xbox_one_oder_playstation_4

PS4 vs Xbox One: Which console is the best? Xbox One vs PS4: We examine Microsoft and Sony’s consoles and see how the price, specs, features, games, accessories and more compare to see which console you should buy. 2017 has been a huge year for console gamers, with hardware taking a huge leap forward, particularly in the Xbox family. Last year we saw the launch of the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S, two new hardware iterations that improved upon the 2013 originals with a range of cool new features. The PS4 Pro is a solid upgrade over the PS4, capable of upscaling specific games to 4K using a sophisticated checker-boarding technique. It can also enhance performance using the newly implemented Boost Mode with increased frame rates across multiple titles. Xbox One S, on the other hand, is a smaller, more refined machine complete with a 4K Blu-ray player and HDR support. These are impressive machines, yet both may pale in comparison to Xbox One X. The arrival of the Xbox One S changes the game somewhat. It’s essentially the machine the Xbox One should have been at launch. It’s smaller, more attractive and comes with some serious benefits, such as 4K video playback, support for HDR TVs. There are plenty of reasons to pick up either console depending on your personal preferences. PS4 tends to offer superior performance over Xbox One when it comes to third-party games. Xbox One owners have access to a library of IP not found anywhere else. Halo, Gears of War, Forza and more will forever be at home on Microsoft’s system. Sony has its own set of exclusive games which won’t be available on the Xbox One. Uncharted, Gran Turismo Sport, God of War, Death Stranding, Persona 5, Street Fighter V and The Last Guardian to name just a few. Based on Windows 10, Xbox One’s unique interface – which aims to bring together a multitude of media connections into a single channel – is also worth taking into account if you want a console which is the centre of your entertainment world. In this article we will explore the price differences, exclusive games, design and the all-important controllers. PS4 vs Xbox One Price: How much do they cost? These days, it’s easy to find both consoles at a bargain price bundled with a couple of games and a sizeable hard drive. The Xbox One has been discontinued, but some retailers will still sell the older hardware to shift stock. But the Xbox One S, thanks to the launch of the One X, is now available for incredibly cheap prices for decent bundles. It’s quite possible to get a One S and a game or two for just £200. Also if you’d like to expand the storage capacity, Xbox One consoles support the use of external hard drives which are available for good prices too. Sign up for the newsletter. Get news, competitions and special offers direct to your inbox. PS4 Slim, which is now the standard model going forward, retails for £249 with a 500GB hard drive as standard. As is the case with Xbox One, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding bundles that throw in a couple of games. Larger memory variants can also be found, or you could upgrade the PS4 hard drive yourself. View now: PS4 Slim at Amazon. PS4 Pro is a little more pricey, currently sitting at £349 with a 1TB hard drive. The console itself is twice as powerful, so a £100 premium isn’t bad at all. Unfortunately, stock at most retailers has been intermittent at best since launch, so you might need to shop around. Xbox One S is naturally more expensive than the original model, with the limited edition 2TB version (now entirely sold out, according to Microsoft) costing £349.99. The 500GB and 1TB models are noticeably cheaper, costing £249.99 and £299.99 respectively. PS4 vs Xbox One: Specs. When comparing all four consoles there are plenty of differences to take into account. To make things easier, we’ve compiled them into a single table: PS4 vs Xbox One: Dimensions. We could go into the ins and out of the differences between the designs of the PS4 and Xbox One, but if you’re the type of person that loves a snazzy looking piece of kit on your shelf, here’s what you need to know: The original Xbox One is a lot larger than the PS4, measuring up at 7.9 x 27.4 x 33.3cm compared to the PS4’s 5.3 x 27.5 x 30.5cm dimensions. PS4 vs Xbox One – Controllers. Before we go into any major detail, check out the two controllers in all their splendour below: Both bear the genetic material of their forebears, but the DualShock 4 feels like more of a change. Microsoft has stuck with what worked so well in the Xbox 360 controller, and as such the Xbox One pad is more of a tweak than a full redesign. There are two main changes. The Xbox One pad has rumble motors built into the triggers to give greater feedback when, for example, shooting guns. But those rumble triggers easily make the Xbox One the better console to play racing games on – sorry, DriveClub and Gran Turismo Sport. Microsoft has also made huge improvements to the D-pad. The mushy Xbox 360 D-pad has been switched for one more clicky and responsive, and already works wonders on the likes of Killer Instinct and Mortal Kombat X. Sadly, the Xbox One controller still requires a pair of AA batteries as standard, rather than being rechargeable like the PS4’s DualShock 4. You’ll probably want to buy the Play and Charge kit separately for each controller for £19 a go. However, if you do stick to AA batteries, you’ll definitely see your Xbox One controller pack a longer play time than the PS4 controller, which requires regular charging via micro-usb. The DualShock 4’s changes are more marked. It’s chunkier than the previous DualShock controllers and a lot heavier too, giving a firmer feel than the last-gen DualShock 3 pad. After all that, have we really found a victor? Not as such. If you loved the Xbox 360 pad, you’ll probably prefer the Xbox One controller. However, the DualShock 4 has a robust feel that previous PlayStation pads simply haven’t had. There’s also the Xbox One Elite Controller to consider, which is available now – albeit in limited quantities. If you’re willing to pay the staggering £120 you can get yourself this customisable controller. It’s just perfect for those looking to get a more professional gaming experience from a pad. Swappable D-pad and analogue sticks, Hair Trigger Locks, interchangeable rear paddles and a rubberised diamond grip and customisable inputs thanks to a companion app for Xbox One and PC; you pretty much couldn’t want any more from a controller. To make your purchasing choice even more difficult, it’s worth mentioning that the revised Xbox One S controller brings improvements to the table, too. It boasts a new textured grip, swappable covers, an extended operational range and Bluetooth built-in, which means you can use it with your PC. PS4 vs Xbox One – Exclusive Games. Each console has amassed a hugely impressive library of games since November 2013, many of which you can’t play anywhere else. The best selection is down to your personal taste, with each company hosting a variety of essential first-party talent. We’ve put together some of our favourites below, all of which are worth checking out. