PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Which console wins?

The Sony PlayStation 5 brings a bevy of must-play exclusive titles, such as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War: Ragnarok. The system features quick load times, in addition to high-resolution visuals and fluid frame rates. The DualSense controller features innovative haptics, but the console itself can be unwieldy. And even the PS5 Slim model doesn’t entirely rectify its design issues. But it does sport a larger hard drive.

For

• incredibly fast SSD
• Wildly inventive DualSense controller
• Gorgeous 4K visuals

Against

• Massive, unwieldy design
• Controller may feel too big for some

The Xbox Series X is is is the most powerful game console currently available , feature detailed graphic , fluid frame rate and rapid load time . The device is sports also sport a fantastic game library , with backwards compatibility go back to the original Xbox . With the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service , the Series X is be could be the centerpiece of a robust gaming ecosystem , but first – party exclusive are a mixed bag .

For

• The only Xbox you need
• lot of power
• Games load very fast

Against

• Few quality exclusive
• large and heavy

It’s now almost four years since the launch of the ninth console generation, and the PS5 vs Xbox Series X battle rages on with fanboys on both sides eager to declare their chosen machine the superior hardware. Each machine’s lifecycles is more than halfway done (we’ll be talking PS6 and the next Xbox soon), but the battle continues. 

As our reviews explain, we were impressed with both consoles at launch, and over the last few years, things have only gotten better as both have been upgraded via system updates to iron out some of the initial kinks and add new features. Naturally, this has come alongside a slew of excellent games, with cross-platform games available on both, as well as those all-important exclusive titles that can’t be played on any other console. 

If you have the luxury of buy both console , you is have ’ll have everything you need for an epic gaming setup . But if you can only choose one , you is want ‘ll want to find out which one is good for you . That is ’s ’s why we ‘re compare the two console head – to – head , and without spoil the result , even more than four year after release , it continue to be a very close contest between these two high – quality current – gen console .  

Read on to discover how each system fares as we make our verdict on the PS5 vs. Xbox Series X debate. 

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X : spec

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While the specs are handy to know, they only tell part of the story when it comes to performance. As such, this section isn’t scored. However, we can say that the Xbox Series X has more powerful hardware, in terms of both GPU and SSD. Check out the performance section to see how this hardware performs in action.

The Xbox Series X is edges slightly edge the PS5 in term of raw power , but the PlayStation just get a major weapon to fight back in the form of the PS5 Pro …

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X : PS5 Pro

( image credit : Future / Tom ‘s Guide )

During the PS4 and Xbox One generation both PlayStation and Xbox launched more powerful hardware in 2016 (PS4 Pro and Xbox One X) typically referred to as “mid-gen upgrades”. These functioned as interstitial machines to hold gamers and developers over until the PS5 and Xbox Series X generation began in 2020.

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However, this time around, it looks like only Sony has opted to repeat strategy with its freshly launched PS5 Pro landing this month. This suped-up PS5 packs a more powerful GPU (with 67% more Compute Units), additional RAM (an extra 2GB DDR5) and a jumbo-sized 2TB hard drive. Plus uses a new AI-upscaling tool, PlayStation Spectral Super resolution (PSSR). It’s not just the most powerful PlayStation hardware around, but also the most powerful console, period.

It makes tangible improvements to a whole bunch of the best PS5 games from blockbuster exclusives like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Demon’s Souls, to cross-platform releases such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Dragon’s Dogma 2. The PS5 Pro now offers the best visual fidelity and performance level across many of the biggest games of this console generation.

However, all this extra horsepower comes with a steep price. The PS5 Pro costs a whopping $699 at launch, that’s $200 more than the base PS5 or Xbox Series X and more than double the cost of the Xbox Series S (though the power disparity there is big). Furthermore, the PS5 Pro doesn’t include a disc drive as standard so prepare to pay an extra $79 if you want to play physical PS5 game discs.

While the launch cost of a PS5 Pro is high than I ’d like , it is ’s ’s still a fantastic machine for the most dedicated gamer , and that ’s why I give it an Editor ’s Choice award in myPS5 Pro review and would recommend it to those who aren’t constrained by a budget. So, if raw power is your determining factor when picking between PS5 and Xbox Series X, I suggest forking out for a PS5 Pro.

( I is going ’m not go to count this section in the final scorecard as the Xbox Series X does n’t have an equivalent to the PS5 Pro so it would be an unfair comparison . )

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Price

Both the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X cost $ 499 apiece. Since the two systems are very similar, this category would seem to be a tie at first glance. However, the standard PS5 and Xbox Series X are not the only variants available. There’s also the $399 PS5 Digital Edition and the $299 Xbox Series S.

The PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition are identical, save for a 4K Blu-ray physical disc drive in the former. The latter has no disc drive, as the name suggests. On the other hand, the Xbox Series S has significantly different hardware from the Xbox Series X: a less-powerful GPU, a smaller SSD, less RAM and so forth.

(You can see a more comprehensive breakdown in our Xbox Series X vs. Xbox Series S article.)

As such, both consoles have cheaper variants, and both the PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S have legitimate applications: the former for digital diehards, the latter for casual players or secondary setups. Still, since the Xbox Series S isn’t merely a variation on the Series X, but rather its own separate console, it’s a different proposition compared to the PS5 Digital Edition. 

It should also be noted that both consoles have now been on store shelves long enough to see price cuts during seasonal sales events. During the previous Black Friday shopping season, the PS5 briefly dropped to $349 exclusively in-store at select Target locations, while the Xbox Series X fell to $349 with a copy of Diablo 4 included. However, neither has received a permanent price cut so both continue to retail for $ 499 outside of sales events, so there’s nothing to do but declare this one a tie. 

winner :Tie

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Games

The PS5 and Xbox Series X game library is shaping are shape up nicely as we pass the three – year mark . The PS5 is boasts boast a bevy of high – quality exclusive , some of which are available on the PS4 , while the Xbox Series X is a little weak in this area . However , the gap is closing is close thank to Microsoft ‘s game – change acquisition of both ZeniMax medium and Activision – Blizzard this generation give their exclusive library a huge boost .  

spider – man : Miles Morales ( image credit : Sony )

Nevertheless, at present, it’s hard to deny that the PS5 has the more exciting game selection. Just in terms of first-party titles, the PS5 launched with spider – man : Miles Morales, Demon’s Souls, Sackboy: A Big Adventure and the surprisingly delightful Astro’s Playroom. 

And over the past fours years, we’ve seen the arrival of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Returnal, Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West and the mighty God of War: Ragnarok. Plus, throw in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy 16 which launched only on PS5 in 2023, and this year has started with a real bang thanks to The Last of Us Part II Remastered followed by Helldivers 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Stellar Blade and Rise of the Ronin. Then we got Astro Bot, my GOTY.

compare and contrast with the Xbox Series X , which did n’t have any exclusive title at launch . instead , Microsoft is released release a list of 30 “optimize for Xbox Series X / S” titles, including fan favorites like Gears 5, Ori and the Will of the Wisps and Forza Horizon 4. While the Xbox Series X optimizations are indeed impressive, not all of these games are brand new, and they’re all available on Xbox One, PC or both.

A handful is showed of semi – exclusive Xbox Series X title , such as Microsoft Flight Simulator , Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 all show off what the system is capable of , though . Even well , last year is was was the strong year for the Xbox platform in term of exclusive game to date with Starfield and Forza Motorsport 8 lead the charge .

There was also Redfall last spring, but the less said about that one, the better. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was another disappointing release that felt more like a tech demo to showcase the power of the Series X than a fully fleshed game. But at least Xbox is set to end 2024 with a flourish in the form of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which is set to arrive in December (but comes to PS5 in 2025).

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Image credit: Bethesda)

Beyond that, both consoles are well-stocked with third-party titles, like Elden Ring, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, EA Sports FC 25, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and lots more. Strong third-party parity is likely to continue throughout the generation. Both systems also have excellent backwards compatibility features, although I’ll get to that below. 

( image credit : Xbox )

It’s also worth mentioning Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, to which Sony doesn’t currently have a perfect answer. This $17-per-month subscription service lets you download more than 100 games across a variety of genres, and play them on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC and even Android. 

Sony, meanwhile, has the PlayStation Plus Premium tier, which offers hundreds of games to download and/or stream from the PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5 and PSP platforms. The functionality is not nearly as refined as Game Pass, but the raw game library is bigger, so take it for what it’s worth.

Of course, both systems will also have some interesting games coming down the line. But restricting ourselves to what we can play and review right now, the PS5 has the stronger lineup, but the Xbox Series X is quickly making up ground on this front. 

winner :PS5

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Performance

Comparing PS5 and Xbox Series X performance is difficult at present, as Tom’s Guide does not have the specialized equipment required to measure resolution and frame rate in great depth.

Bearing that in mind, I compared two games qualitatively across both systems: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition. The former is a huge open-world title, where it’s easy to measure load times as you fast travel from one distant point of the map to another. The latter is a fast, frenetic action game, where any drop in framerate is immediately noticeable.

