PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Which is better?

Sony PlayStation 5

The PS5 is a stunning console and, crucially, has a roster of superb exclusive titles to boast, putting it in pole position.
Microsoft Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X is a brilliant choice for Xbox fans, with loads of power and a huge list of games to play, plus it has the bonus of Game Pass.

Key Takeaways

Choosing between PS5 and Xbox Series X is a big commitment.
Both consoles offer powerful graphics and SSD storage for fast loading.
But PS5 edges out Xbox — primarily because it has more exclusive games.

Even though there are technically three players in the console space, it’s really only PlayStation and Xbox going head-to-head. The Nintendo Switch is great, but it’s the PS5 and Xbox Series X that offer the best graphics and the widest library of games. They are also both the most expensive, meaning most people will have to make a choice.

Picking your new console is a big decision. You’re locking yourself into an ecosystem for anywhere between five and ten years. Like committing to a long-term relationship, you don’t want to just dive in without weighing your options. Things like specs, performance, graphics, and games will all need to be considered here. This will ultimately come down to personal preference, but we’ve pitted these two powerhouses of home consoles against one another so you can see which one is right for you.

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PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Specs and availability

What’s under the hood

xbox series x vs ps5 photo 7 — Pocket-lint

A few years after their respective launches, the PS5 and Xbox Series X are now widely available and rarely sell out — which feels crazy compared to the incredible shortages we all endured closer to launch.

This means you can pick up whichever you prefer right now, although the PS5 is about to receive a new slimmer model, so you might want to wait a few weeks if you decide that Sony’s console is the one for you. Until then, comparing specs might be useful for you.

	Microsoft Xbox Series X	Sony PlayStation 5
Processing Power	12 TFLOPS	10.3 TFLOPS
Storage	1TB internal SSD (expandable	825GB SSD
CPU	Custom Zen 2 8X Cores @ 3.8 GHz	x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 cores
Dimensions	301 x 151 x 151mm	390 × 104 x 260 mm
Weight	4.5kgs	3.9 kg
RAM	16GB GDDR6	16GB GDDR6

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Design

How does it look?

When it comes to design, the Xbox Series X and PS5 are very different-looking consoles. They are quite unlike anything that has come before — as you can see above, with both consoles shot alongside the smaller Xbox Series S.

The PS5 is massive — the tallest mass-market games console there has been. It also features a unique design, with two faceplates protecting the main console unit sandwiched between them.

It retains some of the company’s flair for curves (remember the original PS3?) but is white as standard for the first time. Sony sells alternative faceplates that can change the color, but we actually like the clean default look.

It can be stood on end or laid horizontally, but either way, it might be a struggle to fit in an average-sized AV cabinet.

The PS5 Digital Edition dispenses with the disc drive, so it is slightly thinner, but still as tall.

Microsoft has opted for an almost opposite approach — the Xbox Series X is chunky and squat. There are few curves to be found here. It looks more like a mini-tower PC than a games console, which is essentially what it is. Heat dissipation plays the biggest role in the design of both current-gen machines this time around.

Luckily, the Series X can also lie flat, not just stand on its end, so you’ll have a bit of control over how you align it near or under your TV.

Both consoles weigh roughly the same — the Xbox Series X is 4.44 kg, and the PS5 is 4.5 kg.

Which design you prefer will come down almost entirely to taste, and while the Xbox Series X is certainly a bit stealthier, both are very bulky in reality. We lean toward the funkiness of the PS5, but neither is winning design awards in our books.

Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: What’s the difference?

Which next-gen Xbox is the best for you? The powerful Series X or the more affordable Series S? We compared the two to help you decide.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Processing and graphics hardware

Peak performance

Midjourney/Pocket-lint

Both consoles are significantly more powerful than their predecessors.

The Xbox Series X is “four times more powerful than the Xbox One X.” It features a custom Zen 2 eight-core processor running at 3.8 GHz per core.

The PlayStation 5 also operates on an eight-core Zen 2 processor, but at 3.5 GHz per core.

The RAM inside both is similar: 16 GB GDDR6.

They both utilize RDNA 2 graphics. However, the Xbox Series X has a slight edge with its GPU, boasting 12 TFLOPS of power across 52 CUs, while the PS5 has 10.3 TFLOPS across 36 CUs.

This effectively means that developers can potentially extract more performance from the Series X than from the PS5. This has been the case with certain multi-platform games, where the Xbox Series X sometimes offers higher resolutions than the PS5.

However, both machines have demonstrated that they are capable of excellent graphical performance.

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PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Graphical capabilities

Eye candy

In terms of initial graphics capabilities, both are well matched with similar features.

Each console is capable of resolutions up to 4K (2160p) at 60 frames per second. They can also output at 120fps, an option available in some games, but only up to 1440p in both cases.

They each include support for ray tracing, placing them on par with modern PC graphics cards. This technology introduces accurate and realistic reflections, lighting, and shadows to great effect.

Both consoles now also support variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). These features effectively send signals to a compatible TV to switch it into game mode and prevent screen tearing in games by directly matching the frame rate if it is dynamic.

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PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Storage and memory

How much can you fit?

xbox one june update oneguide and tv features for europe external storage lots more image 1

SSDs are at the forefront for both consoles, with each adopting solid-state drive technology for storage to accelerate loading times.

The Xbox Series X features a 1TB internal SSD, with approximately 800GB available to the user after accounting for system software, etc. It is capable of read speeds up to 2.4GB/s (or 4.8GB/s uncompressed).

