Watch this: Sony PlayStation 5 Pro Review: The Most Advanced Game Console Ever
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When will the PS5 Pro increase in price?
It’s hard to give a definitive answer. For the tariff price impact, the US would need to run out of its current supply of consoles before importing more at the higher price, whatever that may be.
Microsoft increased its recommended retail pricing for the Xbox Series S (512GB) — its most affordable option — by $80, and it’s more expensive Xbox Series X (1TB) by $100. That would mean each console would now cost $380 and $600, respectively.
Sony has yet to officially announce a price increase, but it could be similar to Microsoft’s increase.
Microsoft’s console price increase took effect May 1, and the company announced its game prices will increase this holiday season. Unless Sony officially says otherwise, I would expect a higher price for consoles around the same time.
Can you buy a PS5 Pro on sale?
Despite being released in early November, I wouldn’t expect to find it on sale anywhere. But never say never. Some smaller, independently owned shops could have sales, but if they do, the consoles likely will go quick.
While the console itself may not be offered at a lower price, major retailers like GameStop could offer trade-in deals on consoles and games.
How I afforded the new PS5 Pro
I got a little creative to ensure I didn’t overspend.
I traded in my PS5 and PS4 Slim
No matter which payment option you choose, think about trading in your current console if you have one. I opted to trade in my old gaming stuff to GameStop and got a 15% trade-in bonus from a deal GameStop was running at the time. But if you’d rather sell it via Facebook Marketplace or eBay, that’s totally viable, too.
My original, digital-only PS5 console, PS4 Slim console and handful of PS4 games dropped the price of the Pro to around $300. While that isn’t an insignificant amount, it is easier to digest than the original $700 price tag.
The PS4 console and its games were collecting dust in my closet. While I do see the value in holding on to physical pieces of media, it’s not something that I choose to do often. It made more sense for me to turn these unused items into something that I will use often. And I can purchase a disc drive for the PS5 Pro down the line to start collecting games again.
I put the rest on one of my credit cards
I don’t currently have any credit cards with an introductory 0% purchase APR, which means I had to pay off the entire purchase by my statement’s due date to avoid interest charges. An intro purchase APR would’ve allowed me to spread payments out over a set number of months without accruing interest.
I used my Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card*, which earns 2% cash back on purchases. So the remaining $300 earned $6 cash back (300 x .02) — which wasn’t a motivator for using it, but I considered it kind of like getting a little bonus discount.
Thinking about upgrading? Consider these tips.
While I used a combination of trade-ins and my credit card, that’s not the only way you could make the cost hit a little less.
Apply for a new credit card
Another option would be to apply for a new credit card, one that has an introductory 0% purchase APR. I personally didn’t apply for a new credit card because I don’t need another one.
I don’t recommend applying for a credit card simply to get a new PlayStation, but if there’s a card you’ll continue to use once you’ve paid off the cost of the Pro, it’s not a bad idea. Just make sure you can afford to pay off the PlayStation before the introductory period ends, or you’ll start accruing interest on the remaining balance at the credit card’s regular rate, which is typically over 20% APR.
Credit cards can help earn some money back for essential purchases, like the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. It has a 15-month introductory 0% purchase APR — then 20.24% to 29.24% (variable) — from the date of account opening, and it offers 3% cash back for select U.S. online retailers, U.S. gas stations and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in spending per year, then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. There’s also no annual fee (see rates & fees; terms apply).
So if you used it to buy a PS5 Pro online, you’d earn rewards and be able to pay down the cost over 15 months without worrying about interest. That means you could charge the cost of the Pro and pay about $47 monthly (700/15) to wipe out the balance before the promotional period ends, avoiding any interest charges.
A card’s welcome bonus — depending on the payment threshold needed to earn it — could also help cut back on costs. For example, the Prime Visa* offers new cardholders an instant $150 Amazon gift card on approval without a spending requirement. It also earns 5% cash back for Amazon purchases, but you’ll need to be a Prime member to qualify, which costs $139 annually.
In contrast, the Blue Cash Everyday offers a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.
Trying to maximize your credit card rewards by purchasing gift cards to fund your console? Be aware that some credit cards, including American Express and Wells Fargo, categorize gift cards as ineligible purchases for earning rewards.
