Xbox Series X vs. Series S vs. PS5: Which Console Should You Invest in 2024?

Xbox Series X vs. Series S vs. PS5

Here are all the tech specs for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S in a handy table.

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Xbox Series X vs. Series S vs. PS5: Which Is More Powerful?

In this full tech specs comparison, we're going to pit the PS5 vs Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S. 

1. CPU

All three consoles are running off custom-designed AMD Ryzen Zen 2 processors with eight cores. There are some very slight differences in clock speeds, however, with the Xbox Series X leading the pack at up to 3.8 GHz. The Series S follows close behind at 3.6 GHz, while the PS5 model clock in at 3.5 GHz.

2. CPU

Graphics is the bit where people actually start to notice the difference. Again, all three are built on the same foundation – a custom AMD Radeon RDNA 2 GPU – but they’re running different amounts of cores at different variable speeds to reach different levels of overall processing power.

First, an explainer: a teraFLOP is a trillion floating point operations per second – basically, the processor is capable of performing a trillion calculations per second. The more of those it can handle, the faster it can crunch big scenes full of fancy geometry, loads of characters and realistic lighting effects.

In pure numbers, the Xbox Series X is the most beastly of the bunch, boasting 12 TeraFLOPS of power by way of 52 control units (CUs) running at up to 1.825 GHz. The PS5 model is running fewer cores but at a faster rate, meaning they’re not far behind on 10.3 TFLOPS.

And finally, the Xbox Series S brings up the rear by quite a margin. At just 4 TFLOPS, it has less “pure” power than the older Xbox One X on 6 TFLOPS. That said there’s more to life than just numbers, and no doubt there are other tweaks and improvements made to the Series S – but it does blur the generational lines a bit.

3. RAM

All three consoles are powered by GDDR6 RAM, with the Xbox Series X and the PS5 model running on 16 GB of it. The Xbox Series S, meanwhile, gets by on 10 GB.

4. Built-in storage

The Xbox Series X will have 1 TB of storage space built into the console, while both PS5s will have 825 GB and the Xbox Series S just 512 GB. The PS5 includes an 825GB SSD. This is less than the Xbox Series X's 1TB SSD, but Sony has good reason for the odd number.

In all cases, these have been upgraded to solid state drives (SSDs), which will be much faster than the hard disc drives (HDDs) that have been standard for years. And this is where Sony makes up some ground from having slightly slower processors – thanks to a custom integrated I/O system the PS5 clocks read speeds of up to 5.5 GB per second raw, or up to a huge 9 GB/s compressed. That’s more than twice as fast as the Xboxes.

The PS5 models also have a feature called Preferred Install, which lets users install just sections of a game onto the SSD. So for example, if you know you won't bother with the multiplayer modes, you can choose to only install the single player campaign, or uninstall the single player portion when you finish it but want to keep playing multi. That should help conserve the limited storage space.

5. Extra storage

Given how big next-gen games will get, even 1 TB of storage isn’t going to last too long – especially if you go for the digital-only options. Thankfully, all three machines offer expandable storage.

The PlayStations have a slot for SSDs, and are compatible with Sony-branded ones as well as third party products. For the Xboxes, Microsoft is limiting things to a Seagate-developed SSD expansion card.

All four machines also have USB slots which can be used to hook up HDDs, although you’ll obviously get slower read speeds. It's important to note that PS5 games can only be played from an SSD (either built-in or added), while PS4 games can be run on the new console from either SSD or HDD.

6. Disc drive

The PS5 Digital Edition cannot play discs of any kind since it doesn't have a disc drive. If you want to use discs with your PS5, you'll need to get the regular console that has a disc drive and supports disc-based media.

The vanilla PS5 and the Xbox Series X have Ultra-HD Blu-ray drives, which can play game discs (obviously) as well as Blu-rays, Ultra HD Blu-rays, and DVDs. The PS5 Digital Edition gives you plenty of choice and a lower price of entry, but means you can’t sell, trade in, lend out or borrow games.

7. Design

For the most part, whether you like a console’s design comes down to personal preference. But my personal preference is that I cannot stand how the PS5 looks. Not only is the system comically large; it’s also a pain to switch from vertical to horizontal configuration, and the standard version sports an ugly, asymmetrical design.

The front panel is prone to fingerprints; the “power” and “disc eject” buttons are indistinguishable. It’s rare that I recommend you hold off on a console purchase simply to wait for the prettier redesign, but you should very strongly consider doing that with the PS5.

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

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.

8. Controllers

Microsoft is aiming for a more inclusive Xbox ecosystem. There’s a new controller of course, which the company just calls the Xbox Wireless Controller – that’s because it isn’t limited to the Series X and S, but can also work on the Xbox One family and PCs. In the same vein, you can bring your existing controllers along to the new console, including the Xbox One controller, the customizable Elite controller, or the versatile Adaptive Controller, which can cater to players with different physical needs.

