How to Preorder the PS5 Pro (Before a Scalper Bot Does)

We’re barely done with the years-long period where it was almost impossible to get your hands on a PlayStation 5, and now Sony is launching the PlayStation 5 Pro. It has a more powerful graphics processor, better AI upscaling, and tons more storage, with a higher price to match. If you want to get your hands on one when it launches, though, it might take some effort.

It’s no secret at this point that scalpers are, metaphorically, armed to the teeth with tools that can snag dozens of PS5s before you can click the Buy button on one. There’s little reason to expect this new console launch will be any different. (Even if the $700 price makes it one of the most expensive consoles of all time.) Still, there are things you can do to improve your odds of nabbing one of these consoles. And while you’re at it, check out our Best PS5 Accessories and Best PS5 Games guides for more.

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When Do Preorders Start?

Preorders for the new PlayStation 5—as well as the extremely limited-edition 30th-anniversary PS5 Pro models designed to be reminiscent of the original PlayStation—will begin in stages. The PlayStation Direct website will get first dibs, followed by other retailers a couple of weeks later. Here are all of the important dates:

The PS5 Pro is $700 for the disc-less version. If you want to add a disc drive, it’s a separate purchase. You can read more about the differences between all the PS5 models here.

Tips to (Hopefully) Score Your Preorder

Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee that you’ll be able to get a console, even if you’re at your computer the minute sales go live. But there are things you can do to increase your odds:

• Sign up for a PlayStation Network account and be logged in. You’ll need a PlayStation Network account to buy anything via PlayStation Direct, so don’t waste time creating your account on the day sales begin. Set up an account and make sure you’re logged in when preorders go live.
• Add your shipping details ahead of time. From the Addresses tab on your PSN account settings, you can add your shipping address well before you place an order. This can save you a few precious seconds when it’s time to complete your order.
• Confirm your payment info, as well. This one is a little more complicated, as there isn’t the same option to add payment info without buying anything, but if you already have a PSN account, you can check your payment info by going through the checkout process for any item in the store. You could even buy a game you already know you want and save your payment info when you check out, so it will be ready when it’s time to buy the console.

Once the preorder pages go live, it’s generally a good idea to continue with your order no matter what. Plenty of live buying systems lag or get slow when hammered by a ton of traffic, but repeatedly refreshing the page or hitting the Back button is a quick way to lose your order. Just stick with it.

Whatever you do, don’t buy scalped consoles. It might be a vain request, but scalpers only gobble up inventory because they know they can turn around and sell the consoles they bought for a profit. If you’re willing to spend $700 on a PS5 Pro to get it on day one, but you can’t close the deal, it might be tempting to take a look at eBay and buy one for $900. But that’s the scam working. Don’t let them fleece you. Just be patient and wait for the next round of preorders on October 10.