Skip to main content
gaming

Xbox Series X vs PS5 2026: Which Console Wins?

Xbox Series X offers superior raw processing power (12 TFLOPS vs 10.28 TFLOPS) and Game Pass's 700+ titles, while PS5 dominates exclusive games with Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Astro Bot, making the choice dependent on exclusive preferences and subscription value.

Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X

Microsoft's premium gaming console with 12 TFLOPS GPU and Game Pass ecosystem

Subscription service enthusiasts, Game Pass subscribers, PC gaming integrators, online multiplayer players

Score63%
VS
PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5

Sony's next-gen console with 10.28 TFLOPS GPU, exclusive story-driven games, and DualSense haptics

Exclusive story-driven game fans, Japanese RPG enthusiasts, PlayStation franchise loyalists, players who value haptic immersion

Score63%

Quick Answer

AI Summary

Xbox Series X offers superior raw processing power (12 TFLOPS vs 10.28 TFLOPS) and Game Pass's 700+ titles, while PS5 dominates exclusive games with Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Astro Bot, making the choice dependent on exclusive preferences and subscription value.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Choose Xbox Series X if you prioritize value through Game Pass, want day-one access to Microsoft exclusives, and prefer online multiplayer gaming—the subscription service justifies the investment for most players. Choose PlayStation 5 if you're a fan of narrative-driven single-player exclusives, need a more affordable storage upgrade path, and appreciate cutting-edge haptic controller technology.

Community feedback

Was this verdict helpful?

Xbox Series X
7/10
PlayStation 5
8/10
Xbox Series X

Choose Xbox Series X if

Subscription service enthusiasts, Game Pass subscribers, PC gaming integrators, online multiplayer players

PlayStation 5

Choose PlayStation 5 if

Best pick

Exclusive story-driven game fans, Japanese RPG enthusiasts, PlayStation franchise loyalists, players who value haptic immersion

Track this comparison

Get notified when prices change, new specs ship, or our verdict updates.

Triggers: price change new spec verdict update

No spam. Stop anytime.

Key Differences at a Glance

  • GPU Performance (TFLOPS):Xbox Series X wins(12 TFLOPS vs 10.28 TFLOPS)
  • Exclusive Games (Major 2024-2026 Releases):PlayStation 5 wins(Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Astro Bot, Dragon Age Veilguard vs Starfield, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed)
  • Game Pass Library Size (2026):Xbox Series X wins(700+ games included vs 70+ games in PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

