How do I choose? - PS5 vs Xbox Series X

Summary

The video reviews the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, comparing their performance, load times, and visuals on an 88-inch OLED TV. Despite the PS5's faster SSD, the Xbox often loads games quicker due to its Quick Resume feature. Both consoles offer similar graphics quality, with minor differences in specific games. The PS5's DualSense controller and exclusive games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales are highlighted, while the Xbox excels in backwards compatibility and Game Pass value. The review concludes that both consoles have unique strengths, making it hard to choose between them.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are being compared side by side for performance and visuals.
• 📺 The consoles are tested on an 88-inch OLED TV using HDMI 2.0.
• 🚀 PS5 has a faster SSD with a raw throughput of 5.5 GB/s compared to Xbox's 2.4 GB/s, but this doesn't always translate to faster load times.
• ⏲️ Xbox Series X boots up and wakes from sleep faster than PS5.
• ⚖️ Load times vary by game, with Xbox sometimes faster and PS5 pulling ahead in other instances.
• 🕹️ Xbox's Quick Resume feature offers a significant advantage, missing on PS5.
• 🎨 Game visuals are very similar on both consoles due to similar architecture, but differences exist in certain scenarios.
• 🌿 PS5 may add more background foliage in some games, while Xbox maintains more consistent resolution in others.
• 🕷️ Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS5 showcases ray-traced reflections, enhancing the experience.
• 🎮 PS5's DualSense controller offers advanced haptics and resistive triggers, providing a unique experience.
• 💪 Xbox boasts power, speed, backward compatibility, and value through Xbox Game Pass.
• 🎮 PS5 has strong exclusive titles and a digital console option that's cheaper than Xbox Series S.
• 🔒 The video highlights a partnership between Privacy and 1Password for enhanced security in online transactions.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to compare the performance of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles, including their launch games, loading speeds, and visual quality.

What is the significance of the HDMI 2.0 and 88-inch OLED TV mentioned in the script?

The HDMI 2.0 and 88-inch OLED TV are used to test and display the performance of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles, ensuring a high-quality visual output for the comparison.

What is the raw throughput of the Xbox Series X's SSD compared to the PlayStation 5's SSD?

The Xbox Series X's SSD has a raw throughput of 2.4 gigabytes per second, while the PlayStation 5's SSD more than doubles that to 5.5 gigabytes per second.

Why might the PlayStation 5 not always outperform the Xbox in loading times despite having a faster SSD?

The faster SSD on the PlayStation 5 might be bottlenecked by its slightly slower CPU, which can result in the Xbox loading faster in some cases, especially for games that are not optimized for either system's I/O architecture.

What feature does the Xbox have that is not available on the PlayStation 5 according to the script?

The Xbox has a Quick Resume feature that allows users to quickly return to the action in a game, which is a feature that is sorely missed on the PlayStation 5.

How do the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles compare in terms of visual quality for multi-platform titles?

The visual quality between the consoles is very similar for multi-platform titles due to their architectural similarities, with differences emerging only in specific situations or modes.

What is the main difference between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in terms of next-gen exclusives?

The Xbox Series X does not have any next-gen exclusives at the time of the script, while the PlayStation 5 has titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

What feature of the PlayStation 5's controller, the DualSense, is highlighted in the script?

The DualSense controller's upgraded features, such as resistive triggers and directionality in vibrations, are highlighted as providing a new and exciting experience compared to the Xbox controller.

What are some of the advantages that the Xbox Series X has over the PlayStation 5 according to the script?

The Xbox Series X has advantages such as power, speed, backwards compatibility, and the value offered by financing and Xbox Game Pass.

What does the script suggest about the PS5's storage upgrade solution?

The script suggests that the PS5 has a non-proprietary storage upgrade solution, although it is not yet available for use.

What is the opinion expressed in the script regarding the value of the PS5's all-digital console compared to the Xbox Series S?

