Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4: Top Game Consoles Duke it Out
Next-gen is now this-gen. The Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 arrived two years ago, and both have found their footing as the top game consoles competing for your allegiance. If you want to get a new video game system, these two are the frontrunners of the current generation, with several years of games ahead and some well-established, powerful hardware and features inside. We pit the Xbox One the and PS4 against each other in a variety of categories to determine which system comes out on top. From a broad gameplay perspective, the Nintendo Wii U also deserves your attention for its compelling exclusives, but for now let's look at the two big technical powerhouses.
Price
The PS4 was the frontrunner in this category at launch, because the Xbox One with Kinect retailed for $xxx. However, since then Microsoft has backed off of the Kinect, first launching a Kinect-free version of the Xbox One at the same $xxx price tag as the PS4, and then introducing several Kinect-free bundles with games included for $xxx to $xxx (depending on the games and whether the system has a 500GB or 1TB drive). Meanwhile, Sony has met Microsoft with similar bundles and options with the same price tags. So, for sheer console pricing, the systems are tied. This changes a bit when you look at the premium subscription services, which places the PS4 ahead of the Xbox One by a hair.
Both Microsoft and Sony offer premium subscriptions to their online services. Xbox users can get a year of Xbox Live Gold for $xx, and PlayStation users can get a year of PS Plus for $xx. For both systems, this premium service is required to play multiplayer games online, and now neither system requires the extra subscription to watch media services.
Winner: PlayStation 4 (Just Barely)
Hardware
Arguing about technical specifications seems moot. On paper, the PlayStation 4 has a slight edge thanks to using GDDR5 RAM instead of the DDR3 RAM used in the Xbox One, but besides that, the hardware is incredibly similar. Both have 8-core AMD CPUs, 8GB of memory, 500GB internal hard drives, and Blu-ray optical drives. The systems now have versions with 1TB drives as options, and the Xbox One's 1TB version uses a hybrid drive with solid state storage in addition to a hard disk to improve performance. However, in our tests, the Xbox One's hybrid drive wasn't noticeably faster than the 500GB drive.
Because of differing architectures and operating systems, benchmarking and directly comparing the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 is effectively impossible. They're so similar we can't declare one to be superior based on specs, and they're different enough that we can't directly compare performance. At this point, it's up to developers to get the most out of either console, and whether one truly shines as more powerful will only be revealed with new games and how they perform. Different games might run at 720p or 1080p, or 30fps or 60fps, between the different systems. But there's no single, set winner here.
Winner: Tie
Controls
You need a good gamepad to play games, and both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have them. The Xbox One gamepad is a slightly updated version of the Xbox 360 controller, with a more rounded feel and trigger buttons that offer individual force feedback. The DualShock 4, the PS4's gamepad, is a completely overhauled controller that keeps the best parts of the DualShock 3 gamepad and fixes the worst. The analog sticks feel better, the triggers are more responsive, and the controller just feels nicer in the hand. It even features a built-in speaker and a potentially useful but so far underutilized touchpad in the middle. The only problem with the DualShock 4 is the light bar that marks which controllers are on and assigned to which players. Fortunately, Sony has since updated the PS4 to let you dim the light bar significantly, which cuts down on glare.
The Xbox One gamepad is great, but the DualShock 4 is outright excellent. However, the new Xbox Elite Wireless Controller beats even the DualShock 4 with bulletproof build quality and extensive customization options. Of course, that gamepad is a $xxx optional accessory (or $xxx if you buy it as part of the Xbox One Elite bundle). Neither pack-in controller should be considered a deal breaker because they both play very well, but the DualShock 4 is simply the most comfortable included-by-default gamepad we've tested yet.
Winner: PlayStation 4
Games
The biggest games are generally cross-platform, and you can count on the latest Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Destiny, Metal Gear Solid, and other major releases to appear on both systems. Each console has a few notable exclusives, though. The Xbox One boasts Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, and others. The PlayStation 4, meanwhile, has Bloodborne, Until Dawn, Dragon Quest Heroes, and others. Plenty of games are coming to both systems next year, and with so many titles available on both it boils down to a matter of taste for the exclusives.
Winner: Tie
Online Services
Whether you want to play games online or watch Netflix, you need to connect your game system to the Internet. The Xbox One uses Xbox Live, and the PlayStation 4 uses the PlayStation Network to access online services. In both cases, you need to purchase the premium subscription plan (Xbox Live Gold for Xbox Live, PS Plus for PlayStation Network) to play games online. Xbox Live used to require an Xbox Live Gold subscription for media services, but Microsoft has since dropped that requirement and you can now watch Netflix and other streaming media apps without Gold, including television with OneGuide. You can also use any app on the PlayStation 4 without a PS Plus membership, and with the PS4 requiring a premium service for online multiplayer just like the Xbox One, this category comes out to a tie.