236 numeric metrics compared

MetricXbox Series XPlayStation 5Ratio
SSD Speed(GB/s)2.4
Price(USD)$499
GPU Compute Performance(TFLOPs)12 TFLOPs
System Memory(GB)10GB GDDR6
Exclusive Titles Count(games)80+ exclusives150+ exclusives
Release Year2020
Game Pass Console Tier Price(USD/month)$11.99$11.99
Storage Load Times (Average)(seconds)1.2 seconds0.8 seconds
AAA Exclusive Releases (2024-2026)(titles)18 AAA exclusives26 AAA exclusives
Market Share (January 2026)(percent)27.5%72.5%
Game Pass Ultimate Monthly Cost(USD)$17.99/monthNo equivalent (PlayStation Plus Extra $18.99/month)
Available SKUs(count)2 (Standard & All-Digital)3 (Standard, Digital, Slim)
Year-over-Year Market Share Change(percentage points)-2.9%+2.9%
Backward Compatibility Rate(%)~98% Xbox One compatible~95% PS4 compatible
Annual Subscription Cost (Premium Tier)(USD)$180/year (Game Pass Ultimate)$120/year (PS Plus Premium)
Standard Console Launch Price (MSRP 2026)(USD)$499 (Xbox Series X)$499 (PS5 Standard)
RAM Memory(GB)16GB16GB GDDR6
Game Pass Subscription Games(games)500+ games250+ games (PS Plus Extra)
Global Sales (2026)(millions)25 million units40 million units
RAM (Total)(GB)16 GB (10 GDDR6 + 6 DDR5)16 GB GDDR6
Target Frame Rate (AAA Games)(FPS)60 FPS at 4K
Console Launch Year(year)2020
Global Units Sold (64 months)(millions)34.43 million91.04 million
Market Share Percentage(%)27.4%72.6%
Maximum Native 4K Gaming FPS(fps)120 fps60-120 fps (PS5 Pro exceeds)
Backward Compatible Games(games)2000+ (XB1/360/OG)10+ (PS4 select titles)
Storage Expansion Cost(USD)$220 per 1TB$90 per 1TB
Game Pass Monthly Cost(USD)$16.99$9.99
RAM Capacity(GB)16GB GDDR616GB GDDR6
Digital Edition Price(USD)$599.99
Shading Units(count)3328 shading units
Memory Interface(bit)320-bit interface
Standard 4K Gaming Target(fps)4K / 60fps
Game Pass Titles(count)3500+ titles
GPU Rendering Improvement(percent faster)Baseline (100%)
GPU Power(TFLOPS)16.7 TFLOPS10.28 TFLOPS
Native 4K Performance Target(FPS)60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS
SSD Storage Speed(GB/s)2.4 GB/s5.5 GB/s
2026 Exclusive Titles Available(games)8 major exclusives18 major exclusives
Market Share 2026(%)27.5%72.5%
Game Pass Value (Monthly Cost)(USD)$10.99/month (Game Pass Core)$9.99/month (PlayStation Plus Essential)
Digital Console Price (USD)(USD)$599.99$599.99
SSD Transfer Speed(GB/s)560 GB/s825 GB/s
Game Pass/Plus Library Size(titles)500+ titles (Game Pass Ultimate)750+ titles (PlayStation Plus tiers)
Year-over-Year Sales Growth(%)-2.9%+2.9%
GPU Performance Advantage(percent)16.7% more powerfulBaseline
CPU Performance Advantage(%)10% fasterBaseline
SSD Load Time Advantage(percent)Standard speed30% faster custom SSD
Launch Price (2026 MSRP)(USD)$499$499
Years of Optimization(years)Current generation (4 years optimized)6 years of custom optimization
Base Model Price (USD)(USD)$499$499
Digital Edition Price (USD)(USD)$599.99
Digital Edition Price (GBP)(GBP)£449.99
Built-in SSD Storage(GB)1000GB
Game Pass Titles at Launch(games)300+
Major Exclusive Titles (2024-2026)(titles)3 major exclusives
Launch MSRP (2026)(USD)$499$499
Exclusive Game Optimization Maturity(years)Current generation optimization6 years of proven optimization techniques
Standard Edition Price (USD, 2026)(USD)$649.99$649.99
Digital Edition Price (USD, 2026)(USD)Not available$599.99
Global Market Share(%)27.5%72.5%
GPU Performance(teraflops)12.1510.28
Storage Capacity(GB)1000825
Standard Price (USD)($)649.99599.99
Standard Price (GBP)(£)499.99519.99
GPU Compute Units(units)5236
Exclusive Franchises (as of 2026)(count)10+20+
SSD Speed (Raw)(GB/s)2.4 GB/s5.5 GB/s (custom optimized)
Game Pass Day-1 Titles (Annual)(games)100+ annually15-20 PS Plus tier
Native 4K Maximum Frame Rate(fps)60 fps (targeted)120 fps (capable)
Launch Price(USD)$499
Exclusive Major Games (2026)(titles)8 major titles
Game Pass / Service Library(games)400+ (Game Pass)
Market Share(percent)38%72.5%
GPU Compute Units(CUs)52 CUs equivalent (12 TFLOPS)
Memory Bandwidth Performance(% improvement)10x faster SSD (vs PS4)
Native 4K Performance(FPS)4K/60FPS confirmed (Replaced)
Backward Compatibility Generations(generations)4 generations (Xbox to Series X)2 generations
Launch Year(year)2020
Standard Storage(GB)1000GB usable825 GB (usable)
Max 4K Gaming(fps)120fps native120fps (PS5 Pro)
Base Console Price (2026)(USD)$599.99$499.99
Storage Read Speed(GB/s)2,560 MB/s5,500 MB/s
Standard Storage Capacity(GB)1,000 GB825 GB
Base Model MSRP (2026)(USD)$499$499
Maximum Native 4K Resolution(fps)120 fps120 fps
Exclusive Games Available (2026)(titles)25+ exclusives40+ exclusives
Game Pass Included Games(titles)500+ (Xbox Game Pass)Limited (PlayStation Plus Extra tier)
Refresh Rate Capability(Hz)120 Hz
Weight(lbs)4.45 kg
Available Game Library(titles)450+ Game Pass + digital store
Internal SSD Storage(GB)1,000GB
Launch Price (2020)(USD)$499
RAM(GB)16 GB GDDR616 GB GDDR6
Launch Price (2026 USD)(USD)$499 (standard)
Memory Bandwidth(GB/s)448 GB/s
Exclusive AAA Game Titles(count)~50 major exclusives
Base System Price(USD)$500
4K Gaming Performance(FPS)60 FPS (native optimized)
Game Library Size(games)200+ exclusive~500 PS5-exclusive/optimized
Setup Time(minutes)10 minutes5 minutes (unbox, connect, play)
Maximum Refresh Rate(Hz)120 Hz
Annual Online Subscription Cost(USD)$180/year (Game Pass Ultimate)
Weight (Console Only)(grams)4,250g (requires desk/TV mount)
Exclusive Game Titles(games)150+ exclusives
CPU Speed(GHz)3.8 GHz (7-core Zen 2)3.5 GHz variable
Launch Price (MSRP)(USD)$499$499
Game Pass/Subscription Library Size(games)500+ (Game Pass)700+ (PS Plus Premium)
Backward Compatibility Titles(games)500+ Xbox/360 games
Maximum Refresh Rate (Supported)(fps)120 fps
Lifetime Unit Sales (as of 2026)(millions)25+ million
MSRP at Launch (2020)(USD)$499
CPU Core Count(cores)8 cores (custom x86)
Storage Capacity(GB)1000 GB (1TB expandable)825 GB (proprietary SSD)
Current Retail Price(USD)$499$499
Available Exclusive Titles (Current)(Games)500+
Game Pass Subscription Size(Titles)400+
Active User Base(millions)28+ Million
GPU Performance(TFLOPS)12 TFLOPS
Storage(TB)1 TB NVMe SSD (proprietary expansion)
Price (USD)(USD)$499 (with disc drive)
Game Pass Titles (2026)(games)400+
Exclusive AAA Releases (2025-2026)(titles)8+
Native 4K/120fps Capable Games(titles)35+
Load Times (Average)(seconds)1.2-1.8s
4K Gaming Performance (AAA Titles)(fps)4K/60fps typical
Ray Tracing Performance(% improvement)Standard ray tracing