The script expresses the opinion that the PS5's all-digital console is more compelling than the Xbox Series S, especially considering its $100 lower price point and equivalent performance to the standard PS5.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Console Wars: PS5 vs Xbox Series X

In this segment, the video script discusses the showdown between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, highlighting their performance in various aspects. The consoles are tested side by side with HDMI 2.0 on an 88-inch OLED TV. The script mentions the significant loading speed improvements due to SSDs, with the PS5 boasting a 5.5 gigabyte per second raw throughput, surpassing the Xbox's 2.4 gigabytes per second. However, the Xbox shows faster boot times and sleep state wake times. The loading times for games vary, with some games loading quicker on the Xbox and others on the PS5. The Xbox's Quick Resume feature is noted as a significant advantage over the PS5. Visual comparisons of multi-platform titles reveal similarities due to their architectural similarities with AMD Zen 3 CPUs and RDNA GPUs. Differences in image quality are noted depending on the game settings, with the PS5 adding more background foliage in Dirt 5, while the Xbox shows better details in certain games. The PS5's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is highlighted for its ray-traced reflections but is noted to not be significantly better than the PS4 version. The PS5's DualSense controller is praised for its upgrades, making the Xbox controller feel dull in comparison.

05:05

💡 Final Thoughts on Console Choices

The second paragraph of the script wraps up the console comparison by discussing the compelling reasons for choosing each console. The Xbox is lauded for its power, speed, backwards compatibility, and the value it offers with financing and Xbox Game Pass. On the other hand, Sony's PlayStation is recognized for its exclusive games, non-proprietary storage upgrade solution, and the all-digital console that offers significant firepower at a lower price. The script concludes with a humorous suggestion to get both consoles, albeit with a recommendation to wait for more exclusives. The video is sponsored by Privacy and 1Password, emphasizing their focus on security and convenience. The script also promotes a feature that allows Privacy users to add virtual cards into their 1Password vault and 1Password users to create virtual cards with customizable spending caps. The video ends with a tease to another gaming video featuring LG's 88-inch OLED with an RTX 3090.

Keywords

💡Console Wars

Console Wars refers to the competition between different video game consoles, typically from rival companies. In the context of the video, it highlights the comparison between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, emphasizing their performance and features as they enter the market during the same period.

💡HDMI 2.0

HDMI 2.0 is a specification for the High-Definition Multimedia Interface that supports higher bandwidth for high-resolution video and audio. The video mentions HDMI 2.0 to describe the connection used to display the consoles' output on an 88-inch OLED TV, indicating the high-quality visual experience expected from the comparison.

💡SSD

SSD stands for Solid State Drive, a type of storage device that uses flash memory to store data and is known for its fast data access speeds. The script discusses the SSDs in both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, highlighting their impact on the consoles' loading speeds, which is a significant aspect of next-gen gaming performance.

💡Raw Throughput

Raw throughput refers to the maximum data transfer rate of a device, in this case, the SSDs in the consoles. The video script compares the raw throughput of the Xbox Series X's SSD at 2.4 gigabytes per second to the PlayStation 5's at 5.5 gigabytes per second, indicating the potential difference in load times between the two consoles.

💡Backwards Compatibility

Backwards compatibility is the ability of a device to work with older software or systems. The script mentions the Xbox's advantage in backwards compatibility, suggesting that it can play games from previous generations more effectively than the PlayStation 5, which is an important feature for gamers with extensive game libraries.

💡Quick Resume

Quick Resume is a feature that allows users to quickly return to the exact point they left off in a game. The video script points out that the Xbox has this feature, which is a significant advantage over the PlayStation 5, as it enhances the gaming experience by reducing downtime when switching between games.

💡RDNA GPU

RDNA GPU refers to the RDNA (Radeon DNA) graphics processing unit architecture developed by AMD. The script notes that both consoles utilize AMD Zen 3 CPUs and RDNA GPUs, which are responsible for the graphical capabilities of the consoles. This architectural similarity contributes to the comparable visual output between the two.