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. 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. 

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 haptics have the potential to take you out of the game as much as they immerse you in it.

9. Resolution

While it’s still not quite the norm, 4K resolution is increasingly common, and all four consoles can display visuals at that resolution and 60 frames per second (fps). 

The Xbox Series X and PS5 support 8K resolution, and 120Hz refresh rates at 4K, if you have an HDMI 2.1 compliant TV. The Xbox Series X also matches the PS5 by offering DirectX ray-tracing capabilities, and it's equipped with a super-fast internal 1TB NVMe SSD (which can be expanded with a propriety NVMe card), and can be utilized as virtual RAM to lift load times by up to 40x.

10. Backwards compatibility

The PS5 and Xbox Series X both support backwards compatibility, albeit to varying degrees. PS5 backwards compatibility will indeed let you play most of your PS4 games on the new system, with Sony even going as far as to commit to what it is calling "cross-generation" support, designed to ensure that PS4 players are able to play multiplayer games with those that have already made the jump to PS5. This, Sony believes, will not only help foster healthy communities but help players migrate over to the new platform in good time too. To note, the PS5 isn't backwards compatible with games from generations before PS4.

Unfortunately, not every PS4 game is making the jump right away. As discussed by lead PS5 architect Mark Cerny during the reveal stream, "we recently took a look at the top 100 PlayStation 4 titles as ranked by playtime, and we're expecting almost all of them to be playable at launch on PlayStation 5". Here are a few PS4 games that aren't compatible with PS5, but there could be more that we learn about in the future.

Incredibly, the Xbox Series X backwards compatibility feature spans "four generations" worth of Xbox games, proving that Microsoft understands how important it is that the best (and select) games released on the Xbox platform since 2001 are playable on Xbox Series X. The next Xbox is backwards compatible with the Xbox One’s supporting hardware accessories, so you don't have to rush out to buy new pads or a brand-new headset. The Xbox Series X controller, while familiar at a glance, includes new features, such as a dedicated share button and textured bumpers and triggers. It isn't as innovative as the DualSense controller - it operates exactly how the Xbox One controller did - but it's more accessible than ever thanks to its refined dimensions and improved ergonomics. 

11. Services

Microsoft knows better than anybody that the future of games is in services. This is an area in which Xbox Series X will have a clear advantage over the PS5, thanks to Microsoft's huge investment in services such as Xbox Live, Play Anywhere, Games With Gold, and Xbox Game Pass. The company's also thrown its weight behind the support of cross-platform play, game streaming, and third-party subscription services such as EA Access.

Xbox Series X launched with an established, tested, and stable platform to draw from. Players will be able to immediately jump into hundreds of games on Xbox Series X thanks to the combination of backwards compatibility support and Game Pass, a subscription service that rotates hundreds of Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Xbox games every month – including all of the first-party Xbox Game Studio exclusives. Microsoft has created an extremely player-friendly, player-focused ecosystem through its services as a result.

Meanwhile, PlayStation announced additions to its PlayStation Plus service in the form of the PlayStation Plus Collection, a huge library of PS4 games to PS5 at launch. But it's easy to see how the Xbox Series X in particular benefits from a massive selection of on-demand games via Game Pass.

12. VR

If you want to experience virtual reality on console, you'll want to invest in a PS5. It isn't even a competition when it comes to VR. Microsoft has restated its belief that VR belongs on PC time and time again, while Sony has recently gone on record by doubling down on its commitment to the emerging tech after shifting more than four million units since its launch in 2016.

The current PSVR headset is forward compatible with the PS5, although we wouldn't be surprised to see Sony take a revised headset to market shortly now that the PS5 is out. Look at something like Oculus Quest 2, the new and moderately priced wireless VR headset from Oculus, and it's clear that manufacturing costs are starting to tumble while the quality of components and screens is starting to rise. It would make sense that Sony would want a next-generation PSVR headset working alongside its next-generation PS5 console, and given the increased power output of the system, good things could be coming to PSVR as a result. 

13. Games

PS5 games: what we're expecting to see on the console

Xbox Series X games: all the games rumored and confirmed for the next Xbox

Over the last few months, we've been getting a clearer picture of the sort of experiences you can expect to see on the Xbox Series X and the PS5.

First off, Microsoft confirmed that Halo Infinite, aka Halo 6, is no longer a launch title for Xbox Series X. The Halo franchise is a big seller for Microsoft, so its delay will have been deliberated for a long time. It was supposed to arrive day one on Xbox Game Pass, too, showing Microsoft's continued support for its game subscription service. Our first look at in-game footage was certainly thrilling, even if we quickly found out it had been captured on PC rather than Xbox Series X.

At launch, the Xbox Series X will offer the likes of Dirt 5, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and and Viking-themed Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Further down the line, expect titles such as Vampire: the Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 and The Medium to hit the console - plus much more. Here's the current list of confirmed Xbox Series X games.