Available Exclusive AAA Titles (2025)(count)4 major exclusives
CPU Clock Speed(GHz)3.8GHz3.5 GHz
Game Pass Library Size(titles)700+ games400 games (PS Plus Extra)
Ray Tracing Performance Boost(x times faster)Standard implementation
Exclusive Franchises(Number)30+ exclusive franchises
Quick Resume Suspended Games(Concurrent games)10+ simultaneous
Available Games Library(titles)800+
Game Pass Subscribers(millions)28 million
Years Since Launch(years)6 years (released Nov 2020)
GPU Processing Power(TFLOPS)12 TFLOPS10.28 TFLOPS
Internal Storage Capacity(GB)802GB usable (1TB total)825GB SSD
SSD Read Speed(GB/s)2.4 GB/s5.5 GB/s
Launch Price (Original MSRP)(USD)$499.99
Storage Expansion Cost (1TB)(USD)$219.99
Global Sales (Lifetime)(Million Units)21+ million units
Game Pass Subscription Cost (Monthly)(USD)$16.99 (Game Pass Ultimate)
Exclusive AAA Titles Available(Games)8+ flagship exclusives
CPU Performance(CPU cores)3.8 GHz (fixed frequency)3.5 GHz (variable frequency)
Current Market Price(USD)$499
Game Library Size (Optimized)(titles)500+ optimized for Series X
SSD Read Speed (Raw)(GB/s)2.4 GB/s5.5 GB/s raw (22 GB/s effective)
Exclusive Game Library(titles)47 exclusives150+ exclusives
Installed Base (2026)(millions)25 million110+ million
Power Consumption(Watts)180W typical110W typical
Console Price(USD)$499$499
Subscription Service Cost(USD/month)$16.99 (Game Pass Ultimate)$17.99 (PS Plus Premium)
Console Launch Price (Standard Model)(USD)$499.99$499.99
SSD Load Time (Average)(seconds)1.2 seconds0.8 seconds
GPU Performance (Theoretical)(TFLOPS)12
MSRP Launch Price(USD)499
Monthly Active Player Base(millions)25 million50 million
PS/Xbox Exclusive AAA Titles(major franchises)8 major exclusives12 major exclusives
Native 4K 60fps Games(game count)156 games168 games
Exclusive AAA Games (2024-2026)(titles)3590
Storage Expansion Cost per TB(USD)$180$180
Subscription Service Game Count(games)500 (Game Pass Ultimate)600 (PS Plus Premium)
Battery Life (Light Gaming)(hours)0 hours (requires power outlet)
Compatible Game Titles(titles)500+ fully optimized
Average SSD Read Speed(MB/s)2560 MB/s
Typical Game Load Time(seconds)0.5-2 seconds
Launch Price (2024)(USD)$499
Backward Compatibility Coverage(percent compatible)95%+ across 4 generations
Console Life Cycle(years)4 years (2020-present)
Game Pass Titles Included(games)300+
Exclusive Major Franchises4+ (Halo, Forza, Gears, Starfield)God of War, Spider-Man, Final Fantasy, Hogwarts Legacy
Game Pass/Plus Titles Available(titles)500+ titles
Raytracing Performance(frames per second @ 4K)30fps
Average Game Load Time (Major AAA Titles)(seconds)~4.8 seconds~3.2 seconds
Ray Tracing Performance (4K)(%)Consistent 50-65fps with fixed architectureVariable scaling, 40-60fps typical
Exclusive Launch Titles (First 3 Years)(titles)28 major exclusives47 major exclusives
CPU Processing Speed(GHz)3.8 GHz3.5 GHz (variable)
Game Pass Subscription Library(games)400+ (Game Pass Ultimate)280+ (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
Console Exclusive Titles (2026)(games)139 exclusives296 exclusives
Average Game Load Time(seconds)1.5-2.5 seconds0.8-2.0 seconds
Max Native 4K Resolution Frame Rate(fps)120 fps (variable)
Monthly Game Pass Cost(USD)$11.99 (Standard Tier)
Major Exclusive AAA Titles (2024-2026)(titles)15 exclusives
Starting Price (USD)(USD)$499
GPU Equivalent Performance (4K Gaming)(TFLOPS)12 TFLOPS
Maximum Native 4K Frame Rate(fps)60-120 fps (varies by game)
Available Game Titles(games)3,000 (Xbox native)500+ AAA titles
Setup Time to First Game(minutes)15 minutes30 minutes
Monthly Subscription Cost (Base Tier)(USD)$17/month (Game Pass)
Console Launch Price(USD)$399 (Series X)
Estimated Active Monthly Users(millions)~25 million
Maximum Frame Rate(fps)120 fps
Launch Price (USD)(USD)$499
Annual Online Subscription(USD)$60-120 (Game Pass tiers)
CPU Processor(GHz)3.8 GHz (variable)
GPU Performance(TFLOPS)12 TFLOPS10.28 TFLOPS
CPU Cores(cores)8-core custom AMD8-core custom AMD
Internal Storage(GB)1TB SSD825GB usable (1TB total)
Expansion Storage Cost(USD)$180 for 1TB$85 for 1TB
Game Pass/Plus Subscription Library(games)700+ games70+ games (Premium tier)
Backwards Compatible Games(games)500+ (Xbox One/360/OG)4,000+ PS4 games
Launch MSRP (2020)(USD)$499$499
Exclusive AAA Titles (2024-2026)(titles)3 major exclusives8+ major exclusives
CPU Processor Speed(GHz)3.8 GHz (8-core)3.5 GHz (8-core)
Average 4K Gaming Frame Rate(FPS)58-60 FPS58-60 FPS
Game Pass Monthly Subscription(USD)$16.99/month$19.99/month (Plus Premium)
Exclusive AAA Titles (2026)(count)8 major exclusives14 major exclusives
RAM (Total Memory)(GB)16 GB16 GB
Exclusive AAA Titles (2020-2026)(games)12+ major exclusives25+ major exclusives
Console Units Sold (Lifetime)(millions)34+ million120+ million
Subscription Service Cost (Annual)(USD)$180 (Game Pass Ultimate includes online + 400+ games)$80 (PS Plus Essential for online)
Game Pass Day-One Releases (Annual)(titles)15-25 Game Pass day-ones0-3 PlayStation exclusive day-ones
Global Units Sold (as of 2026)(millions)90.2090.20
Launch Price (Standard)(USD)$499$499
Sales Performance (Month 9)(units)Behind by 6.39MBehind by 6.39M
Display Refresh Rate (Max)(Hz)120Hz at 4K120Hz at 4K
VRAM (Estimated)(GB)16GB GDDR616GB GDDR6
RAM Total(GB)16GB GDDR616GB GDDR6
Retail Price (2026)(USD)$499-$549$499-$549
Physical Size Reduction vs PS5(percent smaller)Baseline (100%)Baseline (100%)
Maximum Framerate(fps)120 fps at 4K120 fps at 4K
Game Library Access(titles)~2,000 PS5 optimized~2,000 PS5 optimized
Launch Price (2026)(USD)$499$499
Average Load Time (tested games)(seconds)5-10 seconds5-10 seconds
Entry-Level Cost(USD)$499$499
Average Game Price Discount(% off)5-15% typical5-15% typical
Online Multiplayer Subscription(USD/year)$80 (PlayStation Plus Extra)$80 (PlayStation Plus Extra)
Cross-Platform Play Support(% of multiplayer games)~15% of multiplayer titles~15% of multiplayer titles
Base Purchase Price(USD)$499$499
Native 4K Gaming Performance(FPS)60 FPS60 FPS
Online Multiplayer Cost(USD/year)$70/year (PlayStation Plus)$70/year (PlayStation Plus)
GPU Memory (VRAM)(GB)10 GB (unified architecture)10 GB (unified architecture)
Exclusive AAA Franchises(franchises)40+ (God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon)40+ (God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon)
Launch Price (Original)(USD)$499$499
Maximum Framerate (Standard)(fps)120fps at 4K120fps at 4K

