PS5 vs. Xbox Series X vs. Switch vs. Xbox Series S: Which Should You Buy in 2024?

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X/S vs. Switch 

Where to buy PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch?

If you want to buy PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or Switch, you can go to Best buy or GamStop. And don't forget to sign up at Extrabux first！(What is Extrabux) , then you can enjoy up to 5% cashback on your order from Extrabux! Sign-Up Bonus: Free to join it & get $20 welcome bonus! 

PS5

Where to buy PlayStation 5?

1. Walmart: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition

2. Best Buy: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 

3. GameStop: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 

4. Target: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 

5. Newegg: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 

6. Costco: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 

PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition Prices

If you go for the standard PS5, the one that still eats up shiny Blu-ray discs for breakfast, it'll cost you $499.99 / £449.99 / AU$749.95. The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (with its identical specs aside from the removal of the disc drive) comes in at $399.99 / £359.99 / AU$599.95.

Should I buy a PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition?

The top model of PS5 will set you back by $499.99 but it has a 4K Blu-ray player built-in. The PS5 Digital Edition, meanwhile, has the exact same hardware as the standard PS5 but comes without the disc drive for a price of $399.99. It will play the same games as the regular PS5 like Marvel’s Spider-Man: Mile Morales and Demon’s Souls, but you have to download them digitally. That means you won’t be able to play 4K Blu-rays, Blu-rays, or DVDs. 

If the budget is sufficient, it is better to buy a standard PS5.

Xbox Series X/S

Where to buy Xbox Series X/S?

1. Walmart: Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S

2. Best Buy: Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S 

3. GameStop: Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S 

4. Target: Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S

5. Newegg: Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S 

6. Costco: Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S

Xbox Series X/S Prices

$299.99 for the Series S, $499.99 for the Series X. Microsoft also offers an All Access program where consumers can pay for the consoles over a two-year period, similar to purchasing a smartphone. 

Should I buy a PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition?

Choosing a new Xbox game console is far from easy. Unlike the PlayStation 5 which is available with both the digital and disc-drive models, Microsoft is selling two different Xbox consoles. While the Xbox Series X is the most powerful console, the Xbox Series S is aimed at casual gamers and families. The Series S is technically a lower powerful console that plays the same games as the Xbox Series X but without the disc drive and less superior graphics. Even in terms of look and feel, the Xbox Series X and Series S aren’t identical. Mind you, the Xbox Series S will output at 1440p rather than 4K, but it will still upscale on 4K TVs. The Series S also has less RAM and a smaller SSD. Basically, the Xbox Series S will appeal to those consumers who own a 1080p TV and don’t care much about graphics but still want to play next-gen titles. Perhaps the most significant difference between the two consoles is the price. The Xbox Series X will set you back $499.99, whereas the Xbox Series S costs $299.99. The question really is, what will you gain by saving $200.

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Designs

Xbox Series X

The design of the Xbox Series X looks not too dissimilar to a matte black tower PC – a clear departure from the Xbox One – that can be stood vertically or laid horizontally. It measures 30 x 15 x 15cm (hwd), weighs 4.45kg and works with a 130mm fan that draws cool air up through vents in the bottom and sends hot air out through outlets at the top. Unlike previous generations of Xbox, there's no HDMI input or optical output.

PS5

Compared with the quite utilitarian appearance of the Xbox Series X, the PS5 looks very sci-fi. Its curvaceous lines and glossy white finish contrast with the Xbox's sharp, geometric silhouette and stealthy matte black paint.

Some say that the PS5's white shell has the look of a high-collared catsuit, with an opening that plunges down to create a 'V' that could denote that this is the fifth-generation PlayStation.

As for dimensions, the PS5 is absolutely huge. While it's a touch slimmer than the Xbox Series X (14cm vs 15cm), it's significantly taller (39cm vs 30cm). It can be laid horizontally if preferred, but the PS5's size can still cause issues for those with limited space in their equipment racks, particularly as you have to allow space around it for air to flow.

Like the Xbox Series X, the PS5 uses a single, unusually large fan (by console standards) to keep itself cool, which it does very quietly indeed. Unlike the Xbox Series X, it’s not completely inaudible in a silent room, but the consistent whirr is quiet enough to be drowned out by any sound coming from your TV or sound system.

With both consoles, the disc drive is noisier than the fan, particularly when playing a 4K Blu-ray. Here, though, we peg the PS5 at about 5dB quieter than the Xbox. That’s enough to make a difference and, while neither will intrude on your movie soundtrack, you are more likely to notice the Xbox in the quieter moments. It isn’t an issue with games, at least, as even those bought on disc run primarily from the consoles’ built-in storage.

Ultimately, while the Xbox is the duller-looking of the two consoles, it's also the more practical, so it just about scrapes the win here.

PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Controllers

Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X controller isn’t drastically different from the Xbox One controller. There is a new share button, which works much like the same button on the DualShock 4, as well as an updated directional pad based on the Xbox One Elite 2 controller’s pad. It also features a slightly different design. Its most noticeable change is the new Share button in the center, serving as a way to upload and manage screenshots and videos.

The controller is cross-generation compatible with Xbox One, as are the Xbox One’s accessories. This means any controllers that players already own for Xbox One will work on the new system. It seems Microsoft is going in a totally different direction from Sony when it comes to next-generation controllers. Microsoft is showing that, once again, consumer-friendly decisions like these are at the forefront. The new Xbox Series X controller also features a USB-C charge port instead of the Micro USB found on previous versions.

PS5

The DualSense controller for PS5 is a major upgrade on the DualShock 4 for PS4. It's more ergonomic and made of higher quality material, but most importantly, it adds to the gaming experience with haptic feedback and trigger resistance. Microsoft had both (or something similar) with the Xbox One controller, but Sony is pushing those systems further with the DualSense.

Additionally, the battery packed into the controller sports a higher capacity than its predecessor. This was one of the biggest drawbacks with the DualShock 4 in the current generation. The controller itself resembles the console, with a combination of black and white colors. It seems to be a bit bulkier than the DualShock 4. The DualSense incorporates the same basic button layout as previous controllers, but with a few minor changes. Gone is the Share button. Instead, Sony opted to include a Create button to take its place, and it functions the same, with added features. It also includes a built-in mic and headphone jack.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Backward Compatibility

PS5

Unlike the PS4, Sony’s newest console is backward-compatible — at least in some capacity. The PS5 is able to play PS4 games in addition to its own library of titles as well as PlayStation VR games. It is also backward-compatible with the PlayStation VR headset supported by the PS4, but this doesn’t mean we won’t also get a new VR headset down the line. After what seemed like an eternity, Sony finally gave us the details on how backward compatibility works.

As confirmed in a PlayStation Blog post, indeed most of your PS4 games do work on PS5. In fact, only a small handful of games are incompatible. The list is as follows:

• DWVR

• Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One

• TT Isle of Man — Ride on the Edge 2

• Just Deal With It!

• Shadow Complex Remastered

• Robinson: The Journey

• We Sing

• Hitman Go: Definitive Edition

• Shadwen

It’s unclear why these games in particular aren’t backward compatible with the PS5, but you can rest easy knowing the overwhelming majority of your PS4 games work on the new machine. Unfortunately, backward compatibility stops at PS4 games. Sony might continue to release PS2 ports as it has with PS4, but in terms of “true” backward compatibility beyond that, it seems unlikely.

Xbox Series X

As for Xbox, Microsoft confirmed during E3 2019 that Xbox Series X supports most previous-generation Xbox games, similar to how Xbox One does so now. This means you’ll be able to play eligible original Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S games all on the new machine — a huge win for game preservation. While the Xbox Series X might not have the exclusive launch lineup the PS5 has, Microsoft should be praised for its consumer-friendly approach to backward compatibility.

The company is said to be working on a project called GameCore that will help streamline the game development process for Microsoft’s gaming consoles and PC platform. It seems the goal here is to make it easier for developers to create games for Microsoft’s consoles that can be more easily brought to, or are even inherently compatible with, Windows PCs.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Games

At launch, neither next-gen console can boast of a stellar line-up. PS5 has Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon's Souls, Astro's Playroom, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, The Pathless, Godfall, Bugsnax, and Destruction AllStars (nearly three months after launch, in fact). But very few of these are actually PS5 exclusive, they are also on PS4 and/or PC.

Meanwhile, Xbox Series X boasts of Gears 5, Forza Horizon 4, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, and The Medium (over two months after launch). Most of them are games from the Xbox One era or older, and one is an exclusive only for a limited time.

The launch line-up for PS5 and Series X is much bigger beyond PlayStation Studios and Xbox Game Studios. We've the likes of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, Immortals Fenyx Rising, FIFA 21, NBA 2K21, Dirt 5, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Rainbow Six Siege, Just Dance 2024, Mortal Kombat 11, Borderlands 3, No Man's Sky, and Destiny 2.

If it's more exclusives you're after, 2024 has a fair few. On the PS5 front, there's Horizon Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarök, Deathloop, Returnal, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Gran Turismo 7, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. The Series X will get Halo Infinite, Flight Simulator, STALKER 2, CrossfireX, The Gunk, and Sable.

Xbox has an ace up its sleeve, though, in the form of Game Pass. For £7.99 ($9.99, AU$10.95) a month, this subscription gives you access to over 100 Xbox games, including all first-party titles such as Forza Horizon 4 and Gears 5. It's an outrageously generous offering that gives you a huge library of excellent games to dip into at your leisure and has the potential to save you a fortune. 

