PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Which console should you pick up this holiday season
With the holiday season coming up, it is expected that some of you will either treat yourself or gift a loved one with one of the brand new consoles.
However, some of you might be faced with the dilemma of choosing between the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X.
The following article aims to help you make that decision by focusing on some of its main features, marking similarities, and pointing out key differences.
Game/boot load times
We have already heard a ton about the super-fast loading speeds on both next-gen consoles, thanks to the upgraded SSD storage.
The Xbox Series X has a raw throughput of 2.4 gigabytes per second, while the PlayStation 5 more than doubles that to 5.5 gigabytes per second.
Although you might expect the PlayStation 5 to win across all margins based on the specs, the test results indicate otherwise. Both booting the consoles cold and waking them from sleep are faster on the Xbox by a few seconds, while game loading times on both consoles trade blows.
Titles that have yet to be optimized for the AMD architecture will always load faster on the Xbox Series, with tests indicating that the PlayStation 5 SSD may be facing bottle-neck issues due to its slower CPU.
The Xbox’s ‘quick resume’ option, a feature that lets you drop right back into the action at any point, is sorely missed on the PlayStation 5.
However, connecting to online services before loading into a game is going to increase load time no matter what console you choose.
In comparison to the previous generation of consoles, the addition of an SSD is a win for both consoles and make the difference in loading time of a few seconds almost negligible.
Visual graphics
Tests have indicated that multi-platform title’s graphics on both next-gen consoles look remarkably similar. This is primarily because they both share the same AMD Zen CPU and AMD RDNA GPU architecture, with the Xbox having a slight advantage on paper. In practice, the image quality is very similar with differences emerging depending on the situation.
It has been pointed out that playing on PlayStation’s frame rate mode added more background foliage. On the ‘resolution mode’ that prioritizes 4k resolution for lower frames, games felt slightly smoother, perhaps because the PlayStation 5 currently lacks variable refresh rate support.
The Xbox Series X often pushed closer to the full resolution, making some details like the car’s grills to look slightly better on Dirt 5.
Some games are a bit of a toss-up, with games like NBA 2K21 looking truly next-gen on both consoles. Although the title felt a bit smoother on the PlayStation 5, the depth of field effect and the extra per-object motion blur on the Xbox deals with it in its own way.
Next-gen exclusives
Exclusives on new-gen consoles play a crucial in the buyer’s decision-making process. That is why many of us were disappointed to hear that Xbox currently has no exclusives this year.
This could perhaps even explain why many of you in Qatar are looking forward to the PlayStation 5 rather than the Xbox series X.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales, an exclusive on PlayStation 5, gave us a taste of what up upcoming exclusives will look like. The addition of ray-traced reflections makes swinging through a frozen glassy New York feel brand new in comparison to previous Spiderman games.
Although the ray-tracing mode (locked at 30 FPS) is a feature you must try, some can agree that there is no switching back once you play on the 60 FPS mode, making the game feel way smoother.
Next-gen controllers
The PlayStation 5 controller is yet another factor that sets it apart from its competitor, with features that actually add to the gaming experience of an individual.
The DualSense controller has been completely upgraded with a mic, USB Type-C charging port (faster charging), and new resistive triggers, making the new Xbox controller look dull and boring in comparison.
Overall, both next-gen consoles offer compelling reasons as to why it is the best console. Although PlayStation cannot truly compete with Xbox’s game pass, they are currently working with well-renowned studios to release some amazing exclusive games right now.
Moreover, the PlayStation has an all-digital version that packs all the same horsepower as the standard edition, offering better value in comparison to the Xbox series S.
The next-gen consoles demolish the previous consoles in terms of performance and value, giving even gaming computers a run for their money.
No matter what console you choose, it will definitely bring a smile to your face once you start it up.
Which console will you be purchasing this year? Let us know why in the comments section below.
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