What’s the difference between Xbox Series X & PlayStation 5

1. Performance & Specs

CPU

• Xbox Series X: 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU at 3.8 GHz fixed clock.

• PS5: 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU at 3.5 GHz with variable frequency for dynamic performance scaling.

GPU (Graphics)

• Xbox Series X: Custom RDNA 2 GPU, ~12 TFLOPs, 52 CUs at 1.825 GHz.

• PS5: Custom RDNA 2 GPU, ~10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23 GHz (variable frequency).

Memory

• Both have 16 GB GDDR6 RAM.

• Xbox offers mixed bandwidth: 10 GB @ 560 GB/s and 6 GB @ 336 GB/s.

• PS5 features a uniform bandwidth of ~448 GB/s.

Storage

• Xbox Series X: 1 TB NVMe SSD, raw speed ~2.4 GB/s, compressed ~4.8 GB/s.

• PS5: 825 GB custom SSD, raw ~5.5 GB/s, compressed ~8–9 GB/s—faster read speeds despite smaller capacity.

Expandability & Compatibility

• Xbox: Proprietary 1 TB expansion card; USB 3.2 external HDD support; broad backward compatibility (Xbox, 360, One).

• PS5: Accepts standard NVMe SSD upgrades; USB external HDD; backward compatible with most PS4 games.

Optical Drive

• Both consoles include a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive (PS5 Digital edition excludes the disc drive).

2. Design & Aesthetic

• Xbox Series X: Monolithic, PC-tower-like rectangular design (~15.1 × 15.1 × 30.1 cm; ~4.45 kg). Sleek, understated, placed vertically or horizontally.

• PS5: Taller, more futuristic with white winged panels and LED accents (~26 × 10.4 × 39 cm; ~4.5 kg). Its stand requires screwing when oriented vertically.

3. Controllers & User Experience

Controller Features

• Xbox Series X: Refined ergonomics, new “Share” button, textured grips, USB-C charging, still uses AA batteries by default.

• PS5 (DualSense): Adaptive triggers, advanced haptic feedback, built-in mic, integrated speaker, “Create” button—designed for immersive gameplay experiences

4. Unique Ecosystem & Platforms

• Xbox Series X: Strong backward compatibility, Smart Delivery, and Game Pass subscription with extensive game library across generations.

• PS5: Robust exclusive titles (e.g., Spider-Man: Miles Morales, God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Forbidden West) and fast SSD integration for seamless experience.

5. Real-World Performance

• Raw hardware gives Xbox Series X an edge in power.

• However, PS5’s SSD performance and system-level optimizations mean it often matches or exceeds perceived speed differences in actual gameplay.

• Overall, performance in real-world scenarios tends to be very similar.

Summary Comparison

Which One’s Right for You?

• Choose Xbox Series X if you want max raw performance, a vast library (including older games), and value subscription flexibility like Game Pass.

• Choose PS5 for blazing-fast loading, immersive controller tech, and standout exclusive titles that define the PlayStation experience.

Each has its strengths.