Winner: Tie
Media Features
Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 can play Blu-ray movies and access a variety of online services like Netflix and Hulu Plus. The Xbox One goes an extra step with its television integration. An HDMI passthrough lets you run your cable or satellite box through the system, though without a Kinect you'll need a third-party infrared blaster to control it. This incorporates live television through your cable or satellite provider into the Xbox One's menu system. You can also add over-the-air television with a third-party USB tuner. The OneGuide program guide displays both live television and what content is available on services like Hulu Plus and Machinima, giving you total control over what you watch, and you can even enjoy a split screen view of what's on television while you play your favorite game or browse the Web, thanks to the Xbox One's Snap feature. In bringing all of your home entertainment together into one HDMI input, the Xbox One wins by far.
Winner: Xbox One
Game Capture
The massive popularity of Let's Plays on YouTube and game streaming on Twitch has brought capturing game footage to the mainstream, so both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 feature built-in capture options. The Kinect let you record clips just by saying "Xbox, record that," and thanks to the latest update you can easily capture what you're playing just by double-tapping the Xbox button on your gamepad and pressing X or Y to save a screenshot or video clip. You can also snap the Game DVR app to the side of the screen to record up to five minutes of footage on demand. The PlayStation 4 goes a step further, however, with a dedicated Share button right on the DualShock 4 controller. At any point you can tap it to save the last 15 minutes of gameplay, grab a screenshot of what you're playing, or start streaming live to PSN or Twitch. The longer capture length and more convenient setup makes the PS4 the better system for recording or streaming your games.
Winner: PlayStation 4
Camera
When both consoles first launched, cameras were held up as a major feature, either as a required, included accessory (the Kinect with the Xbox One) or an option (the PlayStation Camera with the PlayStation 4). That didn't pan out, and both Microsoft and Sony have backed off from the idea of using a camera with their game systems for gesture and voice control, and integration with certain games. Both the Kinect and PlayStation Camera are nearly forgotten, though you can buy either separately if you want to use the features supported by them. Still, they've become an afterthought, and you shouldn't hold your breath for any major new games using, or even remembering, either camera.
Category Retired
Totals
By the numbers, the PlayStation 4 still wins two years later. Of course, by the numbers assumes no weighting between categories. The PlayStation 4 has an edge in price, albeit a much slimmer edge than it did at launch, and a better controller. On the other hand, the Xbox One jumps far ahead in media features if you don't mind getting either a Kinect or a third-party IR blaster and setting up the system to work with your cable or satellite box. Either way, the biggest determining factor should be which games you want to play, and which platform will have them.
Price
The PS4 was the frontrunner in this category at launch, because the Xbox One with Kinect retailed for $xxx. However, since then Microsoft has backed off of the Kinect, first launching a Kinect-free version of the Xbox One at the same $xxx price tag as the PS4, and then introducing several Kinect-free bundles with games included for $xxx to $xxx (depending on the games and whether the system has a 500GB or 1TB drive). Meanwhile, Sony has met Microsoft with similar bundles and options with the same price tags. So, for sheer console pricing, the systems are tied. This changes a bit when you look at the premium subscription services, which places the PS4 ahead of the Xbox One by a hair.
Both Microsoft and Sony offer premium subscriptions to their online services. Xbox users can get a year of Xbox Live Gold for $xx, and PlayStation users can get a year of PS Plus for $xx. For both systems, this premium service is required to play multiplayer games online, and now neither system requires the extra subscription to watch media services.
Winner: PlayStation 4 (Just Barely)
Hardware
Arguing about technical specifications seems moot. On paper, the PlayStation 4 has a slight edge thanks to using GDDR5 RAM instead of the DDR3 RAM used in the Xbox One, but besides that, the hardware is incredibly similar. Both have 8-core AMD CPUs, 8GB of memory, 500GB internal hard drives, and Blu-ray optical drives. The systems now have versions with 1TB drives as options, and the Xbox One's 1TB version uses a hybrid drive with solid state storage in addition to a hard disk to improve performance. However, in our tests, the Xbox One's hybrid drive wasn't noticeably faster than the 500GB drive.
Because of differing architectures and operating systems, benchmarking and directly comparing the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 is effectively impossible. They're so similar we can't declare one to be superior based on specs, and they're different enough that we can't directly compare performance. At this point, it's up to developers to get the most out of either console, and whether one truly shines as more powerful will only be revealed with new games and how they perform. Different games might run at 720p or 1080p, or 30fps or 60fps, between the different systems. But there's no single, set winner here.
