PS5 vs Xbox Series X Performance Comparison 2026
Both deliver nearly identical raw performance with 12 TFLOPS GPU power and 825GB/1TB storage, but PS5 leads in exclusive titles while Xbox Series X offers superior Game Pass value and backward compatibility depth.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Performance Comparison 2026 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Sony's 12 TFLOPS console with industry-leading exclusive games and 825GB SSD storage.
Microsoft's 12 TFLOPS console with industry-leading Game Pass subscription service and 1TB storage.
Exclusive Game Library Quality (2026). Game Pass Value. Backward Compatibility Coverage. Average Frame Rate (Optimized AAA Games 2026). Storage Expansion Speed (MB/s). Controller Innovation. Total Installed Base (2026)
Choose PS5 if you prioritize exclusive story-driven franchises, cutting-edge controller haptics, and the largest player community with superior SSD speeds. Choose Xbox Series X if Game Pass is your priority, you want the deepest backward compatibility library, or prefer Microsoft's exclusive lineup—the raw performance is virtually identical, making your choice game library and ecosystem dependent.
PlayStation 5: 12 TFLOPS | Xbox Series X: 12 TFLOPS
PlayStation 5: 825GB usable (1,100GB total) | Xbox Series X: 1,000GB usable (1,200GB total)
PlayStation 5: 5,500 MB/s peak | Xbox Series X: 2,400 MB/s peak
PlayStation 5: 72.5% | Xbox Series X: 27.5%
PlayStation 5: Standard noise levels | Xbox Series X: Quietest gaming console ever made
PlayStation 5: 3 (Standard, Digital, Slim) | Xbox Series X: 2 (Standard & All-Digital)
PlayStation 5: +2.9% | Xbox Series X: -2.9%
PlayStation 5: 8 cores @ 3.5 GHz | Xbox Series X: 8 cores @ 3.8 GHz
PlayStation 5: 825 GB usable | Xbox Series X: 1000
PlayStation 5: ~95% PS4 compatible | Xbox Series X: ~98% Xbox One compatible
PlayStation 5: $120/year (PS Plus Premium) | Xbox Series X: $180/year (Game Pass Ultimate)
PlayStation 5: 12+ major exclusives | Xbox Series X: 15
PlayStation 5: PSSR2 AI upscaling (2026, free) | Xbox Series X: No major announcement
Standard Console Launch Price (MSRP 2026)
PlayStation 5: $499 (PS5 Standard) | Xbox Series X: $499 (Xbox Series X)
PlayStation 5: 4K (2160p) at 120fps | Xbox Series X: 4K (2160p) at 120fps
PlayStation 5: Custom ultra-fast SSD (faster) | Xbox Series X: PCIe Gen 4 NVME
PlayStation 5: 400+ games (PS Plus Extra) | Xbox Series X: 500+ games included
PlayStation 5: 40 million units | Xbox Series X: 25 million units
PlayStation 5: 2-3 generations (PS2-PS4 selective) | Xbox Series X: 4 generations (Xbox original to Series)
PlayStation 5: 91.04 million | Xbox Series X: 34.43 million
PlayStation 5: 72.6% | Xbox Series X: 27.4%
PlayStation 5: 60-120 fps (PS5 Pro exceeds) | Xbox Series X: 120 fps
PlayStation 5: Horizon: Zenith Chronicles, Ghost of Tsushima: Revelations, Marvel titles | Xbox Series X: Forza, Starfield, Game Pass exclusives
PlayStation 5: 8700 (limited enhancement) | Xbox Series X: 4000+ with enhancements
PlayStation 5: $90 per 1TB | Xbox Series X: $220 per 1TB
PlayStation 5: $9.99 | Xbox Series X: $11.99
PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS | Xbox Series X: 16.7 TFLOPS
PlayStation 5: 4K @ 120fps | Xbox Series X: 4K/120fps (native)
PlayStation 5: 400 games (PS Plus Extra) | Xbox Series X: 400+ games (Game Pass)
PlayStation 5: 2 generations | Xbox Series X: 4 generations (Xbox to Series X)
PlayStation 5: 6-8 major titles | Xbox Series X: 3-4 major titles
PlayStation 5: Advanced haptic feedback + adaptive triggers | Xbox Series X: Standard vibration
PlayStation 5: 60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS | Xbox Series X: 60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS
PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s | Xbox Series X: 2.4 GB/s
PlayStation 5: Hardware-accelerated, full support | Xbox Series X: Hardware-accelerated, full support
PlayStation 5: 18 major exclusives | Xbox Series X: 8 major exclusives
PlayStation 5: $9.99/month (PlayStation Plus Essential) | Xbox Series X: $10.99/month (Game Pass Core)
PlayStation 5: $599.99 | Xbox Series X: $599.99
PlayStation 5: 825 GB/s | Xbox Series X: 560 GB/s
PlayStation 5: 16GB GDDR6 | Xbox Series X: 16GB
PlayStation 5: 750+ titles (PlayStation Plus tiers) | Xbox Series X: 500+ titles (Game Pass Ultimate)
PlayStation 5: Baseline | Xbox Series X: 16.7% more powerful
PlayStation 5: Baseline | Xbox Series X: 10% faster
PlayStation 5: 30% faster custom SSD | Xbox Series X: Standard speed
PlayStation 5: $499 | Xbox Series X: $499
PlayStation 5: 6 years of custom optimization | Xbox Series X: Current generation (4 years optimized)
PlayStation 5: Limited PS4 backward compatibility | Xbox Series X: Xbox One, Xbox 360, Original Xbox titles
PlayStation 5: Yes, 4K/60FPS capable | Xbox Series X: Yes, 4K/60FPS standard
PlayStation 5: Select PS4 titles only (1 generation) | Xbox Series X: 4 generations (Xbox One, 360, Original, Series)
PlayStation 5: Custom SSD (faster) | Xbox Series X: Standard SSD
PlayStation 5: Native 4K capable | Xbox Series X: Yes, standard
PlayStation 5: Limited | Xbox Series X: Extensive (4+ generations of Xbox titles)
PlayStation 5: Closes gap through optimization | Xbox Series X: Consistent 4-8% performance advantage on cross-platform titles
PlayStation 5: 6 years of proven optimization techniques | Xbox Series X: Current generation optimization
PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz variable | Xbox Series X: 3.8 GHz (7-core Zen 2)
PlayStation 5: $649.99 | Xbox Series X: $649.99
PlayStation 5: $599.99 | Xbox Series X: Not available
PlayStation 5: 599.99 | Xbox Series X: 649.99
PlayStation 5: 519.99 | Xbox Series X: 499.99
PlayStation 5: 4K/1080p | Xbox Series X: 4K/1440p
PlayStation 5: Good (PS4/PS3 select) | Xbox Series X: Extensive (4 generations)
PlayStation 5: 90.20 | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 10.28 | Xbox Series X: 12.15
PlayStation 5: 825 | Xbox Series X: 1000
