Microsoft Xbox Series X 1TB vs Sony PlayStation 5
Verdict: The Sony PlayStation 5 wins this by a narrow margin: its SSD hits 5.5 GB/s raw versus 2.4 GB/s on the Xbox Series X (per Digital Foundry), and DualSense haptics/adaptive triggers are the generation's most distinctive input (per RTINGS). Series X answers with 12 TFLOPS versus 10.28 and Digital Foundry's multiplat tests often show it holding higher internal resolutions, plus Game Pass changes the cost-per-game math. CNET and Wirecutter still split the pick by exclusive wishlist — this is a close call if your backlog is mostly third-party.
Winner: Sony PlayStation 5
Microsoft Xbox Series X 1TB: 7.2/10
Sony PlayStation 5: 7.6/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Microsoft Xbox Series X 1TB | Sony PlayStation 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | 12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz (RDNA 2) | 10.28 TFLOPS, 36 CUs @ 2.23 GHz (RDNA 2) |
| CPU | 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.8 GHz (3.66 GHz with SMT) | 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5 GHz (variable frequency) |
| Storage | 1TB custom NVMe SSD, 2.4 GB/s raw / 4.8 GB/s compressed | 1TB custom NVMe SSD (Slim), 5.5 GB/s raw / 8–9 GB/s compressed |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 (10GB @ 560 GB/s, 6GB @ 336 GB/s) | 16GB GDDR6 @ 448 GB/s |
Microsoft Xbox Series X 1TB
What works
- 12 TFLOPS (52 CUs) versus 10.28 TFLOPS on PlayStation 5 — Digital Foundry multiplat tests often show higher internal resolution on Series X
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes day-one first-party releases plus cloud and EA Play for one monthly fee
- Quick Resume keeps multiple titles suspended; 1TB SSD versus the original PS5's 825GB
What doesn't
- Standard Xbox Wireless Controller has no DualSense-class haptics or adaptive triggers
- Console-exclusive first-party list is thinner than PlayStation's (Halo/Forza/Starfield versus God of War, Spider-Man, Last of Us)
Sony PlayStation 5
What works
- Custom SSD at 5.5 GB/s raw (8–9 GB/s compressed) versus 2.4 GB/s raw on Series X (per Digital Foundry)
- DualSense adaptive triggers and haptic actuators — the generation's most distinctive pad (per RTINGS controller coverage)
- First-party catalog includes God of War Ragnarök, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part I/II, Horizon Forbidden West, Astro Bot
What doesn't
- 10.28 TFLOPS versus 12 TFLOPS on Series X; some multiplats run a lower internal resolution on PS5 (per Digital Foundry)
- New releases are typically $70, and PS Plus Extra is a catalog tier, not a day-one first-party Game Pass equivalent
Bottom line
Our pick: Sony PlayStation 5.
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