PlayStation 4 Pro release date news, updates: Pre-order deals are up; PS4 refresh to offer 4K and HDR gaming

Emmanuelle Espiritu Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Sony's PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation VR headset (L-R) are displayed at Tokyo Game Show 2016 in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan on Sept. 5, 2016. | Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Since it was announced back in Sept. 7, the PlayStation 4 (PS4) Pro has been generating quite a buzz online, mainly because it's going to be the first Sony gaming console to feature support for 4K Ultra HD resolutions. It promises a more realistic gameplay experience and gaming enthusiasts are probably already on the lookout for the cheapest pre-order deals.

Techradar has collated such deals for the PS4 Pro from some big name online stores including Amazon, Amazon UK and Zavvi. The PS4 Pro will sell at $399 and £349.00 and all pre-order deals at the moment come with free shipping. Techradar promises to update the PS4 Pro pre-order page as the official release date nears and more deals and bundles begin to surface.

What's so special about the upcoming PS4 Pro, though? Two particular features quickly catch the avid gamer's discerning eye: 4K and HDR, both of which will allow clearer, more detailed visuals with sharper colors that will not only look good on high-end 4K televisions, but will also ensure full gaming immersion on the upcoming PlayStation VR headset releasing on Oct. 16.

Moreover, old PS4 games will reportedly still work on the upgraded PS4 Pro and can even provide improved visuals via the default upscaling on a 4K TV. Although connecting the device to a 4K TV is the best choice, the PS4 Pro will also work on a 1080p resolution, but without the full benefits of the Pro's 4K and HDR capabilities.

The PS4 Pro will also be launching with hours of 4K Netflix and YouTube shows so that gamers can immediately take the upgraded gaming console on a test drive. The device, however, will not be providing support for 4K Blu-rays.

According to a report by Polygon, PlayStation's lead system architect, Mark Cerny, has stated that the PS4 Pro will also be able to choose the best screen resolution to display a particular game and will automatically operate on that level.

The PS4 Pro will officially be released on Thursday, Nov. 10.