💡Ray-tracing

Ray-tracing is a rendering technique that simulates the physical behavior of light to produce highly realistic lighting and reflections in a scene. The video discusses the inclusion of ray-tracing in Spider-Man: Miles Morales on the PlayStation 5, which adds a new level of realism to the game's visuals, although it is limited to 30 FPS mode.

💡DualSense

DualSense is the name of the PlayStation 5's controller, which has been upgraded with features such as haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone. The script highlights the innovative nature of the DualSense controller, which provides a more immersive gaming experience compared to traditional controllers.

💡Global Settings

Global settings refer to universal toggles or settings that can be applied across different games or applications. The video script mentions the PS5's global settings, which allow for adjustments like game difficulty or performance priorities, providing a more personalized and streamlined gaming experience.

💡Next-Gen Exclusives

Next-gen exclusives are games that are only available on the latest generation of consoles and not on previous ones. The script points out that the Xbox Series X does not have any next-gen exclusives at the time of the video, whereas the PlayStation 5 has titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, which is a significant factor for gamers choosing a console based on game availability.

Highlights

Console Wars D-Day: A side-by-side comparison of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X performance.

HDMI 2.0 into an 88-inch OLED TV for testing console visuals.

Origin PC desktops now customizable with Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards.

PlayStation 5's SSD has a 5.5 gigabyte per second raw throughput, more than doubling Xbox's 2.4 GB/s.

Surprisingly, Xbox Series X boots and wakes from sleep faster than PlayStation 5.

In game loading tests, both consoles show comparable performance with slight advantages in different games.

Xbox's Quick Resume feature is noted as superior to PlayStation 5's current capabilities.

Visual comparison of multi-platform titles shows remarkable similarity due to similar architecture.

Differences in image quality emerge depending on the game's optimization for each console's I/O architecture.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS5 showcases ray-traced reflections but locks into 30 FPS mode.

PS5's DualSense controller receives praise for its upgraded features and haptic feedback.

Xbox Series X lacks next-gen exclusives, while PS5 has Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

PS5 offers global settings for game difficulty, performance priorities, and accessibility options.

Xbox Series X is praised for its power, speed, and value with financing and Xbox Game Pass.

PS5 is noted for its non-proprietary storage upgrade solution and all-digital console option.

Recommendation to potentially wait for more exclusives before choosing a console.

Sponsorship mention of Privacy and 1Password services focusing on security and convenience.

Transcripts

- It's Console Wars D-Day, ladies and gentlemen.

We've got both the PlayStation 5

and Xbox Series here in the studio.

We've got all the launch games you care about,

and we are running HDMI 2.0 into an 88-inch OLED TV.

It's time to put these consoles side by side

and see how they perform mano a mano.

Well, they're not human, but you get it.

Origin PC desktops can now be customized

with Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards.

If you're in the market for a new PC

powered by Nvidia's latest graphics cards

and backed by a 24/7 support team,

check out Origin PC systems at the link below.

(electronic dance music)

We've already heard a ton

about the super-fast loading speeds

on both next-gen consoles, thanks to their SSDs.

The Xbox Series X's SSD

has a raw throughput of 2.4 gigabytes per second,

while the PlayStation 5 more than doubles that

to 5.5 gigabyte per second raw.

So you might expect the PS5 to beat the Xbox

in every test by a wide margin, right?

Well, hold on a minute.

Both booting the consoles cold and waking them from sleep

are faster on the Xbox by a few seconds,

and even when it comes to loading games,

the consoles trade blows.

In Assassin's Creed Valhalla, loading a game from the menu

was a bit quicker on the Xbox, while in Dirt 5,

the PlayStation 5 pulled ahead by a slight margin.

And of course, if the game needs to connect

to an online service before dropping you back in,

that's going to inflate the load times,

no matter what constantly you're planning on.

