PS5 suits players who want Sony's own exclusives, such as Ghost of Yotei and Marvel's Wolverine, and a controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Xbox Series X suits players who want Game Pass, cloud gaming and a console that runs games from four generations of Xbox. If the games you love come from PlayStation Studios, get a PS5; if you'd rather dip into a huge library and keep playing on your phone, get the Series X.
Sony and Microsoft both make fast 4K consoles, so the choice comes down to the games, how you like to get them, and one notice on Sony's own page that anyone with a shelf of game discs should read first. I read PlayStation's PS5 pages, Xbox's Series X and compare pages, and both companies' App Store listings.
PS5 and Xbox Series X side by side
| PS5 | Xbox Series X | |
|---|---|---|
| Disc or digital | Disc and Digital Edition consoles; new games digital only from 2028 | 1TB and 2TB Disc Drive models, or a 1TB All-Digital model |
| Games named on the page | Ghost of Yotei, Marvel's Wolverine, Death Stranding 2 | Gears: E-Day, Fable, Halo: Campaign Evolved |
| Older games | Over 8,500 PS4 games | Titles from four generations of Xbox |
| Performance | Ultra-high speed SSD, 3D Audio | True 4K, up to 120 FPS, 8K HDR |
| Controller | Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers | Xbox Wireless Controller |
| Phone app | PlayStation App: chat, remote downloads, storage | Xbox app: chat, remote installs, Game Pass |
The disc notice on Sony's page
Sony's PS5 page carries an important notice: from the start of 2028, newly released PlayStation games will come out in digital format only, both on PlayStation Store and in shops. Discs for games released before then can still be played on the console. So if you like building a shelf of physical games, lending them to friends or passing them on, that habit has an end date on PlayStation.
Microsoft's new Series X line still includes Disc Drive models in 1TB and 2TB, next to a 1TB All-Digital version in Robot White, and the Xbox pages I read don't mention a similar cut-off. If discs matter to you, that's the first thing to weigh.
What PS5 is built around
PlayStation leans on the feel of play. Sony's page talks up haptic feedback, adaptive triggers that push back as you press, 3D Audio and an ultra-high speed SSD for quick loading. The other big pull is PlayStation Studios, whose games are exclusive to PlayStation consoles, from Ghost of Yotei to Death Stranding 2 and Marvel's Wolverine.
Your old collection comes with you, too. Sony says PS5 consoles play over 8,500 PS4 games, and its Game Boost technology gives smoother frame rates in some of them.
What the new Series X brings
Microsoft describes its new Series X as 25 years in the making, and there's an X25 Limited Edition in translucent green, engraved with its own number and packed with Halo: Campaign Evolved. Under the shell you get true 4K gaming, up to 120 FPS, Quick Resume to jump between several games, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Xbox says the Series X|S were the first consoles to support gaming in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
Smart Delivery is the quiet win: Xbox says you get a supported game once and always get the version made for whichever Xbox you're on. If you'd like a smaller box, the compare page lists the Series S in 512GB or 1TB, all-digital only.
The Xbox side has its own subscription, covered in our Xbox Game Pass plans guide.
Playing away from the television
Xbox goes further here. Its consoles page covers cloud gaming with Game Pass, so you can start a game while it's still downloading, and remote play from your console to a phone or tablet over the internet. Parents can manage children's console time from their phone in real time.
The PlayStation App is more about staying in touch and getting ready to play. You can see which friends are online, voice chat, check trophies, download games to your PS5 before you get home and manage its storage when it fills up.
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Online play on a PlayStation needs a subscription, explained in the PlayStation Plus tiers.
Who each console suits
PS5 suits players who pick up a handful of big story games a year and want them first, plus anyone with a long PS4 history. Xbox Series X suits families and curious players who like trying lots of games, and people who split their time between console, PC and phone. If you play with someone on the sofa, my lists of two-player games for the PS4 and Xbox couch co-op games for two both work on these newer consoles.
My advice on PS5 or Xbox Series X
Write down the five games you most want to play in the year ahead and check which console has them, because that settles it for most people. If they're PlayStation exclusives, get a PS5, and think about whether you'll miss discs once new releases go digital in 2028. If you'd rather sample widely, keep playing on your phone or still want a disc drive, the Series X is the easier fit.
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Frequently asked questions
Will PS5 still play discs after 2028?
Yes, for older games. Sony says discs for games released before 2028 can still be played on PS5; it's new releases from 2028 that come in digital format only.
Does the new Xbox Series X have a disc drive?
Most models do. Xbox lists 1TB and 2TB Disc Drive versions plus a 1TB All-Digital model.
What is Smart Delivery on Xbox?
It's Microsoft's way of letting you get a supported game once and always get the version made for the Xbox console you're using.
Do I need an account for the PlayStation App?
Yes. Sony's App Store listing says the PlayStation App needs an account for PlayStation Network, and some features need a PS5 or PS4.
Can Xbox Series X stream films and shows?
Yes. Xbox says you can stream 4K Ultra HD video from Disney+, Netflix, Hulu and more on Series X|S consoles.
