Buy PS4 Pro Now or Wait for Sales

Edit> Outcome below

Hi, first post!

I live in a household with two boys, all of us are avid gamers (although I don't so much anymore because because of time mainly).
Oldest has a PS4 in his room (while we are in the process of putting up a garage/rumpus), youngest is obsessed with VR (beatsaber).

Youngest birthday is coming up in July, I picked up a Mega Pack in the recent Sony sales. I realised after that we are probably going to need another console so there are no fights. Oldest is saving up for PS5 later in the year, so I feel the best bang for buck for us at the moment is to get a PS4 Pro.

Due to Covid, there is a shortage of new machines, and those that are available (new and second hand) have kept their prices high.
Second hand the cheapest I have found is $400, but most tend to hover around the 450-500+ mark, which is getting close to retail.

I feel like there is a good chance that Pros will go on sale the closer we get to the PS5 launch, what do my fellow ozbargainers think I should do?
Ideally I would like to have a PS4 Pro at the beginning of July, but can probably wait a bit if it looks like prices might go down.

In Adelaide if that makes any difference.

Thanks!

Edit>

so I ended up buying a boxed CUH-7202B pro from Cashies for $325.
I've been keeping an eye online for new and secondhand .. most still $450++ (incl games mostly which I don't really need). One of the best was a 2TB limited edition boxed that came up on Gumtree at $400, but ended up selling for $500 (I asked the guy how much he sold for).

Saw this one come up this morning on FB marketplace at a nearby Cash Converters .. went to have a look and check it was the new version, was also boxed which wasn't in the pictures. Comes with a 90 day repair warranty, so decided to get it. Not sure why they are pricing it so low? Maybe someone not knowing the difference between standard and pro.

I was preparing to wait for Prime Day sales, and would prefer to buy new, but it looks like Prime Day might get delayed to August/September .. this was cheap plus the new quiet version. As long as new sales prices stay close to $400 I won't feel too put out lol.

It should keep us going through to Christmas, might try sell it then and go a second PS5 ..

Even though I didn't follow the poll recommendations exactly, it really helped me work out where my buy thresholds were.

Thanks for everybody's input!

Poll Options expired

  • 4
    Buy new PS Pro now
  • 5
    Buy secondhand PS4 Pro now
  • 52
    Wait for sales

Comments

  • +5

    Don't buy any of them. With the release of the next Gen consoles imminent, you'd be a fool to buy now.

    • +1

      We're getting a PS5 later in the year. The Pro is more of a spare room/VR machine. I don't really need a second PS5 (or do I? šŸ§) and even if we get another one, that doesn't solve my central problem of what to do with space and sharing machines for the next 6 months.

      • -3

        Wait like everyone else. (I mean from the looks of it everyone else is going to buy the Xbox not the PS5, so thatā€™s technically incorrect).

        • What do you mean everyone is going to buy the Xbox instead of PS5? What has Microsoft brought to the table to make themselves the obvious choice?

          • @FireRunner: A much more powerful machine and backwards compatibility (so a much bigger game library), they've bought a lot of the studios, and to be honest, of all the game footage released so far, only Flight Simulator looks like it's next gen. Everything else looks like it could run on a current Xbox X.

            • +1

              @[Deactivated]: Power isn't everything. The lack of decent exclusives on Xbox always puts me off. Also PS5 is backwards compatible with PS4. Honestly, I'd choose PS over Xbox. I'd admit the controller and console design of the xbox is more appealing though

              • @FireRunner: It doesn't look like PS5 has many exclusives this time around. I mean it has Gran Turismo, but that really peaked at GT3, for an arcade game, it's been outclasses by Forza for years.

                • @[Deactivated]: There's a few: Spider-man, Horizon dawn and Demon's Souls look interesting. I expect a God of War and Uncharted down the line. I won't be purchasing either though. Got a backlog of PC and Switch games to get through which will keep me occupied for at least another year

                  • -2

                    @FireRunner: I don't get God of War. All you do to win is mash the buttons faster. No fun at all.

                    • +4

                      @[Deactivated]: I've only played GOW 2018, the characters, settings and story was amazing imo. The combat was satisfying and the different attacks made it interesting. Easily my favourite PS4 game.