PlayStation 5: Not disclosed | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: $499 | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: Home Console Only | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: Estimated 70+ | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: God of War, Spider-Man, Gran Turismo, Returnal | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s (custom optimized) | Xbox Series X: 2.4 GB/s
PlayStation 5: 15-20 PS Plus tier | Xbox Series X: 100+ annually
PlayStation 5: 120 fps (capable) | Xbox Series X: 60 fps (targeted)
PlayStation 5: Behind by 6.39M | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: None (stationary) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 120Hz at 4K | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: Precision 3D Audio (evolved) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: Advanced adaptive triggers | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 16GB GDDR6 | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 3840x2160 (4K) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: $499-$549 | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 72.5% | Xbox Series X: 38%
PlayStation 5: Stable native 4K | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: Baseline (100%) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 16GB GDDR6 | Xbox Series X: 16GB GDDR6
PlayStation 5: 120fps (PS5 Pro) | Xbox Series X: 120fps native
PlayStation 5: $499.99 | Xbox Series X: $599.99
PlayStation 5: Slightly lower frame consistency | Xbox Series X: Outperforms PS5 Pro
PlayStation 5: Yes - DualSense haptic triggers | Xbox Series X: No - standard vibration only
PlayStation 5: PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium | Xbox Series X: Game Pass (400+ games, day-one releases)
PlayStation 5: 5,500 MB/s | Xbox Series X: 2,560 MB/s
PlayStation 5: 825 GB | Xbox Series X: 1,000 GB
PlayStation 5: 16 GB GDDR6 | Xbox Series X: 16 GB (10 GDDR6 + 6 DDR5)
PlayStation 5: 120 fps | Xbox Series X: 120 fps
PlayStation 5: 40+ exclusives | Xbox Series X: 25+ exclusives
PlayStation 5: Limited (PlayStation Plus Extra tier) | Xbox Series X: 500+ (Xbox Game Pass)
PlayStation 5: 4K (3840x2160) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 120 fps at 4K | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: ~2,000 PS5 optimized | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: No (requires TV and power outlet) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K (2160p) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 5-10 seconds | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: ~500 PS5-exclusive/optimized | Xbox Series X: 200+ exclusive
PlayStation 5: 5-15% typical | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: $80 (PlayStation Plus Extra) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 4K/60fps or 1440p/120fps | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 5 minutes (unbox, connect, play) | Xbox Series X: 10 minutes
PlayStation 5: ~15% of multiplayer titles | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 60 FPS | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 500+ AAA titles | Xbox Series X: 500+ Game Pass day-one exclusives
PlayStation 5: $70/year (PlayStation Plus) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 10 GB (unified architecture) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 30 minutes | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 40+ (God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon) | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz | Xbox Series X: 3.8 GHz
PlayStation 5: 825 GB (usable) | Xbox Series X: 1000GB usable
PlayStation 5: 16 GB GDDR6 | Xbox Series X: 16 GB GDDR6
PlayStation 5: No equivalent (PlayStation Plus Extra $18.99/month) | Xbox Series X: $17.99/month
PlayStation 5: 42 major exclusives | Xbox Series X: N/A
PlayStation 5: 150+ exclusives | Xbox Series X: 47 exclusives
PlayStation 5: 110+ million | Xbox Series X: 25 million
PlayStation 5: 110W typical | Xbox Series X: 180W typical
PlayStation 5: $17.99 (PS Plus Premium) | Xbox Series X: $16.99 (Game Pass Ultimate)
PlayStation 5: 700+ (PS Plus Premium) | Xbox Series X: 500+ (Game Pass)
PlayStation 5: $499.99 | Xbox Series X: $499.99
PlayStation 5: 4,500+ PS4 games (99%) | Xbox Series X: 6,000+ (Xbox One, 360, OG Xbox)
PlayStation 5: 0.8 seconds | Xbox Series X: 1.2 seconds
PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS | Xbox Series X: 12 TFLOPS
PlayStation 5: 50 million | Xbox Series X: 25 million
PlayStation 5: 4K 120Hz | Xbox Series X: 4K 120Hz
PlayStation 5: 12 major exclusives | Xbox Series X: 8 major exclusives
PlayStation 5: 168 games | Xbox Series X: 156 games
PlayStation 5: $180 | Xbox Series X: $220
PlayStation 5: 600 (PS Plus Premium) | Xbox Series X: 500 (Game Pass Ultimate)
PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz (variable frequency) | Xbox Series X: 3.8 GHz (fixed frequency)
Average Game Load Time (Major AAA Titles)
PlayStation 5: ~3.2 seconds | Xbox Series X: ~4.8 seconds
PlayStation 5: Variable scaling, 40-60fps typical | Xbox Series X: Consistent 50-65fps with fixed architecture
PlayStation 5: 47 major exclusives | Xbox Series X: 28 major exclusives
PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz (variable) | Xbox Series X: 3.8 GHz
PlayStation 5: 825GB SSD | Xbox Series X: 1000GB SSD
PlayStation 5: 4K @ 120fps (select titles) | Xbox Series X: 4K @ 120fps (select titles)
PlayStation 5: 280+ (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium) | Xbox Series X: 400+ (Game Pass Ultimate)
PlayStation 5: 296 exclusives | Xbox Series X: 139 exclusives
PlayStation 5: 0.8-2.0 seconds | Xbox Series X: 1.5-2.5 seconds
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: $499
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: AMD Zen 2 (8-core at 3.8GHz)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 12 TFLOPs
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 10GB GDDR6
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4K at 60fps native
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 2020
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: RDNA 2 (Current-gen)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 60 FPS at 4K
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: WiFi 7
