Microsoft Xbox Series X vs. Sony Playstation 5: Which Console Is Right for You?

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Sony’s PlayStation 5 aren’t new gaming consoles: But they are the current generation, high-end consoles for each respective platform, both launching in November of 2020.

There’s a lot to like about both consoles. They offer incredible graphics, speedy performance and game libraries that will make owners of the competing console jealous.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your last-generation console, get your kids their first console, or you’re jumping back into gaming after a long hiatus—you have a tough decision to make. Below, I’ll break down the similarities and differences between the two consoles to help make your decision a bit easier.

Xbox Series X vs PS5: Price

Pricing for the two consoles is nearly identical, with the Xbox Series X and the PS5 priced at $499. However, there’s one caveat that’s worth knowing about.

Sony took a unique approach with the PS5 by releasing two different models of the same console. There’s a Digital Edition that lacks any sort of disk drive for physical copies of games, and then there’s the standard PS5. The Digital Edition is $399, and for someone who doesn’t own any physical copies of old PlayStation games, or doesn’t mind buying only digital versions of games—forgoing any trade-in potential for physical copies of games—it is the PS5 that makes the most sense.

For the Series X, you only have one option: a $499 model with a disk drive.

If you’re shopping on a budget, then PS5 Digital Edition is the easy pick due to saving you $100 on the price of the console alone. Additionally, Sony often bundles the Digital Edition with a game — right now it’s God of War: Ragnarok for $459, which is still $40 cheaper than the standard PS5.

Xbox Series X vs PS5: Controllers

Microsoft’s Xbox Controller is somewhat iconic in that the design hasn’t changed much over the years and it’s incredibly comfortable to hold for long periods of time. The button layout and joysticks are a joy to use, and the d-pad is a no-frills but successful input method. The controller, however, still runs on AA batteries, which makes little sense in 2023.

Sony, on the other hand, completely changed its controller with the launch of the PS5. The PS5 DualSense controller is rechargeable, has motion controls built-in so you can control your character just by tilting the controller, has a giant touchpad in the middle of it that game developers can use for all sorts of interactions, and the triggers have haptic feedback in games like Call of Duty to make the game feel more immersive. .

The main drawback to the PS5 DualSense controller is that it can get uncomfortable to hold over long periods of time. Its size, combined with rough edges around the palm grips, has fatigued my hands on more than one occasion.

In a perfect world, the PS5 DualSense would have the same design as the Xbox controller, but keep all of the advanced features like motion control, the touchpad and advanced haptics. But since that isn’t possible, I’m going to give a very slight edge to the PS5 as having a better controller experience.

• Xbox Wireless Controller ($51.14, originally $59.99 at Amazon)
• PlayStation DualSense Controller ($69.95 at Amazon)

Xbox Series X vs PS5: Performance

Performance is arguably the most difficult part of the console experience to compare, simply because both of these consoles are incredibly powerful and games are optimized for each platform, squeezing out as much performance as possible.

I don’t have a proper TV to take full advantage of variable refresh rate or 120Hz gameplay and the rest of the high-end performance features that both consoles tout, but I can say, subjectively, the PS5’s load times feel faster and the entire experience when navigating the home screen or menus within the PS5’s operating system feels more fluid. But that’s a very minor improvement, as the Xbox Series X never feels slow.

That said, I wouldn’t get too hung up on the internal specs of each system. They have comparable hardware inside, but as I just said, the games that run on the consoles are optimized to take advantage of those components.

I’d wager that if I was to watch side-by-side gameplay, I wouldn’t be able to identify the console driving it, and neither would most avid gamers.

Don’t put a lot of weight in your decision-making process on the performance differences of the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Xbox Series X vs PS5: Game Library and Subscriptions

To me, the game library and subscription services are really where the focus of your console shopping efforts should be focused. Both consoles have subscription services with various tiers that provide access to various services, and a larger game library depending on which tier of the subscription you sign up for.

For the Xbox, Microsoft has either an Xbox Gold Live subscription that’s $10 a month and gives you access to online multiplayer gaming, two free games each month, and discounts on games. Or you can sign up for Xbox Game Pass for $10 a month, and includes all the benefits of Xbox Gold Live, along with access to over 400 different games (currently 454 to be exact), and access to titles from Xbox Game Studios on launch day.

Finally, if you sign up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $15 a month, you get access to all of the standard Game Pass features on an Xbox and PC, in addition to a basic EA Play subscription to play even more games and Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream and play games on any device anywhere you have an internet connection.

Better summarized? Either Game Pass plan is one heck of a deal that’s hard to beat. Just the breadth of the gaming catalog alone is worth the monthly fee.

Sony’s subscription service is PS Plus. There are three different tiers to PS Plus: Premium, Extra and Essential. Each one is a different price and, of course, offers different features.

Essential is $60 a year and includes access to PS4 and PS5 games each month, exclusive skins and in-game cosmetics, online multiplayer, discounts, cloud storage for game progress and access to Sony’s Share play feature for gaming with a friend as if you’re playing on the same TV.

The Extra plan is $100 a year, and includes all of the same features in Essential with access to Sony’s PS4 and PS5 game catalog with over 400 titles, and Ubisoft+ Classics.

Finally, the Premium tier is $120 a year, gives you all of the features from the lower tier plans, but adds in-game trials and cloud streaming for playing games away from home on any device you own.

On the surface, it sounds like PS Plus Premium and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are similar enough that it’s a toss-up on which one is better. While that’s partly true, their game catalogs are vastly different and, I’d wager that for most, Microsoft is the winner in this category due to the titles and quality of games available in Game Pass. My advice? Go through the official list of games available for Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus and see which libraries appeal to you the most.

Sports fans will gravitate towards a Game Pass Ultimate subscription due to its inclusion of EA Play, which is where you’ll find all of the latest sports titles such as NHL, Fifa, or Madden along with popular Star Wars titles.

The subscription is just one portion of the game library equation, however. And while Xbox wins the subscription battle, it’s not as clear cut when it comes to games that are exclusive to either platform.

For instance, the PS5 has titles like God of War or The Last of Us series, which are two of the best games I’ve played in the last five years, along with games like Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The Xbox, however, has Halo, Redfall, and Forza Horizon. Both consoles have solid game lineups, but the decision really boils down to which games you like, and which you can live without.

Xbox Series X vs PS5: Bottom line

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an Xbox fan and user. In fact, I have every Xbox console I’ve ever owned tucked away in a cabinet dating back to 2001. However, after using the PS5 over the past month, I’m starting to doubt my allegiance.

Don’t get me wrong, the Xbox does a lot of things right, and I still enjoy playing on it and Game Pass is incredibly appealing. But between the PS5’s exclusive games, the controller and the overall software experience, the PS5 has won me over.

And, right now, it’s the console I’d recommend to anyone who’s in the market for a current-generation gaming setup.

• Xbox Series X ($499 at Amazon, Microsoft, or Verizon)
• PlayStation 5 Digital ($399 at Amazon or Verizon)
• PlayStation 5 ($499 at Amazon or Verizon)

Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 Tech Specifications

Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.