PlayStation's PS Plus collection, which allows PS5 owners to play around 20 legacy PS4 games for free, is a step in the right direction but isn't quite at the same level, particularly as it doesn't include (or even seem set to include) any brand new titles. It is included as part of the standard PS Plus subscription for online gaming, though, and doesn't cost extra in the way that Xbox Game Pass does.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Services

Microsoft knows better than anybody that the future of games is in services. This is an area in which Xbox Series X will have a clear advantage over the PS5, thanks to Microsoft's huge investment in services such as Xbox Live, Play Anywhere, Games With Gold, and Xbox Game Pass. The company's also thrown its weight behind the support of cross-platform play, game streaming, and third-party subscription services such as EA Access.

Xbox Series X launched with an established, tested, and stable platform to draw from. Players will be able to immediately jump into hundreds of games on Xbox Series X thanks to the combination of backwards compatibility support and Game Pass, a subscription service that rotates hundreds of Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Xbox games every month – including all of the first-party Xbox Game Studio exclusives. Microsoft has created an extremely player-friendly, player-focused ecosystem through its services as a result.

Meanwhile, PlayStation announced additions to its PlayStation Plus service in the form of the PlayStation Plus Collection, a huge library of PS4 games to PS5 at launch. But it's easy to see how the Xbox Series X in particular benefits from a massive selection of on-demand games via Game Pass.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Verdict

Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X have enough features to justify a purchase, but they also have downsides that you should be aware of. In terms of price, the least expensive way to get the best-looking games is by purchasing the Digital Edition PS5 for $399, though these are difficult to find. If you’re someone who has loved Sony’s excellent output of first-party exclusives, the PS5 should be your go-to. The company will continue releasing top-tier exclusives, like Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon’s Souls, God of War: Ragnarok, Gran Turismo 7, and Sackboy: A Big Adventure, to name a few.

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo unveiled the Switch on March 3, 2017. The Nintendo Switch price was $299 at launch, which significantly undercut the prices of the Sony PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X ($499.99 at the time) and matched the then-current price of the Xbox Series S.

Unlike the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, though, the Nintendo Switch is what’s known as a hybrid console. This means you can connect it to a TV and play it in the normal home console style. However, you can also use it as a wireless handheld device — not unlike the Nintendo 3DS, another insanely popular Nintendo product.

In other words, the Switch offers the best of both worlds: the power to run home console games that look and play great on a television as well as the ability to play those same games on the go.

The Nintendo Switch is officially the company’s second-best-selling home console of all-time with over 74 million units sold to date. That puts it far behind the Nintendo Wii (~102 million units) but well ahead of the original Nintendo Entertainment System (~62 million units). It is not unreasonable to expect it will eventually outsell the Wii to become the biggest home console of all time from the brand.

If you’re a Nintendo fan already, the Switch is an absolute must-buy, without question. If you’re a casual gamer, the Switch would likely be a good investment because you can use it for both your home console and handheld console needs without buying two separate devices. If you’re a hardcore gamer who wants access to every game and the ability to play them at the highest quality possible, the Switch is likely not what you’re looking for.

Nintendo Switch vs. Nintendo Switch Lite

Like Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo too sells two versions of its console: the standard Switch and Switch Lite. More than two years after the launch of the original Nintendo Switch, the company announced a new variant of the console: the Nintendo Switch Lite. As the name suggests, this console is a watered-down version of the original. This means you get fewer features but also a lower price.

However, the Nintendo Switch Lite does not skimp out on the game library. The Switch Lite supports nearly every game the original Switch supports (with the exception of games that require Joy-Con usage, such as 1-2-Switch). If you buy a physical game for your main Switch, that cartridge will also work in your Switch Lite. Additionally, if you use the same Nintendo account on both systems, you’ll have access to the digital games you’ve paid for through the Nintendo eShop. If you’re a member of Switch Online, your perks will also transfer to the Switch Lite (assuming you are signed in under that account).

Differences with Switch Lite

• The Switch Lite is overall physically smaller than the Switch. This results in a smaller display (5.5 inches compared to 6.2 inches).

• You cannot detach the Joy-Con on the Switch Lite — they are permanently attached to the system. This prevents you from fully enjoying any games that rely on Joy-Con separation, including 1-2-Switch, Super Mario Party, Just Dance, Nintendo Labo, Ring Fit Adventure, and others. You can, however, use a separate set of Joy-Con (or another compatible controller) to play these games on the Switch Lite, although the next item on this list makes that tricky.

• You cannot dock the Switch Lite to play games on your television. The Switch Lite is designed for handheld use only.

• The Switch Lite has a smaller battery than the regular Switch. However, it surprisingly gets better overall battery life than the original Switch due to the upgraded internal hardware and lack of other battery-hogging features.

In exchange for losing out on some features, the Nintendo Switch Lite has a lower starting price as compared to the Switch. The Switch Lite starts at $199, a full $100 cheaper than the regular Switch. This makes it the perfect option for parents who want to give their kids a Switch but don’t want to spend $300 on something they might break.

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