The next generation of gaming consoles PlayStation 5 by Sony and Xbox Series X by Microsoft is finally upon us. A detailed specs sheet was revealed this week by these two giants from the world of consoles. Both have come up over the horizon but the first impression might unveil some notable technical specification. Let’s kick off by getting to know the features of each console in detail.
Both platforms have revealed that they will be launching the final products at the end of this year. So, we only have bits and pieces of information about the performance, internal specifications and they will deal with the next-gen games in future. Microsoft took the lead to reveal its specs for Xbox Series X and then Sony followed the bandwagon and revealed PS 5 specs. If we look into the similarities and differences of these two platforms: and there are some shockingly enormous contrasts between the PS5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X. Sony and Microsoft have picked up the same CPU, but they radically differ in terms of GPU and SSD speeds.
PS 5 & Xbox Series X – Clocks, GPU, RAM & Storage
PlayStation 5 has gone for SSD speeds while Xbox has opted for raw GPU power. The PS 5 console has 8 AMD-based Zen 2 cores clocked at 3.5GHz each, whereas Sony’s Series X runs with 8 AMD-based Zen 2 cores clocked at 3.8GHz each. With simultaneous multithreading (SMT) enabled on the Xbox Series X, Microsoft’s CPU cores drop to 3.6GHz each, so the net effect remains the same as far as the performance of both consoles matter.
It’s the GPU and SSD sides where the PS5 and Xbox Series X truly differ. Sony has decided on a custom AMD RDNA 2-based GPU inside the PS5, which furnishes 10.28 teraflops of power with 36 compute units running at 2.23GHz each. Microsoft has picked a custom AMD RDNA 2-based GPU for the Xbox Series X, yet it can hit 12 teraflops of power with 52 compute units at 1.825GHz each.
Xbox Series X will have 16GB of GDDR6 RAM. The Xbox One X utilizes 12GB of GDDR5 RAM, and even a little lift to this would almost certainly be adequate for next-gen games. We also realize it will have best specs like a variable refresh rate, Variable Refresh Rate Shading technology, and a low-latency mode so that the owner of the console can experience real-time responses out of the games.
PS 5 & Xbox Series X – Design
Sony has not talked about the design secret of PS 5 and it is not expected until the final launch date. Microsoft, on the other hand, has revealed the first look last year and just earlier this week, the company has openly discussed Xbox Series X’s dimensions and design structure. According to the company’s official announcement on Twitter, the Xbox Series X will look like a PC tower. It is bigger than the Xbox One X and Xbox One S systems, yet at the same time includes a power button and disc drives at the front. The top of the console is designed in a way to have a better airflow. The stand out feature is that it can be placed horizontally in order to fit into the gatherings or entertainment centers.
PS 5 & Xbox Series X – Controller
It seems as if Sony has answers to all of the questions. The PS5’s official controller doesn’t have a name yet — probably, it will be known as the DualShock 5 — yet Sony has nitty gritty details of what we can anticipate from Xbox Series X. In an interview with Wired, Sony uncovered that it would discard customary rumble motors in response to the haptic feedback. This new innovation will consider progressively explicit reactions and responses in games, for example, opposition in the analogue sticks when you are strolling on a rough surface. The controller will also enable you to enjoy gaming experience as smoothly as that of you copying phone data into your laptop.
Moreover, the controller will also have a powerful battery than its predecessor. This is Sony’s great effort to overcome the biggest pitfall in the DualShock 4 in the current generation.
The PlayStation VR worked for PS5 could also be getting another controller, if a Sony patent filing is any sign.
PS 5 & Xbox Series X – Which is better
Based on the explicit specs alone, the Microsoft Xbox Series X could have an edge over PlayStation 5. The current unveiling also indicated that Microsoft is using a proprietary storage solution for the Xbox Series X.We have no idea about the pricing on the cards for both of these consoles at the moment but proprietary storage is surely going to be in lots of bucks.
Sony appears to have a competitive advantage over Series X due to its speed and ease of upgrades. However, it’s not discussed how much these features will impact real-time gaming experience. Microsoft has talked up some AI capacities of the Xbox Series X dependent on its capacity to deal with 4-bit and 8-bit integers. It’s not clear if Sony’s RDNA2 GPU has a comparative capacity.
The Bottom Line
In view of specs that we know so far, the lead position is given to Microsoft — however it’s an open-ended discussion and the final verdict will come at the forefront once we have our hands-on the two next generation consoles. If we take a glance at the historical backdrop of game consoles, the hardware does not always define the success of a console. Microsoft’s Xbox Series X has been an impressive device up until now, but the Sony PlayStation 5 is also not budged behind. Wait and watch would be the best strategy for these next – gen gaming consoles.
