Compare Sony PlayStation 3 vs Sony PlayStation 5 Pro
In this technical comparison between the Sony PlayStation 3 and the Sony PlayStation 5 Pro, we analyze the key features to help you choose.
Choosing between these two Home Consoles models often comes down to your budget, with prices around $499 (20 GB) / $599 (60 GB) and 700 USD / 8000 MAD.
| Specifications |
Sony PlayStation 3 |
Sony PlayStation 5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
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| Launch | ||
| Version | November 2006 | November, 2024 |
| Performance | ||
| CPU | 3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine (7 Synergistic Processing Elements) | x86-64 AMD Ryzen™ “Zen 2” (8 cores / 16 threads) @ 3.5GHz (boost to 3.85GHz) |
| GPU | 550 MHz NVIDIA RSX 'Reality Synthesizer' | 16.7 TFLOPS (60 Compute Units, RDNA 3 architecture) |
| GPU Power | ~230 GFLOPS | ~45% faster rendering than base PS5 |
| RAM | 256 MB XDR Main RAM / 256 MB GDDR3 VRAM | 16GB GDDR6 (576 GB/s) + 2GB DDR5 (Extra for OS tasks) |
| Storage | 20 GB or 60 GB HDD (Later 40 GB, 80 GB, 160 GB) | 2TB Custom NVMe SSD (Internal) |
| Expandable | User-replaceable 2.5" SATA HDD | M.2 NVMe SSD Slot (PCIe Gen4); External USB HDD support |
| Disc Drive | 2x Blu-ray / 8x DVD / 24x CD / SACD (Super Audio CD) | Disc-free by default (Ultra HD Blu-ray drive sold separately) |
| Video Output | ||
| Resolution | 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p | 4K Native / 8K support (via PSSR Upscaling) |
| Max FPS | 60 FPS | 120 FPS at 4K |
| HDR | No | Supported (HDR10, HLG) |
| VRR | No | Supported (HDMI 2.1) |
| Ray Tracing | No | Advanced Ray Tracing (2x–3x faster than base PS5) |
| Audio | ||
| Formats | LPCM 7.1, Dolby Digital, DTS, SACD support | “Tempest” 3D AudioTech, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X |
| Headphones | Bluetooth or USB (No jack on controller) | 3.5mm Jack (Controller), USB, & Bluetooth (via dongle) |
| Connectivity | ||
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 1.3 | 1 × HDMI 2.1 (supports 4K/120Hz, 8K, VRR) |
| USB | 4x USB 2.0 (On 20GB/60GB/early 80GB models; later reduced to 2) | 2 × USB-C (Front), 2 × USB-A (Rear) |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000 Gigabit | 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit LAN |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 b/g (Note: 20GB model did not have Wi-Fi) | Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) | Bluetooth® 5.1 |
| Services | ||
| Online Multiplayer | PlayStation Network (Free) | PlayStation Plus required |
| Cloud Saves | Added later via PS Plus | Included with PlayStation Plus |
| Subscription | PlayStation Plus (Introduced in 2010) | PlayStation Plus (Essential, Extra, Premium) |
| Remote Play | Yes (with PSP) | Supported (up to 1080p/4K on compatible devices) |
| Controller | ||
| Included | Sixaxis (No vibration) / Later DualShock 3 (With vibration) | 1 × DualSense Wireless Controller |
| Features | Motion sensing (Six-axis), Bluetooth, Internal Battery | Haptic Feedback, Adaptive Triggers, Built-in Mic, Touchpad |
| Compatibility | ||
| Backward | Full Hardware Support for PS1 and PS2 (20GB/60GB models only) | Plays 8,500+ PS4 games (with PS5 Pro Game Boost) |
| VR Support | No | Fully supports PlayStation VR2 |
| Physical | ||
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 3.8" x 10.8" (325 x 98 x 274 mm) | Approx. 388 × 89 × 216 mm (Taller than Slim, thinner than OG) |
| Weight | ~11 lbs (5 kg) | Approx. 3.1 kg (6.8 lbs) |
| Color | Piano Black (with chrome/silver trim) | White/Black (with 3 distinct side-panel stripes) |
| Power | ||
| Consumption | ~180W–200W (A heavy power draw compared to later slims) | Rated for 390W (Actual use varies by game) |
| Misc | ||
| Inside the Box | Console, Sixaxis Controller, Mini-USB Cable, AV Cable, Ethernet Cable (60GB), Power Cord. | Console, DualSense, 2TB SSD, 2 Horizontal feet, HDMI cable, Power cord |
| Price | $499 (20 GB) / $599 (60 GB) | 700 USD / 8000 MAD |
| Full Details | PlayStation 3 - Full Specifications | PlayStation 5 Pro - Full Specifications |