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – Nathan Drake’s swansong is an utterly captivating adventure that tells a heartfelt story while thrusting you through a series of explosive set-pieces. The Last of Us Remastered – Yet another masterpiece by Naughty Dog, Joel and Ellie’s post-apocalyptic tale sets a new benchmark in gaming storytelling that isn’t to be missed. The Last Guardian – After ten years of waiting The Last Guardian is finally here. Team Ico’s latest effort is a beautiful tale of companionship propelled by its mystifying world. Bloodborne – This could be From Software’s finest work yet, transcending the masterful Dark Souls with a dark, gothic setting and truly brutal combat. Yakuza 0 – This hugely underrated series features varied combat, hysterical minigames and a genuinely compelling narrative based on the Japanese Mafia. Ratchet and Clank – Acting as a complete remake of the original platformer, this is easily one of the best-looking titles on PS4. It’s also a lot of fun! Best Xbox One exclusives. Gears of War 4 – Marcus Fenix is back with all new characters and enemies in Gears 4. The gruesome mixture of cover-based movement and melodic shooting is arguably better than ever. Halo 5: Guardians – 343 Industries has done an excellent job with The Reclaimer Trilogy thus far, with Guardians acting as solid middle chapter in Master Chief’s journey. Ori and the Blind Forest – This gorgeous platformer will make you cry like a baby and scream in frustration with its touching story and challenging gameplay. Rare Replay – Compiling over 30 games from the legendary developer, Rare Replay is a nostalgic trip well worth taking. I mean, who can say no to Viva Pinata? Forza Horizon 3 – One of the finest racers of this generation, Horizon 3 is absolutely packed with hundreds of cars, events and a blistering open world to explore. Quantum Break – This time travelling shooter boasts some commendable star power alongside its range of time-bending abilities. PS4 vs Xbox One – Conclusion. PS4 is a multi-faceted console with plenty of unique features and a bustling library of worthwhile exclusives. Players looking for expansive JRPGs and niche experiences will find so much to love PS4, as well as gaining the upper hand in performance with the majority of third-party titles. PS4 Pro has come into its own since its release, offering benefits beyond its 4K upscaling with its newly introduced Boost Mode. PlayStation VR is the cherry-on-top for PS4 owners, so long as you’re willing to invest in the fancy new peripheral. Xbox One is also a brilliant option to consider, boasting the likes of Halo, Forza and Gears of War under its blockbuster umbrella. Ever since Phil Spencer took charge of the brand we’ve seen the focus shift towards games, despite the cancellation of high-profile exclusives like Scalebound. You also have Xbox Play Anywhere, a service that gives you 2 digital games for the price of one across Xbox One and Windows 10. The recent release of Xbox One S will more than certainly keep us entertained until the arrival of Project Scorpio later this year. Console smackdown! PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One. By Doug Gross, CNN. Updated 2346 GMT (0746 HKT) November 13, 2013. Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Story highlights. PlayStation 4 goes on sale Friday; Xbox One follows on November 22 It's been more than seven years since Sony and Microsoft had new consoles The two will compete for the loyalty of "core" gamers Rival Nintendo's Wii U was released last year. JUST WATCHED. See the Xbox One and PS 4 in action. MUST WATCH. JUST WATCHED. Exclusive: Sony has high hopes for PS4. MUST WATCH. JUST WATCHED. Watch a demo of Xbox One. MUST WATCH. Set edition preference: U.S. International Confirm U.S. International Arabic Español. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. TechRadar. PS4 vs Xbox One: which is better? The definitive showdown between Xbox One and PS4. The Xbox One vs PS4 comparison is more important in 2017 than ever because both consoles are infinitely more powerful than the previous generation and both Sony and Microsoft tout their hardware as the absolute best. Who's right? Well, currently, there are two separate versions of both console: Sony has PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim, while Microsoft has the Xbox One X and Xbox One S. The PS4 Pro and Xbox One X represent the high-end 4K gaming, with the PS4 Slim and Xbox One S are a much better value for gamers with HD TVs. Microsoft has the lead in the 4K gaming sphere with the powerful Xbox One X - a system that's capable of playing games in native 4K resolution. The PS4 Pro, on the other hand, is only capable of upscaling games to 4K but has the advantage of having a stronger stable of first-party exclusive games. The PS4 vs Xbox One comparison all starts with the price and bundles. PS4 vs Xbox One price comparison. The PS4 and Xbox One prices seem to change by the week, with price drops and bundle deals coming and going faster than handheld PlayStation systems. While all these bundles are great for consumers, it can be hard to keep up with the latest pricing info. So, in an effort to cut through the noise, here are the latest prices and bundles for each console. The Xbox One X is clearly the newest console