Xbox Series X offers superior raw processing power (12 TFLOPS vs 10.28 TFLOPS) and Game Pass's 500+ game library, while PS5 leads with exclusive AAA franchises (God of War, Final Fantasy) and a larger active player base of 50+ million users.
Xbox Series X vs PlayStation 5 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Microsoft's flagship console with 12 TFLOPS GPU power and Game Pass ecosystem
Sony's console featuring 10.28 TFLOPS GPU with industry-leading exclusive game library
GPU Performance. Exclusive Game Titles (Major). Game Pass Subscription Library. Active Player Base. Storage Expansion Cost. Backward Compatibility. Current Retail Price
Choose Xbox Series X if you prioritize Game Pass's unbeatable value, cloud gaming convenience, and backward compatibility—Microsoft's subscription service is the best value in gaming with 500+ day-one titles. Choose PS5 if you want the industry's strongest exclusive franchises, a larger multiplayer community, and a more affordable storage upgrade path—Sony's first-party studios deliver the most critically acclaimed AAA experiences.
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: 2,400 MB/s | PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s
Xbox Series X: 27.5% | PlayStation 5: 72.5%
Xbox Series X: $17.99/month | PlayStation 5: No equivalent (PlayStation Plus Extra $18.99/month)
Xbox Series X: Quietest gaming console ever made | PlayStation 5: Standard noise levels
Xbox Series X: 2 (Standard & All-Digital) | PlayStation 5: 3 (Standard, Digital, Slim)
Xbox Series X: -2.9% | PlayStation 5: +2.9%
Xbox Series X: ~98% Xbox One compatible | PlayStation 5: ~95% PS4 compatible
Xbox Series X: $180/year (Game Pass Ultimate) | PlayStation 5: $120/year (PS Plus Premium)
Xbox Series X: 15 | PlayStation 5: 12+ major exclusives
Xbox Series X: No major announcement | PlayStation 5: PSSR2 AI upscaling (2026, free)
Standard Console Launch Price (MSRP 2026)
Xbox Series X: $499 (Xbox Series X) | PlayStation 5: $499 (PS5 Standard)
Xbox Series X: 16GB | PlayStation 5: 16GB GDDR6
Xbox Series X: 4K (2160p) at 120fps | PlayStation 5: 4K (2160p) at 120fps
Xbox Series X: PCIe Gen 4 NVME | PlayStation 5: Custom ultra-fast SSD (faster)
Xbox Series X: 500+ games included | PlayStation 5: 400+ games (PS Plus Extra)
Xbox Series X: 25 million units | PlayStation 5: 40 million units
Xbox Series X: 4 generations (Xbox original to Series) | PlayStation 5: 2-3 generations (PS2-PS4 selective)
Xbox Series X: 16 GB (10 GDDR6 + 6 DDR5) | PlayStation 5: 16 GB GDDR6
Xbox Series X: 60 FPS at 4K | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: WiFi 7 | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 34.43 million | PlayStation 5: 91.04 million
Xbox Series X: 27.4% | PlayStation 5: 72.6%
Xbox Series X: 120 fps | PlayStation 5: 60-120 fps (PS5 Pro exceeds)
Xbox Series X: Forza, Starfield, Game Pass exclusives | PlayStation 5: Horizon: Zenith Chronicles, Ghost of Tsushima: Revelations, Marvel titles
Xbox Series X: 4000+ with enhancements | PlayStation 5: 8700 (limited enhancement)
Xbox Series X: $220 per 1TB | PlayStation 5: $90 per 1TB
Xbox Series X: $11.99/month | PlayStation 5: PlayStation Plus: $9.99-$17.99
Xbox Series X: 16GB GDDR6 | PlayStation 5: 16GB GDDR6
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: 16.7 TFLOPS | PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS
Xbox Series X: 3-4 major titles | PlayStation 5: 6-8 major titles
Xbox Series X: Standard vibration | PlayStation 5: Advanced haptic feedback + adaptive triggers
Xbox Series X: 60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS | PlayStation 5: 60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS
Xbox Series X: 2.4 GB/s | PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s
Xbox Series X: Hardware-accelerated, full support | PlayStation 5: Hardware-accelerated, full support
Xbox Series X: 8 major exclusives | PlayStation 5: 18 major exclusives
Xbox Series X: $10.99/month (Game Pass Core) | PlayStation 5: $9.99/month (PlayStation Plus Essential)
Xbox Series X: $599.99 | PlayStation 5: $599.99
Xbox Series X: 560 GB/s | PlayStation 5: 825 GB/s
Xbox Series X: 500+ titles (Game Pass Ultimate) | PlayStation 5: 750+ titles (PlayStation Plus tiers)
Xbox Series X: No - standard vibration only | PlayStation 5: Yes - DualSense haptic triggers
Xbox Series X: 16.7% more powerful | PlayStation 5: Baseline
Xbox Series X: 10% faster | PlayStation 5: Baseline
Xbox Series X: Standard speed | PlayStation 5: 30% faster custom SSD
Xbox Series X: $499 | PlayStation 5: $499
Xbox Series X: Current generation (4 years optimized) | PlayStation 5: 6 years of custom optimization
Xbox Series X: Xbox One, Xbox 360, Original Xbox titles | PlayStation 5: Limited PS4 backward compatibility
