Console comparison
PlayStation 5 (digital) vs Xbox Series X
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 X
$799.99 · 4K
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| Specification | PlayStation 5 (digital) | Xbox Series X |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Sony | Microsoft |
| US MSRP | Winner: $599.99~£444 indicative | $799.99~£593 indicative |
| Price source | Reference source | Reference source |
| GPU throughput | 10.28 TFLOPS | Winner: 12 TFLOPS |
| Storage | 1000GB | Winner: 1024GB |
| SSD throughput | Winner: 5.5 GB/s | 2.4 GB/s |
| Target resolution | 4K | 4K |
| Portable | No | No |
| Disc drive | none | included |
| 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 X
More graphics throughput than the standard PS5, and the natural choice if a subscription library is the point.
Best for
- Subscription-led play
- Backwards compatibility
- Buyers who still want a disc drive
Watch out
US disc MSRP $799.99 from 1 August 2026. UK post-hike: disc £669.99, digital £619.99. Raw SSD throughput is well under half the PS5's. Microsoft sunset the 2TB Galaxy Black edition with that 1 August 2026 hike — leftover or refurbished stock only, not a current 1TB-disc substitute.
Common questions
PlayStation 5 (digital) vs Xbox Series X
Answered from the verified figures on this page rather than general guidance.
Is PlayStation 5 (digital) or Xbox Series X cheaper?
PlayStation 5 (digital) is cheaper at $599.99, against $799.99 for Xbox Series X — a gap of $200.00. Prices in this category moved several times during 2026, so confirm with a retailer.
Which is more powerful, PlayStation 5 (digital) or Xbox Series X?
Xbox Series X, at 12 TFLOPS against 10.28 — roughly 17% 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.