with few discount available, while the PS4 Pro is now a year old, as of this month. It's seeing more discounts and gives you a bit more power than the PS4 Slim while still staying at a reasonable price. If you want to dial back the cost of either console, check out the latest prices for the Xbox One S and PS4 Slim. Additional reading. Want to compare the slim consoles? Check out our guide to the PS4 Slim vs the Xbox One S. Want to compare 4K apples-to-4K apples? Our PS4 Pro vs Xbox One X guide will give you just that. Look, we can sit here and mete out the differences between each iteration of the consoles, but we really don’t want to be here all day – so, instead we’re going to compare the entire ecosystem of each platform. If you want to really look into the fine details, we have you covered below. Don’t worry. And, don’t forget that Black Friday is coming soon, which you can bet will entail lots of deals on both consoles. PS4 vs Xbox One sales. Both Sony and Microsoft have approached this generation completely differently – with Sony focusing entirely on games, and Microsoft focusing more on having the Xbox One as more of an all-around home theater device. Sony took an early lead this generation, and has currently sold an astounding 70 million PS4s over the last 4 years – more than doubling Microsoft’s 30 million sales. A pretty big part of the reason that Sony dominated Microsoft was that focus that we mentioned earlier. They put all of their attention on building a great game library – and it’s paid off. Don’t write Microsoft off though, 30 million units is nothing to shake your head at, and with the recent release of the Xbox One X, they stand a pretty good chance of closing a bit of that gap. Hardware Versions and Design. Both consoles are available in two different versions, one budget and one premium The PS4 has a slim version and a 4K PS4 Pro The Xbox has the Xbox One S and Xbox One X. Both the Xbox One and the PS4 have two separate hardware versions that you can buy right now. This is different than in the past, when each console existed on its own, and lasted an entire generation. The Xbox One S improved on the design of the original Xbox One by cutting down a lot of the heft, and removing the gigantic power brick – instead opting for an internal power supply. It measures at just 11.6 x 8.9 x 2.5 inches and unlike the previous version includes a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray player and can even upscale 1080p games to 4K, as long as you have a TV that can support it. The Xbox One X might be heftier than the Xbox One S, but it’s still considerably smaller than the original Xbox One, measuring in at 11.81 x 9.44 x 2.36 inches and weighing around 8.4 lbs and also opted for an internal power supply. This is the high-powered version of the Xbox One, that allows for native 4K gaming and, much like the Xbox One S, includes a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray player, something that not even the PS4 Pro can boast. Our guide to the Xbox One X vs Xbox One S vs Xbox One will clue you in as to the differences in the Xbox family. Then starting out the PS4 side of the equation, the PS4 Slim is straight up the smallest of the major consoles available right now, measuring in at 10.4 x 11.3 x 1.5 inches and serving as the baseline PS4 for most consumers, serving as a complete replacement for the original PS4. It doesn’t allow for even 4K video playback, but it can still play the entire killer PS4 game library. The PS4 was the original 4K console, coming out an entire year before the Xbox One X – even if the ‘X’ eventually outpowered it. It measures in at 12.8 x 11.6 x 2.1 inches. While the PS4 Pro does to at least some extent support native 4K gaming, it doesn’t include a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-Ray Player, an omission that has caught Sony some flak over the last year or so. Our guide to the PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro outlines the differences between the consoles in more detail. Xbox One vs PS4 connectivity. You can't upgrade Xbox One's internal hard drive, but you can on the PS4. Both consoles support the use of external hard drives. The Xbox One has more ports on its rear. Depending on how your gaming setup is organised, the connectivity of your console could be an extremely important detail. Both the Xbox One S and X have identical ports, each including two HDMI ports, one for receiving an input from a cable or satellite box, and one that inputs to your TV. On top of those, they’ve each got two USB 3 ports, IR outputs, optical audio out, Ethernet ports and, of course, the power cable – which is compatible with both versions of the Xbox. However, due to the quick and tragic downfall of Kinect, if you want to use a Kinect with either version of the Xbox One you’ll have to go out and get an adapter. The PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim have similar inputs, although they are slightly different. Each has a single HDMI out, a single USB port in the back (two in the front), an Ethernet port, and power. The only difference between the Pro and the Slim is that the Pro has an Optical Audio out, while the Slim drops it. One of the most compelling things about the connectivity of the PS4, however, is that both versions allow users to swap out the internal hard drive with one of their choice. All versions of both the Xbox One and PS4 support 802.11 ac Wi-Fi and gigabit Ethernet. So no matter which console you decide on, you won’t have to worry about network compatibility. PS4 and Xbox One are void of remarkable characteristics on the front. There's a Blu-ray/DVD combo drive to the left (which can play Ultra HD Blu-rays on the Xbox One S and Xbox One X) and their respective, muted-color logos to the right. PS4 has a pair of USB ports tucked between its sandwich-like halves next to where the disc drive is located. The best PS4 prices and bundles. Now that we've taken you through the positives and negatives of each console you've probably got a good idea of which is the one for you. Fortunately, we're not going to leave you hanging there – over the next couple of pages you'll find the best deals available for each console to help you take your decision to its final destination. Decided that the PS4 and Sony's attractive exclusives are perfect for you? Below you'll find the best PlayStation 4 deals you can get at the moment. The best Xbox One prices and bundles. Is it the Xbox One that's won you over? We understand, that 4K Blu-ray player is hard to resist. There are some fantastic deals on the latest model of Microsoft's consoles and below you'll find the latest and greatest: Check out our guide to the best soundbars if you want to give your console's audio a boost. Current page: Introduction and design. Related news. Tech deals, prizes and latest news. Get the best tech deals, reviews, product advice, competitions, unmissable tech news and more! No spam, we promise. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details without your permission. Samsung Galaxy S9 release date, price, news and rumors. SIM only deals: the best plans in February 2018. 3 reasons why now is a terrible time to buy a new smartphone. Best fitness tracker 2018: the top 10 activity bands on the planet. How to photograph the moon: an easy way to shoot moon pictures full of detail. LibreOffice 6.0 makes it easier than ever to switch from Microsoft Office. 3 reasons why now is a terrible time to buy a new smartphone. Exciting new iOS 12 features reportedly shelved so Apple can focus on reliability. Google buys part of HTC's phone business, including Pixel team. Honor releases the 7X in a limited edition Red colorway - just in time for Valentine’s Day! TechRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury , Bath BA1 1UA . All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. PlayStation 4 2016 Slim vs Xbox One S Comparison Chart. The new 2016 PlayStation 4 slim model and the Xbox One S differ in several important ways. The chart below compares and contrasts technical features and specifications between the two consoles. PlayStation 4 Price and Bundles Previous. PS4 2016 Slim Model. © 1996-2018 Ziff Davis, LLC. We have updated our PRIVACY POLICY and encourage you to read it by clicking here. IGN uses cookies and other tracking technologies to customize online advertisements, and for other purposes. IGN supports the Digital Advertising Alliance principles. Learn More. PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S. This page contains a comparison between the Playstation 4 Pro and the Xbox One S. There are several important differences between the two, as noted in the comparison chart below. Several statistics, such as the CPU, GPU and available RAM have not been disclosed by the manufacturer of both platforms. This information will be update when it is made available. 4K Video / Games. How to Transfer Data and Saves to PlayStation 4 Pro Previous. PS4 Pro Game Upgrades and Differences. © 1996-2018 Ziff Davis, LLC. We have updated our PRIVACY POLICY and encourage you to read it by clicking here. IGN uses cookies and other tracking technologies to customize online advertisements, and for other purposes. IGN supports the Digital Advertising Alliance principles. Learn More. Xbox One S vs PS4 Pro: Which console is better? PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Which console should you get? PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: We take a look at Sony and Microsoft’s current flagship consoles and see how the specs, features, games and more compare to see which machine is right for you. As well as comparing the two consoles, we’ll also answer plenty of common questions thrown around: PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Console Performance. The difference in performance between PS4 Pro and Xbox One S is pretty major, with the former having significantly higher specs while the latter represents a relatively modest upgrade over its predecessor. Xbox One S is essentially the same machine as the 2013 launch model in terms of internal specs. There are minor differences when it comes to performance, although you’re unlikely to notice any discernible changes. PS4 Pro has received minor CPU improvements that have allowed for better performance in some kinds. Project Cars, for example, sees a 38 percent increase in performance with the PS4 Pro Boost Mode enabled. Unfortunately, visual quality remains unchanged. We’ve compiled all of the specs below: However, the Xbox One S is still the best Xbox One on the market. That is, until the Xbox One X launches in just a few weeks. The PS4 Pro is a different beast when compared to the Xbox One S. Its internal components are a big improvement over the original model, as you can see in the above spec list. The newly implemented Boost Mode also allows players to gain extra benefits such as higher framerates across significantly more games, even those lacking a PS4 Pro-specific patch. PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – Dimensions. The PS4 Pro is quite a bit wider than the Xbox One S, measuring in at 295 x 327 x 55mm where the One S is 229 x 292 x 63.5mm. It’s also longer, but ever so slightly thinner. PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – Resolution and HDR gaming. Both the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S support HDR (High Dynamic Range). For more on this colourful new feature you can check out our HDR article. The standard PS4 and PS4 Slim also now supports HDR thanks to a post-launch patch. The core difference here isn’t HDR, but instead resolution: the PS4 Pro has the ability to output games at a resolution higher than Full HD. Since release we have seen certain titles render at a native 4K resolution while others settle for an upscaled alternative. Several developers are aiming for something “close to 4K resolution” with all future projects. Sign up for the newsletter. Get news, competitions and special offers direct to your inbox. Whatever the elevated resolution is then be upscaled to 4K. If you’re playing in Full HD, you’ll end up with smoother anti-aliasing, meaning the divisions between objects on screen will be much smoother than on the regular PS4. Many of the PS4 Pro supported titles use a 4K “checkerboard” rendering technique that subsequently improves textures and specular effects, making for a cleaner, crisper overall image without putting out a native 4K resolution. Developers are also free to take advantage of the additional power of the Pro however they see fit. In the instance of the recent, excellent Nioh, players were given the choice whether to play the game with a higher resolution or framerate with multiple settings, much like PC players enjoy. The Xbox One S only upscales games to 4K with no enhancements aside from HDR, as mentioned above. PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – Boost Mode vs Ultra HD Blu-Ray. Features-wise, the two are very similar, but there’s one key differentiator that gives the Xbox One S a massive boost, and that’s its Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Incredibly, despite owning the UHD Blu-ray standard, Sony has chosen not to include the technology in its flagship console. 