Sourced from publicly available data ·

Key Differences

7 attributes compared head-to-head

Xbox Series X
3Xbox Series X
PlayStation 5 leads
PlayStation 5
4PlayStation 5
  • GPU Performance (TFLOPS)

    Xbox Series X

    12 TFLOPS(winner)

    PlayStation 5

    10.28 TFLOPS

  • Exclusive Games (Major 2024-2026 Releases)

    Xbox Series X

    Starfield, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed

    PlayStation 5

    Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Astro Bot, Dragon Age Veilguard(winner)

  • Game Pass Library Size (2026)

    Xbox Series X

    700+ games included(winner)

    PlayStation 5

    70+ games in PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium

  • Storage Expansion Cost

    Xbox Series X

    $180 (1TB proprietary SSD)

    PlayStation 5

    $85 (1TB standard M.2 NVMe)(winner)

  • Controller Features

    Xbox Series X

    Standard rumble, impulse triggers optional

    PlayStation 5

    DualSense haptic feedback, adaptive triggers standard(winner)

  • Backwards Compatibility

    Xbox Series X

    500+ Xbox One/360/OG games playable

    PlayStation 5

    4,000+ PS4 games playable on PS5(winner)

  • Cross-Platform Game Pass Benefits

    Xbox Series X

    Day-one Microsoft exclusives, cloud gaming included(winner)

