Xbox Series X vs. PlayStation 5 (PS5): Which is best?

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Next-gen titans

Xbox Series X vs. PlayStation 5 (PS5): Which is best?

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Xbox Series X

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PlayStation 5

Microsoft's Xbox Series X delivers beastly adjacent-generation hardware, promising "4 times" the processing capabilities of Xbox One X, and pacing 12 teraflops (TF) of computing power. Accompanied by storage and retentivity gains, it aims to streamline adjacent-generation gaming.

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While PlayStation 5 falls brusque of Xbox Serial X processing ability, information technology's still a sizeable 10.2 TF leap over its current panel family, spearheaded by a killer solid-state storage setup. Proven to slice loading times, paired with a ton of new system features, it enters the new generation leveraging by success.

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A game-irresolute year lies ahead, with 2 of the globe's biggest next-generation consoles at present on shop shelves, albeit with limited supply. While Microsoft provides a tower of ability with its monolithic Xbox Series X, the PlayStation v pitches an every bit compelling upgrade from Sony. We've wrapped up everything y'all need to know most the two next-generation titans and how they stack up.

Xbox Series X vs. PlayStation v: Features

Xbox Series X vs PlayStation 5 Source: Matt Brown | Windows Fundamental

Equally expected from whatsoever significant console refresh, Microsoft and Sony focused efforts on delivering flagship functioning for their next-generation vision. Both consoles pack custom AMD silicon, based on leading Zen ii processor compages, aslope its latest Navi graphics cards. That duo lies at the heart of graphical advancements over Xbox One and PlayStation 4, pushing improved resolutions, frame rates, and overall visual fidelity.

The Xbox Series X is the latest evolution in Microsoft hardware, with an all-blackness, monolithic design housing stacked internals inside. It'southward a chunky box with added volume over previous Xbox One consoles, aiding a new single-fan cooling system, and cartoon air upwards through the panel. Sony has debuted a more abstruse, two-toned design, wrapped in a white, winged outer casing. The deviation is blackness and white (pun fully intended), but positions both equally massive consoles compared to their predecessors. And don't worry; both stand vertically and horizontally, ideal for your existing setup.

The Xbox Serial X and PlayStation 5 aim high, both capable of up to 8K resolutions or 120 frames-per-2d (FPS) outputs. However, it translates to a 4K 60 FPS baseline, pushing the all-time 4K TVs for Xbox Series X. That helps drag both consoles above current-generation solutions, with Microsoft specifically touting a "four times" power increment over Xbox I Ten. The consoles too feature hardware-accelerated ray tracing via their Navi GPUs, better simulating how lite interacts with virtual objects.

Marvel's Spider-Man PS4 Pro Early PlayStation five prototypes cut a 15 second load fourth dimension in Curiosity'southward Spider-Human (2018) to merely 0.8 seconds. Source: Sony Interactive Amusement

Another side by side-generation shakeup comes with the adoption of solid-state drives, primarily advancing transfer speeds system-wide. That supports unmatched cuts to loading times, with both platform holders pledging to eliminate the wait between booting a game and entering the action. An exclusive on the PlayStation 5 from Wired highlighted these benefits, cutting 2022's Spider-Man from a PlayStation 4 Pro 15 2d load fourth dimension down to just 0.8 seconds.

Microsoft had like ambitions, committing to an NVMe SSD and GDDR6 RAM, slicing loading, and increasing multitasking capabilities. It demonstrated that with State of Decay ii, cutting a 45 2d load fourth dimension on Xbox One 10 down to just seven seconds on Xbox Serial X. While strong gains on both platforms, Sony'southward SSD technology has steadily come out on acme.

Xbox One backward compatibility debuted postal service-launch, now fundamental to Microsoft in 2022. Source: Windows Central

With previous hardware compages existence carried forward to the next consoles, Microsoft and Sony have emerged every bit strong advocates of backward compatibility. While the Xbox I overcame those hurdles post-launch, and Sony attempted to offering by titles through PlayStation Now, both upcoming consoles finally pack native backward compatibility from launch.

For Xbox Series X, the full Xbox I library is assumed, including its vast backward uniform catalog of original Xbox and Xbox 360 games. Select Xbox One games upgraded for Xbox Series X can also back up "Smart Commitment," enabling automatic, gratis upgrades across generations, drawing the best available version for your device. Microsoft also supports existing Xbox Ane accessories, including controllers and headsets. Sony also supports a rich library of PlayStation four titles on PlayStation 5.

PlayStation 5 OS The PS5 brings titles closer to the Bone, with configurable installations, and deeper game integration. Source: Windows Central

The new PlayStation v Os also sets out to remove barriers of smaller tasks, inciting a closer human relationship between the user interface and games. "Fifty-fifty though it volition exist fairly fast to boot games, we don't want the player to have to boot the game, see what'southward upwards," said Mark Cerny, PlayStation atomic number 82 systems architect, with Wired. That keeps games more connected to the broader PlayStation experience, securely integrating games into the system.

