Console comparison
PlayStation 5 (digital) vs Xbox Series S (1TB)
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 (1TB)
$599.99 · 1440p
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| Specification | PlayStation 5 (digital) | Xbox Series S (1TB) |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Sony | Microsoft |
| US MSRP | $599.99~£444 indicative | $599.99~£444 indicative |
| Price source | Reference source | Reference source |
| GPU throughput | Winner: 10.28 TFLOPS | 4 TFLOPS |
| Storage | 1000GB | Winner: 1024GB |
| 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 (1TB)
The 1TB digital Xbox — same 1440p target as the 512GB model but with double the storage for Game Pass libraries.
Best for
- Game Pass households
- Digital-only 1440p
- Buyers who need more than 512GB
Watch out
US 1TB MSRP $599.99 from 1 August 2026; UK £519.99. No disc drive; 1440p-focused rather than 4K. Raw SSD throughput is under half the PS5's.
Common questions
PlayStation 5 (digital) vs Xbox Series S (1TB)
Answered from the verified figures on this page rather than general guidance.
Is PlayStation 5 (digital) or Xbox Series S (1TB) cheaper?
Both are $599.99 at RRP, so price will not decide between them.
Which is more powerful, PlayStation 5 (digital) or Xbox Series S (1TB)?
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.