PS4 which one to buy? Guide to the different versions

PS4 which one to buy?

That PlayStation 4 being one of the most popular consoles is no secret. Since 2013 they have been over 100 million units sold all over the world decreeing another great success of Sony and giving new life to the already rich videogame market. But, if you've come across this article, you're probably not one of those 100 million and are thinking, to our great approval, of joining the next generation Sony family. It is true, however, that many versions of the PS4 have been born over the years so which one to buy?

The first doubt that can come to your mind concerns the much rumored PlayStation 5 which, according to what was announced, will be launched at end of 2020. However, this data should not persuade you. Paradoxically (not too much) this may be the perfect time to buy a PlayStation 4.

Sony is in fact a veteran of 6 years of experience, years that have allowed the Japanese giant to refine the experience offered by PS4, both in terms of hardware - with the new versions of the console released over the years - and in terms of firmware. The console has indeed received a great many updates of system which have improved its use by the user, its stability and reduced any bugs to a minimum.

PS4 which one to buy? Let's start with PlayStation 4

This is the model "original"of PlayStation 4 as it was presented at launch. Over the years, different versions and models have been released, so-called chassis (A, B and C, the main ones) which presented slight differences from each other both in terms of aesthetics and hardware. Model A is clearly the oldest as well as the heaviest with a not-so-efficient and noisy cooling system. The C model, the last of this version of the console, has a softer design, is lighter and has been improved in terms of power consumption and cooling systems.

All three versions feature the same characteristics in terms of power and CPU and are compatible with any PlayStation 4 video game already released or in the process of. This model (all 3 chassis) are no longer produced by Sony but receive constant system updates to improve their performance.

The PlayStation 4 has a price that is around 349 euros which varies depending on the year of production or the different chassis.

Here are the technical specifications of the PlayStation 4:

• AMD x86-64 Jaguar 1.6 GHz 8-core APU processor
• AMD GCN Radeon video processor (integrated into the APU)
• Power 1,84 TFLOPS
• 8 GB GDDR5 video memory (for games, programs, music and videos)
• 256 MB of RAM (for operating system and background processes only)
• 500GB or 1TB (depending on model) hard drive, removable and replaceable
• HDMI output
• Wireless 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1
• 3.0 USB ports
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Dimensioni 30,5 x 27,6 x 5,4 cm (chassis A)
• Weight 2,764 Kg (chassis A)

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PlayStation 4 Slim

The slim di PlayStation 4 it practically replaced the original model on the market. Don't be fooled by the name: at the hardware level, this version is practically identical to the PlayStation 4 we have just seen. However, it does have a decidedly more compact and lighter design, a more efficient cooling system and reduced power consumption.

Other improvements concern the wireless connectivity and Bluetooth which allow the PlayStation 4 Slim to easily connect to new routers with 5 GHz band taking advantage of the protocol ac. This ensures excellent stability for wireless online gaming. It bluetooth 4.0, moreover, it allows you to connect the controllers, saving energy and increasing the autonomy of the DualShock batteries.

As with the previous model, the Slim version is also able to support the 1080p resolution but it also supports HDR for certain games and movies. Of this model there are two versions of 500GB of internal memory or 1TB.

The price of the PlayStation 4 Slim ranges from € 239 for the 500GB version to € 279 for the 1TB version.

Below the technical specifications of the PlayStation 4 Slim (in bold the improvements compared to the basic version):

• AMD x86-64 Jaguar 1.6 GHz 8-core APU processor
• AMD GCN Radeon video processor (integrated into the APU)
• Power 1,84 TFLOPS
• 8 GB GDDR5 video memory (for games, programs, music and videos)
• 256 MB of RAM (for operating system and background processes only)
• 500GB or 1TB (depending on model) hard drive, removable and replaceable
• HDMI output
• Wireless Dual Band a/b/g/n/ac
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 3.1 USB ports
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Dimensions 28,8 x 26,5 x 3,9 cm
• Weight Weight 2,1 Kg

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PlayStation 4 Pro

The PlayStation 4 Pro is definitely the most powerful console version. This version features major hardware improvements with a GPU with 36 CUs running at 911Mhz and an 86 core X8 CPU up to 2.1 Ghz. This data results in performance improvement of 30% it's a power equal to 2.3 times compared to the original version of 2013.

Surely the most important element, which distinguishes it from the consoles seen so far, is the 4K resolution support for video games and obviously televisions, compatible. The PS4 Pro also make the most of HDR to give us vivid colors and images of the highest quality. It is also able to improve the graphics of some video games prior to the console's release thanks to theupscaling in able to offer us one resolution of 2160p.

Of the PlayStation 4 Pro there is only the version with 1TB of internal memory and there are several on the market bundle with the latest video games or with the PlayStation VR so this version lends itself particularly well.

The price of the PlayStation 4 Pro is around € 319.

Here are the technical specifications of the Pro version of the PlayStation 4 (in bold the improvements over the basic version):

• AMD x86-64 Jaguar 1.6 GHz 8-core APU processor
• AMD GCN Radeon video processor (integrated into the APU)
• Power 4,20 TFLOPS
• 8 GB GDDR5 video memory (for games, programs, music and videos)
• 256 MB of RAM (for operating system and background processes only)
• 1 TB hard drive
• HDMI output
• Wireless Dual Band a/b/g/n/ac
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 3.1 USB ports
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Dimensions 35,7 x 43,3 x 10,8 cm
• Weight Kg 3,62

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PS4 which one to buy?

After this analysis, the question now is: which PS4 to buy?

It all depends, of course, on the kind of experience you want to get from your console. If you are looking for a bargain without having too many pretexts in terms of performance, the original model may be the ideal solution, perhaps exploring the world of second-hand. This is an economically relevant choice if you are planning to buy a PlayStation 5 at launch.

La PlayStation 4 Slim it is an equally valid alternative to fully enjoy the wonderful titles that the PS4 is able to offer us. With a design and a very low price, the Slim version will be able to keep you updated on the video games of this generation so as not to make you unprepared for the next one.

If, on the other hand, you have a TV capable of supporting 4K and you don't want to miss every graphic detail, then the PlayStation 4 Pro is the one for you. Although the cost is slightly higher than the other versions, you will find, to date, the most updated and performing PS4 model ever.

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