Console comparison
PlayStation 5 (digital) vs Xbox Series S
Compared on price, graphics throughput, storage and the thing specifications never capture: what each one is actually for.
Verified September 2, 2026Prices from secondary reporting — confirm with a retailer
Sony
PlayStation 5 (digital)
$599.99 · 4K
Microsoft
Xbox Series S
$499.99 · 1440p
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| Specification | PlayStation 5 (digital) | Xbox Series S |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Sony | Microsoft |
| US MSRP | $599.99~£444 indicative | Winner: $499.99~£370 indicative |
| Price source | Reference source | Reference source |
| GPU throughput | Winner: 10.28 TFLOPS | 4 TFLOPS |
| Storage | Winner: 1000GB | 512GB |
| SSD throughput | Winner: 5.5 GB/s | 2.4 GB/s |
| Target resolution | 4K | 1440p |
| Portable | No | No |
| Disc drive | none | none |
| UK street price | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) | Search Amazon UK(paid link) (opens in new tab) |
US MSRP is the reported RRP for the standard configuration — not a live UK street price. Use the Amazon UK buttons to check current UK availability.
PlayStation 5 (digital)
Digital-only mainstream PlayStation — same throughput as the disc PS5 minus the optical drive and at a lower sticker.
Best for
- PlayStation exclusives
- All-digital households
- Buyers who want PS5 without the disc premium
Watch out
No disc drive — physical media and cheap pre-owned games are out. UK RRP £519.99 (Slim digital, from PlayStation Blog). The 1TB drive still fills quickly — plan for an external SSD.
Xbox Series S
The cheapest current Xbox: digital-only, 512GB, and aimed at 1440p rather than competing on 4K fidelity.
Best for
- Budget Game Pass entry
- Digital-only households
- 1440p living-room play
Watch out
US 512GB MSRP $499.99 from 1 August 2026. UK post-hike: 512GB £429.99, 1TB £519.99 — the 512GB SKU now sits above Switch 2’s UK RRP (£395.99) through August. The 512GB drive fills quickly, and there is no disc drive — physical games need Series X or another platform.
Common questions
PlayStation 5 (digital) vs Xbox Series S
Answered from the verified figures on this page rather than general guidance.
Is PlayStation 5 (digital) or Xbox Series S cheaper?
Xbox Series S is cheaper at $499.99, against $599.99 for PlayStation 5 (digital) — a gap of $100.00. Prices in this category moved several times during 2026, so confirm with a retailer.
Which is more powerful, PlayStation 5 (digital) or Xbox Series S?
PlayStation 5 (digital), at 10.28 TFLOPS against 4 — roughly 157% more graphics throughput. In practice that shows up in resolution and frame-rate modes on cross-platform games rather than in whether a game runs at all.