Is the Stern Premium Worth It Over the Pro?

When you buy a modern Stern pinball machine, one of the biggest decisions is often not which game to buy, but which version.

The Pro is usually the cheaper and simpler option. The Premium costs considerably more and adds extra toys, mechanisms and visual features.

But is it actually worth paying the difference?

The answer depends heavily on the machine.

Godzilla — Yes, Absolutely

Godzilla is one of the clearest examples where we'd choose the Premium.

The Magna Grab, collapsing skyscraper, animated bridge and, especially, the much more elaborate Mechagodzilla mechanism add far more than decoration. On Premium and LE, Mechagodzilla's motorised target bank rotates between the target bank, spinner and jump-ramp configuration, changing how you interact with that part of the game.

The Premium simply gives you more machine.

If Godzilla is the game you want, we'd have a hard time choosing the Pro unless budget is the main concern.

Our Best Godzilla Pinball Mods also shows how much visual potential the machine has.

JAWS — Another Strong Premium

JAWS is another case where the Premium makes a major difference.

The Orca Boat upper playfield, Quint's Shack ramp and motorised Great White Shark create a substantially richer physical experience.

And this is particularly relevant because the upper playfield isn't simply something you look at.

It becomes another part of the actual game.

If you already love the idea of JAWS because of its unusual layout and deep rules, the Premium gives you even more of that experience.

Our Best Jaws Pinball Mods article covers the machine in more detail.

Foo Fighters — Huge Difference

Foo Fighters is another machine where we think the Premium is worth serious consideration.

The Premium adds the Area 51 upper playfield, extra flipper and loops, creating a completely different section of the game above the main playfield. Stern also offers additional Premium-specific lighting accessories that further emphasise this setup.

Here, the Premium isn't simply about having a nicer toy.

You are getting more gameplay.

That's a big reason the price difference feels easier to justify.

Dungeons & Dragons — Premium Adds Real Gameplay

Dungeons & Dragons is another interesting one.

The Premium adds the disappearing playfield trap door, which opens access to dynamic dungeon levels, as well as the much more elaborate animatronic Dragon.

This is exactly the kind of Premium feature we like.

It isn't just something sitting on the playfield looking impressive. It changes where and how you play.

If you're particularly interested in the deeper, more strategic side of D&D, we'd lean Premium.

Jurassic Park — More Spectacle Than Necessity

Jurassic Park is where the answer becomes less obvious.

The Premium gives you the fantastic animatronic T. Rex, the interactive Raptor and the motorised Raptor Pen.

They are fantastic features.

But here's the important part: the Pro is already a brilliant game.

The core layout, shots, rules and Jurassic Park experience are all there. The Premium makes the machine more spectacular, but it doesn't transform the fundamental game in the same way that JAWS or Foo Fighters can.

If you love dinosaurs and physical toys, Premium is fantastic.

If gameplay value matters most, the Pro is very hard to fault.

Metallica — The Pro Is Already a Lot of Game

The original Metallica is another machine where the Pro gives you a huge amount of the experience.

The Premium adds physical locks and some additional toys and presentation, but the fundamental game remains very similar.

That's why we'd put Metallica closer to the “Pro is enough” side of the spectrum.

And of course, Metallica Remastered is now its own machine rather than simply being another Premium version.

Iron Maiden — Mostly the Same Game

Iron Maiden is similar.

The Premium adds the motorised Pharaoh's Tomb entrance, the Sarcophagus lock and additional sculpted characters, but the Pro already has four flippers, the centre jump ramp, major targets and the core gameplay.

The Premium is definitely prettier and more elaborate.

But you aren't missing a completely different game by buying the Pro.

For a player who cares primarily about gameplay, Iron Maiden Pro is a very strong value.

King Kong — Better Premium, Same Core Game

King Kong has an interesting split.

The Premium adds the much more elaborate animated Kong and Biplane mechanism, while the Pro still has the important core features, including The Pit and the main gameplay systems.

So Premium makes the machine much more spectacular.

But from a pure gameplay perspective, the Pro remains extremely complete.

This is another case where your priorities matter more than the badge on the cabinet.

Deadpool — Premium Is Fun, But Pro Works

Deadpool follows a similar pattern.

The Premium adds eight extra drop targets, the motorised disco ball, Wolverine and Dazzler figures, the Chimichanga Truck and an actuated ramp that feeds the right flipper.

That's a lot of extra hardware.

But the Pro already has the essential Deadpool experience and a very complete layout.

So we'd call this a nice Premium upgrade rather than a must-have Premium.

James Bond 007 — Somewhere in the Middle

James Bond sits somewhere between the two extremes.

The Premium adds the Aston Martin DB5 roof ejection, Dr. No's Dragon Tank and the Thunderball reverse-eject scoop with its hidden underwater diorama.

These features absolutely make the machine more impressive.

But the Pro already has the main Bond experience.

So if you're a huge 007 fan, Premium is tempting. If you're buying primarily for the rules and gameplay, the Pro can make just as much sense.

And if you want to customise your Bond machine even further, explore the complete James Bond 007 Pinball Mods collection.

Star Trek — The Premium Is About the Package

Star Trek is one where the gameplay difference is relatively small, but the Premium presentation is much more impressive.

The game itself remains fundamentally the same, but the Premium treatment adds more lighting, presentation and visual spectacle around the experience.

And that matters with Star Trek because the atmosphere is such a big part of the appeal.

If you want the machine to feel like a centrepiece, Premium makes sense.

If you're mainly there to shoot the ball, the Pro gets you most of the way there.

For Star Trek owners looking to give the machine their own visual identity, take a look at the complete Star Trek Pinball Mods collection.

So, Is the Stern Premium Worth It?

There isn't one universal answer.

Premiums we'd strongly consider:

Godzilla — major mechanical and gameplay additions.

JAWS — substantially more physical gameplay.

Foo Fighters — genuinely more playfield.

Dungeons & Dragons — meaningful extra gameplay features.

Premiums we'd consider depending on the player:

James Bond 007 — better package, but Pro already works.

King Kong — more spectacle, similar core game.

Deadpool — lots of great toys, but Pro is already complete.

Star Trek — presentation matters more than gameplay difference.

Premiums where the Pro is particularly strong:

Jurassic Park — Premium is spectacular, but Pro already plays exceptionally well.

Iron Maiden — most of the important game is already in the Pro.

Metallica — Premium adds hardware, but the core experience is very similar.

That's ultimately the most important thing to remember.

A Premium isn't automatically a better game.

Sometimes you're paying for more gameplay.

Sometimes you're paying for more spectacle.

And sometimes you're paying for both.

The trick is knowing which one you're actually getting.