One of the worst secrets in the gaming industry — the PlayStation 5 Pro — was unveiled last week. It will have upgraded graphics hardware and AI-driven upscaling that will finally run AAA games smoothly at 4K 60fps without compromises.
What caught me by surprise is the US$699 price tag (S$1,069 in Singapore). To add salt to injury, Sony apparently feels it’s okay to nickel-and-dime buyers by charging for the vertical stand separately (S$44.90). The PS5 Pro also doesn’t include a Blu-ray disc drive, so that’s an extra S$159 for this accessory. Which works out to almost S$1,300 to replace my PS5 with the Pro version.
And that’s where I draw the line. Unlike some gamers, I don’t think graphical fidelity is everything. My favourite game in recent years — Elden Ring — only got ray-tracing a year after its release. But it had already wowed gamers (and won awards) with its fantastic visual design and art direction. Meanwhile, Black Myth: Wukong looks amazing, but the game feels like a slog due to the gameplay and other issues. And if graphics is your absolute top priority, you’d be better off with a gaming PC anyway.
In any case, I was hardly blown away by the PS5 Pro’s technical presentation. I may yet feel differently when I actually try the PS5 Pro. But the side-by-side graphical comparisons between the PS5 Pro and the PS5 in the presentation didn’t wow me as much. Besides, I usually don’t focus on the visuals in the heat of gameplay or combat. So I’m fine with Performance mode on the PS5, which sacrifices the graphics for higher frame rates.
Console makers like Microsoft and Sony have always used a razor-and-blades business model. They sell their consoles at a slight loss or at near cost, but gamers pay higher prices for console games than PC games. Only Nintendo doesn’t play this game. Now I can’t say if Sony is making a loss on the PS5 Pro. Perhaps the console is indeed that costly. But the PS5 Pro feels too expensive for upgrades that don’t matter that much to me. So I’ll be rocking the still-good PS5, and waiting for the PS6 instead.
This week, we checked out Samsung’s premium robot vacuum, which has a large docking station, Razer’s latest Kraken V4 gaming headset with RGB lighting, and a Keychron TKL keyboard that offers a solid typing experience and plenty of customisation.
The Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo 70W delivers the cleaning performance to justify its hefty S$1,799 price tag. Unlike other robot vacuums with cleaning tanks that may leave a lingering moldy smell, there was no such odour with the Samsung. But the Samsung has one of the biggest docks we have seen, and may not be suited for those living in a small apartment.
If you like having RGB lighting on your PC gear, the S$295 Razer Kraken V4 gaming headset will be right up your alley. This headset feels comfortable on the head even in a long gaming session. But the volume dial adjustment isn’t as granular as we’d have liked. Audio, though, was balanced, while the retractable microphone sounded clear.
The 80% TKL (tenkeyless) Keychron Q3 Max is a solid, premium keyboard with a double gasket design that reduces the sound significantly. Typing feels firm without any wobble. Like Keychron's other Q-series keyboards, the Q3 Max is very customisable — from remapping keys to adding macros. A great keyboard, albeit slightly pricey at S$259.