Now that Sony has released its much-awaited PlayStation 5 gaming console, it has revived the age-old rivalry of Microsoft Xbox and Sony Playstation. Xbox Series X and PS5 bring a giant leap to ray tracing and high resolution to usher into a new age of gaming. While 8K compatibility has arrived on the gaming consoles as well as monitors, we are yet to see games in 8K. Nonetheless, playing games on PS5 or Xbox X is a treat as you will experience that games are smoother, faster and more responsive now.
Now, if you are confused between Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, we have prepared a definitive guide to help you choose the better gaming console that fits right in your needs. Both the gaming consoles have their own set of advantages and disadvantages and therefore, it is important to choose the right gaming console on the basis of your preferences.
Let’s begin by comparing the specs of Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X.
Sony PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X: Specs Comparison
Sony PlayStation 5 Specs
- CPU: 8-core 3.5 GHz AMD Zen 2
- GPU: 10.3 teraflop AMD RDNA 2
- RAM: 16GB DDR6
- Storage: 825GB Custom SSD
- Resolution: Up to 8K
- Frame Rate: up to 120fps
- Optical Disc Drive: 4K UHD (Blu-ray)
- Backward Compatibility: Supports all the games from PS4
- Noteworthy Features: Ray tracing, immersive 3D audio via Tempest engine.
- Major titles: Gran Turismo 7, SpiderMan: Miles Morales, Horizon II: Forbidden West
- Price: $500 (Standard edition)
Xbox Series X Specs
- CPU: 8-core 3.8 GHz AMD Zen 2
- GPU: 12.0 teraflop AMD RDNA 2
- RAM: 16GB DDR6
- Storage: 1TB Custom NVMe SSD
- Resolution: Up to 8K
- Frame Rate: up to 120fps
- Optical Disc Drive: 4K UHD (Blu-ray)
- Backward Compatibility: Supports all the games from Xbox One
- Noteworthy Features: DirectX ray-tracing capabilities, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable
- Refresh Rate (VRR), Smart Delivery, Quick Resume
- Major titles: Halo Infinite, Hellblade 2, State of Decay 3
- Price: $500
As you can see, Xbox Series X has more powerful specs than its competitor and boasts and feature-rich hardware but it would be unjust to compare both the gaming consoles solely on the
basis of specs.
Sony PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Controllers
Controllers of both the gaming consoles are a class apart and even differ in design. While Xbox has adopted the classic approach in designing its Xbox Wireless Controller, Sony decided to refresh
and reimagine the way controllers are designed.
While both the controllers are functionally similar, they come with exceptional features to elevate your gaming experience. Both the controllers come a with hybrid D-pad with a cross pattern, rounded diagonals, two bumpers, two triggers, and a USB-C port. PS5’s DualSense also has a built-in speaker and mic. However, the major difference lies in the haptic feedback and air triggers of DualSense which has been hailed by several gaming experts.
In terms of features and design, Sony’s DualSense is the clear winner but these features could be a personal preference of players. Though Sony’s controller loses to Xbox’s pad in terms of backward compatibility as all PS5 games exclusive games can only be played on DualSense while you can play all Xbox games with Xbox Wireless Controller.
Sony PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X: Performance
When it comes to performance, Sony’s PS5 packs a custom SSD which is termed as the Sony’s biggest push towards lag-free gaming on its new console. It is capable of 8K resolution gaming but Sony hasn’t clarified the frame rate for it and you can play 4K games at 120 fps.
The ray-tracing feature is another hotshot feature that definitely brings a considerable improvement in the overall gaming experience.
Xbox Series X is almost on a similar level as Sony PS5 with custom SSD, support for 8K gaming, availability of 4K gaming at 120fps, and ray-tracing capabilities. What marks the difference between the performance of the two is the game loading time.
Here, SSD specs come into play. While PS5 has 852GB SSD and Xbox Series X have 1TB SSD, PS5 has an edge over Xbox due to its game loading speed. PS5, despite its lesser SSD capacity, can load games at 5.5GB per second and Xbox Series X has the game loading speed of just its half. Playing side by side, you won’t notice a major difference between the overall performance of the two consoles.
Sony PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X: Games
The new age of gaming consoles has arrived with several exclusive titles available for both the consoles. In terms of backward compatibility, almost all the games available for the previous generation Xbox consoles are available for Xbox Series X.
However, the same cannot be said for PS5. We already have titles like Astro’s Playroom, latest Demon’s Soul, and Godfall that are PS5 exclusives and cannot be played on PS4 and other previous generation Sony consoles. Several third-party game developers are working towards developing games that aren’t exclusive to any console and can be played on both the consoles.
Xbox’s Game Pass, available at the price of $9.99 per month, gives it an advantage over Sony’s console which also offers a similar subscription dubbed PS Plus Collection but the number of games available in Game Pass is more than the Sony’s package.
Sony PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series X: Verdict
If you’re looking forward to a direct answer to the question, which console is better, we’ll be disappointed to say that there’s none. There cannot be a winner here as a lot depends upon the choices and preferences of individual users. Despite a difference in the specs, both the consoles are almost similar in real-life performance. Both the consoles live up to their claimed 4K@60FPS
gaming experience.
As far as other factors are considered, personally, I would rate Sony PS5 above Xbox Series X due to its refreshed look, new user interface and ability to charm players as soon as they hit the power button. Microsoft’s console, on the other hand, is quite lacklustre and tries to convince you strongly that you own the best console on the planet. Though I am not taking away anything from Xbox Series X’s performance here Sony PS5 brings next-generational gaming experience overall.