Xbox Series X: Yes, 4K/60FPS standard | PlayStation 5: Yes, 4K/60FPS capable
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: 4 generations (Xbox One, 360, Original, Series) | PlayStation 5: Select PS4 titles only (1 generation)
Xbox Series X: 300+ | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 3 major exclusives | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard SSD | PlayStation 5: Custom SSD (faster)
Xbox Series X: Extensive (4+ generations of Xbox titles) | PlayStation 5: Limited
Xbox Series X: Consistent 4-8% performance advantage on cross-platform titles | PlayStation 5: Closes gap through optimization
Xbox Series X: Current generation optimization | PlayStation 5: 6 years of proven optimization techniques
Xbox Series X: $649.99 | PlayStation 5: $649.99
Xbox Series X: Not available | PlayStation 5: $599.99
Xbox Series X: 12.15 | PlayStation 5: 10.28
Xbox Series X: 1000 | PlayStation 5: 825
Xbox Series X: 649.99 | PlayStation 5: 599.99
Xbox Series X: 499.99 | PlayStation 5: 519.99
Xbox Series X: 4K/1440p | PlayStation 5: 4K/1080p
Xbox Series X: Extensive (4 generations) | PlayStation 5: Good (PS4/PS3 select)
Xbox Series X: 2.4 GB/s | PlayStation 5: 5.5 GB/s (custom optimized)
Xbox Series X: 6,000+ (Xbox One, 360, OG Xbox) | PlayStation 5: 4,500+ PS4 games (99%)
Xbox Series X: 100+ annually | PlayStation 5: 15-20 PS Plus tier
Xbox Series X: 60 fps (targeted) | PlayStation 5: 120 fps (capable)
Xbox Series X: 8 major titles | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 400+ (Game Pass) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 38% | PlayStation 5: 72.5%
Xbox Series X: Yes, standard | PlayStation 5: Native 4K capable
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: 4 generations (Xbox to Series X) | PlayStation 5: 2 generations
Xbox Series X: No thermal issues reported | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 1000GB usable | PlayStation 5: 825 GB (usable)
Xbox Series X: 120fps native | PlayStation 5: 120fps (PS5 Pro)
Xbox Series X: $599.99 | PlayStation 5: $499.99
Xbox Series X: Outperforms PS5 Pro | PlayStation 5: Slightly lower frame consistency
Xbox Series X: Game Pass (400+ games, day-one releases) | PlayStation 5: PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium
Xbox Series X: 2,560 MB/s | PlayStation 5: 5,500 MB/s
Xbox Series X: 1,000 GB | PlayStation 5: 825 GB
Xbox Series X: 120 fps | PlayStation 5: 120 fps
Xbox Series X: 25+ exclusives | PlayStation 5: 40+ exclusives
Xbox Series X: 500+ (Xbox Game Pass) | PlayStation 5: Limited (PlayStation Plus Extra tier)
Xbox Series X: External (up to 65"+ via HDMI) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K (3840 x 2160) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 120 Hz | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: N/A (plugged in) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 9.4 lbs | 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: 8 | PlayStation 5: 8 cores @ 3.5 GHz
Xbox Series X: Up to 4K (2160p) @ 120Hz | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 16 GB GDDR6 | PlayStation 5: 16 GB GDDR6
Xbox Series X: $499 (standard) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ Game Pass day-one exclusives | PlayStation 5: 500+ AAA titles
Xbox Series X: 448 GB/s | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 85% (3+ generations of titles) | 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: 200+ exclusive | PlayStation 5: ~500 PS5-exclusive/optimized
Xbox Series X: 10 minutes | PlayStation 5: 5 minutes (unbox, connect, play)
Xbox Series X: 4K (2160p) @ 120fps | PlayStation 5: 4K @ 120fps
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: 3.8 GHz (7-core Zen 2) | PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz variable
Xbox Series X: 4K @ 120fps | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ (Game Pass) | PlayStation 5: 700+ (PS Plus Premium)
Xbox Series X: 500+ Xbox/360 games | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: Standard ray tracing | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 12 TFLOPS | PlayStation 5: 10.28 TFLOPS
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: 1000 | PlayStation 5: 825 GB usable
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: 4K/120fps | 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: 3.8 GHz | PlayStation 5: 3.5 GHz
Xbox Series X: 1000 GB SSD | PlayStation 5: 825 GB SSD
Xbox Series X: 500+ games | PlayStation 5: 400 games (PS Plus Extra)
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: 12 | PlayStation 5: 10.28
