PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: The Next-Generation Console Showdown
The next-generation consoles are finally here, but one question still remains — which one should you buy?
The holiday season is finally here and many companies are releasing their new products as always. But this season, there’s something more special: this season marks the release of the next-generation consoles.
In this article, I will be covering some of the major strengths and weaknesses that average people will be looking for in each console. First, we will be taking a look at the raw specs of the new Xbox and PlayStation, including CPU, RAM, and base storage. However, raw specs don’t always convey the best gaming experience. Next, we will be looking at the features of the new controllers that both consoles now ship with. Lastly, we will be looking at the latest exclusives that both brands have to offer.
Raw Specifications
Both consoles now come with AMD Zen 2 8-core CPUs, both of which are clocked well above 3 GHz. The Xbox Series X is clocked at 3.8 GHz while the PS5’s CPU is clocked slightly lower at 3.5 GHz. Along with AMD CPUs, both next-gen consoles come with AMD GPUs as well; the PS5’s GPU is capable of 10.3 teraflops and operates at 2.3 GHz, while the Xbox’s GPU can do 12 teraflops at 1.8 GHz. Both consoles now ship with 16 GB of RAM, which should substantially improve your gaming experience if you stream. Both consoles will now come with NVMe SSDs, unlike the hard drives we saw in the last generation. These new drives should cut the amount of time it takes to load games in half because of the absence of mechanical parts. When it comes to storage space, the Xbox Series X comes out on top. It offers 1TB of space and allows you to easily upgrade with an expansion card. The PlayStation, on the other hand, oddly comes with an 825GB SDD. Fortunately, Sony has made it pretty easy to add an NVMe SSD for more storage. Looking at raw specs alone, we can see the Xbox generally has the upper hand. Nevertheless, both next-gen consoles claim to game at 60fps at 4K and up to 120fps at 1080p.
Controllers
While both consoles have gotten controller upgrades, the Xbox Series X’s controller hasn’t changed much. It still features the same design as before with minor changes like a new D-pad and a built-in share button. The new Xbox controller also features additional grip on the triggers and a more minimalistic design. Unfortunately, though, the Xbox controller still requires AA batteries for power. The PS5 controller, on the other hand, has had a complete redesign from the DualShock 4.
Apart from the new design and LEDs, the DualSense controller, as Sony calls it, features a built-in microphone, better haptic feedback, and most importantly, adaptive triggers. Unlike the new Xbox controller, the DualSense controller can dynamically increase or decrease the resistance applied to the triggers. This is especially going to be noticeable when playing racing games such as Gran Turismo or Dirt 5.
Based on gaming experience alone, the PlayStation 5 controller seems to be the better competitor.
Exclusive Games
One cannot choose a console without first looking at what games each console has to offer. Both Sony and Microsoft have had many exclusives over the years: Halo being the most prominent one for Xbox and the Spider-Man series for the PlayStation. The newest addition to the Halo line includes Halo Infinite, which should be available to Xbox fans in mid-December. On the PlayStation side, “Spider-Man: Miles Morales” was released alongside the PlayStation 5 on November 12th. In addition to the Spider-Man series, other PlayStation exclusives include God of War, Gran Turismo 7, and Days Gone. Rumors also have it that Uncharted 5 may be released sometime in 2021. Xbox also has its own fair share of exclusives, including Forza Motorsport 8, which will be released in February of next year, Forza Horizon, Gears of War, and State of Decay, just to name a few. Additionally, Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Zenimax Media and Bethesda Softworks might mean that popular games developed by Bethesda Softworks like Fallout and Elder Scrolls might become Xbox-only titles. As of right now, if I were to pick a next-generation console solely based on exclusive titles, I would go for the Xbox Series X.
Verdict
At the time of writing this article, both the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 are completely sold out. The PlayStation 5 is reselling for a double price on eBay! I would certainly wait for the consoles to restock because the PS5 is definitely not worth $1000. Both consoles’ MSRP is $499, but you can get the PlayStation 5 digital edition (without the Blu-ray drive) for $100 less, which might be a better deal if you don’t use disked games. Looking at raw specs alone, we can see that the Xbox Series X has an advantage, but when it comes to the controller, the DualSense crushes its competition with its adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Whether you are a professional gamer trying to get your hands on the newest technology, an uncle trying to get a nephew his dream console, or even a person who has never gamed before, both the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 are great choices.