And Microsoft has remained more reserved on the OS powering Xbox Serial X, drawing foundations from Xbox I. Xbox Series X brings forward the shared universal kernel, with improvements to leverage additional hardware overhead. That includes speeding upwardly the infamously sluggish interface and enabling multitasking between multiple titles. The new developer-facing Game Core OS environment also brings improvements, pushing adoption of DirectX 12, and streamlining time to come Xbox development.

Xbox Serial X vs. PlayStation 5: Specifications

Xbox Series X Source: Microsoft

The next-generation leap ways all-new power under the hood, with Xbox Series X and PlayStation v pushing the limits of what's on the market. Custom AMD silicon lies within both devices, promising flagship gaming performance, and elevating their corresponding panel families with new features.

AMD technologies one time again power the adjacent Xbox and PlayStation, with standalone teams sectioned to deliver the brains of future machines. That rides on the new 7nm eight-core Zen ii processor compages, flanked past a Navi-based GPU, representing the elevation of AMD's contempo PC developments at the price betoken. Microsoft and Sony besides take hardware-accelerated ray tracing back up, fabricated SSD storage the standard, and used GDDR6 memory as RAM.

Playstation 5 Console Source: Sony

We've wrapped up the specifications for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 below:

Category	Xbox Serial X	PlayStation five
Processor	8x Cores @ iii.8 GHz Custom Zen 2 CPU	8x Cores @ 3.5GHz Custom Zen 2 CPU
Graphics	12.155 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA two	10.28 TFLOPS, 36 CUs @ 2.23 GHz Custom RDNA 2
Memory	16 GB GDDR6, 320mb double-decker	16 GB GDDR6, 256-bit
Retentivity Bandwidth	ten GB @ 560 GB/due south, 6GB @ 336 GB/s	448GB/s
Internal Storage	1 TB Custom NVME SSD	825GB Custom NVME SSD
I/O Throughput	2.4 GB/south (Raw), iv.8 GB/due south (Compressed)	5.5GB/s (Raw), eight-9GB/southward (Compressed)
Expandable Storage	one TB Custom SSD expansion menu	NVMe SSD slot
External Storage	USB external HDD support	USB external HDD back up
Optical Drive	4K UHD Blu-Ray drive	4K UHD Blu-Ray drive
Size	301mm x 151mm x 151mm	390mm x 260mm 10 104mm
Price	$499	$499

Our sources initially suggested Xbox Series X is expected to feature an eight-core Zen 2 CPU targeting iii.6GHz, bolstered by improvements to caching, new silicon compages, and other proprietary optimizations. The bodily specs, as confirmed by Microsoft, were a bit meliorate, with a CPU capable of running at three.8GHz (3.6GHz w/ SMT). That helps Microsoft delivered upon the claimed iv times increment over Xbox I X.

That pairs with its Navi GPU pacing 12 teraflops (TF) of computing power, compared to the Xbox Ane X'south 6TF setup. Microsoft'due south GPU runs with 52 compute units clocked at ane.825GHz.

Just that lays the foundations of i beastly auto, falling in line with PlayStation v. That also saw Microsoft deliver a cheaper, mass-market culling, Xbox Series S, while PlayStation 5 has a cheaper Digital Edition.

Xbox Series X Internals Microsoft and Sony unveiled console specifications in March, with more expected throughout 2022. Source: Microsoft

Sony also includes an eight-core 3.5GHz custom Zen 2 CPU, non too far behind Microsoft's offering for Xbox Serial 10, alongside a 10.28 TF GPU. Both consoles exhibit enormous gains over the electric current generation, and while the PS5 falls short in raw processing ability, its speedy storage takes the lead.

Sony makes gains with its custom SSD setup, with back up for standard PC NVMe drives for ultra-fast storage. Those storage improvements will help cutting load times and streamline functioning across all titles, proving its secret weapon for the next generation.

Xbox Series Ten Controller vs. PlayStation DualSense

Xbox Series X Controller Hero Microsoft builds upon the Xbox One controller, at present with added functionality for Xbox Series X. Source: Microsoft

Microsoft unveiled Xbox Series Ten alongside the latest revision of its controller, building upon the proven Xbox One design with further enhancements. The signature improver is a new defended "Share" push, mimicking the characteristic popularized by the PlayStation 4'southward DualShock and the Nintendo Switch. The fundamental enables fast video and screenshot capture and sharing, building upon the Game DVR from Xbox 1.

That pairs with a new hybrid D-Pad inspired by the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller, circular-shaped with 5 defined square surfaces. Textured trigger grips come up standard, which makes a huge difference compared to Xbox I.