4K streaming is supported on YouTube and Netflix for both consoles, with more services on the way. When it first launched the PS4 Pro was only capable of improving visuals and performance on titles officially patched by developers. However, this all changed with the arrival of Boost Mode, a new feature introduced in the PS4’s 4.50 firmware update. When activated from the settings menu, this feature will improve performance of all PS4 titles, regardless if they’ve been patched or not. Of course, the results are mixed. We’ll discover more about this new feature as it emerges from beta testing in the near future, along with which games best benefit from the rewards of Boost Mode. View now: PS4 Pro at Amazon. PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – What games can I play on it? Both the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S support all existing games, whether they be physical or digital. Those wishing to upgrade don’t need to worry about re-purchasing their entire library. In terms of games with visual benefits, specific games have been upgraded for both systems to support HDR content, with PS4 Pro being the only one to benefit from higher resolutions at the time of writing. We’ve compiled some specific games for each system below, including some of the things you can expect. Resident Evil 7 – Capcom’s latest survival horror masterpiece benefits hugely from HDR. The virtual reality experience is also enhanced by PS4 Pro with enhanced visuals on PlayStation VR. The Last Guardian – Having launched with support for 4K and 1080p performance modes, Team Ico’s latest effort is a sight to behold. HDR is also supported on the standard PS4. The Last of Us Remastered – Naughty Dog’s modern classic is a great showpiece for HDR. It also supports 4K at 60fps, which is nothing to sniff at. Hitman – HDR support is absent, although both performance and textures are boosted on PS4 Pro. Rise of the Tomb Raider – One of the shining examples of PS4 Pro upgrades. Crystal Dynamics has implemented visual improvements in both 4K and 1080p for Pro owners. Battlefield 1 – The framerate across epic multiplayer battles receives a huge boost thanks to PS4 Pro, helped further by additional terrain detail on each map. Gears of War 4 – Acting as the pioneering example of HDR on Xbox One S, Gears of War 4 was the first of a few select titles to support the feature. Forza Horizon 3 – Heralded as one of 2016’s best racers, Horizon 3 looks even better with a healthy dose of HDR on Xbox One S. Final Fantasy 15 – It turns out HDR is just what Noctis and friends needed, adding an extra helping of colour to the JRPG’s gorgeous open world. ReCore – It may have felt somewhat unfinished and underwhelming, but ReCore was a gorgeous sight to behold at times. The sandy environments are made even better with HDR enabled. We’ll be updating this list as new titles are added, so be sure to check back. PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – Conclusion. The Xbox One S and PS4 Pro are two very different consoles. It’s clear Microsoft has focused on delivering 4K video content, while Sony has tried its best to produce a more powerful console designed with gaming in mind. The upcoming Boost Mode feature is bound to sway a lot of consumers looking for a genuine difference between the Pro and original PS4. Which of these consoles is best for you can differ depending on your love for fancy visuals, top notch games or 4K video content. If you haven’t found yourself wishing for higher framerates and crisper visuals on your current console than upgrading might not be the right choice, especially if you’re yet to invest in a 4K display. You could also wait for the Xbox One X, which is just a few weeks away from launch, but costs more than both consoles. Which console will you be buying? Let us know in the comments below. Review: The Xbox One Versus the PlayStation 4. The Gaming Console Winner. Molly Wood tests the Sony PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One and declares one gaming console the winner. By Clare Major and Vanessa Carr on Publish Date February 12, 2014. . Watch in Times Video » A philosophical war is being waged in the world of video game consoles. One view is represented by Microsoft’s Xbox One: the console as home media hub, combining television, movie watching, video streaming, games and computerlike features such as Skype into a single device that’s as much set-top box as gaming rig. A second view comes from Sony, whose PlayStation 4 is for playing video games first, for streaming video and watching DVDs second, and for little else. As often happens with philosophical debates, right and wrong are subjective determinations, but as also often happens in life, simpler tends to be better. Both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 were released in November, and since then, the question has been rampant: Xbox or PS4? The release of a new game console is rare; the Xbox debuted in 2001, and the second version, the 360, came out in 2005. The PlayStation has been around since 1994, and its third iteration came out in 2006. Buying a new box can be a long and expensive commitment. I spent a week comparing the Xbox One and the PS4, and in my opinion, the PlayStation is the one to buy — if you’re going to buy a console at all. More on that later. First, the reviews. The Xbox One is wildly capable. It’s also larger, heavier and uglier than the Xbox 360 — testament, one assumes, to its raw power. The