PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S is a competition worth going into if you’re looking for the next all-digital console to join your setup. The two may look alike, and comparing them is a close call for any average buyer, but there are several notable features to break down both consoles and make them unique. Of course, this raises the question of which one suits your setup and preferences best, so to make your shopping experience easier to access, we’ve broken down both devices to make shopping easier for you.
The main attraction of PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S is that both consoles are completely disc-less, so their retail values are much cheaper than their disc-based counterpart. This is one of the main reasons gamers are considering a digital release, thus fueling the buying decision and making it a bit more difficult.
The truth is, owning a drive isn’t the only thing to consider. In terms of performance, the PS5 Digital Edition shows no differences from the standard PS5, but the Xbox Series S is designed to be the smaller and smaller version of Microsoft’s flagship console to suit gamers on a tight budget. So when weighing the pros and cons of both consoles, there are a few things to keep in mind.
PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S: Price and release date
By removing the 4K Blu-Ray drive, Sony has shaved $100 off the price of the PS5 Digital Edition, compared to the standard PS5. It’s available now depending on your region and initially retails at $399 / £359 / AU$599.95. However, Microsoft’s Xbox Series S is the cheapest console of the current generation at $299 / £249 / AU$499. It was released alongside Microsoft’s home console, Xbox Series X, on November 10, 2020.
However, there was a price hike for the PS5 as Sony cited rising inflation globally. While the US price hasn’t changed, the PS5 Digital Edition now costs £389.99 / €449.99 / AU$649.95. Fortunately, Xbox won’t follow PlayStation as prices go up, which puts them in a more competitive position over PS5. But Xbox isn’t ruling out price hikes in the future, so we’ll keep it updated if anything changes.
As it stands, the Xbox Series S has a $100 / £130 price advantage over the PS5 Digital Edition, then, but that doesn’t mean it’s a clear victory for Microsoft. Not unless price is your most important factor.
PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S: Specs
The PS5 Digital Edition is identical to the standard PS5, no 4K Blu-Ray drive aside. Removing them gives the console a more symmetrical look, but aside from looks, you won’t find any differences in performance between the two Sony PS5s. Check out the technical specifications below:
- CPU: Octa-core up to 3.5GHz (variable frequency) custom AMD Ryzen Zen 2
- GPU: 10.3 teraflops, variable frequency, up to 2.23GHz
- RAM: 16 GB GDDR6
- frame rate: up to 120 fps
- Precision: up to 8 kilos
- Visual: There is no drive
- storage: 825 GB NVMe SSD
If you’re happy to forgo physical media and would rather buy your games digitally, the PS5 Digital Edition would make sense. However, there are some caveats to keep in mind.
Physical games are usually cheaper than their digital counterparts and are more prone to deep discounts. If you don’t like the game, you can trade it or sell it and get back some of your investment. There’s also something comforting about owning a disc rather than digital copies, there’s a greater sense of ownership, but for some that’s not an issue.
With digital titles often costing full price, if not more, that means the $100 you saved initially could be quickly gone once you buy some $70 / £69.99 worth of PS5 games. So unless you’re waiting for a sale, you’ll have no choice but to pay full price on the PlayStation Store.
On the one hand, the Xbox Series S is fundamentally different from the Xbox Series X and, accordingly, the PS5 Digital Edition. Microsoft’s cheaper console targets 1440p resolution instead of 4K, and it has a significantly less powerful GPU. However, thanks to hardware advancements in the past few years, the system should prove to be very capable, albeit one that falls short of the PS5 Digital Edition in terms of raw specs.
Check out the Xbox Series S specs below:
- CPU: Eight cores 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT) Custom AMD 7nm
- GPU: 4 teraflops at 1,550 GHz
- RAM: 10 GB GDDR6
- frame rate: up to 120fps
- Precision: 1440p with 4K upscaling
- Visual: There is no drive
- storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD
Microsoft’s strategy of targeting both the high and low end market is an interesting one. It should be noted that the company has already required the Xbox Series S to outperform its more expensive siblings.
While it’s easy to dismiss the Xbox Series S as the weakest console and, therefore, the inferior pick of the bunch, it still delivers on the next-gen experience. It supports all the major technological advances that both the PS5 and Xbox Series X boast: which include ray tracing, ultra-fast load times, and 120fps capabilities. However, its more modest accuracy target means it can achieve these goals at nearly half the price of the Series X.
