PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Which console is right for you?

When shopping for a 4K game console, the first question you need to ask yourself is PlayStation or Xbox. The two systems share a lot of similarities, but there are some important distinctions to be made between the latest models that could make or break your decision. Keep reading to learn how the PS5 and Xbox Series X compare in 2025. 

As of 2024, five PS5 models have been released, including two PS5 models (a Disc version and a Digital Edition), two PS5 Slim models (again, a Disc version and a Digital Edition) and the PS5 Pro. The latter does not come with a disc drive, though you do have the option to pick one up separately for $79/£99. 

Contrastingly, there are only three current-gen Xbox models you need to know about: the flagship Xbox Series X and the entry-level 4K and disc drive-lacking Xbox Series S. There’s also the more recent, Xbox Series X Digital Edition, which drops the disc drive but retains the features of the top-end Series X. However, unlike the PS5, you can’t pick one up separately if you change your mind. 

Keep reading to discover all the biggest differences between the PS5 and Xbox Series X when it comes to price, design, specs, controllers, features and games. 

Price 

As of 2023, the original PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition (2020) have been replaced by the PS5 Slim and PS5 Slim Digital Edition. The PS5 Slim is priced at $499/£479/€549 and comes with a detachable disk drive, while the PS5 Slim Digital Edition will run you just $449/£389/€449. 

If you buy the Digital Edition and change your mind later, you can pick up the Disc Drive separately for $79/£99/€119. This means there’s no need to sell and upgrade your console if you want to play Blu-ray movies and games stored on physical discs. 

Sony also released a Pro version of the console in 2024. The PS5 Pro is priced at $699/699/799 and does not come with a disc drive though, again, you can buy one separately for $79/£99/€119. 

Moving on to the Xbox, the Xbox Series X launched in 2020. This console will put you back $499/£449/€499 and includes a disc drive. This is comparable to the price of the PS5 Slim but significantly cheaper than the latest PS5 Pro. 

There’s also the Xbox Series X Digital Edition, which launched in 2024 and starts at a lower $499/£429/€499, making this a closer competitor to the PS5 Slim Digital Edition. However, unlike the PS5 Digital Edition, you can’t go back and add a disc drive if you change your mind. 

Both the PS5 and Xbox Series S are available bundled with games and accessories and both have experienced some sizeable discounts over the years, particularly around major sales such as Black Friday.

Design

• The PS5 has a more unique, customisable design
• The Xbox Series X is heavier and more boxy, but doesn’t require a stand
• Both consoles are available with and without disc drives

Sony refreshed the original PS5 with a new PS5 Slim model, which is now the default option. It’s still using the same glossy white-and-black design, but it’s now 30% smaller and weighs just 3.2kg.

These tweaks have made the new PS5 significantly easier to fit underneath your TV, and looks better for it. Sony is offering up two different models, one with a disk drive and one without. Fortunately, with the Slim model, you’re now able to purchase the disk drive separately and attach it to the console yourself. This previously wasn’t possible with the original machines.

Sony also allows you to snap off the face plates, and add your own. There are now a variety of colours available, allowing you to add a bit more personalisation to the console.

There’s also the PS5 Pro, which features the same design as the PS5 Slim but with larger indents in the centre of the console. This is likely to ensure that the more powerful console stays cool.

The Xbox Series X, on the other hand, is a big cuboid that looks similar to a PC tower. It’s a little heavier than the PS5 Slim with a weight of 4.4kg. It’s arguable that the Series X is a little less aesthetically pleasing, more like a box speaker than a console. You can at least lay it vertically or horizontally without the need for a stand.

The Xbox Series X Digital Edition shares a similar design with the original Series X but lacks the disc drive for playing physical media. The Digital Edition also comes in a new Robot White shade to differentiate it from the black Series X.

Both consoles offer a very similar port selection of HDMI, USB-C and Ethernet ports available.

Specs

• The PS5 and Xbox Series X match up in many areas
• The PS5 Pro boasts the highest number of teraflops
• The PS5 Pro also packs the highest internal storage with its 2TB SSD

Each of these consoles offers an incredible amount of power to ensure users will have a good few years of use in terms of performance power and technical capabilities.

For a more in-depth look at how the consoles compare, check out the specs breakdown below:

The consoles only really differ in terms of GPU and internal storage. However, Sony allows you to upgrade the storage via an M.2 SSD. You can find out which SSDs work with the PS5 in this guide, while we’ve also created a guide to show how to install an SSD inside a PS5. Microsoft instead supports officially licensed memory cards, which are easier to install but can be pretty expensive.

In terms of the GPU, Microsoft initially beat the PS5 Slim by having more teraflops, but the difference was subtle enough that most players were unlikely to notice. Sony has since blasted to the lead with its 16.7-TFLOP PS5 Pro. That said, Teraflops aren’t the best metric of performance and are more of a metric for how potentially powerful the console could be.