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: $599.99
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 3328 shading units
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 320-bit interface
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4K / 60fps
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 3500+ titles
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Baseline (100%)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: £449.99
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 1000GB
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Yes, native 4K/60fps
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Can keep up with PS5 Pro in some instances
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 300+
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 3 major exclusives
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 8 major titles
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 400+ (Game Pass)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 52 CUs equivalent (12 TFLOPS)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 10x faster SSD (vs PS4)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Baseline stable performance
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4K/60FPS confirmed (Replaced)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: No thermal issues reported
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Requires external TV (typically 43-85 inches)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 3840 x 2160 (4K)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 120 Hz
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: N/A (mains powered)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4.45 kg (with stand)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 450+ Game Pass + digital store
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4K (2160p)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 1000 GB
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4K Blu-ray disc drive
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4K @ 60 FPS (Replaced)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Up to 4K (2160p) @ 120Hz
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: $499 (standard)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 448 GB/s
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: ~50 major exclusives
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Standard FSR/DLSS support
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: $500
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 60 FPS (native optimized)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: $180/year (Game Pass Ultimate)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4,250g (requires desk/TV mount)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: N/A (not portable)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 150+ exclusives
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4K @ 120fps
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 500+ Xbox/360 games
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Standard ray tracing
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: No, stationary only
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 120 fps
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 25+ million
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 8 cores (custom x86)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 500+
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 400+
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 28+ Million
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 12 TFLOPS
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: AMD Zen 2, 8 cores @ 3.8 GHz
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 1 TB NVMe SSD (proprietary expansion)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: $499 (with disc drive)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: UHD Blu-ray included
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Hardware ray tracing (AMD)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 1.2-1.8s
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4K/60fps typical
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4 major exclusives
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Standard implementation
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 30+ exclusive franchises
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 10+ simultaneous
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 800+
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 16 GB
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 28 million
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 6 years (released Nov 2020)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 500+ optimized for Series X
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Current Generation (5+ years)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4K (2160p) at 120fps
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 3840x2160 (4K)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 2250GB (expansion card)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 0 hours (requires power outlet)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 500+ fully optimized
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 2560 MB/s
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 0.5-2 seconds
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 95%+ across 4 generations
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: Standard vibration, impulse triggers
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4 years (2020-present)
PlayStation 5: N/A | Xbox Series X: 4+ (Halo, Forza, Gears, Starfield)
How to choose between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Performance Comparison 2026 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for PS5 vs Xbox Series X Performance Comparison 2026. Contains 271 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X Performance Comparison 2026 — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for PS5 vs Xbox Series X Performance Comparison 2026.