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: 10.7 TFLOPS (Zen 2 architecture) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 500+ optimized for Series X | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 47 exclusives | PlayStation 5: 150+ exclusives
Xbox Series X: 25 million | PlayStation 5: 110+ million
Xbox Series X: 180W typical | PlayStation 5: 110W typical
Xbox Series X: $16.99 (Game Pass Ultimate) | PlayStation 5: $17.99 (PS Plus Premium)
Xbox Series X: $499.99 | PlayStation 5: $499.99
Xbox Series X: 1.2 seconds | PlayStation 5: 0.8 seconds
Xbox Series X: Current Generation (5+ years) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 4K (3840x2160) | PlayStation 5: N/A
Xbox Series X: 25 million | PlayStation 5: 50 million
Xbox Series X: 4K 120Hz | PlayStation 5: 4K 120Hz
Xbox Series X: 8 major exclusives | PlayStation 5: 12 major exclusives
Xbox Series X: 156 games | PlayStation 5: 168 games
Xbox Series X: $220 | PlayStation 5: $180
Xbox Series X: 500 (Game Pass Ultimate) | PlayStation 5: 600 (PS Plus Premium)
Xbox Series X: N/A | PlayStation 5: 90.20
Xbox Series X: N/A | 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: 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: Stable native 4K
Xbox Series X: N/A | PlayStation 5: Baseline (100%)
Xbox Series X: N/A | 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: 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: ~15% of multiplayer titles
Xbox Series X: N/A | PlayStation 5: 60 FPS
Xbox Series X: N/A | 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: 42 major exclusives
How to choose between Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X vs PlayStation 5 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Xbox Series X vs PlayStation 5. Contains 253 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Xbox Series X vs PlayStation 5 — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Xbox Series X vs PlayStation 5.
Xbox Series X has superior raw GPU performance at 12 TFLOPS vs PS5's 10.28 TFLOPS (16.5% advantage). However, real-world gaming performance is nearly identical—both deliver 4K 120Hz—due to optimized development and Sony's custom CPU architecture. The performance difference rarely translates to visible FPS improvements in actual gameplay.
Is Game Pass worth it compared to PlayStation Plus?
Game Pass ($17/month for Ultimate) includes 500+ games with day-one AAA releases and cloud gaming access, making it exceptional value. PlayStation Plus Extra ($11.99/month) offers 400 games but typically excludes new Sony exclusives for 6-12 months after launch. For value-conscious players, Game Pass is superior; for exclusive access, PlayStation Plus Extra is the trade-off.
PlayStation 5 leads significantly with 12 major exclusive franchises (God of War, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Spider-Man 2, Astro's Play Room series) averaging 88+ Metacritic scores. Xbox Series X has 8 major exclusives (Halo Infinite: 81 Metacritic, Starfield: 83 Metacritic) and relies more on Game Pass third-party diversity. PS5's catalog is objectively more critically acclaimed for story-driven experiences.
PS5 expansion is significantly cheaper: 1TB NVMe SSD drives cost $75-$90 and use standard hardware. Xbox Series X requires proprietary Seagate Storage Expansion ($220 for 1TB), making upgrades 2.4x more expensive. If you plan storage expansion beyond 1TB, PS5 is substantially more economical.
Which console has a bigger online community?
PS5 dominates with 50 million monthly active players vs Xbox Series X's 25 million. This 2:1 advantage means larger multiplayer matchmaking pools, more active communities in franchises like Call of Duty and Fortnite, and better long-term player retention for online-focused games. Multiplayer game availability is identical, but PS5's network is substantially more populated.
How to Choose Between Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5
GPU Performance: Xbox Series X has 12 TFLOPS, while PlayStation 5 has 10.28 TFLOPS.
Exclusive Game Titles (Major): Xbox Series X has Halo Infinite, Starfield, Forza, while PlayStation 5 has God of War Ragnarök, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Spider-Man 2.
Consider: Game Pass Subscription Library
Game Pass Subscription Library: Xbox Series X has 500+ games included, while PlayStation 5 has No equivalent (PlayStation Plus Extra: 400 games).
Active Player Base: Xbox Series X has 25 million monthly active, while PlayStation 5 has 50 million monthly active.
Storage Expansion Cost: Xbox Series X has $220 for 1TB expansion card, while PlayStation 5 has $90 for 1TB NVMe SSD.
Backward Compatibility: Xbox Series X has Plays 97% of Xbox One games, while PlayStation 5 has Plays 99% of PS4 games.
Current Retail Price: Xbox Series X has $499, while PlayStation 5 has $499.