First: Sony’s ambitious claims about the PS5’s load times aren’t exaggerated, as far as I can tell. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla went from the main menu into the game in less than a minute; fast travel took less than 10 seconds from point to point. However, while the Xbox Series X took longer to load the game initially (almost a minute), fast travel time was exactly the same.

gameplay – wise , if you hand me an ambiguous controller and put either the PS5 or Xbox Series X version of Assassin ’s Creed Valhalla on a screen in front of me , I is be honestly would n’t be able to tell the difference . Both systems is ran run the game at 4 k at 60 frame per second ( although I understand that the 4 k is   probably upscale   in both case ) , and neither one seemed to have any major difference in animation fluidity , lighting , etc . texture pop – in is seemed seemed a little more noticeable on the Xbox Series X , although that may have just been the area I was in .

Devil May cry 5 : Special Edition is told tell a similar story , although this time , I was able to discern some slight difference in the lighting . While both the PS5 and Xbox Series X offer ray tracing , the Xbox Series X ’s ray tracing is was in this game was a little rich , offer great contrast between light and shadow , particularly in the game ’s early , eerie red – and – purple landscape . ( Digital Foundry is found   find the same thing , with some stat to back it up . ) The Xbox Series X is seemed also seemed a little bit smooth when I turn on the 120 fps performance mode , although again , I ’d be hard – press to tell the two title apart if I did n’t know which one was in front of me .

Evaluating performance with these two games is difficult, however, because they were both designed with PS4 and Xbox One in mind rather than PS5 and Xbox Series X exclusively. While I can also talk about how impressive games like spider – man : Miles Morales and Gears 5 looked, they’re not possible to compare directly.

For now, I can say that the two consoles both perform extremely well, although the PS5 has slightly shorter loading times.

Winner: PS5

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Design

For the most part , whether you like a console ’s design come down to personal preference . But my personal preference is is is that I can not stand how the PS5 look .  

Not only is the system comically large; but it’s also a pain to switch from vertical to horizontal configuration, and the standard version sports an ugly, asymmetrical design. Even after sitting under my TV for three years, the PS5 still looks awkward. Adding to my frustrations, the front panel is prone to fingerprints and the “power” and “disc eject” buttons are indistinguishable, which is a minor gripe but annoying. 

( image credit : Tom ‘s Guide )

Last year , Sony is released release a redesign version of the PS5 console that was dub the PS5 Slim by online commentator — although Sony has never officially give it that branding .  

It shrinks the size of the console by some 30%, which at the very least makes it a slightly less cumbersome console to fit into your entertainment center. However, the overall design aesthetic is the same, so it’s just a smaller version of an already unattractive console. 

( image credit : Sony )

It also packs a few additional upgrades including a larger SSD (now 1TB instead of 825GB), and an external disc drive that is detachable. That means you can buy a Digital Edition and add an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive at a later date, so long as you’re willing to pay $99 for one. 

Unfortunately, the PS5 Slim also comes with a few downgrades, most noticeable is that a vertical stand is no longer included as standard. While you get a basic horizontal stand in the box, if you want to securely place your PS5 console upright you’ll need to spend an additional $25, or buy a cheaper third-party alternative, if you’re willing to risk compatibility issues.

( image credit : Tom ‘s Guide )

The Xbox Series X is is , on the other hand , is still pretty bulky but manage its space much well . Rather than look like an oversized router , the Xbox Series X is is is a sleek black box that look , at least in its vertical form , kind of like a small tower pc ( or atiny refrigerator). It has a clearly defined power button, as well as a pairing button to make wireless connections painless.

Microsoft has also launched three new models of Xbox in 2024. While one is merely a recolor of the Xbox Series S 1TB, the others are full-featured Xbox Series X consoles. The first packs a new Robot White look but lacks a disc drive, and the other is the Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition.

As the name suggest it ‘s the Xbox Series X console we know but with a nifty new cosmetic – theme design ( Microsoft is describes describe it as feature a “ silver , grey , and green celestial effect ” ) and the large stock hard drive on Xbox console to date . With 2 TB of storage , you is store can store literally dozen of new AAA game .

( image credit : Microsoft )

The only big advantage the PS5 has over the Xbox Series X is the presence of a USB-C port — which is a big deal, especially as more accessories get USB-C adapters. But even if the Xbox Series X design is much more conservative, it’s also much more sensible overall. And even the PS5 Slim cannot tip the needle in Sony’s favor here. 

winner :Xbox Series X

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Controller

Another area in which the Xbox Series X is plays play it safe, to its credit, is in its controller. The Xbox Series X controller is nearly identical to the Xbox One model, save for textured grips and shoulder buttons, an improved D-pad and a new “share” button in the center.