    PlayStation 5

    No day-one exclusives on PlayStation Plus

Full Comparison

Xbox Series X
PlayStation 5
SSD Speed(GB/s)
2.4
SSD Storage Speed(GB/s)
2.4 GB/s
5.5 GB/s
Built-in SSD Storage(GB)
1000GB
Storage Capacity(GB)
1000
825
GPU Performance (Theoretical)(TFLOPS)
12
Show 3 more attributes
GPU Performance(TFLOPS)
12 TFLOPS
10.28 TFLOPS
CPU Cores(cores)
8-core custom AMD
8-core custom AMD
RAM Total(GB)
16GB GDDR6
Price(USD)
$499
Storage Expansion Cost(USD)
$220 per 1TB
$90 per 1TB
Digital Edition Price(USD)
$599.99
Launch Price(USD)
$499
Base Console Price (2026)(USD)
$599.99
$499.99
Show 8 more attributes
Base System Price(USD)
$500
Current Retail Price(USD)
$499
$499
Current Market Price(USD)
$499
Console Price(USD)
$499
$499
Starting Price (USD)(USD)
$499
Expansion Storage Cost(USD)
$180 for 1TB
$85 for 1TB
Base Purchase Price(USD)
$499
Online Multiplayer Cost(USD/year)
$70/year (PlayStation Plus)
CPU Type
AMD Zen 2 (8-core at 3.8GHz)
GPU Compute Performance(TFLOPs)
12 TFLOPs
GPU Architecture Generation
RDNA 2 (Current-gen)
Native 4K Gaming Support
Yes, standard
Native 4K capable
Max 4K Gaming(fps)
120fps native
120fps (PS5 Pro)
Native Resolution (Docked/Primary)(pixels)
4K (2160p)
Show 5 more attributes
Maximum Refresh Rate (Supported)(fps)
120 fps
Ray Tracing Performance(% improvement)
Standard ray tracing
Raytracing Performance(frames per second @ 4K)
30fps
Ray Tracing Performance (4K)(%)
Consistent 50-65fps with fixed architecture
Variable scaling, 40-60fps typical
Maximum Resolution & Framerate(Resolution @ FPS)
4K @ 120fps (select titles)
4K @ 120fps (select titles)
System Memory(GB)
10GB GDDR6
RAM (Total)(GB)
16 GB (10 GDDR6 + 6 DDR5)
16 GB GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth Performance(% improvement)
10x faster SSD (vs PS4)
RAM(GB)
16 GB GDDR6
16 GB GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth(GB/s)
448 GB/s
Show 1 more attribute
RAM Configuration(GB)
16 GB
Exclusive Titles Count(games)
80+ exclusives
150+ exclusives
AAA Exclusive Releases (2024-2026)(titles)
18 AAA exclusives
26 AAA exclusives
Game Pass Subscription Games(games)
500+ games
250+ games (PS Plus Extra)
Exclusive AAA Games (2026)(major releases)
Forza, Starfield, Game Pass exclusives
Horizon: Zenith Chronicles, Ghost of Tsushima: Revelations, Marvel titles
Backward Compatible Games(games)
2000+ (XB1/360/OG)
10+ (PS4 select titles)
Show 7 more attributes
Exclusive Games Available (2026)(titles)
25+ exclusives
40+ exclusives
Game Pass Included Games(titles)
500+ (Xbox Game Pass)
Limited (PlayStation Plus Extra tier)
Available Exclusive AAA Titles (2025)(count)
4 major exclusives
Exclusive Franchises(Number)
30+ exclusive franchises
Exclusive AAA Games (2024-2026)(titles)
35
90
Subscription Service Game Count(games)
500 (Game Pass Ultimate)
600 (PS Plus Premium)
Exclusive Major Franchises
4+ (Halo, Forza, Gears, Starfield)
God of War, Spider-Man, Final Fantasy, Hogwarts Legacy
Target Resolution & Refresh Rate
4K at 60fps native
Native Gaming Resolution Target
4K/1440p
4K/1080p
Display Size(inches)
Requires external TV (typically 43-85 inches)
Display Resolution(pixels)
3840 x 2160 (4K)
Refresh Rate Capability(Hz)
120 Hz
Show 10 more attributes
Native Display Resolution(pixels)
Up to 4K (2160p) @ 120Hz
Maximum Refresh Rate(Hz)
120 Hz
Maximum Display Resolution
4K (2160p)
Native Resolution(pixels)
4K (2160p)
Maximum Output Resolution(resolution)
4K @ 120Hz
Maximum Resolution(pixels)
4K (3840x2160) @ 120Hz
4K (2160p) at 120fps
Display Refresh Rate (Max)(Hz)
120Hz at 4K
Native Resolution Target(pixels)
3840x2160 (4K)
Maximum Resolution (Docked/TV Mode)(pixels)
4K (3840x2160)
Native Resolution (Docked)(pixels)
4K (2160p)
Release Year
2020
Console Launch Year(year)
2020
Launch Year(year)
2020
Game Pass Console Tier Price(USD/month)
$11.99
$11.99
Standard Console Launch Price (MSRP 2026)(USD)
$499 (Xbox Series X)
$499 (PS5 Standard)
Digital Console Price (USD)(USD)
$599.99
$599.99
Digital Edition Price (USD)(USD)
$599.99
Digital Edition Price (GBP)(GBP)
£449.99
Show 15 more attributes
Standard Edition Price (USD, 2026)(USD)
$649.99
$649.99
Digital Edition Price (USD, 2026)(USD)
Not available
$599.99
Base Model MSRP (2026)(USD)
$499
$499
Launch Price (2020)(USD)
$499
Launch Price (MSRP)(USD)
$499
$499
MSRP at Launch (2020)(USD)
$499
Subscription Service Cost(USD/month)
$16.99 (Game Pass Ultimate)
$17.99 (PS Plus Premium)
Console Launch Price (Standard Model)(USD)
$499.99
$499.99
MSRP Launch Price(USD)
499
Launch Price (2024)(USD)
$499
Monthly Subscription Cost (Base Tier)(USD)
$17/month (Game Pass)
Console Launch Price(USD)
$399 (Series X)
Annual Online Subscription(USD)
$60-120 (Game Pass tiers)
Game Pass Monthly Subscription(USD)
$16.99/month
$19.99/month (Plus Premium)
Launch Price (Standard)(USD)
$499
Storage Load Times (Average)(seconds)
1.2 seconds
0.8 seconds
RAM Memory(GB)
16GB
16GB GDDR6
Target Frame Rate (AAA Games)(FPS)
60 FPS at 4K
Maximum Native 4K Gaming FPS(fps)
120 fps
60-120 fps (PS5 Pro exceeds)
RAM Capacity(GB)
16GB GDDR6
16GB GDDR6
Show 35 more attributes
Standard 4K Gaming Target(fps)
4K / 60fps
GPU Power(TFLOPS)
16.7 TFLOPS
10.28 TFLOPS
GPU Performance Advantage(percent)
16.7% more powerful
Baseline
SSD Load Time Advantage(percent)
Standard speed
30% faster custom SSD
Native 4K Gaming Capability
Yes, 4K/60FPS standard
Yes, 4K/60FPS capable
4K Gaming Support
Yes, native 4K/60fps
Performance vs PS5 Pro
Can keep up with PS5 Pro in some instances
GPU Performance(teraflops)
12.15
10.28
GPU Compute Units(units)
52
36
Gameplay Rendering Speed(% improvement)
Baseline stable performance
Storage Read Speed(GB/s)
2,560 MB/s
5,500 MB/s
Battery Life(hours)
N/A (mains powered)
CPU Core Count(cores)
8 cores (custom x86)
Native 4K/120fps Capable Games(titles)
35+
Load Times (Average)(seconds)
1.2-1.8s
CPU Clock Speed(GHz)
3.8GHz
3.5 GHz
4K Gaming Capability(fps)
120 fps
GPU Processing Power(TFLOPS)
12 TFLOPS
10.28 TFLOPS
SSD Read Speed(GB/s)
2.4 GB/s
5.5 GB/s
CPU Performance(CPU cores)
3.8 GHz (fixed frequency)
3.5 GHz (variable frequency)
SSD Load Time (Average)(seconds)
1.2 seconds
0.8 seconds
Average SSD Read Speed(MB/s)