It also meant that Microsoft was able to create the smallest, and arguably most aesthetically pleasing console yet. The Xbox Series S is much smaller than the Xbox Series X, and very small compared to the giant PS5. So, if you’re looking for something a little more discreet and better suited to your home entertainment setup, the Xbox Series S might appeal.
One thing to note, however, is that the Xbox Series S only comes with a 512GB SSD. This means that space will fill up quickly, but Microsoft has confirmed that game files should be 30% smaller than those on the Xbox Series X because they don’t use 4K textures, which can seriously increase file size. There is also an expandable storage solution with an extension Seagate expansion cardwhich come in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB options, but they’re quite expensive.
PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series S: Games
Games are subjective – which is why competition and diversity are so important. Fortunately, there are a flood of great games for both consoles, but again Sony and Microsoft’s approach is different.
With its impressive library of PS4 exclusives, Sony is supporting its in-house studios to deliver compelling titles once again. Alongside the back catalog, the PS5 launch has been bolstered by Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon’s Souls, and Sackboy: A Big Adventure, all console exclusives. Recently, we saw The Last of Us Part 1, Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West, and God of War Ragnarok.
At the same time, Microsoft upgraded many exclusive games from the last generation for the new generation, and since then we’ve seen games like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5. However, the allure of the Xbox series revolves around Microsoft’s massive Xbox Game Pass service, which includes hundreds of Games that can be downloaded and played on demand.
If you’ve been hoping to get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for even cheaper, we’ve got good news. While this is currently only being tested in the Republic of Ireland and Colombia, Microsoft is looking to launch a family plan for Xbox Game Pass, allowing you and four players to jump-start for a monthly cost of €21.99 – which works out to around $21.99/£21.99. 19.99 / AU$32.99
Also includes backwards compatibility for four generations of Xbox games. You’ll find full Xbox One game compatibility, along with select games for Xbox 360 and the original Xbox. Even better, and they all promise to look and play better than ever before. However, Sony recently expanded PS Plus with new tiers, giving those who subscribe to Extra or Premium access to a broader game catalog. While you won’t get Day 1 exclusives from Sony like Microsoft, there aren’t a lot of them out there right now.
Both platforms come with plenty of timed exclusives and third-party titles, of course, as we’ve seen previously with Yakuza: Like a Dragon on Xbox and Godfall on PS5. Then the choice ultimately comes down to which games you find attractive, or which ecosystem you’re already invested in.
PS5 Digital Edition vs. Xbox Series S: The Verdict
The decision on which digital console to buy will ultimately come down to personal preference. Both remove the disc drive, so physical media isn’t allowed, and the Xbox Series S squarely aims to open up the market to make new generation games more affordable.
Saving $100 / £130 on the PS5 Digital Edition is attractive at first glance, but you may end up spending more in the long run. It’s all worth keeping this in mind if you’re holding on tight to Sony hardware.
Either way, both devices promise to deliver an experience that is superior to their predecessors. So far, we’ve seen clear demand for both disc-less systems, though perhaps more so with the Xbox Series S.
PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S – Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PS5 Digital Edition less powerful?
The PS5 Digital Edition is just as powerful as the standard PS5. In fact, the only difference between the two consoles is the drive. In terms of power, the two consoles are identical despite the digital copy’s cheaper price. If you want to get physical versions of games or collector’s editions, having a disc drive has its advantages. But if you’re not fussy and spend more time downloading your media, it’s worth considering the digital version without sacrificing performance.
Does the Xbox Series S have the same storage space as the Xbox Series X?
Compared to the Xbox Series X’s 1TB internal SSD, the Xbox Series S 512GB SSD is a bit lackluster. But there’s always the opportunity to expand your storage with another SSD to ensure you have enough space to store your titles. Furthermore, since the Xbox Series S is a simpler version of the Series X, unlike the PS5 Digital Edition, which is an exact replica of its home console, storage is one of the few sacrifices made to coincide with the cheaper price.
How many games can the PS5 Digital Edition contain?
Since the PS5 Digital Edition has the same 667GB of internal storage as the standard PS5, there’s more than enough space to fit a good number of PS5 titles before you need to consider another storage device, such as another internal SSD or external hard drive. .