Compare Nintendo Wii U vs Sony PlayStation 4
In this technical comparison between the Nintendo Wii U and the Sony PlayStation 4, 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 $299.99 (Basic) / $349.99 (Deluxe) and $399 USD / £349 GBP.
| Specifications |
Nintendo Wii U |
Sony PlayStation 4 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
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| Launch | ||
| Version | November 2012 | November 2013 |
| Performance | ||
| CPU | 1.24 GHz Tri-Core IBM PowerPC "Espresso" | 8-core semi-custom AMD Jaguar @ 1.6 GHz |
| GPU | 550 MHz AMD Radeon "Latte" | Custom AMD Radeon (GCN 1.1) @ 800 MHz |
| GPU Power | ~352 GFLOPS | 1.84 Teraflops |
| RAM | 2 GB DDR3 (1 GB reserved for System, 1 GB for Games) | 8 GB GDDR5 (176 GB/s bandwidth) |
| Storage | 8 GB (Basic) or 32 GB (Deluxe) Internal Flash | 500 GB HDD (Standard) / 1 TB (Later models) — User replaceable |
| Expandable | Supports SD/SDHC cards and USB External HDDs (up to 2 TB) | External USB 3.0 Hard Drive support (Added via software update) |
| Disc Drive | Proprietary 25 GB High-Density Optical Discs (Blu-ray based) | Standard Blu-ray / DVD drive |
| Video Output | ||
| Resolution | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i | 1080p (Full HD), 720p, 480p |
| Max FPS | 60 FPS | Up to 60 FPS |
| HDR | No | HDR10 support (Added to all models via Firmware 4.0 in 2016) |
| VRR | No | No |
| Ray Tracing | No | No |
| Audio | ||
| Formats | Six-channel (5.1) Linear PCM via HDMI | Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Linear PCM 7.1, Optical Out (S/PDIF) |
| Headphones | 3.5mm jack located on the GamePad | 3.5mm jack on controller |
| Connectivity | ||
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 1.4 | 1x HDMI 1.4 out |
| USB | 4x USB 2.0 (2 front, 2 rear) | 2x USB 3.0 (Front) |
| Ethernet | Requires USB-to-Ethernet adapter (No built-in port) | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 b/g/n | Single-band 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 (primarily for Wii controllers) | Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR) |
| Services | ||
| Online Multiplayer | Nintendo Network (Free until 2024 shutdown) | PlayStation Plus required |
| Cloud Saves | Not natively supported (mostly local) | Included with PS Plus |
| Subscription | None (Standard online was free) | PS Plus (Essential, Extra, Premium) |
| Remote Play | "Off-TV Play" (Stream games directly to the GamePad) | Supported (PS Vita, PC, Mac, Mobile) |
| Controller | ||
| Included | 1x Wii U GamePad (6.2-inch resistive touchscreen) | 1x DualShock 4 (V1) |
| Features | Built-in Camera, Mic, NFC, Motion Control, TV Remote functionality | Front touchpad, integrated light bar (hidden from player view), built-in speaker, Mono headset jack, Share button |
| Compatibility | ||
| Backward | Full native support for Wii Discs and Wii controllers | No native disc support for PS1/PS2/PS3; select digital "PS2 Classics" available |
| VR Support | No | Full support for PlayStation VR (PSVR) |
| Physical | ||
| Dimensions | 6.8" x 10.5" x 1.8" (172 x 268 x 46 mm) | 10.8 x 2.0 x 12.0 inches (275 x 53 x 305 mm) |
| Weight | ~3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) |
| Color | White (Basic) or Black (Deluxe) | Jet Black (standard), Glacier White (later) |
| Power | ||
| Consumption | ~75W Max (Very efficient compared to its peers) | 250W Max (External power brick NOT required; internal PSU) |
| Misc | ||
| Inside the Box | Console, GamePad, AC Adapters, HDMI Cable, Sensor Bar (Deluxe included stands and Nintendo Land) | Console, DualShock 4, Mono earbud headset, HDMI cable, USB charging cable, Power cable |
| Price | $299.99 (Basic) / $349.99 (Deluxe) | $399 USD / £349 GBP |
| Full Details | Wii U - Full Specifications | PlayStation 4 - Full Specifications |