                    • @[Deactivated]: It actually takes skill to do well. It's actually much harder than previous GoW games. GoW also have the nine optional Valkyrie bosses. They're incredibly difficult to beat. I beat one after numerous tries and almost beat a second within an inch of its health but gave up after that.

                      • @driew: I think I was able to beat 2 or 3 valkeries. Then I got whopped soundly by the Muspelheim one and gave up

                        • @FireRunner: Good effort mate! When I asked my friend if he beat any, he said he just gave up lol.

              • +1

                @FireRunner: I agree. Don't know why you got downvoted for voicing a reasonable opinion (upvoted to restore balance). I'm also partial to the PS5 as I prefer Sony's exclusives. I still plan to get the XSX down the track when it's much cheaper.

            • @[Deactivated]: I bet ps5 will be bigger in Australia than the Xbox. There more people now on PS and people donā€™t seem to switch over.

        • Donā€™t feed the troll!

          PS5 is going to be way bigger in Australia than Xbox Series X, just like previous PlayStation consoles.

          • @kazuyamishima: Yes, because an opinion is trolling. Past history in no way determines future performance. I think MS has this round nailed with a better machine.

            • +2

              @[Deactivated]: Power never wins generations.
              The Switch destroyed Xbox One in just a couple of years.

              Quality and quantity of games >>> power

              Any day!!

                • @[Deactivated]: You're correct. To be fair, the Switch only came out in 2017 whereas the PS4 and Xbox One came out late 2013 so those numbers by Nintendo are pretty impressive. I think it's smart that Nintendo does not try to compete directly with Sony and MS.

                  Regarding MS having the better machine, I think only time will tell. Past performance does not indicate future performance, that's true but it's still an indicator that's better than nothing.

                  I know everyone has their preference, but just remember that competition is great for us consumers. Personally, I would be saddened if any of the 3 left the console market.

                • +1

                  @[Deactivated]: Actually, we were wrong. The Switch has now outsold the Xbox One which is a pretty amazing feat given it only came out 3 years ago.
                  https://www.vgchartz.com/article/442352/switch-vs-ps4-vs-xboā€¦.

                  The Xbox One build quality is good and MS appears to have learnt their lesson after the 360 RROD debacle and I actually prefer the Xbox One X over the PS4 Pro because it can actually play 4K movies and is more powerful not to mention I see more deals for the Xbox One X than the PS4 Pro.

                  I kept my original PS4 console but upgraded my original Xbox One to the Xbox One X so I can also play 4K movies and I'm now uncertain if I'm going to get the PS5/XSX at launch since Sony have said they're focusing on value rather than price which means it'll be expensive.

                  I was surprised but not entirely shocked that MS's numbers were so low compared to the PS4 because they simply lack decent exclusives. For me, the only exclusives I care about on Xbox would be Gears and Forza as I'm not a big Halo/FPS fan.

  • +1

    Your poll needs a 4th option - none of the above.

    You already have a ps4, going to get a ps5 and you're thinking of getting a wedgie ps4 pro? Seems a little excessive to me and the ps4 will likely become a paperweight when the ps5 is out anyway.

    • Current PS4 is being used by the older boy and will go to a cousin when PS5 arrives. Pro is for the younger kid and me, VR and kids games for him, backlog of current gen games for me. There's reasons why the current PS4 can't always be in the space where we can all use it (not interesting reasons, just the way it is).

      I basically need a second machine, and minimum could pick up a second hand slim PS4, but have been thinking about the Pro just for a couple of years extra longevity.

      I could just do nothing, and it would be ok, just looking at options.

      But thank you for your feedback!

      • Are people getting $400 For a pro? Maybe I should sell my 1.5 year old one… hmm.

    • +1

      t23's circumstances may be different from yours. If I had kids, I would probably do something similar so we could all play together or play single player games separately. I would recommend waiting for Black Friday sales to hopefully snag a PS4 pro between $350-400. Best of luck mate.

  • +2

    Now's not a good time. Prices are coming down now that COVID19 has mostly passed but are still high. I expect prices to crash once the next gen consoles release.
    Waiting until then when your eldest buys the PS5 and then just give the youngest the PS4, is the best choice imo.
    If you really can't wait that long, at least wait until some decent sales come around.

