PARIS: Sony and Microsoft are in a game console rematch with the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X next week with well-studied playbooks of dates, technical specifications and games aimed at attracting buyers.
Microsoft is hoping the Xbox Series X will help it close the gap with Sony, which has sold twice as many PlayStation 4 consoles as Microsoft has sold its Xbox One since both went on sale in 2013.
Here is a comparison of the two consoles:
Date:
Microsoft launches first
The first to introduce its new console, Microsoft will also be the first to hit the shelves with the Xbox Series X due out on November 10.
Sony is wowing with the launch of the PS5. On November 12, it will be available in Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, North America and South Korea. On November 19, consumers from the rest of the world will be able to buy it.
Pre-orders point to a record launch: Sony expects to sell 7.6 million PS5 consoles by the end of March, outperforming the PS4.
Price:
Premium and Digital Editions
Technological advancements and faster networks mean that Microsoft and Sony can offer consoles to gamers with different budgets.
Sony is offering a premium version of the PS5 with internal memory and 4K resolution via an Ultra HD Blu-ray player for 499 euros ($ 585) and a digital version that plays games online costs 399 euros.
Microsoft offers the premium version of its Xbox Series X at the same price as the PS5, but is setting a more aggressive price for the digital version at 299 euros.
“Sony, with its entry model, is affording itself a higher price than Microsoft. As a market leader, it can afford to do so,” gaming analyst Laurent Michaud told AFP.
“It would have been interesting for Microsoft to push its pricing strategy to be a bit lower on the high-end model,” Michaud said.
Design:
From futuristic to contemporary
In design, companies have taken radically different approaches.
Sony’s PS5 is tall and sleek, with a V-shaped white on black exterior with subtle blue lighting for a futuristic style that some consider wouldn’t look out of place on a Star Wars set.
The controller retains the white-on-black look in a radical departure from previous incarnations.
Xbox is left with a sober black and understated logo on a black tower and a controller that remains aesthetically faithful to previous generations.
Specs:
Xbox feel the power
For the Xbox design team, their product is “the fastest and most powerful console ever.” The company’s website urges fans to step in, ignite, and “power their dreams.”
Offering potential 8K video capabilities, the kit features a 12 teraflop graphics processor, compared to the PS5’s 10.3, and superior data processing power overall.
In terms of memory, the two consoles are roughly the same.
For Michaud, however, the battle for processing power makes no sense.
“The more you broaden the player base, the less power is a criterion. Kids don’t care less about power when they play Fortnite. It’s the gaming experience that counts,” he said.
Sony all in the big hitters catalog
In terms of exclusive titles, Sony has put out a top-notch selection to coincide with its release, including Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Fans will have to wait a while for Final Fantasy XVI, the latest in the famous series, but it will be exclusive to the PS5.
Microsoft had hoped Halo Infinite would help boost sales in the Xbox Series X launch, but the coronavirus pandemic has delayed the game’s release until 2021.
But the software giant has broken its piggy bank to boost the Xbox catalog, splurging $ 7.5 billion on Bethesda Softworks, publisher of the popular games The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
As for the thorny compatibility issue, Xbox Series X buyers will be able to play games written for all previous consoles.
PS5 buyers should be able to play games written for PS4, but not older machines.
High-end OLED TV, WFH Office Solution and More! Here’s the best Diwali Tech gift guide …
Go tech or go home!
Diwali is just around the corner and choosing the perfect gift that will make your loved ones smile can be quite a Herculean task. You can opt for ordinary gifts like sanitizer boxes and custom-made masks, but Covid-19-related gifts are so outdated.
2020 has seen some of the most incredible tech launches and there is a wide range of tech products, gadgets, and gadgets available to give away that would make life easier for your loved ones.
This festive season, gift your loved ones with high-end technology that would make your Diwali bright and colorful. Here is the ultimate Diwali technology gift guide for your reference.
Starry skies and bright lights
With increasing pollution levels in North India and social distancing regulations in place, some of us will celebrate Diwali in the comfort of our homes, and some will be able to watch their favorite shows on television. And what better way to celebrate Diwali than to gaze at the bright, colorful light and starry night sky?
The new LG OLED TV comes with bright, self-illuminated pixels that light up one by one and produce a perfect starry sky, where the black is dark enough and the stars are super bright.
LG’s new OLED TV has vivid colors, interference-free contrast, better picture quality for HDR games (if you want to spend Diwali night playing your favorite games), and wider viewing angles.
The 88-inch TV has astonishing 8K Ultra HD picture quality.
Price:
BX variant (65/55 inches): Rs 2.72,990
ZX variant (88-inch): Rs Rs. 29.99,990
Apple to the rescue!
Cupertino-based tech giant Apple took the world by storm this year with its new 2020 iPad Air, which launched at its #TimeFlies event in October. Powered by the Bionic A14 chip, the new iPad Air has a 10.9-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology.
If you’re someone who has spent most of this year working from home, you can say goodbye to your laptop by pairing your 2020 iPad Air with Magic Keyboard, making it the perfect home office solution.
The 12MP camera can be used for everything from scanning documents to taking pictures. The Apple Pencil can also be used for note taking and drawing!
Apple’s iPad Air is the perfect gift for those who work from home and are looking for a change in technology. You can buy the new iPad Air in the Apple store, which also has attractive offers and incredible combinations.
Price:
iPad Air (64GB): Rs 54,900; 256GB: Rs 68,900
Magic keyboard: 27,900 rupees
The WFH is easy
Now that the majority of India’s workforce works from home, high-quality virtual interactions are now more necessary than ever. The Panasonic Home Office solution, which comes with 4K video quality, allows computers to connect with each other smoothly and effortlessly.
The kit includes a Lumix camera along with an HDMI capture card that connects to the laptop’s USB port. All of this is plug-and-play, as there is no need to install any additional software.
Panasonic’s home office solution has minimal delays and allows free movement during long-hour work periods. It also allows users to record live streaming sessions for later use.
So this Independence Day, make working from home easy for your loved ones and provide them with the Panasonic home office solution.
Price: Rs 99,990 and up
Burn calories!
We all love to binge during the festive season and most of the time, we tend to put on a few extra pounds while feasting on delicious delicacies. After Diwali, most of us start our workouts to burn off the extra calories and get back in shape, and that’s when the Apple Watch Series 6 will come in handy.
Unveiled by the Cupertino-based tech giant in October at its #TimeFlies event, the Apple Watch Series 6 can monitor blood oxygen levels. It also comes with Fitness +, a fitness service that syncs with your watch to display your Apple Watch metrics along with a growing library of music-based exercise videos.
The smartwatch is powered by a new Apple S6 SiP (System in Package), which is said to be up to two times faster than the S5 processor available in the Apple Watch Series 5. There is also a W3 wireless chip for seamless connectivity with Apple. devices.
The Apple Watch Series 6 is available from the Apple Store.
Price:
Apple Watch Series 6 GPS variant: Rs 40,900
Apple Watch Series 6 GPS + Cellular variant: Rs 49,900