Controllers

• The PS5’s DualSense controller offers more haptic feedback than the Xbox Series X controller
• There’s also the DualSense Edge controller for the PS5, which is one of the most customisable options around
• The Xbox Series X controller will feel comfortable and familiar for Xbox One users

Sony has upped its game with the PS5 DualSense controller, which features haptic feedback. In our review, we noted this makes the controller feel very balanced and satisfying to use, the haptic upgrades and adaptive triggers help to transform supported games into more immersive experiences.

The company also revealed another addition to the DualSense family with the DualSense Edge Wireless controller. This controller will allow users to remap specific button inputs, replace stick modules with other designs, swap out stick caps and switch up the back buttons, making it one of the most customisable controllers on the market.

The Xbox Series X controller does not have as much impact as the Sony alternative, featuring the same design as the pad bundled with the Xbox One. While there is not the same level of haptic feedback or customisable features, it feels as comfortable and easy to use as the controller that came before it.

Features and upgrades

• Sony has updated the PS5 firmware to allow users to add another SSD and increase storage
• The addition of VRR on the PS5 has reduced issues like visual artefacts and screen tearing
• Microsoft’s Quick Resume feature lets you skip loading times on the Xbox

Each console has been on the market for upwards of four years, so it’s not too surprising that both Sony and Microsoft have upgraded the features over their lifetime.

Sony has updated the PS5 console a couple of times. Voice chats are now known as Parties, and can be accessed via the new three-pronged Game Base menu.

Players can also pin five select titles to the screen permanently, which will stay in place regardless of what games are played or downloaded. In a previous update, Sony altered the PS5 firmware to allow users to add another SSD to the previously dormant expansion slot, meaning that the console’s overall SSD storage has been increased.

Specific games have had their own upgrades; Horizon Zero Dawn can now be played at 60fps with graphics at their maximum setting, while some upgrades have improved the overall performance. The introduction of VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) also minimised issues such as visual artefacts and screen tearing.

Microsoft, meanwhile, launched the Xbox Series X with the Quick Resume feature that allows players to swap between active states of up to six different games at once. This offers players the means to jump into a game without waiting for the title to load, a feature the PS5 currently does not have.

In terms of upgrades, the Xbox Series X has improved its UI, upgrading it from 1080p to 4K resolution when connected to a 4K display, making scrolling the Home screen more visually satisfying.

Another upgrade that was bought in the Xbox Night Mode, which adjusts the brightness to keep the room dark and assist players sensitive to light. You can also toggle and adjust the light from your connected display, which is not ground-breaking, but a nice add-on in our experience.

Moreover, Microsoft plans on furthering its customisation options in the Xbox Home UI, with options for users to customise the layout with games, Pins and backgrounds.

Exclusive games

• PS5 exclusives include God of War, Spider-Man and Horizon Forbidden West
• Xbox Series X exclusives include Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5 and Starfield
• Sony offers a library of games with its PlayStation Plus subscription platform, as does Microsoft with Xbox Game Pass

Arguably the biggest decider in picking a new console is the games selection that comes with it. While many games can be found on multiple platforms, some games are exclusives, meaning that if you want in on the action, you need to have the appropriate hardware. 

The PS5 has a fair selection of exclusives, including God of War Ragnarök, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Returnal, Horizon Forbidden West and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Other titles, like Ghost of Yōtei and Death Stranding 2, are coming in 2025. The PS5 has been criticised for sharing many of its exclusives with the PS4, thereby limiting the technological potential, but Sony has since started to launch PS5-only games. The company also markets its PlayStation Plus subscription service which includes a library of games.

In comparison, Microsoft’s current exclusive offering looks pretty slim, with Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Starfield and Microsoft Flight Simulator being some of the more high-profile launches. Xbox has promised more exclusives such as Fable, Avowed and Gears of War: E-Day coming soon. All of Xbox’s exclusives will be available through the Game Pass, a monthly subscription service, too.

Both consoles also offer backwards compatibility with previous generation consoles, so it’s worth checking both libraries to see which takes your fancy the most.

Verdict

All-in-all, both the PS5 and Xbox Series X are impressive and powerful consoles that have built upon the hardware that came before them to create new and improved gaming experiences.

While Sony beats out Microsoft with its incredible DualSense haptic feedback controllers, the Xbox Game Pass subscription makes the Series X a cost-effective option in the long run, as you won’t need to shell out $70/£60 for new exclusives like you do with the PS5.

If you’re more interested in cloud gaming and getting a nostalgia fix from older games, you are better off with the Xbox Series X, as Microsoft has been working hard to expand its Games Library. However, if you’re already invested in the PlayStation ecosystem, and are eager to play the next entries of Spider-Man, God of War, The Last of Us, Horizon and more, then the PS5 is your best bet.

While the consoles edge each other out in certain areas, we think that you will have a blast on either console thanks to the powerful specs. Decide on the games you’re most interested in and you can figure it out from there.