The PS5 offers less storage space, with its SSD providing 825GB, but only up to 700GB is available to the user. However, it operates faster, with speeds up to 5.5GB/s.

Both consoles allow for storage expansion through expansion cards. For Xbox, there’s an official 1TB Storage Expansion Card that fits into a dedicated port on the rear.

The Sony console can be boosted through third-party PCIe Gen4 SSD cards, which are significantly more affordable than Xbox’s single-option approach.

Additionally, both consoles can play last-gen games stored on external hard drives and SSDs, such as Xbox One and PS4 games, respectively.

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Is it worth upgrading from a PS4 or PS4 Pro to PS5 or should you wait?

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Optical disc drives

Physical media or bust

PlayStation/ Pocket-lint

Neither manufacturer wants to ditch the physical disc drive yet. Both the Xbox Series X and the standard PS5 feature 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drives. However, neither the PS5 Digital Edition nor the Xbox Series S includes a disc drive.

It’s worth noting that while the Xbox Series X is the only console to boast Dolby Vision support for media streaming and future games, its 4K Blu-ray drive is not compatible with it at present. The PS5 does not support Dolby Vision, although you can work around this for 4K Blu-ray playback by outputting bitstream audio, selectable in the player app menu.

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PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Cloud gaming

The future of game streaming

Project xCloud initial review Microsofts cloud gaming platform tested before release image 2

Both consoles now offer cloud gaming platforms.

Xbox features Cloud Gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It is included in the monthly Game Pass Ultimate subscription service and allows you to play over 100 Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S games on mobile devices.

The PlayStation 5 has access to the three tiers of PlayStation Plus that Sony relaunched in 2022, which include a range of cloud streaming games. The top tier now offers full cloud streaming, up to a maximum 4K resolution, which Game Pass cannot match at the moment.

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PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Virtual reality

Full immersion

There’s a significant difference between these flagship consoles, and it lies in the availability of a VR headset. The PlayStation 5 now offers an admittedly expensive headset — PSVR2, which we’ve now reviewed in full.

It costs more than the console itself and isn’t wireless, but it provides a host of super-impressive experiences and games.

This is something the Xbox Series X cannot match, as it’s not compatible with any headsets, and Microsoft doesn’t appear to be developing one of its own.

So, if you have a generous budget and are interested in VR, that might sway your decision in favor of the PlayStation 5.

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PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Backward compatibility

Bring your library forward

40 per cent of all console games sold will be digital downloads within months says ea image 1 — Pocket-lint

Both PlayStation and Xbox offer backward compatibility with thousands of their respective back catalogs, often introducing performance and frame rate enhancements to older games.

In Xbox’s case, this means almost everything that runs on an Xbox One, including Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, will also work on Xbox Series X (excluding anything related to Kinect). In some cases where HDR wasn’t originally implemented, the games will even utilize the console’s Auto HDR feature for a wider color gamut and greater contrast.

There is also a feature called FPS Boost on Xbox Series X, which increases the frame rate of some older games to give them a more modern feel.

All Xbox One accessories are compatible with Xbox Series X (and S) as well.

The PlayStation 5 is compatible with the vast majority of PS4 games already out there. The PS4 DualShock controller will work with these games running on a PS5, but it cannot be used to play native PS5 games.

Other older accessories are also compatible with the PS5, including PSVR, although you will need a PlayStation Camera adapter that Sony offers to eligible customers for free.

Xbox scalpers get comeuppance as Very cancels 1,000 orders photo 1

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PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Price

The cost of admission

PS5 and Xbox Series X/S: What do you need on your TV for 120Hz gaming? photo 6 — Xbox

Probably the most important factor of all is the price. At launch, both the Xbox Series X and PS5 were priced at around £450 in the UK and $500 in the US. However, the PS5’s price in the UK has since increased to £479. If you don’t need a disc drive, the PS5 Digital Edition is significantly cheaper.

With both consoles costing roughly the same amount, the main deciding factor may come down to the games, which you can learn more about below.

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PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Games

All about the games

Square Enix

The PlayStation 5 edges ahead for us when it comes to the games available on each console — where the difference really comes down to exclusives. A Call of Duty release or the latest sports title from EA will play almost identically on both, but exclusive titles are different.

In Sony’s corner, you have the likes of God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Horizon Forbidden West, and Returnal to sink into, with a range of top PS4 exclusives also looking better than ever on the newer hardware. This means you have a hit list of classics to enjoy.

Beyond the impressive Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5, plus Starfield, things are a bit thinner for Xbox, but it punches back thanks to Xbox Game Pass and its vast roster of interesting games. This makes checking out a range of titles more feasible than ever, putting the value vote marginally back with Xbox.

Since PlayStation launched its game library for PlayStation Plus, this has become a little more even, though, and we still think the PS5 has the advantage in terms of both quality and quantity when it comes to exclusive games.

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Verdict: Is PS5 or Xbox Series X the best?

Our take

Currently, we believe the PlayStation 5 remains a relatively clear winner when comparing the two main consoles head-to-head. Since they are priced almost identically and their performance in cross-platform games is nearly identical, the decision boils down to exclusives. For us, Sony wins with a broader variety of exclusive games and a higher average quality as well.

Sony PlayStation 5

Editor’s Choice

Our pick is the PS5, which has been a superb console so far and shows no signs of slowing down.

However, if you’re an Xbox loyalist, you don’t need to worry — the Xbox Series X is still a really solid choice that offers a bunch of great games. Additionally, if you commit to Xbox Game Pass, you might find yourself saving a significant amount of money throughout the year.