The PS5 and Xbox Series X have both helped Sony and Microsoft achieve record launch sales.
From exclusive games like Demons Souls on PS5 to enticing new quality of life features like Quick Resume on Xbox Series X, both Sony and Microsoft are pulling out all the stops to win the hearts and minds of gamers.
But while it’s clear that both consoles are already a hit with consumers, finding either console in stock continues to be a challenge. Still, we expect to see more availability this year, so if you can’t figure out whether to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X, we’re here to help.
The two next-gen consoles are extremely powerful, capable of 4K gaming at up to 120 frames per second, with support for ray tracing as well as super-fast load times. Both consoles are truly innovative in their own right, and very different in terms of appearance, but which one is right for you?
We’ve delivered our official verdicts on both Sony and Microsoft’s shiny next-gen consoles in our reviews (as well as giving our verdict on the cheaper Xbox Series S), and both systems have left us suitably impressed. While you can’t go wrong with either console, there are some key differences between the two new machines that you should take into account if you’re weighing up which to pick up.
It can be difficult to know the strengths and weaknesses of each next-gen system, as you can only glean so much from the technical specs after all. There’s a lot to discuss, then, and it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting for £449.99.
We’ve seen both companies try to differentiate their consoles from the other, particularly in terms of design. The PS5 is a towering machine, and the biggest console Sony has ever made. The Xbox Series X, on the other hand, looks more akin to a gaming PC thanks to its cuboid shape. No matter how you feel about each console’s design, they both manage to stay cool and quiet in operation.
Sony has also focused on increasing the feeling of immersion in games with its new Dual Sense controller, as well as continuing to deliver exclusive experiences, while Microsoft is banking on the sheer value proposition of Xbox game pass to lure people into its ecosystem.
Ultimately, the next generation is all about power, speed and incredible levels of visual fidelity that simply weren’t possible before. And when it comes to the internal specs inside both the PS5 and Xbox Series X, the two consoles aren’t too far apart, though Microsoft does appear to have the edge on paper in terms of sheer computational power.