We are in a cost-of-living crisis, and there’s no denying it: brand new PlayStation consoles are expensive. Clocking in at around $499.99 per PlayStation 5, it’s a bit of a steep investment for anyone who’s trying to pinch their pennies. 

We have found a solution for you – and no, it isn’t not playing PlayStation all together. Simply downgrade one tier and buy a pre-loved console. It’s much more affordable, and you’ll be surprised how similar your PlayStation experience will be!

How much does a PlayStation 4 Pro cost? 

While PlayStation 5 can cost up to $500, buying a PlayStation 4 Pro is much more affordable. Head to a reused electronics store, where they will sell previous-generation consoles. A lot of the time, people will trade in their console just because they have upgraded to a PlayStation 5 or for other factors (for example, they may no longer use the console or have changed to an Xbox or other gaming device), not because there is anything wrong with the console itself. 

How do I know that a second-hand PlayStation 4 Pro will work? 

Don’t worry too much about knowing that your PlayStation 4 Pro will work. Provided you purchase it from a decent shop that specializes in second-hand electronics, it will have been fully checked over before being put on the shop floor. 

The in-store experts will have confirmed that it not only turns on and plays games properly (sounds like the ideal job for any gamer!), but they will perform some other checks to make sure that it doesn’t have any other problems. 

To put your mind at ease even more, most second-hand electronics shops offer a guarantee of two months to two years. If your device breaks during this time, you simply need to return it to the shop for a full refund!

Does a PlayStation 4 Pro have the same features as PlayStation 5?

Of course, as PlayStation 5 is the upgraded version, there will always be more features that you can enjoy on it. However, you can still play the PlayStation games that everybody knows and loves on the PlayStation 4 – plus, it has plenty of other cool features too. 

The new PS5 has slightly improved specs compared to the PS4 Pro - such as 16GB GDDR6 memory and a 256-bit interface with 448GB/s bandwidth and expandable storage - and has some better visuals (it uses ray tracing with gives incredible graphics). This means that when you play some of your favorite games, including Battlefield V and Control, you may notice that the graphics are much more realistic. 

PS5 also has SSD, which means that games load a lot faster (we’re talking almost 20 times faster). In contrast, the PS4 has a HDD, which can be quite slow. However, you will ultimately be able to upgrade it with an SSD. 

Audio’s better on the PS5 too; the spatial audio that it entails can deal with lots of different sound sources. With the PS5, you can go disc-free and use the 4K Blu-ray player. However, there are options to stream from Netflix and Amazon on PS4 Pro. 

So, the PS5 clearly does have better features – but that doesn’t mean you should necessarily make the jump right away. If you’re a serious gamer, then yes, you might want the newest gadget, but if you just enjoy a couple of hours of PlayStationing on the weekends, then it could be worth the enormous savings to buy the older model. 

What games can I play on PS4 Pro? 

The good news is that you can virtually play any game on the PS4 pro – and they still make new games for the gadget. 

Some great game choices that you can go for include: 

  • War games like Call of Duty and Battlefield.
  • Football games like FIFA.
  • Fantasy games like Spiro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot.
  • Games based on films and TV programmes like Lego Harry Potter and Star Wars.
  • Casino games like The Four Kings Casino and Slots.

You can often buy these at secondh-and stores, or you can purchase new games on Amazon. If you buy them from second-hand stores, they’re usually very cheap (sometimes just $5 per game!) and undergo all of the same testing that a PlayStation device does. 

Can I buy a new PlayStation 4? 

It’s actually quite difficult to secure a brand new PS4 or PS4 Pro nowadays. Most retailers who provide new software have discontinued it and stock the PS5 instead. That’s why we recommend heading to trusty second-hand electronics shops, where they take in used consoles and test them to ensure that they function correctly before selling them on! 

Is it worth buying a PlayStation if I already have an Xbox? 

Only you know the answer to that! PlayStations and Xboxes have different functionalities and work with different games. If you’re a serious gamer, then you might want both devices. However, most people only need one, usually due to cost or practical reasons. Historically, PlayStations didn’t have 4K streaming services but nowadays they do, so that’s less of an edge when it comes to PlayStations vs Xboxes. Generally, it’s up to personal taste which console you decide to go for – or whether you decide to purchase both! 

As you can see, there’s nothing wrong with buying a second-hand PlayStation 4 Pro! If you want to get your first console – perhaps you’ve just moved into your first home and need to buy one, or you want to get one for a teenage kid – you could save a lot of money by buying a second-hand version. However, if you’re a serious gamer and want to enjoy all of the newest gadgets, then the PS5 will undoubtedly be better for you. It all comes down to personal taste, but one thing’s for sure – you can still have hours of fun with PS4! 

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