If you're after a PS5 or Xbox Series X this year, there are a few things you'll want to factor in when it comes to deciding which console you should go for.
A lot has changed since the two consoles hit the market, including firmware upgrades, new games, and even new third party controllers, so here are our two cents on how we think they stack up against each other right now.
Let's dive in.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Which Should You Buy?
So there's a lot to consider here, but we think these areas are the most important to consider when making your choice.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Specs
When it comes to specs, both consoles have impressive resumes, so if you're digging deep into the details, take a look at the table below for a full breakdown.
PS5 | Xbox Series X | |
|---|---|---|
Price | $499/£449 ($399/£359 without disc drive) | $499/£449 |
Controller Features | USB Type-C Haptic Feedback Adaptive Triggers Microphone Create Button Rechargeable Batteries | New Trigger and Bumper Grip Hybrid D-Pad Dynamic Latency Input (DLI) Share Button AA Batteries |
CPU | 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency) | 8x Cores @ 3.8 GHz (3.66 GHz w/ SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU |
GPU | 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency) Custom RDNA 2 (Supports Ray Tracing and 3D Audio via Tempest Engine) | 12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU |
Die Size | 308 mm2 | 360.45 mm2 |
Process | TBC | 7nm Enhanced |
Memory | 16 GB GDDR6/256-bit | 16 GB GDDR6 w/ 320mb bus |
Memory Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 10GB @ 560 GB/s, 6GB @ 336 GB/s |
I/O Throughput | 5.5GB/s (Raw), Typical 8-9GB/s (Compressed) | 2.4 GB/s (Raw), 4.8 GB/s (Compressed, with custom hardware decompression block) |
DirectX Raytracing | Yes | Yes |
RAM | N/A | 16GB GDDR6 RAM (13GB guaranteed for game developers) |
Internal Storage | Custom 825GB SSD | 1 TB Custom NVME SSD |
Expandable Storage | NVMe SSD Slot | 1 TB Expansion Card (matches internal storage exactly) |
External Storage | USB HDD Support | Seagate Proprietary External 1TB SSD Expansion Card, USB 3.2 HDD Support |
Optical Drive | 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive (Available without) | 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive |
Max Output Resolution | 8K | 8K, 4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS |
Max Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
VR Support | Yes | No |
Cloud Gaming | Remote Play | Microsoft Cloud Gaming |
Subscription Services | PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Now | Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass |
Backwards Compatibility | PS4 games, PSVR | Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One - including accessories |
Ports | Front: One Type-A USB Port and One Type-C USB Port Rear: Two Type-A USB Ports, Ethernet | Front: One Type-A USB Port Rear: 1TB External SSD Slot (Proprietary), Ethernet, Two Type-A USB Ports |
Bluetooth | Yes | Yes (Plus Radio Connection for Controllers) |
Quick Resume | Ability to jump into specific modes | Yes - Support multiple games at once |
Smart Delivery | Free Upgrades For Many PS4 Titles | Yes |
As you can see, things are pretty even here, but it's generally said that Xbox Series X has the edge in terms of sheer power.
From where we're standing, there isn't much noticeable difference here for the average gamer, but those who may have built a PC may spot it.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Price
Again, in the price department, you're looking at similar numbers here.
PS5 Digital comes in at $399, the PS5 Standard Edition comes in at $499, and the Xbox Series X is $499.
Not too much in it, but when it comes to availability, we'd say the Xbox Series X tends to be easier to pin down.
As for whether either will reduce in price or go into the sales, that is yet to be seen, but we'd be very surprised if they did. The best way to save on these consoles is to go after bundle deals, where you can save money on extras, such as controllers or games.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Games
When it comes to games there have been some exciting developments for both Xbox and PS5.
For PS5, there are some exclusives that we'd say are going to be GOTY contenders, such as God of War Ragnorok, but Xbox has one of the most iconic FPS series around, with Halo Infinite leading the charge at the moment.
PlayStation exclusives, in our opinion, have slowly become the stuff of legends, so we'd say if you want to experience some seriously impressive games in the future, PS5 is the way to go.
