The PS5 is a significantly more powerful console with 4x the storage and better performance, while the Xbox Series S is a budget-friendly entry point with excellent Game Pass value. The PS5 delivers premium gaming experiences, whereas the Series S prioritizes affordability and subscription services.
PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series S — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Sony's next-gen console featuring 150+ exclusive titles, advanced haptic feedback, and 10.28 TFLOPS GPU.
Microsoft's budget-friendly next-gen console emphasizing value and Game Pass subscription service.
GPU Performance. Internal Storage. Native 4K Gaming. Launch Price (MSRP). Exclusive Game Titles. Game Pass Availability. Current Market Adoption
Choose the PS5 if you prioritize cutting-edge graphics, native 4K gaming, and the largest exclusive game library including marquee franchises like Spider-Man and Final Fantasy. Choose the Xbox Series S if you want an affordable entry into next-gen gaming with exceptional value through Game Pass, and prefer a console focused on subscription content rather than premium single-player AAA titles.
PlayStation 5: 150+ exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $11.99 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 0.8 seconds | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 26 AAA exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS | Xbox Series S: 4 TFLOPS
PlayStation 5: 825GB SSD | Xbox Series S: 512 GB SSD
PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s | Xbox Series S: 2,560 MB/s
PlayStation 5: 72.5% | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Standard noise levels | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 3 (Standard, Digital, Slim) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: +2.9% | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 8 cores @ 3.5 GHz | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 825 GB (proprietary SSD) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: ~95% PS4 compatible | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $120/year (PS Plus Premium) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 12+ major exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: PSSR2 AI upscaling (2026, free) | Xbox Series S: N/A
Standard Console Launch Price (MSRP 2026)
PlayStation 5: $499 (PS5 Standard) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K (2160p) at 120fps | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Custom ultra-fast SSD (faster) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 250+ games (PS Plus Extra) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 40 million units | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 2-3 generations (PS2-PS4 selective) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 91.04 million | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 72.6% | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 60-120 fps (PS5 Pro exceeds) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Horizon: Zenith Chronicles, Ghost of Tsushima: Revelations, Marvel titles | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 10+ (PS4 select titles) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $90 per 1TB | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $9.99 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K @ 120fps | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 400 games (PS Plus Extra) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 2 generations | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 6-8 major titles | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Advanced haptic feedback + adaptive triggers | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K (3840×2160) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Hardware-accelerated, full support | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 18 major exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $9.99/month (PlayStation Plus Essential) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $599.99 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 825 GB/s | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 16GB GDDR6 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 750+ titles (PlayStation Plus tiers) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Baseline | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 30% faster custom SSD | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $499 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 6 years of custom optimization | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Limited PS4 backward compatibility | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Yes, 4K/60FPS capable | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Select PS4 titles only (1 generation) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Custom SSD (faster) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Native 4K capable | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Limited | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Closes gap through optimization | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 6 years of proven optimization techniques | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz variable | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $649.99 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 599.99 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 519.99 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K/1080p | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Good (PS4/PS3 select) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 90.20 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 10.28 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Not disclosed | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Home Console Only | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Estimated 70+ | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: God of War, Spider-Man, Gran Turismo, Returnal | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s (custom optimized) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 15-20 PS Plus tier | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 120 fps (capable) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Behind by 6.39M | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: None (stationary) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 120Hz at 4K | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Precision 3D Audio (evolved) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Advanced adaptive triggers | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 16GB GDDR6 | Xbox Series S: 10GB (8GB GDDR6 + 2GB DDR5)
PlayStation 5: $499-$549 | Xbox Series S: $299
PlayStation 5: 72.5% | Xbox Series S: 27.5%
PlayStation 5: Stable native 4K | Xbox Series S: Performance dips and frame drops
PlayStation 5: Baseline (100%) | Xbox Series S: ~60% smaller
PlayStation 5: 120fps (PS5 Pro) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $499.99 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Slightly lower frame consistency | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Yes - DualSense haptic triggers | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium | Xbox Series S: Game Pass (300+ titles)