2560 MB/s
Typical Game Load Time(seconds)
0.5-2 seconds
Average Game Load Time (Major AAA Titles)(seconds)
~4.8 seconds
~3.2 seconds
Average Game Load Time(seconds)
1.5-2.5 seconds
0.8-2.0 seconds
Max Native 4K Resolution Frame Rate(fps)
120 fps (variable)
GPU Equivalent Performance (4K Gaming)(TFLOPS)
12 TFLOPS
Maximum Native 4K Frame Rate(fps)
60-120 fps (varies by game)
Maximum Frame Rate(fps)
120 fps
CPU Processor(GHz)
3.8 GHz (variable)
UE5 Performance on Demanding Titles(stability)
Stable native 4K
Maximum Framerate(fps)
120 fps at 4K
Average Load Time (tested games)(seconds)
5-10 seconds
Native Performance (Standard Mode)(resolution/fps)
4K/60fps or 1440p/120fps
Native 4K Gaming Performance(FPS)
60 FPS
Market Share (January 2026)(percent)
27.5%
72.5%
Year-over-Year Market Share Change(percentage points)
-2.9%
+2.9%
Global Units Sold (64 months)(millions)
34.43 million
91.04 million
Market Share Percentage(%)
27.4%
72.6%
Lifetime Unit Sales (as of 2026)(millions)
25+ million
Show 1 more attribute
Sales Performance (Month 9)(units)
Behind by 6.39M
Game Pass Ultimate Monthly Cost(USD)
$17.99/month
No equivalent (PlayStation Plus Extra $18.99/month)
Launch Price (Original)(USD)
$499
Noise Level Rating(classification)
Quietest gaming console ever made
Standard noise levels
Available SKUs(count)
2 (Standard & All-Digital)
3 (Standard, Digital, Slim)
Backward Compatibility Rate(%)
~98% Xbox One compatible
~95% PS4 compatible
Annual Subscription Cost (Premium Tier)(USD)
$180/year (Game Pass Ultimate)
$120/year (PS Plus Premium)
Upcoming Performance Enhancement(text)
No major announcement
PSSR2 AI upscaling (2026, free)
SSD Technology(Generation)
PCIe Gen 4 NVME
Custom ultra-fast SSD (faster)
SSD Speed (Raw)(GB/s)
2.4 GB/s
5.5 GB/s (custom optimized)
Standard Storage Capacity(GB)
1,000 GB
825 GB
Internal SSD Storage(GB)
1,000GB
Internal Storage Capacity(GB)
802GB usable (1TB total)
825GB SSD
Show 2 more attributes
Expandable Storage(GB max)
2250GB (expansion card)
Internal Storage(GB)
1TB SSD
825GB usable (1TB total)
Global Sales (2026)(millions)
25 million units
40 million units
Market Share 2026(%)
27.5%
72.5%
Backwards Compatibility Range(generations)
4 generations (Xbox original to Series)
2-3 generations (PS2-PS4 selective)
Backwards Compatible Generations(generations)
4 generations (Xbox One, 360, Original, Series)
Select PS4 titles only (1 generation)
WiFi Standard
WiFi 7
Game Pass Monthly Cost(USD)
$16.99
$9.99
Launch MSRP (2026)(USD)
$499
$499
Storage Expansion Cost per TB(USD)
$180
$180
Monthly Game Pass Cost(USD)
$11.99 (Standard Tier)
Shading Units(count)
3328 shading units
Memory Interface(bit)
320-bit interface
Game Pass Titles(count)
3500+ titles
Backward Compatibility Coverage(percent compatible)
95%+ across 4 generations
Exclusive AAA Titles (2020-2026)(games)
12+ major exclusives
25+ major exclusives
Game Pass Day-One Releases (Annual)(titles)
15-25 Game Pass day-ones
0-3 PlayStation exclusive day-ones
GPU Rendering Improvement(percent faster)
Baseline (100%)
2025-2026 AAA Exclusive Titles(games)
3-4 major titles
6-8 major titles
Exclusive Major Games (2026)(titles)
8 major titles
Game Pass / Service Library(games)
400+ (Game Pass)
Available Game Library(titles)
450+ Game Pass + digital store
Game Library Size(games)
200+ exclusive
~500 PS5-exclusive/optimized
Show 7 more attributes
Exclusive Game Titles(games)
150+ exclusives
Available Games Library(titles)
800+
Game Library Size (Optimized)(titles)
500+ optimized for Series X
Exclusive Game Library(titles)
47 exclusives
150+ exclusives
Exclusive Launch Titles (First 3 Years)(titles)
28 major exclusives
47 major exclusives
Game Library Access(titles)
~2,000 PS5 optimized
Exclusive AAA Franchises(franchises)
40+ (God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon)
Controller Haptic Technology(specification)
Standard vibration
Advanced haptic feedback + adaptive triggers
Backward Compatibility(scope)
Extensive (4+ generations of Xbox titles)
Limited
Backward Compatibility Support
Extensive (4 generations)
Good (PS4/PS3 select)
Physical Media Support
4K Blu-ray disc drive
AI Upscaling Technology(capability level)
Standard FSR/DLSS support
Show 4 more attributes
Quick Resume Suspended Games(Concurrent games)
10+ simultaneous
Cloud Gaming Availability(platforms)
Xbox Cloud Gaming (iOS, Android, PC, browser, TV — comprehensive)
PlayStation Plus Premium (iPhone, Android, browser — limited)
Portability
Home Console Only
Cross-Platform Play Support(% of multiplayer games)
~15% of multiplayer titles
Maximum Resolution Output(pixels)
4K (3840×2160)
4K (3840×2160)
Native 4K Performance Target(FPS)
60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS
60 FPS standard, up to 120 FPS
Multi-Platform Game Performance Edge(consistency)
Consistent 4-8% performance advantage on cross-platform titles
Closes gap through optimization
Native 4K Maximum Frame Rate(fps)
60 fps (targeted)
120 fps (capable)
Native 4K Performance(FPS)
4K/60FPS confirmed (Replaced)
Maximum Native 4K Resolution(fps)
120 fps
120 fps
Show 4 more attributes
Native Gaming Resolution(pixels)
4K (2160p)
Typical Game Resolution Target (2026)(frames per second)
4K @ 60 FPS (Replaced)
4K Gaming Performance (AAA Titles)(fps)
4K/60fps typical
Average 4K Gaming Frame Rate(FPS)
58-60 FPS
58-60 FPS
Ray Tracing Support
Supported (developer-dependent)
Hardware-accelerated, full support
Ray Tracing Performance Boost(x times faster)
Standard implementation
2026 Exclusive Titles Available(games)
8 major exclusives
18 major exclusives
Backward Compatibility Support(text)
Xbox One, Xbox 360, Original Xbox titles
Limited PS4 backward compatibility
Game Pass Titles at Launch(games)
300+
Backward Compatibility Generations(generations)
4 generations (Xbox to Series X)
2 generations
Available Exclusive Titles (Current)(Games)
500+
Show 4 more attributes
Exclusive AAA Titles Available(Games)
8+ flagship exclusives
Game Pass/Plus Titles Available(titles)
500+ titles
Major Exclusive AAA Titles (2024-2026)(titles)
15 exclusives
Available Game Titles(games)
3,000 (Xbox native)
500+ AAA titles
Game Pass Value (Monthly Cost)(USD)
