Sony PlayStation 5 vs Microsoft Xbox Series X
Gaming Consoles comparison: specs, VersusAnything Score, key differences and a clear recommendation.
Five years into the generation, the PS5 and Xbox Series X are closer in hardware than their prices suggest, and the decision is about games and services. Sony has the larger exclusive catalogue; Microsoft has Game Pass with day-one first-party releases and the best backwards compatibility.
Quick verdict
Choose the PS5 for exclusives and the DualSense controller. Choose the Series X if Game Pass fits how you play, or you want to carry forward a large Xbox 360 and Xbox One library.
VersusAnything Score
Scores are calculated from measurable specifications normalised within the gaming consoles category and weighted by the factors above. Text-only rows (such as chipset or operating system) are explained but not scored. How the score works.
Side-by-side overview
Sony PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 is the best-selling console of this generation, with a fast custom SSD, DualSense haptic controller and the largest exclusive line-up.
Best for players who want the widest range of big-budget exclusives
Microsoft Xbox Series X
The Xbox Series X is Microsoft's 12-teraflop flagship with Quick Resume, broad backwards compatibility and day-one Game Pass access.
Best for players who value Game Pass and the ability to play four generations of Xbox games
Key differences
- CPU: PS5 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5 GHz vs Xbox Series X 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.8 GHz — a preference, not a scored win
- Key exclusives: PS5 God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon, Gran Turismo vs Xbox Series X Halo, Forza, Starfield, Gears, plus Game Pass — a preference, not a scored win
- GPU power: PS5 10.28 TFLOPS vs Xbox Series X 12.15 TFLOPS — Xbox Series X is better here
- Storage: PS5 825 GB vs Xbox Series X 1,000 GB — Xbox Series X is better here
- Price (USD, 2025 list): PS5 $549 vs Xbox Series X $649 — PS5 is better here
Specification comparison table
| Specification | PS5 | Xbox Series X |
|---|---|---|
| GPU power | 10.28 TFLOPS | 12.15 TFLOPS |
| CPU | 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5 GHz | 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.8 GHz |
| Max output | 4K at up to 120 fps, 8K capable | 4K at up to 120 fps, 8K capable |
| Storage | 825 GB | 1,000 GB |
| Disc drive | Yes (4K Blu-ray) | Yes (4K Blu-ray) |
| Key exclusives | God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon, Gran Turismo | Halo, Forza, Starfield, Gears, plus Game Pass |
| Price (USD, 2025 list) | $549 | $649 |
| Portable | No | No |
| Weight | 3.2 kg | 4.45 kg |
Performance: PS5 vs Xbox Series X Score: PS5 58 · Xbox Series X 83
Xbox Series X leads on GPU power with 12.15 TFLOPS versus 10.28 TFLOPS, a margin of 1.87 TFLOPS. In practice teraflops are a rough proxy for how much graphical headroom the console has. For CPU, PS5 uses 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5 GHz whereas Xbox Series X goes with 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.8 GHz. This is a preference rather than a scored win: the CPU decides frame-rate stability in simulation-heavy games.
Both list 4K at up to 120 fps, 8K capable for max output, so nothing separates them here.
Storage: PS5 vs Xbox Series X Score: PS5 58 · Xbox Series X 83
The storage row goes to Xbox Series X: 1,000 GB against 825 GB. Modern games exceed 100 GB each, so storage fills quickly.
Value: PS5 vs Xbox Series X Score: PS5 42 · Xbox Series X 17
Both list Yes (4K Blu-ray) for disc drive, so nothing separates them here. The two differ on key exclusives (God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon, Gran Turismo against Halo, Forza, Starfield, Gears, plus Game Pass), and exclusive games are the biggest reason to pick one platform.
PS5 is better on price (USD, 2025 list) at $549 against $649, a $100 difference; lower is better because console prices moved in 2025, so we use the latest official list price.
Portability: PS5 vs Xbox Series X Score: PS5 17 · Xbox Series X 0
On portable the two match exactly (No).
PS5 is better on weight at 3.2 kg against 4.45 kg, a 1.25 kg difference; lower is better because weight matters for handhelds and for carrying a console to a friend's house.
Pros and cons
PS5
Pros
- DualSense haptic controller
- Largest exclusive catalogue
- Ultra-fast custom SSD
- Better weight (3.2 kg)
- Better price (USD, 2025 list) ($549)
Cons
- Weaker GPU power (10.28 TFLOPS)
- Weaker storage (825 GB)
Xbox Series X
Pros
- 12 TFLOPS GPU
- Game Pass day-one releases
- Best backwards compatibility
- Better weight (4.45 kg)
- Better price (USD, 2025 list) ($649)
Cons
- Weaker GPU power (12.15 TFLOPS)
- Weaker storage (1,000 GB)
Which one should you buy?
Choose Sony PlayStation 5 for…
Players who want the widest range of big-budget exclusives. It stands out for dualsense haptic controller, largest exclusive catalogue, ultra-fast custom ssd.
Choose Microsoft Xbox Series X for…
Players who value Game Pass and the ability to play four generations of Xbox games. It stands out for 12 tflops gpu, game pass day-one releases, best backwards compatibility.
Final verdict
Choose the PS5 for exclusives and the DualSense controller. Choose the Series X if Game Pass fits how you play, or you want to carry forward a large Xbox 360 and Xbox One library. The VersusAnything Score is a transparent starting point, not a command; weight the rows you care about and the right answer for you may differ.
Compare with another console
Frequently asked questions
Is PS5 better than Xbox Series X?
Not overall: they score 48 and 48 on our category weighting, which we treat as level. PS5 is the better fit for players who want the widest range of big-budget exclusives, and Xbox Series X for players who value Game Pass and the ability to play four generations of Xbox games.
What is the biggest difference between PS5 and Xbox Series X?
The largest gap is CPU: PS5 lists 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5 GHz while Xbox Series X lists 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.8 GHz. The CPU decides frame-rate stability in simulation-heavy games.
Which is cheaper, PS5 or Xbox Series X?
PS5 is cheaper on price (USD, 2025 list): $549 against $649 for Xbox Series X. Street prices vary by country and retailer, so check current offers.
Who should choose Xbox Series X over PS5?
Xbox Series X is the better fit for players who value Game Pass and the ability to play four generations of Xbox games. Its strongest points are 12 tflops gpu, game pass day-one releases, best backwards compatibility.
Sources
- PS5: Sony official (manufacturer)
- Xbox Series X: Microsoft official (manufacturer)
Specifications last verified: 2026-10-01. Prices are launch or official list prices in US dollars unless stated. See our sources and data policy.