Winner: Tie
Controls
You need a good gamepad to play games, and both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have them. The Xbox One gamepad is a slightly updated version of the Xbox 360 controller, with a more rounded feel and trigger buttons that offer individual force feedback. The DualShock 4, the PS4's gamepad, is a completely overhauled controller that keeps the best parts of the DualShock 3 gamepad and fixes the worst. The analog sticks feel better, the triggers are more responsive, and the controller just feels nicer in the hand. It even features a built-in speaker and a potentially useful but so far underutilized touchpad in the middle. The only problem with the DualShock 4 is the light bar that marks which controllers are on and assigned to which players. Fortunately, Sony has since updated the PS4 to let you dim the light bar significantly, which cuts down on glare.The Xbox One gamepad is great, but the DualShock 4 is outright excellent. However, the new Xbox Elite Wireless Controller beats even the DualShock 4 with bulletproof build quality and extensive customization options. Of course, that gamepad is a $xxx optional accessory (or $xxx if you buy it as part of the Xbox One Elite bundle). Neither pack-in controller should be considered a deal breaker because they both play very well, but the DualShock 4 is simply the most comfortable included-by-default gamepad we've tested yet.
Winner: PlayStation 4
Games
The biggest games are generally cross-platform, and you can count on the latest Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Destiny, Metal Gear Solid, and other major releases to appear on both systems. Each console has a few notable exclusives, though. The Xbox One boasts Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, and others. The PlayStation 4, meanwhile, has Bloodborne, Until Dawn, Dragon Quest Heroes, and others. Plenty of games are coming to both systems next year, and with so many titles available on both it boils down to a matter of taste for the exclusives.
Winner: Tie
Online Services
Whether you want to play games online or watch Netflix, you need to connect your game system to the Internet. The Xbox One uses Xbox Live, and the PlayStation 4 uses the PlayStation Network to access online services. In both cases, you need to purchase the premium subscription plan (Xbox Live Gold for Xbox Live, PS Plus for PlayStation Network) to play games online. Xbox Live used to require an Xbox Live Gold subscription for media services, but Microsoft has since dropped that requirement and you can now watch Netflix and other streaming media apps without Gold, including television with OneGuide. You can also use any app on the PlayStation 4 without a PS Plus membership, and with the PS4 requiring a premium service for online multiplayer just like the Xbox One, this category comes out to a tie.
Winner: Tie
Media Features
Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 can play Blu-ray movies and access a variety of online services like Netflix and Hulu Plus. The Xbox One goes an extra step with its television integration. An HDMI passthrough lets you run your cable or satellite box through the system, though without a Kinect you'll need a third-party infrared blaster to control it. This incorporates live television through your cable or satellite provider into the Xbox One's menu system. You can also add over-the-air television with a third-party USB tuner. The OneGuide program guide displays both live television and what content is available on services like Hulu Plus and Machinima, giving you total control over what you watch, and you can even enjoy a split screen view of what's on television while you play your favorite game or browse the Web, thanks to the Xbox One's Snap feature. In bringing all of your home entertainment together into one HDMI input, the Xbox One wins by far.
Winner: Xbox One
Game Capture
The massive popularity of Let's Plays on YouTube and game streaming on Twitch has brought capturing game footage to the mainstream, so both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 feature built-in capture options. The Kinect let you record clips just by saying "Xbox, record that," and thanks to the latest update you can easily capture what you're playing just by double-tapping the Xbox button on your gamepad and pressing X or Y to save a screenshot or video clip. You can also snap the Game DVR app to the side of the screen to record up to five minutes of footage on demand. The PlayStation 4 goes a step further, however, with a dedicated Share button right on the DualShock 4 controller. At any point you can tap it to save the last 15 minutes of gameplay, grab a screenshot of what you're playing, or start streaming live to PSN or Twitch. The longer capture length and more convenient setup makes the PS4 the better system for recording or streaming your games.
Winner: PlayStation 4
Camera
When both consoles first launched, cameras were held up as a major feature, either as a required, included accessory (the Kinect with the Xbox One) or an option (the PlayStation Camera with the PlayStation 4). That didn't pan out, and both Microsoft and Sony have backed off from the idea of using a camera with their game systems for gesture and voice control, and integration with certain games. Both the Kinect and PlayStation Camera are nearly forgotten, though you can buy either separately if you want to use the features supported by them. Still, they've become an afterthought, and you shouldn't hold your breath for any major new games using, or even remembering, either camera.
Category Retired
Totals
By the numbers, the PlayStation 4 still wins two years later. Of course, by the numbers assumes no weighting between categories. The PlayStation 4 has an edge in price, albeit a much slimmer edge than it did at launch, and a better controller. On the other hand, the Xbox One jumps far ahead in media features if you don't mind getting either a Kinect or a third-party IR blaster and setting up the system to work with your cable or satellite box. Either way, the biggest determining factor should be which games you want to play, and which platform will have them.
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