PS5 vs Xbox Series: our comparison to help you choose!

It's the moment gamers have been waiting for for months. In the last few days, two of the three major video game console manufacturers will release their new flagship consoles. On Tuesday the 10th of November, Microsoft is the first to release the Xbox Series X and its little sister, the Series S. Sony will follow on 19 November with the launch of both versions of its PlayStation 5.

These new models promise improved graphics, reduced loading times and more immersive games. However, the two competitors are not approaching this new battle from the same position. On the Xbox side, the aim is to impose a subscription model that will change gamers' consumption habits. For Sony, on the other hand, it will be a question of confirming the success of the PS4, which has sold almost 113 million copies since 2013.

Both Sony and Microsoft are offering a high-end version of their console and a budget alternative without a disc drive. While the two machines share many similarities, the manufacturers have taken different positions on several points.

Both consoles are available for pre-order and sale at Orange Luxembourg. This comparison will help you choose between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series.

1. Price: the Xbox Series S lowers the bill

Xbox's decision to offer a less powerful entry-level console is unsurprisingly advantageous when it comes to price. The Xbox Series S is priced at €299, while the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition costs €399.

On the high-end side, both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are priced at €499.

2. Power: the two consoles are almost equal

Both Sony and Microsoft emphasise the power of their new consoles and, unsurprisingly, announce that they are both the most powerful in their line. But which of the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 has the better spec sheet?

When it comes to the CPU, the heart of the machine, both consoles are based on a modified 8-core Zen 2 from AMD. On the Xbox Series X, this is clocked at 3.8 Ghz and on the PS5 at 3.5 Ghz.

The PS5 and Xbox Series X also use the same graphics processor, an AMD RDNA 2. Because it has a different architecture depending on the console, it develops a power of 10.28 teraflops for 36 CUs and 2.23 GHz Variable on the PS5, while on the Xbox Series X, it reaches 12 teraflops for 52 CUs and 1.825 GHz

On the RAM side, both consoles have 16GB of RAM.

So on paper, the Xbox Series X seems slightly more powerful.

As for the first price consoles, the PS5 Digital Edition offers the same features as the traditional PS5. As for the Xbox Series S, it has a CPU clocked at 3.6 Ghz and a 4 teraflops GPU, with 10 Gb of RAM. It is therefore, unsurprisingly, less powerful than its rival.

3. Picture resolution: PS5 and Xbox Series X promise the same performance

Both consoles are promoting 4k resolution as the new image standard, and their power should allow games to run in native 4k.

The PS5 and Xbox Series X also have the ability to produce 8k images, but this is likely to be upscaled (games generate the images at a lower resolution, which is then converted to 4k by the console). Especially since 8k screens for the general public are still few and far between, and very expensive.

Logically, since it is as powerful as the PlayStation 5, the Digital Edition also offers images up to 8k and 120 fps. As for the Xbox Series S, it is content with an image resolution of 1440p (halfway between HD at 1080p and 4k at 2160p).

4. Storage: the Xbox Series X gets the better of the deal

Both manufacturers are betting on SSD storage, i.e. on flash memory, which allows for reduced loading times compared to a hard disk. On the Xbox side, the S Series offers 512GB of storage and the X Series offers 1TB with a transfer speed of 2.4GB/s (Raw) and 4.8GB/s (compressed). On the PlayStation 5 side, both versions of the console offer 825GB of storage with a transfer speed of 5.5GB/s (Raw) and 8-9GB/s (compressed).

However, the PS5 has a slight advantage in terms of hard drive speed, which will allow for much faster loading times than the X-box and, above all, less latency, if any, between game levels.

5. What are the differences between the PS5 and Xbox Series X controllers?

The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 will come with new controllers. These are two controllers that have been officially introduced by their respective manufacturers. And they both match the colours of the consoles. They both come in black and white.

The most interesting controller is undoubtedly the PS5's DualSense.

New Haptic Engine (like in smartphones) to create more accurate and realistic feedback. This haptic engine is able to sync with the soundtrack (including special effects) to provide a more immersive experience.

The L2 and R2 triggers are adaptive. Game designers can choose to increase or decrease the resistance of these triggers to suit the game content. The most obvious example is an FPS such as Battlefield or Call of Duty: the resistance of the triggers changes depending on the weapon. Biometric sensors are also said to be included in the controller to detect heart rate and stress.

A secondary microphone has been added to improve audio exchanges with other players. A USB Type-C port replaces the micro-USB port to make the controller fast-charge compatible. And the new battery life is 4 hours longer than the Dualshock 4.

For the Xbox, it is a controller that combines the achievements of the Xbox One joypad with the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller. However, Microsoft has redesigned the size of the controller so that it can fit more people's hands. It's physically larger, but still perfectly manageable for those with smaller hands.

6. The PlayStation 5's catalogue of games looks promising, but the Xbox has not said its last word

This is perhaps the most important criterion to separate the two consoles: the game catalogue. While most of the big franchises are released on both platforms, there are some exclusive titles that can tip the balance to one side or the other.

For its PS5, Sony has already announced "Gran Turismo 7", a new opus in its cult car game franchise, as well as a new "Ratchet & Clank" and the sequel to "Marvel's Spider-Man", centred on the character of Miles Morales. Another exclusive, and not the least, is "Final Fantasy XVI", unveiled a few weeks ago.

On the Xbox side, Microsoft is preparing a new "Forza Motorsport", a new episode of its flagship franchise "Halo", a "Fable" reboot and a new "Warhammer" game.

7. Game Pass is Microsoft's extra edge

Microsoft has made its Xbox Game Pass one of the highlights of its console. Its Game Pass Ultimate gives unlimited access to a hundred or so games, including the new Xbox Game Studios games from the day they are released, as well as, soon, the EA Play catalogue.

The manufacturer is even encouraging gamers to sign up by offering a pack including an Xbox Series X or Series S console and a Game Pass Ultimate subscription to be paid in 24 monthly instalments.

As for Sony, the PlayStation Now service will be part of the PS5, with a catalogue of games that is always renewed, but with fewer new features.

In addition, Sony will offer the PlayStation Plus Collection, a selection of PS4 games available on PS5 as part of the subscription to play online. 18 games have already been announced for the launch of the console, including "God of War", "Fallout 4" and "Final Fantasy XV".

To take advantage of the best of these two consoles, opt for Orange fiber and benefit from a very high-speed connection, regardless of the number of devices connected at the same time (TV, computers, tablets, etc.).