The PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S both ask an uncommon question: What if a next-gen console didnt have to cost an outrageous quantity of money? While the full-featured PS5 and Xbox Series X will cost $500 each, both companies have actually likewise provided a more affordable alternative. For Sony, theres the PS5 Digital Edition: a $400 console that has no disc drive, however is otherwise identical to the PS5. For Microsoft, theres the Xbox Series S: a $300 all-digital console thats optimized for quad HD output rather than UHD.
While the PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S dont attend to exactly the same requirements, they both represent the very same idea: a less expensive option to full-priced next-gen consoles. Its worth comparing the two devices, even though a) Its not an apples-to-apples comparison, and b) We will not know for sure how the two systems stack up until we get to attempt them for ourselves.
With that in mind, lets see how the PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S accumulate in regards to cost, specs, video game selection and more.
PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series S: Specs
Among the most convenient ways to compare the PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series X is to discuss their specifications. Usually speaking, the PS5 Digital Edition is more powerful, but heres the full breakdown:
( Image credit: Sony) As mentioned above, the Xbox Series S utilizes less effective hardware than the PS5 Digital Edition. Thats not a unexpected or controversial thing to say; its the main reason the Xbox Series S costs less money. (its the very same price as a Nintendo Switch, and less expensive than an Xbox One X.) If you arent too hung-up on top-of-the-line graphics– or dont have a 4K television at all– the Xbox Series S seems like an excellent value. Otherwise, the PS5 Digital Edition might well deserve the extra $100.
Something to bear in mind, although its a bit speculative: For the foreseeable future, any Xbox Series X game will likewise be offered on the Xbox Series S. However, as the next console generation advances and video games become more requiring, the Xbox Series S might not have the ability to play definitely every Xbox Series X game.
Microsoft hasnt stated anything to this impact, and I have no unique insight about whether it might happen. I do know that as consoles age, designers tend to push them for every last bit of processing power, and the Xbox Series S doesnt have as much as the Xbox Series X. The PS5 Digital Edition, on the other hand, has exactly the same specifications as the full-fledged PS5. Simply something to think about.
PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series S: Games.
As far as we understand, the PS5 Digital Edition can play every single PS5 game; the Xbox Series S can play every single Xbox Series X game. This must be the case for the foreseeable future. The game selection argument is the very same here as for PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Do you desire to play Spider-Man, Ratchet & & Clank and Final Fantasy, or do you want to play Halo, Hellblade and Forza? Theres no correct response there, so prospective purchasers will have to decide on their own.
GPU.
AMD Radeon RDNA 2, 10 teraflops.
AMD Radeon RDNA 2 GPU, 4 teraflops.
Resolution.
Approximately 8K.
As much as 1440p.
( Image credit: Sony )Whats a little bit more fascinating, however, is the concern of backwards compatibility. Both the PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S will be backwards compatible with lots of previous-gen titles; the only question is how far back that compatibility goes.
The PS5 Digital Edition will work with a lot of PS4 games, although we do not have a full list right now. (Recent reports put the number around 99% of the PS4 library, so ideally thats true.) The Xbox Series S, on the other hand, will be backwards compatible with every single Xbox One game, plus a variety of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games.
There is one huge catch in either case, though: To play in reverse suitable video games, youll require to own digital copies. Considering that neither the PS5 Digital Edition nor the Xbox Series S has a disc drive, you wont be able to play games you own physically, unless you buy them again as digital versions. Both the routine PS5 and the Xbox Series X do have disc drives, so if you have a big physical collection, it may deserve the premium just to keep access to your old video games.
Storage.
825 GB SSD.
512 GB SSD.
Todays finest Sony Playstation 5 Digital Edition deals.
While the Xbox Series S really has a somewhat more powerful CPU than the PS5 Digital Edition, its GPU, RAM and storage are all weaker. And although the max frame rate is the same, we can reason that the Xbox Series S will generally not hit the same frame rates as its Sony competitor, particularly for brand-new and demanding video games.
Neither system has the capacity to play physical media, such as video game discs or Blu-rays. However, both systems will be able to load and render games extremely rapidly thanks to modern SSDs, and both systems GPUs will support ray tracing for subtle lighting results.
( Image credit: Sony) The PS5 Digital Edition, save for its lack of absence disc drive, is identical to the PS5.
Frame Rate.
As much as 120 fps.
Up to 120 fps.
In some ways, the Xbox Series S is less powerful than the current-gen Xbox One X. The Xbox Series S will not be able to play Xbox Series X-optimized games with complete 4K resolution, high frame rates, enhanced texture quality and so forth.
PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series S: Who are they for?