If you're loading a game from a console sleep state, though,

the Xbox is always faster, at least in our tests.

It seems that the faster SSD on the PlayStation 5

might be being bottle-necked by its slightly slower CPU,

meaning that in almost every backwards compatible game

or games that aren't optimized for either system's

I/O architecture specifically,

the Xbox will likely load faster,

and that's without even mentioning

the Xbox's Quick Resume feature,

which drops you right back into the action

instead of into the game's start menu.

It is sorely missed on the PlayStation 5.

But, considering next-gen load speeds absolutely decimate

the minute-plus wait times of previous consoles,

it's hard to complain

about a few extra seconds here or there.

Now let's compare some game visuals

starting with multi-platform titles.

Wow, these are remarkably similar.

That's because the consoles are architecturally similar

with AMD Zen 3 CPU's and RDNA GPU's, though the Xbox

has a slight advantage in both cases, at least on paper.

In practice, the image quality between the consoles

is very similar, but differences can emerge,

depending on the situation.

Our friends at Digital Foundry have pointed out

that while playing on the favor frame rate mode,

the PlayStation 5 actually adds more background foliage

in Dirt 5, whereas in favor resolution mode,

where the resolution remains locked at 4k

in for looser frame rates,

games either felt slightly smoother, perhaps because the PS5

doesn't have variable refresh rate implemented just yet,

or pushed closer to full res more often on the Xbox,

letting small details

like the car's grills look slightly better.

Some games are more of a toss-up though.

NBA 2K21 looks truly next-gen on both consoles,

except for the visible aliasing.

On the PS5, it's slightly smoother,

but the depth of field effect

and extra per object motion blur on the Xbox

deals with it in its own way.

How about next-gen exclusives, though?

Well, the Series X doesn't have any, which brings us then

to Spider-Man: Miles Morales on the PS5.

While the game looks great, it feels less next-gen

than I had hoped, looking better than the PS4 version,

but not really that much better, which,

if you think about it,

is really just praise for the incredible optimization job

they did on the two-year-old PS4 version.

On the PS5 though, the addition of ray-traced reflections

make swinging through a frozen,

glassy New York feel brand new,

although ray-tracing is locked into the 30 FPS mode.

Once you switch to 60 FPS,

you're probably never gonna go back to ray-tracing,

even if it uses less attractive screen space reflections.

The PS5 has global settings like universal toggles

for game difficulty, performance priorities,

and accessibility options.

Like the Xbox's Quick Resume,

they're just nice to have things.

Strangely though, the thing I found most exciting

about my experience on the was actually the controller.

Yes, the DualSense has been upgraded with a mic,

USB Type-C charging, and resistive triggers,

which make the Xbox triggers

feel dull and boring in comparison.

Until today, I gotta say, I never really imagined

feeling directionality in the vibrations of a controller.

The experience was something totally new,

like hearing a stereo recording after a life of mono.

In conclusion, you can't go wrong with either choice.

Each console offers a compelling set of reasons

why it's the best console.

Xbox has power, speed, backwards compatibility,

and the value with financing and Xbox Game Pass.

But, while Sony doesn't have a real competitor to Game Pass,

they do have some proven studios

making amazing exclusive games right now.

They've got a non-proprietary storage upgrade solution,

although you can't quite upgrade just yet,

and they've got an all-digital console

that packs all of the firepower

of it's more expensive sibling for a $100 cheaper,

making it look to me way more compelling

than the Xbox Series S.

Man, these guys are really not making it easy.

What do you say, Colton?

Should we just get both?

- [Colton] Oh, yeah.

- Oh yeah, just get both.

Probably hold off a little bit for more exclusives, though,

but eventually, we'll get both.

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If you guys enjoyed this video,

maybe check out the other gaming video we did

on LG's 88-inch OLED trying it out with an RTX 3090.

Pretty flipping unbelievable.

(electronic dance music)