That being said as of right now, exclusives are few and far between, and Xbox Series X is more than holding its own with the console.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Controller
Microsoft decided to continue with their classic design, albeit one with a new share button, but fundamentally it's the tried and tested Xbox controller.
The DualSense on the other hand is a bit of a beast and completely redesigned. It's larger for one, which is a big plus on the previous dual shock controller for PS4, but it also features advanced haptic feedback too.
And now, there's even the first of what we assume will be many third-party controllers for PS5, giving players a pro-gamepad for some of the most popular reflex-based titles out today.
The jury is still out as to whether we'll see an Xbox Elite Series 3 controller, but we do have high hopes.
Read More: PS5 DualSense Vs PS4 DualShock 4: Which Is Best?
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Backwards Compatibility
Xbox Series X wins hands down when it comes to backwards compatibility, however, we're not talking about games in particular here.
Backwards compatibility allows for machines to work with older gen technology, so in the case of the Xbox Series X, it can work with older-gen controllers.
On the other hand, you can not use a PS4 controller to play PS5 games.
Read More: PS5 Backwards Compatibility Explained
The reason being this is that many of the games will feature DualSense only haptic feedback, so it's a decent excuse, but nonetheless, one that renders your old PS4 controllers redundant.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Headset
The PS5 Pulse 3D, which now comes in a range of colours, goes up against the Xbox Series X headset which was released later down the line.
Both feature long battery life, built-in mics, spatial audio settings and easy to use inline volume controls.
The Xbox headset has superb in-line volume controls from a design perspective in fact, but it's very even.
If you don't fancy the official headset for your chosen console, check out our top headset picks for PS5 and the best headsets for Xbox Series X right here.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Storage
The Xbox Series X ships with 1TB of internal storage, whereas the PS5 comes with 875GB of space.
However, both PS5 and Xbox Series X can work with external HDDs and SSDs to store games, and with select titles play them too.
You can also expand internal memory on both consoles, however, one is more straightforward than the other.
Xbox Series X uses a Seagate Expansion Card, which you just plug into the back of the console.
PS5 requires that you find a compatible internal SSD and install it yourself.
Xbox Series X for sheer ease beats the PS5 in this department, but unless you're really looking to max out your console, we'd say it's not 100% necessary in either case.
PS5 Vs Xbox Series X VR Support
Whilst the two consoles are practically neck and neck on some accessories like their headsets and controllers, it's on the side of VR support where the PS5 pulls ahead slightly.
The original PSVR headset works with PS5, providing you've got the correct cabling and adaptors, and allows you to play brilliant titles like Beat Saber and GT Sport in VR on Sony's latest console with the benefit of faster load times than the PS4 Pro.
There's also the upcoming PSVR 2, which is already set to be a game-changer in the world of VR.
No such support exists on the Xbox Series X given that there's no proprietary headset to go along with it, but if you have an Oculus Rift S laying around, it is possible to connect it up to your PC and play Xbox One and Xbox 360 games.
PS5 Vs Xbox Series X Ultrawide Support
Well, it's good and bad news as both consoles don't officially support ultrawide.
That's because PS5 and Xbox Series X games are made with 16:9 ratios in mind, while titles for PC, including some AAA ones, can be 21:9.
That being said, if you pick up a great HDMI 2.1 monitor, you shouldn't have any complaints.
Which Console Should You Go For?
It's a tight race between the two with both having their strong points and some very minor inconveniences.
For pure ease of use, the Xbox Series X couldn't be simpler. It's backwards compatible with both games and hardware, gives you a ton of power, and is a bit of a one-stop-shop for all your entertainment purposes.
PlayStation is more of a game-led machine and boasts some impressive exclusive titles that you won't want to miss out on, and will see PSVR 2 soon.
But with that being said, we're still waiting for more PS5 exclusives to arrive and we may be waiting for quite a while yet.
This is one case where you could flip a coin and either side is a winner.
Reviews
You can check out our review of Microsoft's latest console right here, and take a look at our in-depth look at the PS5 here!
Read More: Should I Buy A PS5 Or PC? Here's What We Think