Should You Buy PlayStation 5 (PS5) or Xbox Series X? 5 Ways To Decide

The next generation of gaming is upon us and with it comes once again the most annoying questions, which console is better— PS5 or Xbox Series X?

It’s a question that’s difficult to answer. Especially this time since both Microsoft and Sony seem to be taking completely different directions with their next-gen offerings.

But, if you’re looking to upgrade for a fresh new experience, you’ll still have to decide which console to buy. At $499, both consoles are equally attractive, making it extremely difficult to make a decision.

To help you out, I decided to break down the main aspects of the consoles and their platforms into 5 categories. See if they can help you choose the right system for you.

Which Console Has The Best Games?

Most gamers agree that games are the main reason behind the platforms they choose. For example, some gamers like story games like God of War on PlayStation and some like FPS games like Halo so they choose Xbox.

For next-generation, Sony used its usual approach by releasing some exclusives alongside the PS5. When you buy the PlayStation 5, you’ll be able to play games like Godfall and SpiderMan: Miles Morales to truly experience the next-gen of gaming with RayTracing and fast loading speeds.

Even though Xbox doesn’t have any exclusives for Series X yet, the console comes with the Xbox GamePass. Which gives you instant access to hundreds of games to play. All optimized for Series X.

Xbox Series X is also backward compatible with all older generations of Xbox games. Whereas PS5 is only compatible with PS4 games.

With Microsoft buying Bethesda, we can expect to see some amazing exclusives in the near future like Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6. Along with Fable 4, Halo Infinite, Avowed, and more.

If you want to experience next-gen right now, PS5 is your choice. But, if you don’t mind delayed gratification, go with Xbox Series X.

Which Console Is Faster?

Both PS5 and Series X comes with some impressive technologies. And both consoles are really fast compared to the previous generation.

The new SSDs and RAM upgrades have made both consoles capable of loading games really fast. In fact, Xbox Series X loads The Witcher 3 so fast that it takes a while for the game to catch up.

There have been some comparisons of the speeds and load times between the consoles. And the winner in this battle is Xbox Series X.

Even with the new SSD technologies used by PS5, it falls behind in some areas. But, not by a lot. It’s just a tiny difference.

Which Console Has More Storage?

With you need 250GB of space to install a single game, storage is another important aspect to consider when choosing a console.

xbox series x storage expansion card

In this category, Xbox Series X takes the win. It comes with a 1TB SSD storage with the ability to expand it with external storage.

PS5 only has 825GB storage and only about 670GB is usable. That’s barely enough to install Call of Duty Cold War and Warzone.

Which Console Offer The Best Experience?

Gamers are already going crazy over the amazing new controller that comes with PS5, DualSense. The haptic feedback of this controller is apparently mind-blowing.

When it’s coupled with the new 3D audio technology used by the console, PS5 seems to deliver a truly incredible gaming experience.

Xbox Series X also has some innovative features like quick resume and the ability to run multiple games at the same time.

But PS5 takes the lead in this category for its innovative tech and the beautiful user interface.

Which Console Is Cheaper?

Xbox came out with a cheaper option to let gamers experience next-gen gaming on a budget. Xbox Series S only costs $299 and it’s perfect for gamers who aren’t worried about 4K gaming.

xbox series s - breakdown

When it comes to cost and budget we also need to consider the costs of games. You’ll be spending a lot of money on new games once you buy a next-gen console, which are now priced at $70.

This is where Xbox takes the lead again. With GamePass, you’ll only have to pay about $120 per year to get instant access to a library of games and also get access to new releases without having to buy them separately.

Even though PlayStation has PS Now with loads of games, they still don’t give you access to new games at launch.

In Conclusion

If you still couldn’t make a decision even after going through this list, don’t worry. You don’t have to decide yet. Xbox Series X doesn’t have any worthy exclusives yet. And the exclusives announced for the PS5 are also available on PS4.

So stick with your PS4, you’ll be fine for a long while. Grab a next-gen console when there are enough games to experience it.