Which console is actually more powerful in 2026?
Xbox Series X edges out PS5 in raw GPU power (12 vs 10.28 TFLOPS) and fixed CPU frequency (3.8 vs 3.5 GHz), but real-world performance difference is negligible—both target 60fps at 4K in most 2026 titles. PS5's custom architecture and faster SSD (5,500 vs 2,400 MB/s) often provide faster load times. Frame rate comparisons show Xbox averaging 90-92% hitting 60fps while PS5 hits 92%, essentially tied.
Is Game Pass worth it compared to PS Plus?
Game Pass Ultimate ($16.99/mo) offers significantly better value: 500+ games including 28 day-one Microsoft exclusives monthly, compared to PS Plus Premium ($17.99/mo) with fewer day-one titles but stronger classic games. Xbox Game Pass adds 15-20 titles monthly; PS Plus adds 3-4. For $1 less monthly, Game Pass provides 10x more new games on average, making it superior for subscription value.
Which has better exclusive games in 2026?
PlayStation 5 has released 47 major exclusives (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Spider-Man 2, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Sackboy Astro's Playroom 2) versus Xbox's 28 major exclusives. PS5's exclusive library generates 34% higher average Metacritic scores (81 vs 77 for exclusives). However, Xbox Game Pass's breadth compensates for fewer exclusives by offering 500+ titles total.
How much faster is PS5's SSD compared to Xbox Series X?
PS5's custom SSD reads at 5,500 MB/s while Xbox Series X's expansion reads at 2,400 MB/s—PS5 is 2.3x faster. This translates to real-world load time difference: PS5 loads major AAA titles in ~3.2 seconds versus Xbox's ~4.8 seconds. However, NVMe expansion for Xbox improved this gap; internal Xbox SSD is still 2,400 MB/s versus PS5's 5,500 MB/s advantage.
Should I buy PS5 or Xbox Series X in 2026?
Buy PS5 if you prioritize exclusive story franchises, haptic controller immersion, and SSD speed. Buy Xbox Series X if you want Game Pass's unbeatable subscription value, backward compatibility depth (5,000+ games), or PC Game Pass integration. Performance-wise they're equivalent; your choice depends on ecosystem preference and game library priorities.
How to Choose Between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X
Consider: Exclusive Game Library Quality (2026)
Exclusive Game Library Quality (2026): PlayStation 5 has Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Spider-Man 2, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, while Xbox Series X has Starfield, Halo Infinite, Forza Motorsport.
Game Pass Value: PlayStation 5 has $17.99/mo (Premium tier required for day-one exclusives), while Xbox Series X has $16.99/mo (Game Pass Ultimate includes 500+ day-one titles).
Consider: Backward Compatibility Coverage
Backward Compatibility Coverage: PlayStation 5 has ~99% of PS4 library (~4,000 titles playable), while Xbox Series X has ~98% of Xbox One/X/S library + 700+ original Xbox/360 titles (5,000+ total).
Consider: Average Frame Rate (Optimized AAA Games 2026)
Average Frame Rate (Optimized AAA Games 2026): PlayStation 5 has 92% achieve 60fps, 62% achieve 120fps at 1440p, while Xbox Series X has 90% achieve 60fps, 58% achieve 120fps at 1440p.
Consider: Storage Expansion Speed (MB/s)
Storage Expansion Speed (MB/s): PlayStation 5 has 5,500 MB/s (proprietary SSD, ~$70 per 825GB), while Xbox Series X has 2,400 MB/s (Seagate expansion, ~$220 per 1TB).
Controller Innovation: PlayStation 5 has DualSense haptic feedback & adaptive triggers (industry-leading precision), while Xbox Series X has Xbox Elite Series 2 customization + standard controller (reliable, less innovation).
Total Installed Base (2026): PlayStation 5 has 42 million units sold, while Xbox Series X has 31 million units sold.