Even more thrilling was the announcement of a Fable reboot at Microsoft's July game showcase, along with a new Forza installment, and a medieval fantasy RPG from Obsidian called Avowed. Sony has traditionally won when it comes to exclusive games, but Microsoft is certainly gaining ground for its next-gen console.

A statement of intent if there ever was one, Microsoft recently announced the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda. That means that games such as The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield could become Xbox exclusives and that many games from ZeniMax's studios will be coming to Xbox Game Pass in the near future, starting with Doom Eternal. 

Perhaps just as much of a big deal as new games is the fact that Xbox Series X is backwards compatible with all existing Xbox platforms. If you have games for the original Xbox, the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One, there’s a good chance they’ll work on Xbox Series X – especially your Xbox One library. 

Not only that, Microsoft is really keen to support cross-gen play for a good while after the launch of the Xbox Series X. This does mean that the Xbox Series X isn't going to have any exclusives in the next few years that will drive you to upgrade, which was one of the biggest criticisms in our review, but it's a consumer-friendly, accessible approach and the Series X will still offer the highest quality experience of the devices in the Xbox family. 

Of course, games that haven't been developed by Microsoft's first-party studios could be a different matter – it's up to the studios to decide whether they want to develop their game for both Xbox One and Series X and eventually even Microsoft's first-party studios will likely move over to the Series X after a couple of years. 

As for PS5 games, among the launch games are Astro's Playroom that comes pre-installed on every console, as well as enticing exclusives such as Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon's Souls.

Further down the line, expect a new Ratchet & Clank game, Horizon: Forbidden West, and Gran Turismo 7. Final Fantasy 16 is now confirmed to be a PS5 exclusive, with a new God of War game, which we're expecting to be called God of War 2: Ragnarok, also confirmed.

If you don't want to shell out for a bunch of new games on the first day, the PS5 is backward-compatible. The console supports almost the entirety of PS4's game library, but the feature doesn't extend to the PS3 and PS2 generation. As well as that, PS5 owners can enjoy a new PS Plus subscriber bonus called the PlayStation Plus Collection. It gives PS5 owners free access to 20 of the best-ever PS4 games to download to their new console from day-one, including titles like God of War, Uncharted 4 and Bloodborne.

Somewhat differently to Microsoft's cross-gen inclusivity, Sony has also been emphasizing that it still believes in generations and is stressing the importance of its next-gen exclusives in making the most of the PS5 capabilities. In a rather sharp U-turn, though, some PS5 exclusives such as Spider-Man Miles Morales and Horizon Forbidden West will also be available on PS4. 

Of course, there's also the matter of game streaming. With Google entering the gaming fray with its Google Stadia game streaming platform along with Amazon's Luna, Microsoft and Sony have actually entered a partnership to share and collaborate on game streaming technologies for the next generation. Exactly how this will play out remains to be seen. 

But Microsoft's Project xCloud streaming service is already out now, and is included for free with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. This allows Xbox owners to play Xbox Game Pass games on their supported Android mobile devices. EA Play is also coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which makes the deal even sweeter than before. 

Already offering value for money, adding Project xCloud makes Game Pass and Xbox an even more appealing option for those who like to have platform flexibility. It seems set to leave Sony's PlayStation Now offering behind, even with the PlayStation Plus Collection now announced. 

We know that a lot of games that are released in the period between the tail end of this generation and the early days of the next will be cross-generation titles. That means the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin's Creed Valhalla are launching on both current and next-gen consoles.

Final Review: Which Console Should You Invest in 2024?

On paper, it looks like Xbox Series X is technically the more impressive next-gen console. However, looking at all the facts and figures, PS5 and Xbox Series X will be extremely similar on a technical level. The Xbox Series S is less powerful. 

The PS5 and Xbox Series X are both fantastic devices, but right now, we've been swayed by the PlayStation 5's excellent controller, fun and fresh user interface, and its stronger launch line up. The similarities between the two consoles are striking, but they're both fairly unique in their own right.

From a design stand point, the two consoles couldn't be more different. Both are silent in operation, and extremely powerful, but the PS5 is massive in size. The Xbox Series X is smaller, but its boxy shape won't be loved by everyone, particularly when the console is laid horizontally. 

Sony and Microsoft's joint commitment to SSD tech means games load faster than ever before, with boot times often taking seconds instead of minutes. Both consoles also offer fantastic backwards compatibility support, though Microsoft's commitment does span further, particularly in terms of accessories. 

Of course, there's still tribalism among the fans, and so, as ever, first-party gaming content is going to be perhaps more important than it’s ever been. Sony has started strong again in this regard, while the lack of Halo Infinite has certainly hurt the Xbox Series X's early appeal. 

Whichever console you decide to purchase, remember that the generation has only just begun - there's plenty more excitement to be had in the years to come and the competition is likely to be fierce throughout. 

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