Speaking with Xbox leadership, GameSpot also detailed an "ever-so-slightly smaller" controller silhouette for Xbox Serial X, in response to user research. While a subtle modify, Microsoft hoped to nail downwardly ergonomics across the broadest range of Xbox buyers. The proprietary Xbox Wireless protocol besides returns, extending efforts to reduce input latency.

Like the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller, the Series Ten controller features USB Type-C; notwithstanding, it takes AA batteries. Rechargeable batteries packs are compatible but optional.

Related: PS5'south DualSense controller has features Xbox should've had years ago

PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller The next PlayStation controller, named the DualSense, introduces new advances in haptics. Source: Sony

The PS5 also includes the new "DualSense" controller, expanding Sony's in-house controller family with a new generation, beyond DualShock. The name refers to new features that provide additional feedback to players, through the sense of touch on. That coupled with a sleek modern look as well, adopting a broader silhouette, and the same ii-tone blueprint as the PS5 console.

Among fundamental improvements of the DualShock five is the addition of "adaptive triggers," accommodating variable levels of trigger resistance in-line with gameplay. The triggers provide feedback effectually tailored scenarios, emulating the tension of arrow drawstring, or differentiating firearm classes. It accompanies those with improved haptics, advancing its rumble motors with highly programmable voice-coil actuators in either grip. That means an overall more responsive setup than Xbox, which first experimented with impulse triggers and directional haptics back in 2022.

Playstation 5 Dualsense Controller The DualSense introduces a fresh new ii-tone design, similar to the PlayStation five console. Source: Sony

Sony likewise brings other improvements, including a shift to USB Type-C for wired connectivity and charging. The integrated speaker also returns with improved clarity, paired with a larger capacity internal battery. The sometime lightbar has besides been removed, a primary cause of rapid battery bleed, with a soft glow radiating through the design instead.

Other notable changes include the shift from a "Share" push button to a "Create" push button. We also go an integrated microphone, assuasive users to conversation without a headset — an oversight on Microsoft'southward part that would aid Xbox I's growing suite of vocalization-enabled applications.

Xbox Series X vs. PlayStation 5: Games

Halo Infinite Source: Microsoft

With Xbox One and PlayStation four entering their final months in the spotlight, the value of a compelling game lineup has never been more than evident.

The PlayStation v, Xbox Series 10, and Xbox Series Southward launched with absolutely weak launch lineups, making either console less compelling in their early days. Microsoft pushed its flagship, Halo Infinite, back to late 2022, relying heavily on third-political party titles through the holiday. And while Sony had notable titles similar Astro's Playroom and Spider-Human being: Miles Morales, neither were genuine system sellers.

Microsoft's recent announcements advise a bright futurity for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, with a string of new studios and projects now on the horizon. Upcoming titles include Halo Space, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Forza Motorsport, and Fable, with hopes these will join the best Xbox games. The company'south recent acquisition of ZeniMax, including Bethesda and other high-profile teams, also means The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and DOOM all join the Xbox family unit. And while many projects remain a little while out, the long-term value of its Xbox Game Laissez passer subscription looks promising.

And for Sony, its creative drove has a lineup of varied projects on the roadmap for the coming years. The company has teased dozens of upcoming PS5 games through various events, including both in-house PlayStation Studios experiences and 3rd-party aid. Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart were among Sony's big unveilings.

Both Xbox Series 10 and PlayStation 5 will also do good from third-political party titles on the calendar, with dozens of enhanced titles in 2022.

Xbox Serial X vs. PlayStation 5: Cost and availability in 2022

Both PlayStation five and Xbox Series X retail for $499 in the U.Southward., admitting with a cheaper PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in production, which cuts the price to $399. Budding Xbox owners wanting to save on next-generation gaming will need to consider Xbox Serial S, which delivers much of the aforementioned but targeting HD TVs over 4K resolution. But the biggest challenge right at present is their availability, with limited stock dominating the chat effectually these devices.

The new Xbox and PlayStation consoles are hard to find in early on 2022, with limited supply and tape demand fostering a challenging landscape for buyers. Recent restocks keep to sell out in seconds, with a thriving resell market valuing the consoles with loftier price markups. That's expected to continue throughout the twelvemonth, only worsened by current world events.

Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X is Microsoft'southward new flagship, equally its most powerful console with over 12TF GPU performance and a custom SSD. It boasts upwards to 4K resolution and 120 FPS, total astern compatibility across 4 generations, and ray-tracing support.

PlayStation 5

Sony has debuted its adjacent-generation PlayStation 5, with unprecedented demand across the globe. The new gaming panel pushes 4K resolution gaming up to 120 frames-per-2d (FPS) delivering the all-time experiences across a blockbuster exclusive lineup.

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