$10.99/month (Game Pass Core)
$9.99/month (PlayStation Plus Essential)
SSD Transfer Speed(GB/s)
560 GB/s
825 GB/s
Standard Storage(GB)
1000GB usable
825 GB (usable)
CPU Speed(GHz)
3.8 GHz (7-core Zen 2)
3.5 GHz variable
Storage Capacity(GB)
1000 GB (1TB expandable)
825 GB (proprietary SSD)
SSD Read Speed (Raw)(GB/s)
2.4 GB/s
5.5 GB/s raw (22 GB/s effective)
Show 3 more attributes
RAM (Total Memory)(GB)
16 GB
16 GB
Handheld Display Size(inches)
None (stationary)
VRAM (Estimated)(GB)
16GB GDDR6
Game Pass/Plus Library Size(titles)
500+ titles (Game Pass Ultimate)
750+ titles (PlayStation Plus tiers)
Controller Haptic Feedback(feature)
No - standard vibration only
Yes - DualSense haptic triggers
Year-over-Year Sales Growth(%)
-2.9%
+2.9%
CPU Performance Advantage(%)
10% faster
Baseline
GPU Compute Units(CUs)
52 CUs equivalent (12 TFLOPS)
CPU Processing Speed(GHz)
3.8 GHz
3.5 GHz (variable)
Launch Price (2026 MSRP)(USD)
$499
$499
Standard Price (USD)($)
649.99
599.99
Standard Price (GBP)(£)
499.99
519.99
Launch Price (2026 USD)(USD)
$499 (standard)
Launch Price (Original MSRP)(USD)
$499.99
Show 7 more attributes
Storage Expansion Cost (1TB)(USD)
$219.99
Launch Price (USD)(USD)
$499
Launch MSRP (2020)(USD)
$499
$499
Retail Price (2026)(USD)
$499-$549
Launch Price (2026)(USD)
$499
Entry-Level Cost(USD)
$499
Average Game Price Discount(% off)
5-15% typical
Years of Optimization(years)
Current generation (4 years optimized)
6 years of custom optimization
Base Model Price (USD)(USD)
$499
$499
Major Exclusive Titles (2024-2026)(titles)
3 major exclusives
SSD Speed Advantage(relative)
Standard SSD
Custom SSD (faster)
Exclusive Game Optimization Maturity(years)
Current generation optimization
6 years of proven optimization techniques
Native 4K 60fps Games(game count)
156 games
168 games
Global Market Share(%)
27.5%
72.5%
Market Share(percent)
38%
72.5%
Global Sales (Lifetime)(Million Units)
21+ million units
Installed Base (2026)(millions)
25 million
110+ million
Exclusive Franchises (as of 2026)(count)
10+
20+
Game Pass Day-1 Titles (Annual)(games)
100+ annually
15-20 PS Plus tier
Game Pass Integration(feature)
Game Pass (400+ games, day-one releases)
PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium
Game Pass Subscription Size(Titles)
400+
Game Pass Subscribers(millions)
28 million
Game Pass Subscription Cost (Monthly)(USD)
$16.99 (Game Pass Ultimate)
Show 1 more attribute
Online Multiplayer Subscription(USD/year)
$80 (PlayStation Plus Extra)
Thermal Stability Rating(issues reported)
No thermal issues reported
Space Marine 2 Performance(comparative)
Outperforms PS5 Pro
Slightly lower frame consistency
Weight(lbs)
4.45 kg
Exclusive AAA Game Titles(count)
~50 major exclusives
Game Pass/Subscription Library Size(games)
500+ (Game Pass)
700+ (PS Plus Premium)
Game Pass Titles (2026)(games)
400+
Exclusive AAA Releases (2025-2026)(titles)
8+
Compatible Game Titles(titles)
500+ fully optimized
Show 2 more attributes
Game Pass Titles Included(games)
300+
Exclusive Game Franchises
God of War, Spider-Man, Gran Turismo, Returnal
4K Gaming Performance(FPS)
60 FPS (native optimized)
Setup Time(minutes)
10 minutes
5 minutes (unbox, connect, play)
Maximum Resolution/Frame Rate(fps at resolution)
4K/120fps (native)
4K @ 120fps
Annual Online Subscription Cost(USD)
$180/year (Game Pass Ultimate)
Weight (Console Only)(grams)
4,250g (requires desk/TV mount)
Handheld Gaming Capability
No, stationary only
Battery Life (Light Gaming)(hours)
0 hours (requires power outlet)
Battery Life (Handheld Mode)(hours)
N/A—not portable
Handheld Battery Life(hours)
N/A (not portable)
Max Resolution Output(pixels)
4K @ 120fps
Maximum Gaming Resolution(pixels)
4K (2160p) at 120fps
4K (3840×2160)
Maximum Framerate (Standard)(fps)
120fps at 4K
Backward Compatibility Titles(games)
500+ Xbox/360 games
PS/Xbox Exclusive AAA Titles(major franchises)
8 major exclusives
12 major exclusives
Software Sales Volume(billions of units)
Not disclosed
Ray Tracing Enhancement(performance boost)
Standard ray tracing
Active User Base(millions)
28+ Million
Monthly Active Player Base(millions)
25 million
50 million
Estimated Active Monthly Users(millions)
~25 million
GPU Performance(TFLOPS)
12 TFLOPS
CPU
AMD Zen 2, 8 cores @ 3.8 GHz
Ray Tracing
Hardware ray tracing (AMD)
Storage(TB)
1 TB NVMe SSD (proprietary expansion)
Price (USD)(USD)
$499 (with disc drive)
Disc Drive
UHD Blu-ray included
Game Pass Library Size(titles)
700+ games
400 games (PS Plus Extra)
Game Pass/Plus Subscription Library(games)
700+ games
70+ games (Premium tier)
Backwards Compatible Games(games)
500+ (Xbox One/360/OG)
4,000+ PS4 games
Exclusive AAA Titles (2024-2026)(titles)
3 major exclusives
8+ major exclusives
Years Since Launch(years)
6 years (released Nov 2020)
Power Consumption(Watts)
180W typical
110W typical
Console Generation Status
Current Generation (5+ years)
Maximum Supported Resolution(pixels)
4K 120Hz
4K 120Hz
Controller Innovation(features)
Standard vibration, impulse triggers
Console Life Cycle(years)
4 years (2020-present)
Hardware Upgrade Path(count)
0 (fixed hardware)
Game Pass Subscription Library(games)
400+ (Game Pass Ultimate)
280+ (PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium)
Console Exclusive Titles (2026)(games)
139 exclusives
296 exclusives
Setup Time to First Game(minutes)
15 minutes
30 minutes
Maximum Resolution (Docked)(pixels)
4K (3840×2160)
Portability
Home console only; 3.8kg (8.4 lbs)
Home console only—stationary
Physical Dimensions(mm (H x W x D))
301 x 151 x 151
Physical Size Reduction vs PS5(percent smaller)
Baseline (100%)
CPU Processor Speed(GHz)
3.8 GHz (8-core)
3.5 GHz (8-core)
Exclusive AAA Titles (2026)(count)
8 major exclusives
14 major exclusives
Console Units Sold (Lifetime)(millions)
34+ million
120+ million
Subscription Service Cost (Annual)(USD)
$180 (Game Pass Ultimate includes online + 400+ games)
$80 (PS Plus Essential for online)
Global Units Sold (as of 2026)(millions)
90.20
Digital Purchase Rate(%)
Estimated 70+
HDR Support
Yes
3D Audio Technology
Precision 3D Audio (evolved)
Haptic Feedback
Advanced adaptive triggers
GPU Memory (VRAM)(GB)
10 GB (unified architecture)

