PS5 Pro has an important new feature that Sony hasn't mentioned yet

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Key insights

  • The upcoming PS5 Pro offers a dedicated slot for its CMOS battery, making it easily accessible and replaceable.
  • The CMOS battery is an important component that helps an electronic system keep track of time when it is turned off.
  • Previous PlayStation consoles have had CMOS batteries on their motherboards, but the PS5 Pro's dedicated slot adds convenience for users who need to replace them.



Leaked previews have revealed that the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro features a major upgrade that Sony didn't mention anywhere in the console's marketing. While the PS5 Pro's public launch is scheduled for next week, some retailers have shipped it early to a handful of customers who found the console's CMOS battery to show a significant improvement compared to the base PS5.

The PS5 Pro already has an extensive list of upgrades compared to the vanilla PS5. The headliners are a 67% larger GPU, 10% higher CPU clock speeds, double to triple ray tracing performance and a brand new AI-driven image upscaler called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. However, the $700 price tag has been quite controversial, as has the recently discovered incompatibility of existing PS5 Slim console cases with the PS5 Pro. Still, there's a long list of improvements coming to the PS5 Pro, and a new one has been discovered.


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There's been a lot of talk in 2021 about the PS5's CMOS battery, a crucial hardware component that helps the system keep track of time and retain related information even when it's turned off. Like all batteries, CMOS cells have a limited lifespan of up to 10 years and if they run out, they could render the PS5 unplayable. Luckily, Sony identified and fixed this issue in a PS5 firmware update, and it appears the company has also paid special attention to the CMOS battery in the PS5 Pro. An early PS5 Pro user recently shared an image showing that the console has a slot just below the front panel to access the CMOS battery.


PS5 Pro offers a far more accessible CMOS battery


Compared to the regular PS5, where the CMOS battery is only accessible via the motherboard, the PS5 Pro's dedicated slot makes it much easier to replace the battery if necessary. This feature was last seen on the Nintendo Wii and Wii U consoles and bodes well for the PS5 Pro's preservation and repairability down the line. Interestingly, Sony didn't mention this CMOS battery slot alongside the PS5 Pro's numerous upgrades and features, likely because it's a deep specification that would only appeal to a niche subset of potential buyers.

Aside from the potential mainstream appeal, it's great to see Sony increasing its focus on hardware repairability and preservation with the PS5 Pro. On the other hand, the PS5 Pro's lack of an included drive sends the opposite message, even more so when connecting a separately purchased drive to the console requires an internet connection. Hopefully Sony is aware of this glaring game preservation issue and is working on a better modular drive system for future PlayStation consoles.


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