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The digital edition of the PS5 and the Xbox Series S are ditching the disc drive in favor of an all-digital approach. But what are the differences between the two consoles and have you considered the pros and cons of leaving physical media behind?
With both companies offering a digital-only model of their next-gen consoles, you might think that’s it, but you’d be wrong. While the PS5 Digital Edition is essentially a PS5 without a disc drive, the Xbox Series S is a completely different proposition compared to the Xbox Series X. It’s important to know the differences, then, before going online on launch day or try to secure an order in advance.
To help ease the headaches of the next generation, we’ve got all the details on both digital consoles below so you can make the right choice based on your gaming needs and budget size.
Price and release date of PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S
By eliminating the 4K Blu-Ray drive, Sony has managed to slash $ 100 off the price of the PS5 digital edition compared to the standard PS5. It launches on November 12 or November 19, depending on your territory, and retails for $ 399 / £ 359 / $ AU599.95.
By comparison, Microsoft’s Xbox Series S is the cheapest next-gen console on the market at just $ 299 / £ 249 / AU $ 499. It will launch alongside Microsoft’s flagship console, the Xbox Series X, on November 10. 2020.
The Xbox Series S has a $ 100 price advantage over the PS5 digital edition, then, but as we’ll explain below, that doesn’t mean it’s a clear win for Microsoft’s smaller box, unless the price is your own. most important factor. .
PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S Specifications
The PS5 digital edition is literally identical to the standard PS5, aside from the fact that it doesn’t include a 4K Blu-Ray drive. Removing it helps give the console a more symmetrical shape, but aside from looks, you won’t find any differences in technical specs between the two Sony PS5 consoles. See the specs below:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen Zen 2 Custom Octa-Core up to 3.5 GHz (Variable Frequency)
- GPU: 10.3 teraflops, variable frequency, up to 2.23 GHz
- RAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Frames per second: Up to 120 fps
- Resolution: Up to 8K
- Optical: No disk drive
- Storage: 825GB NVMe SSD
If you’re happy to give up on physical media and prefer to buy your games digitally, then the PS5 digital edition makes sense. However, there are some caveats to consider. Physical games tend to be cheaper than their digital counterparts and are more prone to steep price and sales cuts. You can also exchange them and recoup part of your investment. There is also something quite comforting about having a disc instead of a digital copy, but this is not a problem for some.
Since digital titles often cost full price, if not more, it means that the $ 100 you initially save could quickly disappear once you’ve bought a few $ 70 / £ 69.99 PS5 games, and you’ll have no choice but to pay. full price on the PlayStation Store.
The Xbox Series S, on the other hand, is fundamentally different from the Xbox Series X and, in turn, the PS5 Digital Edition. Microsoft’s cheapest console targets 1440p resolution instead of 4K, and has a significantly less powerful GPU. However, thanks to advances in hardware in recent years, the system should prove to be extremely capable, albeit less than the digital edition of PS5 when it comes to raw specs. Check out the Xbox Series S specs below:
- CPU: AMD 7nm custom octa-core 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT)
- GPU: 4 teraflops at 1,550 GHz
- RAM: 10GB GDDR6
- Frames per second: Up to 120 fps
- Resolution: 1440p with 4K upscaling
- Optical: No disk drive
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
Microsoft’s strategy of targeting both the high-end and the low-end of the market is interesting, and the company has already tipped the Xbox Series S to outsell its more expensive sibling.
While it’s easy to dismiss the Xbox Series S as the weakest, and therefore the lowest, of the bunch, it still promises to deliver a next-gen experience. It’s compatible with all the key technological advancements featured on both the PS5 and Xbox Series X – that includes ray tracing, super fast load times, and 120fps capabilities. But its more modest resolution goal means you can achieve these goals for a much lower price.
It also means that Microsoft has been able to create the smallest and possibly the most aesthetically pleasing console to date. The Xbox Series S is significantly smaller than the Xbox Series X and absolutely small compared to the gigantic PS5, so if you are looking for something that is more discreet and can fit in any space, the Xbox Series S might appeal to you.
However, one thing to keep in mind is that the Xbox Series S only comes with a 512GB SSD. That means the space will fill up quickly, but Microsoft has said that game files should be 30% smaller than on Xbox Series X as they won’t use 4K textures, which can bloat some titles.
PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S games
Games are subjective, which is why competition and variety are so important. Fortunately, there is a flood of great looking games on the way for both consoles, but the approach from Sony and Microsoft is different once again.
With its magnificent library of exclusive games on PS4, Sony is backing its studios to offer compelling titles once again to help sell its new console. The PS5 launch is bolstered by games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon’s Souls, and Sackboy: A Big Adventure, all of which can only be found on Sony’s console, and more blockbusters are on the way with Horizon. Forbidden West and Ratchet. & Clank: Rift Apart.
Microsoft, meanwhile, doesn’t have a new studio game of its own at launch after Halo Infinite was unexpectedly delayed. Instead, the appeal of Xbox Series S and X revolves around Microsoft’s phenomenal Xbox Game Pass service, which includes hundreds of games that can be downloaded and played on demand. It also includes backward compatibility for four generations of Xbox games, which means that gamers can revert to Xbox 360, the original Xbox games, and Xbox One, all of which promise to look and play better than ever.
Both systems will be accompanied by various timed exclusives and third-party titles, of course, like Yakuza: Like a Dragon on Xbox and Godfall on PS5. The choice ultimately comes down to which games you find appealing or which ecosystem you have already invested in.
PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S verdict
The decision on which digital console to buy will honestly come down to personal preference: both remove the disc drive, so physical media is banned, and the Xbox Series S is aimed squarely at opening up the market for next-gen games. More affordable. Saving $ 100 on the PS5 digital edition is appealing at first glance, but you may end up spending more in the long run, so keep that in mind if you’re sticking firmly with Sony machines.
Either way, both consoles promise to deliver a superior experience than their predecessors, and we’re excited to test both in November. As it stands, both Xbox Series S pre-orders and PS5 pre-orders are extremely difficult to find, so it’s clear that there is demand for both discless systems.