Pros & Cons

10 pros·6 cons across both

Xbox Series X
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X

+5-3

Pros

  • 12 TFLOPS GPU provides 17% more raw power for higher frame rates and resolution
  • Game Pass includes 700+ games with all Microsoft exclusives on day one (vs $70 individual purchase)
  • Smart Delivery automatically optimizes games across Xbox Series X/S generations
  • Xbox Game Pass for PC integration allows single subscription across console and PC
  • Cloud gaming (Xbox Cloud Gaming) available for 150+ titles without download

Cons

  • Weaker exclusive game library compared to PS5 in 2024-2026 (Starfield, Indiana Jones vs Spider-Man 2, FF7 Rebirth, Astro Bot)
  • 1TB proprietary SSD expansion costs $180, nearly double PS5's $85 standard M.2 NVMe option
  • Controller lacks DualSense's haptic feedback and adaptive trigger precision
PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5

+5-3

Pros

  • 4,000+ backwards compatible PS4 games vs 500+ on Xbox, providing massive legacy library
  • Superior exclusive franchises: Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Astro Bot, Dragon Age Veilguard, Helldivers 2
  • DualSense controller with industry-leading haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for immersive gameplay
  • 1TB storage expansion is significantly cheaper ($85 standard M.2 vs $180 proprietary) and user-installable
  • PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium offers PS5 and PS4 exclusive catalog for $120/year

Cons

  • Only 70+ games in PlayStation Plus Extra tier vs Game Pass's 700+ titles
  • 10.28 TFLOPS GPU delivers ~15% lower performance than Series X in demanding titles
  • No day-one exclusives on subscription service; major releases require $70 purchase

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

  1. Yes, for most players. Game Pass costs $11.99-$17.99/month and includes 700+ games including all Microsoft exclusives on day one (normally $70 each). If you play 2-3 Xbox exclusives annually, the service pays for itself immediately. A standard Xbox Series X owner playing 5-6 games per year saves $200-300 compared to PS5 players buying individual titles.

12 more to explore

Explore More

Related comparisons and categories

AI generated