Xbox’s primary selling point is that it combines video games, downloadable apps, streaming Internet video, DVD playback and live TV into a single home screen. You plug it into your cable or set-top box and route live TV through it, and you can even use the Xbox channel guide, OneGuide, instead of your cable provider’s. This is an impressive feat, but it’s not free. To access streaming media, apps or even the channel guide, you must pay for a $60-per-year Xbox Live Gold account, on top of your Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime or any other service subscription fee. Once you’re connected, you navigate through menus and the guide using the Xbox controller or the console’s other big innovation: voice and gestures in the form of Kinect, the voice and motion-sensing camera that was available as an add-on to the 360. The Xbox One’s inclusion of Kinect is one reason it costs $500, compared with $400 for the PS4. In Xbox One, Kinect has a wider viewing angle, higher-quality image and facial recognition for identifying individual users. It says, “Hi, Molly” when I sit down on the couch, and then loads my personalized dashboard and recent activities. It’s cool and futuristic, but works inconsistently. The Xbox has Kinect-enabled voice controls built in throughout; commands like, “Xbox, go home” or “Xbox, go to TV” start specific functions, or you can say things like, “watch FX” to control television playback. You can also use hand gestures for navigation and selection, but as with most gesture controls, the motions required are hilariously impractical for regular use. Unfortunately, despite the gee-whiz appeal of the voice features, the verbal commands aren’t practical either. They don’t always work, and it’s inefficient to say “page down” repeatedly in the TV guide, compared with quietly pressing a button. I found myself using basic commands like “Xbox, go home,” and then navigating the rest using the controller or my TiVo remote. And I found it annoying to have to go through the Xbox to get to TV every time. My 6-year-old son loved shouting commands at the console; unfortunately it rarely recognized his voice, and his attraction soon faded. All this description illustrates the overall fatal flaw of the Xbox One: It’s too much work. I spent hours setting up the Xbox One. It was in my home for two full days before I enjoyed even a second of game play; there were technical issues with its TV integration (solved by swapping out an HDMI cable after 90 minutes of troubleshooting), and there were endless updates to download. Newsletter Sign Up. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. You are already subscribed to this email. See Sample Manage Email Preferences Not you? Privacy Policy Opt out or contact us anytime. Both consoles are notorious for requiring frequent updates, but even the three game discs Microsoft sent me demanded updates before I could play. And the Xbox and its games are astonishingly bandwidth-hungry. One game disc, once inserted, asked for a 13-gigabyte download before I could even play. Speaking of game downloads, those are also huge. I bought the popular NBA 2K14 game, which clocked in at a staggering 44GB in size. (For context, the Grand Theft Auto 5 game for the Xbox 360 was 16GB.) To be fair, the NBA 2K14 download is the same size on the PS4. But after it took almost eight hours to download and install on the Xbox, it then wouldn’t work with my controller unless I logged out and logged in every time I wanted to play — a known bug. For anyone with slow Internet access or a bandwidth cap that usually maxes out at 250 or 300GB, the Xbox One could potentially cost you a lot in overage fees. Plus, its hard drive is just 500GB, and you cannot upgrade it or add an external drive. Xbox, go home, indeed. By comparison, the PlayStation 4 was a delight to set up and enjoy. I plugged it in, downloaded a relatively tiny 300MB update, spent about 10 minutes setting up my PlayStation Network profile and was playing games 10 minutes after that. Speed is everywhere. The menu and navigation screens on the PS4 are startlingly fast and responsive. Games load noticeably quickly — much faster than the Xbox games, even after updates. Despite the PS4’s gaming-first focus, it offers plenty of media features, like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video, plus access to Sony’s music and movie streaming services. And unlike the Xbox, access to streaming services is free. You do need a $50-per-year PlayStation Plus account if you want to play online with other gamers. The PlayStation is highly social. You can share game screenshots on Facebook or Twitter, and you can even record and share short video clips, with basic editing built in. The killer feature is the ability to broadcast your gameplay live to Ustream.tv or to Twitch.tv, a hugely popular game-streaming website where people spend hours watching other people play video games. The Xbox One promises to support Twitch streaming in the future, but it wasn’t available when I tested it. In addition, Microsoft has already promised an Xbox update this spring to fix a social experience the company admits is “hidden or harder to use than it was on the Xbox 360.” I would argue that most things on the Xbox One are hidden or harder to use than they need to be. In my time with the PlayStation 4, I found it straightforward and, most important, fun. That ought to be the highest pursuit of a device invented for playing games, so for my money, the keep-it-simple philosophy of the PlayStation 4, plus the $100 price break, make it the winner. The real question, though, is whether the idea of a console itself is out of date. Mobile gaming on tablets and phones can be as immersive and fun, and obviously more portable. A console for streaming video is redundant when most new televisions have Internet streaming and apps built in, not to mention Internet-connected Blu-ray players, streaming devices like Roku and Apple TV, or even Google’s $35 Chromecast. And spending $60 for games — no matter how graphically intensive — is hard to stomach in a world of low-priced apps. The game costs are especially painful since neither the Xbox nor the PlayStation can play games from the previous generation consoles. So, the PlayStation is the better game console of the two, but in the end, it may be a victory of one dinosaur over another. A version of this article appears in print on February 13, 2014, on Page B8 of the New York edition with the headline: Two Game Consoles Battle for a Dubious Prize. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe. We’re interested in your feedback on this page. Tell us what you think. 'Fallout 4' looks subtly different on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. "Fallout 4" is a beautiful game. Bethesda Game Studios. "Fallout 4," one of the most anticipated games of the year, was recently released to the masses. Even though "Fallout 4" is a gorgeous game, players will notice some differences if they play the game on different consoles. "Fallout 4" looks different on PlayStation 4 than it looks on a PC, for instance. If you're wondering just how different "Fallout 4" looks across different game consoles, look no further. YouTube channel "Candyland," which offers graphics comparisons for the most popular games available, released a new videoВ recently comparing the graphics of "Fallout 4" across PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. View As: One Page Slides. The PC version of "Fallout 4" showcases much more vegetation than the other two consoles, particularly in the foreground. The blue house, also in the foreground, looks much more detailed. These tree shadows all look good, but the shadows themselves look more crisp on PC, and blurrier on PS4. The shadows on Xbox One look like they're somewhere in the middle. It might look like you're seeing more facial details, like lines and wrinkles, on the PS4 version. The PC graphics generally look smoother, though. Here's another character rendering in "Fallout 4." These characters largely look the same, although the PC characters looks less happy for some reason. Lighting, shadows and reflections all look great across all three consoles. These big outdoor environments is where the PC really shines. Again, you can see more vegetation in the foreground on the PC version compared to the Xbox and PlayStation. Same goes for night scenes. Though the lighting is beautiful across the consoles, you can see more details in the PC version, especially as the buildings in the back curl to the left. Watch the full video of this "Fallout 4" graphics comparison below. So, which platform is best? Frankly, "Fallout 4" looks great regardless which console you're using. And while you play, you won't notice these minute graphical differences at all. You'll often notice games look different — sometimes a lot, sometimes a little — across different platforms. That's because game makers need to make subtle changes to the software to accommodate their games to the specific hardware. The PlayStation 4 doesn't have the same innards as the Xbox One, for example, and high-end gaming PCs are vastly different from either console.В. That said, if you own every console and want to know the best environment for "Fallout 4," it looks like PCs are the way to go, as theyВ can pushВ more objects and details simultaneously than the other two platforms. The Xbox One also performs quite well, and based on this graphics comparison, the gameВ looks just a hair better than it does on the PlayStation 4. But Bethesda Games Studios really did a great job ensuring "Fallout 4" looks great on every system. PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One: Which One Is Better? As the current console generation reaches a point of maturation, both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have developed significantly. There is no doubt that the Sony system gained a significant head start over the Xbox One in the early days of the two consoles. But with both units having been available for a couple of years, which one provides the most compelling system for gamers? PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One. There is no doubt which of the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 has been more successful commercially. Sony recently smashed through the 30 million sales barrier, and this is estimated to be roughly double that of the sales of the Xbox One. This certainly reflects which one of the two systems has been more popular with consumers, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the PlayStation 4 is superior in gaming terms. No doubt Microsoft made massive PR blunders from which it has yet to recover, but it has delivered an excellent gaming system in other regards. Backward compatibility. Undoubtedly, Microsoft offers at the superior package in terms of backward compatibility, with this having been achieved relatively effortlessly. Sony has been working on fully implementing backwards compatibility for the PlayStation 4, but it is still somewhat behind its rival in this department. Fortunately, it seems that this will not be a major issue with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Two, as the inclusion of AMD chips in both devices should ensure backwards compatibility from day one. Sony has led the way with video games streaming in this console generation, with the PlayStation Now service gaining an advantage over the Xbox One. Sony has also attempted to utilize backward compatibility via this service, and this actually works pretty niftily, even though there are complaints about gaining access to disc-based games. Performance. The PlayStation 4 has outperformed the Xbox One in graphics terms, and this has been another area in which the Microsoft console has generated negative publicity. The PlayStation 4 graphics chips is significantly superior to the Xbox One, and this resulted in some embarrassing headlines for Microsoft early in the console generation. With the Xbox One unable to deliver 1080p gaming in some of its early titles, the PlayStation 4 had superior titles for some games, and this undoubtedly generated controversy and more bad news for Microsoft. This must surely be one area that Microsoft addresses diligently with its next-generation console, as the company’s decision to attempt to sell a less powerful machine at a higher price point was a massive PR own goal. Providing Xbox One access to Windows streaming has been a welcome addition to the