  • +1

    I assume money isn't that big of an issue, so I'd just pull the trigger and buy one. Probably new. People saying to wait aren't factoring in the hassle of having two kids share the machine, especially if it's going to be used for inherently single player VR gaming. Even if there is a sale (which isn't guaranteed, with COVID-19 increasing demand, supply chain issues/possible reduced production due to PS5, and a weak Aussie dollar), the hassle isn't worth saving $100-$150 imo.

    • +2

      Kids can learn to share. I know because I had to (with multiple siblings too)

    • +3

      It's just at that edge of being more than I want to spend, especially as I missed the last good trade in deal at EB last year, its hard to have to pay these current prices for a soon to be superseded machine .. but I think I may have to do it just to keep everybody happy .. I have a month so hopefully there's some sales between now and then. Thanks both of you for your thoughts!

  • If you self isolated and nothing better to do, buy it now!

  • +1

    The PS4 pro will hold some value once the PS5 will be launched.

    Iā€™ll say to wait for prime day between July- August because the pro is sold out in most places.

    • I think this is the best option, I reckon the kids can share for a month or so before going separate console ways..

  • +1

    Yeah slightly nuanced, I would wait for a sale, while keeping and eye on used prices

    I often feel uneasy buying used as a gift, maybe a refurbished model could exist somewhere buy yeah know what you mean it's not new, a premium-ish used? Like someone who hasn't used it much and has all the boxes and receipts might be a way to go if it's out there.

    Amazing how many people are saying 'wait for PS5' it's like, what's OP meant to do 'sorry, I know it's your birthday today but hey, PS5 isn't out yet'. C'mon people, learn to read.

  • Is this a troll poll to weed out those 7 fake OzBargainers who didn't say "wait for sales"? Remember Fran drescher from the nanny… It ain't a sale unless it's at least 50% off! ;)

    • Haha yeah its a bit like that! I think subconsciously I want to pull the trigger on it early because we had to move the PS4 out of the lounge room just after we got a new tv so I havenā€™t been gaming this last year.. šŸ˜†

  • We're in the same boat OP. I'm in the market for a Pro too when I realize I'm not gaming at the games' full artistic potential (Horizon Zero Dawn and God Of War).

    I'm thinking of pre-ordering from EB for about $500 (after using 10% off gift card). It says on their website that they're shipping in July. Thinking of getting new mainly for the slightly quieter CUH-72xx model.

    Like yourself, I have a backlog of games to play and this purchase would last me another 2-3 years before I get a PS5.

    Let me know how it turns out for you, where and how much you pay for the Pro (if you decide to get it).

    • Updated with outcome^

      tl;dr
      $325 at Cash Converters
      CUH-7202B

      • That's a good price for the pro, considering covid prices

  • Get a Nintendo Wii for not much money. So much fun

    • Get a switch. They're now back in stock. Being able to play portable and docked is awesome.

      • I already have a switch šŸ‘

  • hi guys… any recommendation what is the best and probably cost-saving external drive (brand and model) to be used for ps4?

    external drive purpose is to use for run games…

    also, I have plenty of 2nd HDD naked however I bought USB 3.0 casing and insert the HDD and it seems the ps4 failed to recognise it as USB 3.0 support drive.

    any recommendation of how to overcome that issue???

    thanks

  • Updated with outcome^

    tl;dr
    $325 at Cash Converters
    CUH-7202B

    • That's really good, did you haggle? I would have to check my Cash Convertors

      • No I literally woke up saw the post, also said no holds, so went there after dropping kids off, checked it out and bought it. I was surprised at the price actually, thought maybe someone mistook it for a standard PS4. Combination of price, boxed, 90 day repair and new version pushed it over the line for me compared to waiting for sales and unknown prices/timescale, I might have pulled the trigger up to 350 but as it was under just wanted it in my car lol.

        • Can i know which CC you went? I live in Adelaide as well

    • Good catch mate.

      If you have a CeX near you, they are paying $464 for PS4 pro unboxed cash!!

      • none in Adelaide!
        haha I think I'll keep it for a while after obsessively watching prices this last couple weeks.
        To be honest it's more for me, I've always been about half a cycle behind in keeping up with the latest consoles so I have a lot of games to catch up .. might look into reselling closer to post launch of ps5 if it keeps some value ..

        • Oh that's a Bummer. But I reckon the Pro will hold value once the Ps5 releases.

          Ps4 slim on the other hand… not so much!

Login or Join to leave a comment