PlayStation 5: 5,500 MB/s | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 825 GB | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 16 GB GDDR6 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 120 fps | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 40+ exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Limited (PlayStation Plus Extra tier) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K (3840x2160) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 120 fps at 4K | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: ~2,000 PS5 optimized | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Home console only—stationary | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K (2160p) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 5-10 seconds | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: ~500 PS5-exclusive/optimized | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 5-15% typical | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $80 (PlayStation Plus Extra) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K/60fps or 1440p/120fps | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 5 minutes (unbox, connect, play) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: ~15% of multiplayer titles | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 60 FPS | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 500+ AAA titles | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $70/year (PlayStation Plus) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 10 GB (unified architecture) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 30 minutes | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 40+ (God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz | Xbox Series S: 3.6 GHz
PlayStation 5: 825 GB (usable) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: No equivalent (PlayStation Plus Extra $18.99/month) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 14 major exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s raw (22 GB/s effective) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 110+ million | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 110W typical | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $17.99 (PS Plus Premium) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 700+ (PS Plus Premium) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4,500+ PS4 games (99%) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS | Xbox Series S: 10 TFLOPS
PlayStation 5: 50 million | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K 120Hz | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 12 major exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 168 games | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $180 | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 600 (PS Plus Premium) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz (variable frequency) | Xbox Series S: N/A
Average Game Load Time (Major AAA Titles)
PlayStation 5: ~3.2 seconds | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: Variable scaling, 40-60fps typical | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 47 major exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz (variable) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 825GB SSD | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K @ 120fps (select titles) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 280+ (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 296 exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 0.8-2.0 seconds | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz (8-core) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 58-60 FPS | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $19.99/month (Plus Premium) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 120fps at 4K | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: N/A—not portable | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: God of War, Spider-Man, Final Fantasy, Hogwarts Legacy | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 16 GB | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 25+ major exclusives | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 120+ million | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: $80 (PS Plus Essential for online) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: 0-3 PlayStation exclusive day-ones | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: PlayStation Plus Premium (iPhone, Android, browser — limited) | Xbox Series S: N/A
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: 1440p
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: 512 GB
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: $299
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: Digital only
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: 1440p @ 60 FPS (Replaced)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: 3.6 GHz (variable)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: 120 fps
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: 172 x 150 x 150
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: 2.25 kg
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: 1440p at up to 120fps
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: 12+ exclusive/exclusive-first
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series S: All Microsoft first-party games
How to choose between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S
PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series S — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series S. Contains 195 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series S — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for PlayStation 5 vs Xbox Series S.
No. The Xbox Series S maxes out at 1440p resolution at 120fps or 1080p with ray tracing. It was designed as a budget console prioritizing 1440p/60fps gameplay. The PS5 is the only current-gen console offering true native 4K at 120fps with ray tracing.
Is Game Pass included with Xbox Series S?
Game Pass is not automatically included but is available as a subscription ($11.99/month for console Game Pass, or $16.99/month for Game Pass Ultimate with online multiplayer). The Series S's lower price makes the subscription cost more attractive relative to the console investment. PS5 requires separate PlayStation Plus Extra ($119.99/year) or Premium ($179.99/year) for comparable access.
How much storage do I need for the Series S?
The Series S comes with 512GB internal storage, but modern AAA games (Starfield, Call of Duty) require 100-150GB each, meaning you can only fit 3-4 large titles. Microsoft recommends a $150-200 Seagate Storage Expansion Card (1TB) as mandatory for most players. The PS5's 825GB base storage is more adequate, though expansion is still needed for large libraries.
Which console has better exclusive games?
PlayStation 5 has a significant advantage with 25+ exclusive or exclusive-first franchises including God of War Ragnarök, Spider-Man, Horizon Forbidden West, Final Fantasy XVI, and Gran Turismo 7. Xbox Series S offers strong titles like Halo Infinite and Forza Motorsport but relies heavily on Game Pass day-one availability rather than exclusive AAA blockbusters.
Buy the PS5 ($499) if you want premium 4K gaming, exclusive AAA franchises, and cutting-edge performance for the next 5+ years. Buy the Xbox Series S ($299) if you're budget-conscious, prefer Game Pass's subscription library, play primarily multiplayer games, or want an affordable entry into next-gen gaming. The PS5 offers better long-term value for single-player experiences; Series S excels at subscription gaming value.
How to Choose Between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S
GPU Performance: PlayStation 5 has 10.28 TFLOPS, while Xbox Series S has 4 TFLOPS.
Internal Storage: PlayStation 5 has 825 GB SSD, while Xbox Series S has 512 GB SSD.
Native 4K Gaming: PlayStation 5 has Yes, up to 120fps, while Xbox Series S has No, up to 1440p at 120fps.
Launch Price (MSRP): PlayStation 5 has $499, while Xbox Series S has $299.
Exclusive Game Titles: PlayStation 5 has 25+ (Astro's Playroom, Spider-Man, Horizon, Gran Turismo), while Xbox Series S has 12+ (Halo Infinite, Forza Motorsport, Starfield).
Game Pass Availability: PlayStation 5 has No (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium), while Xbox Series S has Yes, day-one first-party titles.
Current Market Adoption: PlayStation 5 has 14.8 million units sold (as of 2025), while Xbox Series S has 8.1 million units sold (as of 2025).