armory of the Xbox series, and it is a feature that has been widely enjoyed by gamers. The ability to stream Xbox One games to a Windows PC over a local network is an excellent feature, and one that has saved a lot of arguments in living rooms. Sony cannot really match this functionality with the PlayStation 4, although it has provided a similar feature with the PS Vita. Controller. There is always a personal preference regarding which particular controller is superior, so it is difficult to come to a definitive conclusion on this matter. But the release of the Xbox Elite controller, which packs a number of excellent improvements into an albeit pricey package, has won a lots of plaudits from Xbox gamers. Microsoft has also included the headphone jack in the controller now, closing the gap on a feature which PlayStation 4 owners have been experiencing for a couple of years. In addition, the Xbox One enables controller buttons to be remapped at the system level, a nice edition which makes many games easier to play, and allows for improved customization. Although Sony has added a suspend and resume function that it promised back in 2013, it is fair to say that Microsoft has shown more effort and innovation in this department. Exclusive games. Despite the best efforts of Microsoft, it is hard to deny the argument that Sony has maintained the edge on exclusive titles. Bloodborne was one of the best games of 2015, and a PlayStation 4 exclusive. Additionally, Xbox gamers will never get to play The Last of Us, which is considered to be one of the best titles of all-time, and certainly a masterful example of narrative and storytelling. Dark Souls was another excellent exclusively for Sony, and although Microsoft made a great deal of fuss out of its deal for Tomb Raider, this will appear on the PlayStation 4 in due course. Although the overwhelming majority of titles ultimately appear on both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, the experience on the PS4 is always equal to that of the Xbox One, and sometimes even superior. In the pure gaming sense, the PlayStation 4 retains the edge that has probably been the biggest factor in its extraordinary sales success. Future moves. One of the most important aspects of the future manoeuvrings of the two console giants will be virtual reality technology. Sony is looking to the impending launch of PlayStation VR (previously Project Morpheus) to gain a serious advantage in the marketplace, but Microsoft has invested significantly in Hololens. It does seem that pure virtual reality will test the capabilities of both systems, so it will be interesting to see how the particularly ambitious PlayStation VR works out. Conclusion. Both of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One offer credible gaming packages, and there isn’t a vast difference between the two systems. Certainly any gamers purchasing the Xbox One will not be disappointed. However, the PlayStation 4 retains a marginal, but significant, edge over its Microsoft rival. It has better exclusive games, more processing and graphics power, and a superior streaming service. Although Microsoft has attempted to innovate in numerous areas, it still has some catching up to do to close the gap on Sony. How the Xbox One X stacks up against the PlayStation 4 Pro. 4K console spec shootout. Meet Xbox One X, "the most powerful console ever made." Posted by Circuit Breaker on Sunday, June 11, 2017. Microsoft has finally taken the lid off the Xbox One X — formerly known as Project Scorpio — and the company isn't shy about calling its new game machine “the world’s most powerful console.” The One X is packing some serious firepower, with a custom eight-core AMD processor clocked at 2.3GHz, 12GB of GDDR5 RAM, and a 6-teraflop GPU with 40 compute units. Microsoft is proudly pointing out how the One X can support 4K HDR gameplay. (While Microsoft is tossing around the phrase “true 4K” a lot, apparently only some games will actually run in true native 4K, as opposed to checkerboard rendering.) So how does Xbox One X compare to its biggest competitor: Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro, which will be a year old by the time One X hits shelves? Microsoft can’t explain why its 4K is $100 better than Sony’s. When it comes to hard specifications, Microsoft has Sony soundly beaten here. The Xbox One X has a faster processor, a more powerful GPU, and more memory than even the PlayStation 4 Pro. Specifically, the Xbox One X has 6 teraflops (which, in very basic terms, is how many calculations it can perform per second), compared to 4.2 teraflops on the PlayStation 4 Pro. And the extra boost in RAM — 12GB vs. 8GB — is also pretty significant, at least on paper. But without some direct comparison of games on the two consoles, it’s hard to say how much the extra speed and power will really translate to meaningful improvement in performance. At the end of the day, both consoles claim to be able to offer 4K HDR gaming. Based on that criterion, Sony has a $100 price advantage over the One X with the $399 Pro, which isn’t exactly chump change. Additionally, it’s worth considering a final piece of the equation: games. Microsoft showed off variety of new Xbox One exclusives at E3 this year, including Crackdown 3 , PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds , Forza Motorsport 7 , and a passel of smaller indie titles. But compared to Sony’s upcoming slate of God of War 4, The Last of Us II, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Death Stranding , Detroit: Become Human , Days Gone , and Insomniac’s Spider-Man game, there’s still a long way to go before there’s a compelling lineup of games that you’ll need an Xbox to play. To help you make your decision, here’s how Microsoft and Sony’s latest hardware fare when put head-to-head, along with the how powerful they are relative to the original hardware. (Just for fun, the Nintendo Switch is also thrown into the mix, and it’s unsurprisingly almost comically underpowered in comparison.) Xbox One X spec comparison. In this Storystream. E3 2017: the latest news from the biggest gaming event of the year. Next Up In Circuit Breaker. Now Trending. Command Line. Command Line delivers daily updates from the near-future.