The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X launched in 2020 as Sony and Microsoft’s new generation of home consoles. This article compares the launch-era hardware, games and services that shaped the choice for buyers at the time.
Sony and Microsoft prepared competing console launches in 2020 with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Buyers compared performance, storage, exclusive games and online services before either system had built a long sales history.
Always remaining neck-to-neck in the competition, this time, both the rivaling parties have up their game with next-generation consoles with modern facilities, exclusive games, and incredible online services. With authentic insight about both the beasts, we are here to discuss the flagship devices in detail with head-to-toe and side-to-side comparison and divergence.
CPU & GPU
One of the most critical parts of a gaming console is the CPU that controls non-player characters (NPC) during a game. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are running on a custom-designed AMD Ryzen Zen 2 processor with 8 cores. The difference is only the clock speed both the gadgets offer. Xbox Series X runs on a clock speed of 3.8 GHz, whereas PlayStation 5 is running at a 3.5 GHz clock speed. Only a hard-core gamer can feel the difference.
Graphics cards play a pivotal role in enhancing the gaming experience with a real-life feel. The performance of a GPU is measured in teraFLOP, which is a trillion floating-point operations per second. It gives a true-to-life feel to the game with improved details. Both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are running on customized AMD Radeon RDNA 2 GPU but what makes them different is the working of the cores at variable speed. Xbox Series X is boasting a speed of 12 TeraFLOPS with 52 CUs and running at a rate of 1.825 GHz. On the other hand, PlayStation 5 is giving 10.28 TeraFLOPS with 36 CUs but breaking a record with 2.33 GHz speed.
RAM, Built-In Storage & Device Size
Both the consoles are powered by 16 GB GDDR6 memory. But their built-in storage capacity has the difference, where the Xbox Series X will be having 1 TB of storage and the PlayStation 5 with only 825 GB of storage. But to cover this, PlayStation 5 is offering 5.5 GB per second SSD, which is twice faster than Xbox Series X. PlayStation 5 is 390 mm in height with a weight of 4.5 kg, whereas Xbox Series X is 301 mm in height with the same weight.
Resolution & Audio
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X supports a resolution of 4k with up to 120 Hz refresh rate. Both gadgets also support 8k resolution. When it comes to auditory senses, both offer incredible evolution in audio technology. Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 both have 3D spatial sound. Sony calls it Tempest 3D AudioTech, whereas Microsoft uses Dolby TrueHD.
Exclusive Games
Games are always the decision-making factor for gamers. Powerful games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla are available on both the devices. The difference that counts is the exclusive games!
The much-hyped PlayStation 5 exclusive games are Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Horizon Forbidden West, Final Fantasy XVI, and Gran Turismo 7. Hyped exclusive games of Xbox Series X would be Halo Infinite, Gears 5, State of Decay 3, STALKER 2, Scorn, and Call of the Sea.
Both flagship consoles launched with a listed US price of $499, while cheaper variants changed the entry cost. The better choice depended on the games, controller and services a buyer wanted. Current prices and model options should be checked separately from this launch comparison.
How to use this 2020 console comparison
Console prices, game libraries and subscription plans have changed since launch. A current buying decision should include the exact console version, available storage, the games you want to play and the ongoing cost of online services. The comparison below remains a record of how the two systems were positioned before release.
