Compare Microsoft Xbox Series S vs Sony PlayStation 5
In this technical comparison between the Microsoft Xbox Series S and the Sony PlayStation 5, we analyze the key features to help you choose.
Choosing between these two Home Consoles models often comes down to your budget, with prices around 512GB: $299.99 USD / €299.99 / £249.99 --- 1TB: $349.99 USD / €349.99 / £299.99 and $499.99 USD / €499.99 / £449.99.
| Specifications |
Microsoft Xbox Series S |
Sony PlayStation 5 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
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| Launch | ||
| Version | November 2020 | November 2020 |
| Performance | ||
| CPU | 8X Cores @ 3.6 GHz (3.4 GHz w/ SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU | x86-64-AMD Ryzen “Zen 2”, 8 Cores / 16 Threads, variable frequency, up to 3.5 GHz |
| GPU | 4 TFLOPS, 20 CUs @ 1.565 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU | AMD Radeon™ RDNA 2-based graphics engine, Ray Tracing Acceleration, variable frequency, up to 2.23 GHz |
| GPU Power | 4.0 TFLOPS | 10.3 TFLOPS |
| RAM | 10GB GDDR6 (8GB @ 224 GB/s, 2GB @ 56 GB/s) | 16GB GDDR6 (448GB/s bandwidth) |
| Storage | 512GB or 1TB Custom NVMe SSD | 825GB Custom NVMe SSD (Internal) or 1 TB |
| Expandable | Support for Seagate/Western Digital Expansion Card; External USB 3.1 HDD support Disc Drive: None (All-Digital) | M.2 NVMe SSD Slot (User-upgradeable); External USB HDD support |
| Disc Drive | None (All-Digital) | Ultra HD Blu-ray, up to 100GB/disc (Fixed/Integrated) |
| Video Output | ||
| Resolution | 1440p (Gaming target); 4K upscaling for games; 4K native for media streaming | Support for 4K 120Hz TVs, 8K TVs |
| Max FPS | Up to 120 FPS | 120 FPS |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10, Auto HDR | Yes |
| VRR | Yes (AMD FreeSync & HDMI VRR) | Yes |
| Ray Tracing | Yes (Hardware-accelerated) | Yes |
| Audio | ||
| Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Windows Sonic, 7.1 LPCM | "Tempest" 3D AudioTech, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X |
| Headphones | 3.5mm Jack (on controller) or Xbox Wireless Protocol | 3.5mm Jack (on controller), USB, or Bluetooth (via adapter) |
| Connectivity | ||
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 Port | 1x HDMI 2.1 Port |
| USB | 3x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Ports (1 front, 2 back) | 1x USB Type-C (Front), 1x USB Type-A Hi-Speed (Front), 2x USB Type-A SuperSpeed 10Gbps (Back) |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000 Mbps | 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac dual band (Wi-Fi 5) | IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Bluetooth | None for audio (Uses Xbox Wireless Radio; Bluetooth 5.0 is in the controller only) | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Services | ||
| Online Multiplayer | Xbox Game Pass Core or Ultimate required | PlayStation Plus required |
| Cloud Saves | Free (No subscription required) | Included with PlayStation Plus |
| Subscription | Xbox Game Pass, EA Play | PlayStation Plus (Essential, Extra, Premium) |
| Remote Play | Yes (via Xbox app) | Yes |
| Controller | ||
| Included | 1x Xbox Wireless Controller | 1x DualSense Wireless Controller |
| Features | Share button, Hybrid D-pad, Textured grips, AA Battery powered (included) | Haptic Feedback, Adaptive Triggers, Built-in Mic, Touchpad, Motion sensors |
| Compatibility | ||
| Backward | Digital versions of thousands of Xbox, 360, and One games | Supports 99% of PlayStation 4 games |
| VR Support | No | PlayStation VR and PlayStation VR2 |
| Physical | ||
| Dimensions | 65mm x 151mm x 275mm (Smallest Xbox ever) | Approx. 390 × 104 × 260 mm (Width × Height × Depth) |
| Weight | 4.25 lbs | Approx. 4.5 kg (Launch model); 3.9 kg (Final hardware revision) |
| Color | Robot White (512GB/1TB) or Carbon Black (1TB) | White and Black |
| Power | ||
| Consumption | 165W (Maximum rated power; typical gaming draw is ~75W) | 350W (Maximum rated power) |
| Misc | ||
| Inside the Box | Console, Xbox Wireless Controller, High Speed HDMI Cable, Power Cord | Console, DualSense Controller, 825GB SSD, Circular Base/Stand (Works for both Vertical and Horizontal), HDMI Cable, AC Power Cord, USB Cable, Astro's Playroom (Pre-installed) |
| Price | 512GB: $299.99 USD / €299.99 / £249.99 --- 1TB: $349.99 USD / €349.99 / £299.99 | $499.99 USD / €499.99 / £449.99 |
| Full Details | Xbox Series S - Full Specifications | PlayStation 5 - Full Specifications |