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 26, 2026Prices from secondary reporting — confirm with a retailer
Sony
PlayStation 5 (digital)
$599.99 · 4K
Microsoft
Xbox Series X
$799.99 · 4K
Amazon UK search links are provided for current availability; no affiliate programme is currently configured, and no live price is claimed here. Affiliate disclosure.
| Specification | PlayStation 5 (digital) | Xbox Series X |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | ||
| Maker | Sony | Microsoft |
| US MSRP | ||
| US MSRP | Winner: $599.99UK RRP £519.99 | $799.99UK RRP £669.99 |
| Price source | ||
| Price source | Reference source | Reference source |
| GPU throughput | ||
| GPU throughput | 10.28 TFLOPS | Winner: 12 TFLOPS |
| Storage | ||
| Storage | 1000GB | Winner: 1024GB |
| SSD throughput | ||
| SSD throughput | Winner: 5.5 GB/s | 2.4 GB/s |
| Target resolution | ||
| Target resolution | 4K | 4K |
| Portable | ||
| Portable | No | No |
| Disc drive | ||
| Disc drive | none | included |
| UK street price | ||
| UK street price | Search Amazon (opens in new tab) | Search Amazon (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.