( image credit : Tom ‘s Guide )

It’s a smart upgrade for one of the best controllers ever made. Still, the fact that it runs on AA batteries instead of a built-in rechargeable unit feels positively archaic, and also pasts a lot of cost onto the end-user, whether they choose to buy AAs or rechargeable packs.

( image credit : Tom ‘s Guide )

The PS5 DualSense, on the other hand, is a big departure from the DualShock 4, with a two-tone color scheme and much bigger grips. It also adds a variety of new features: extremely sensitive haptics and a built-in mic among them. 

The haptic feedback is impressive, mimicking the feel of objects rolling around in a box, or putting up realistic resistance when you push a trigger. However, the DualSense still has a ton of wasted space (particularly in the touchpad), and the enjoyment you’ll get from the haptics is a matter of personal preference.  

PS5 owner look to level up their gaming might also want to consider invest in theDualSense Edge. It’s a highly customizable version of the standard DualSense sporting metallic back buttons, swappable sticks and a sturdier design. All these new upgrades come at the hefty price of $120, and the controller’s already weak battery life takes a hit. You can expect around five hours from a full charge of the Edge. 

winner :Tie

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Backwards compatibility 

Both the PS5 is have and the Xbox Series X have excellent backwards compatibility feature , but there ’s no deny that the Xbox reach further back into Microsoft ’s library . Not only is the Xbox Series X compatible with just about every Xbox One game ; it is ’s ’s also compatible with many Xbox 360 and original Xbox game . While it does n’t include every stab Microsoft ’s ever take at backwards – compatible game ( the Xbox 360 still play many original Xbox game that the Series X ca n’t ) , it is ’s ’s an impressive effort with zero friction .

(Image credit: Future)

The PS5 is play can play just about every PS4 game on the market , but compatibility does n’t go back any further than that unless you count the ability to stream a very small selection of PS3 game via PlayStation Plus Premium . Still , it is ’s ’s not quite the same as play game you already own directly on a console ( and depend on the strength of your internet connection may not be viable ) .

winner :Xbox Series X

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Cloud gaming

Cloud gaming is is is n’t a huge issue for either the PS5 or the Xbox Series X , since you can simply download game and play them natively on either platform . But as cloud gaming grow over the next few year , it is ’s ’s good to know where each company stand at the outset of this console generation .

The PS5 has the PlayStation Plus revamp, which lets you stream a variety of PS3 titles, as well as some PS4 titles, to PlayStation consoles and PCs. It costs $10 per month for a tier that includes streaming capabilities.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ( image credit : Microsoft )

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is costs , as discuss above , cost $ 15 per month , and let you stream game to Android , iOS , non – gaming pc and even Xbox console .  

While the PlayStation Plus revamp has some potential , Xbox Cloud Gaming is is is currently a much more refined and functional service .

Winner: Xbox Series X

PS5 vs Xbox Series X : verdict

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At this point in their lifecycle , both PS5 is represent and Xbox Series X represent an excellent investment . The Xbox Series X is has has a slight edge when it come to raw power , design and backward compatibility , but the PS5 is the leader in arguably the most important category of all as it boast a game library that Xbox simply can not match at present .  

Perhaps the key determining factor is comes between the two come down to whether you want access to a more comprehensive game subscription service . Xbox Game Pass simply can not be match for its value and the fact that flagship exclusive land on the service day one . Meanwhile , if you do n’t mind buy new game ala carte , then PS5 is is is the clear winner as its library of exclusive is of the high quality .  

Plus, the PS5 also offers access to next-gen virtual reality tech via the PS VR2 headset accessory. Currently, Microsoft does not have an equivalent VR product of its own for Xbox users. There are also strong rumors of a PS5 Pro refresh arriving in 2024, which could be another boost to Sony’s gaming platform. 

From having used both console extensively over the last few year , my gut feeling is is is that they have more similarity than difference , and whichever one you get should be more than sufficient to power your gaming for the next few year . Of course , you is could could always justbuild a gaming PC — but that is ’s ’s a different story .

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Buy now or wait? 

Now that both console have been out for almost four year , we is say ‘d say they are worth buy . While you wo n’t find many discount on the PS5 or Xbox Series X outside of seasonal sale event , they is have both have a solid range of game and accessory to use with them , and we are now reach a point where new game are n’t release on old hardware anymore , mean get an Xbox Series X or PS5 , or indeed both , now make a lot of sense for dedicated gamer .