While I cant prove this till we see some sales figures for the two devices, I dont think that the PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S are angling for precisely the exact same buyers. The rate distinction is telling, as is the variance in hardware. At the danger of fortune-telling, it appears as though the PS5 Digital Edition is for more devoted players who are simply all set to quit physical media, whereas the Xbox Series S is for more casual fans who just do not need the power– or cost– of a full-featured Xbox Series X.
RAM.
16 GB.
10 GB.
PS5 Digital Edition
Xbox Series S.
Price.
$ 400.
$ 300.
Processor.
AMD Ryzen Zen 2, 8-core, 3.5 GHz.
AMD Ryzen Zen 2, 8-core, 3.6 GHz.
( Image credit: Sony) The PS5 Digital Edition, save for its lack of a disc drive, corresponds the PS5. That implies that if you purchase it, youll want to benefit from its UHD resolution, fast frame rates, expansive storage etc. The audience for the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition is exactly the exact same, to put it simply, conserve for whether they want to utilize discs or digital downloads.
On the other hand, the Xbox Series S is considerably less effective than the Xbox Series X, and Microsoft has made obvious of that. Someone who had his/her heart set on the effective Xbox Series X experience is most likely not going to be swayed by the Xbox Series S. On the other hand, for casual gamers, young gamers or gamers who dont own 4K TVs, theres truly no factor to spend $500 on an Xbox Series X, when an Xbox Series S will finish the job simply as well.
PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series S: Subscriptions.
One final thing to consider is that both the PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S will exist as part of bigger subscription-based environments: PlayStation Plus for the previous, and Xbox Game Pass for the latter. Both services have actually undergone substantial revamps over the past couple of months, and will most likely continue to do so up until the next-gen consoles launch.
( Image credit: Sony) Recently, we learned that PlayStation Plus ($ 10 each month, or $60 annually) will allow players to download a whole host of PS4 classics, consisting of Bloodborne, God of War and Until Dawn. Xbox Game Pass ($ 10 to $15 per month) lets gamers download more than 100 Xbox titles, consisting of Gears 5, Wasteland 3 and Sunset Overdrive.
The big difference between the 2 platforms is that Xbox Game Pass likewise offers gamers access to new Xbox Series X/S titles the day they become available; the PS Plus Collection seems to be solely backward-looking, at least for now.
Normally speaking, Xbox Game Pass appears to be a substantial part of the Xbox Series S method, while Sony probably anticipates most PS5 Digital Edition clients to purchase video games à la carte, one at a time. Its worth thinking about whether you d rather own a little library of games for excellent, or lease a big library indefinitely.
PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series S: Outlook.
Its tough to compare the PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S straight, because they seem to target different audiences. The PS5 Digital Edition is for gamers who desire the most recent and greatest hardware without physical discs; the Xbox Series S is for players who want to compromise on hardware, as long as they can still access a collection of fantastic games.
Since we have not tested either system firsthand, well keep suggestions for the minute. Remember that youll have to live with less powerful hardware if you select the Xbox Series S, and additional $100 up front if you pick the PS5 Digital Edition.
I do know that as consoles age, designers tend to push them for every last bit of processing power, and the Xbox Series S doesnt have as much as the Xbox Series X. As far as we know, the PS5 Digital Edition can play every single PS5 video game; the Xbox Series S can play every single Xbox Series X video game. The Xbox Series S, on the other hand, will be backwards compatible with every single Xbox One game, plus a range of Xbox 360 and initial Xbox video games.
The Xbox Series S will not be able to play Xbox Series X-optimized video games with complete 4K resolution, high frame rates, boosted texture quality and so forth. At the risk of fortune-telling, it appears as though the PS5 Digital Edition is for more dedicated players who are simply prepared to give up physical media, whereas the Xbox Series S is for more casual fans who merely dont need the power– or expenditure– of a full-featured Xbox Series X.
( Image credit: Microsoft) Where the comparison gets a little tricky is when we move from “specifications” and try to assess “performance.” While a systems specs specify its efficiency, its often about how pieces of hardware work in performance instead of just gauging raw power. As such, up until we get our hands on both the PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S, its practically difficult to say how every one will run video games in real-world conditions.
Still, we can say definitively that the Xbox Series S utilizes, for the a lot of part, less powerful hardware than the PS5 Digital Edition. We can likewise say that less powerful hardware normally indicates lower resolutions and frame rates. The PS5 Digital Edition is perhaps a little bit more future-proof than the Xbox Series S, particularly for players who have 4K TVs.
PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series S: Price.
The most convenient point of contrast between the PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S is their prices. The PS5 Digital Edition costs $400; the Xbox Series S costs $300. The Xbox Series S is undoubtedly less expensive; whats not clear is which system will eventually be the much better value.
