PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S: which digital-only console should you buy?

Date:
Tue, 05 Oct 2021 13:08:52 +0000

Description:
The PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S ditch the disk drive, but thats where the similarities end.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

The PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S are similar in that they both ditch the classic disc drive in favor of an all-digital approach. This means theyre cheaper than disc-based consoles. But if you have your heart set on a digital variant, what are the key differences between the PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S? And importantly, have you fully considered the pros and cons of ditching physical media for good?

Now that both companies offer a digital-only model for their next-gen
consoles its a first for Sony you might think thats all there is to consider. Microsoft or Sony? But youd be missing out on some important details. While the PS5 Digital Edition is essentially a PS5 without a disc drive, the Xbox Series S is an entirely different proposition when compared
to the Xbox Series X .

To help relieve you of any buying headaches, weve got all the details of both digital consoles below so you can make the right choice based on your gaming needs and your budget size.

We're also rounding up all the latest where to buy a PS5 and Xbox Series S stock information right here on TechRadar as soon as we find out. So if
you're having trouble finding either of the two consoles in stock (which is still a lot of people) keep checking back. Check out our PS5 review PS5 vs Xbox Series X : the two next-gen consoles go head-to-head PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition : the two PlayStation consoles compared PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S price and release date (Image credit: Microsoft)

By removing the 4K Blu-Ray drive, Sony has managed to knock $100 off the
price of the PS5 Digital Edition compared to the standard PS5. It's available now depending on your territory, and retails for $399 / 359 / $AU599.95.

In comparison, Microsofts Xbox Series S is the cheapest current-gen console
on the market at just $299 / 249 / AU$499. It released alongside Microsofts flagship console, the Xbox Series X, on November 10, 2020.

The Xbox Series S has a price advantage of $100 over the PS5 Digital Edition, then, but as well go on to explain, that doesnt mean its a clear cut victory for Microsoft's smaller box unless price is your most important factor. PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S specs (Image credit: Sony)

The PS5 Digital Edition is literally identical to the standard PS5 apart from the fact it doesnt include a 4K Blu-Ray drive. Its removal helps give the console a more symmetrical shape, but appearance aside, you wont find any differences when it comes to technical specs between Sonys two PS5 consoles. Check out the specs below: CPU: Eight-core up to 3.5GHz (variable frequency) custom AMD Ryzen Zen 2 GPU: 10.3 teraflops, variable frequency, up to 2.23
GHz RAM: 16GB GDDR6 Framerate : Up to 120fps Resolution : Up to 8K Optical:
No disk drive Storage: 825GB NVMe SSD

If youre happy to forgo physical media and prefer buying your games
digitally, then the PS5 Digital Edition makes sense. There are a few caveats to consider, though. Physical games tend to be cheaper than their digital counterparts, and are more prone to heavy price cuts and sales. You can trade them in and recoup some of your investment, too. Theres also something rather comforting about owning a disc as opposed to a digital copy, but this isnt an issue for some.

With digital titles often costing full price, if not more, it means that the $100 you initially save might quickly disappear once you've bought a few $70
/ 69.99 PS5 games, and youll have no choice but to pay full price on the PlayStation Store.

The Xbox Series S, on the other hand, is fundamentally different to the Xbox Series X, and in turn, the PS5 Digital Edition. Microsofts cheaper console targets a resolution of 1440p instead of 4K, and has a significantly less powerful GPU. However, thanks to the advances in hardware over the last few years, the system should prove to be extremely capable, albeit less so than the PS5 Digital Edition when it comes to raw specs. Check out the Xbox Series S specs below: CPU: Eight-core 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT) custom AMD 7nm GPU: 4 teraflops at 1.550GHz RAM: 10GB GDDR6 Framerate: Up to 120 fps Resolution: 1440p with 4K upscaling Optical: No disk drive Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD

Microsofts strategy of targeting both the high and low-end of the market is
an interesting one, and the company has already tipped the Xbox Series S to outsell its more expensive sibling.

While its easy to dismiss the Xbox Series S as being the weakest console and therefore the most inferior of the bunch, it still promises to deliver a next-gen experience. It supports all the key technological advancements that both the PS5 and Xbox Series X boast: that includes ray-tracing, super-fast load times, and 120fps capabilities. But its more modest resolution target means it can achieve these goals for a much lower price point.

It also means Microsofts been able to create the smallest, and its arguably most aesthetically pleasing console to date. The Xbox Series S is significantly smaller than the Xbox Series X, and absolutely tiny compared to the gargantuan PS5, so if youre looking for something thats more discreet and able to fit into any space, the Xbox Series S might appeal.

One thing to note, though, is that the Xbox Series S only comes with a 512GB SSD. That means space will fill up fast, but Microsoft has said that game files should be 30% smaller than on Xbox Series X as they wont be using 4K textures, which can seriously bloat up some titles. There's also a expandable storage solution at launch in the form of Seagate's 1TB Expansion Card, but it's pricey. PS5 and Xbox Series X storage explained : everything you need to know PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S games (Image credit: Sony)

Games are subjective and thats why competition and variety is so important. Thankfully, theres a deluge of great-looking games on the way for both consoles, but both Sony and Microsofts approach is different once again.

With its superb library of exclusive games on PS4, Sony is backing its
studios to deliver enticing titles once again to help sell its new console. The PS5s launch is being bolstered by games such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales , Demons Souls and Sackboy: A Big Adventure, all of which can only be found
on Sonys console, and more blockbusters are on the way with Horizon Forbidden West and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

Microsoft, meanwhile, doesnt have a new first-party studio game at launch after Halo Infinite was unexpectedly delayed. Instead, the appeal of Xbox Series S and X revolves around Microsofts phenomenal Xbox Game Pass service, which includes hundreds of games that can be downloaded and played la carte. It also includes backwards compatibility for four generations of Xbox games, meaning players can return to Xbox 360, original Xbox and Xbox One games, all of which promise to look and play better than ever before.

Both systems will be accompanied by various timed exclusives and third-party titles, of course, such as Yakuza: Like a Dragon on Xbox and Godfall on PS5. The choice then ultimately comes down to which games you find appealing, or which ecosystem youve already invested in. PS5 Digital Edition vs Xbox Series S verdict (Image credit: 343 Industries)

The decision over which digital console to buy will honestly come down to personal preference: both remove the disc drive, so physical media is a
no-go, and the Xbox Series S is aimed squarely at opening up the market to make next-gen gaming more affordable. The $100 saving on the PS5 Digital Edition is appealing at first glance, but you may end up spending more in the long run, so bear that in mind if you're sticking firmly with Sony's
machines.

Either way, both consoles promise to offer a superior experience over their predecessors. As it stands, both Xbox Series S pre-orders and PS5 pre-orders are extremely hard to find, so its clear theres demand for both disc-less systems. Our impressions are in: Xbox Series X hands-on preview Find out
where to buy the Xbox Series X PS5 Black Friday restocks : will there be more consoles on the shelves? PS5 bundles : when can you save some cash?



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/ps5-digital-edition-vs-xbox-series-s-which-digi tal-only-console-should-you-buy/


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)