Overall Findings
Powerful hardware.
Supports PS4 peripherals like PSVR.
Exclusives aren’t available anywhere else.
Marvel
DualSense controller uses haptic feedback.
Full backwards compatibility with PS4.
Slightly more powerful hardware.
Marvel
Affordable payment plan tied to Game Pass.
Exclusives will also be available on Windows 10.
New controller and Xbox One controller are interchangeable.
Sony PlayStation DualSense 5 wireless controller.Sony
Backwards compatible with every generation of Xbox.
The PS5 and Xbox Series X look radically different, but they conceal a lot of very similar hardware.
BothCPUandGPUare similar, with Microsoft grabbing a very slight edge in the overall numbers game.
Both Sony and Microsoft are offering extensive backwards compatibility to pad out libraries in the early days.
Specifications: Slight Edge to Microsoft
CPU: 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz.
GPU: 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz.
Microsoft
Memory: 16GB GDDR6/256-bit.
Storage: Custom 825GB SSD + NVMe SSD slot.
CPU: 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.8GHz.
GPU: 12 TFLOPs, 52 CUs at 1.825GHz
Storage: 1TB Custom NVMe SSD + 1TB expansion card.
The Xbox Series X has a slightly faster CPU, and its GPU is capable of moreteraflopsthan the PS5.
Both consoles are using 16GB GDDR6 graphics processors.
An interesting difference is how each console is handling storage expansion.
The Xbox Series X/S features an external storage slot for proprietaryhard drivesthat can provide an additional 1TB of space.
Game Library: Sony Loosening Grip on Exclusives
Exclusives like Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Some or all exclusives likely to remain exclusive to PS5.
Offers downloading and streaming catalogs through PlayStation Plus.
Exclusives like Halo: Infinite.
Most or all exclusives expected to release on Windows 10.
Game Pass allows you to play and stream 100s of games.
Backwards compatible with every previous Xbox generation.
Sony has traditionally held the edge in terms of games due to the number and quality ofPlayStation-exclusive titles.
That may change with Sony expressing the desire to release more of their console exclusives on PC.
The PS5 has already announceda new Spider-Man titleas well as a sequel to the excellent Horizon: Zero Dawn.
you could’t use the DualShock 4 with the PS4.
Other PS4 peripherals, like racing wheels, will be compatible.
PSVR is compatible with PS5.
Xbox Series X controller is a slight update of the Xbox One controller.
you might use Xbox One controllers with the Xbox Series X.
The Xbox Series X controller will be compatible with Xbox One and PC right out of the box.
Still no plans from Microsoft to support VR on their consoles.
In terms of other peripherals, Sony is expected to offer fairly comprehensive support.
Microsoft, on the other hand, appears to have no VR-related plans for the Xbox Series X.
Design and Pricing: Different Designs, Similar Price Tags
gives the impression of quite large.
Unconventional design doesn’t look like any past console.
Designed to dissipate a lot of heat.
Priced at $499 (expected MSRP.)
Confirmed to be very large.
Basic rectangular design doesn’t push any limits.
Designed to dissipate heat with minimal noise.
Priced at $499 (MSRP) with option to pay $34.99/mo.
for 24 months (Xbox All Access included.)
The consoles are quite different in terms of aesthetic design.
Microsoft barely strayed from the path, while Sony struck off for parts unknown.
That’s about it.
Expected to play PS5 games at full quality.
Priced at $399 (expected MSRP).
Pared down version of the Series X with less power.
Sony and Microsoft will both offer pared-down versions of their consoles as budget-friendly options.
This all-digital console is rumored to play PS5 games with the same visual quality as the regular PS5.
It will still play Xbox Series X games, but at lower parameters and resolutions.
It will also forgo a disc drive to cut costs, making it a download-only console.
BothXbox Game PassandPlayStation Plus' Extra and Deluxe plansprovide access to a library of games on demand.
Both consoles also feature services that allow you to play your games on either a laptop or mobile rig.
