Head-to-head · spec by spec, a verdict per need

PS5 vs Xbox Series X 2026

Pick the Sony PlayStation 5 if you want PlayStation exclusives and to carry on with your PS4 library, since Sony says you can play over 8,500 PS4 games on it, and it costs £100 less at RRP (checked 26 October 2026).

See which one is for you Compare side by sideAffiliate

Choose the Microsoft Xbox Series X if you want Game Pass or an Xbox back catalogue: it plays thousands of Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games.

By Bez, Editor✓ Updated 26 October 2026

PlayStation 5 (1TB, disc drive)Image: SonySee it on Amazon

Xbox Series X (1TB, disc drive)Image: MicrosoftSee it on Amazon

Which one is for you?

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Which pick suits which need
Ifyou want PlayStation Studios exclusive games	PlayStation 5 (1TB, disc drive)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want Xbox Game Pass and day-one Xbox releases	Xbox Series X (1TB, disc drive)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want the lower RRP	PlayStation 5 (1TB, disc drive)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou own Xbox 360 or original Xbox games	Xbox Series X (1TB, disc drive)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want to carry on with your PS4 library	PlayStation 5 (1TB, disc drive)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want a smaller, lighter console for a tight TV unit	PlayStation 5 (1TB, disc drive)	See it on Amazon

At a glance

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1★ Top pick
Sony
PlayStation 5 (1TB, disc drive)Best for lower RRP, PlayStation exclusives
Play disc, download and PS4 games on one slim console
See it on Amazon
2
Microsoft
Xbox Series X (1TB, disc drive)Best for Game Pass, Xbox back catalogue
Play thousands of Xbox games, old and new, on one box
See it on Amazon

Side by side

From the makers' and retailers' published factsAffiliate

The picks side by side
Pick	Best for	Price	The fact that sets it apart	Where to buy
PlayStation 5 (1TB, disc drive)	lower RRP, PlayStation exclusives	£569.99	Sony lists it at approx. 358 x 96 x 216 mm and approx. 3.2 kg.	See it on Amazon
Xbox Series X (1TB, disc drive)	Game Pass, Xbox back catalogue	£669.99	Microsoft lists true 4K gaming with a performance target of up to 120 FPS, a 12 TFLOPS custom RDNA 2 GPU, 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and an HDMI 2.1 port.	See it on Amazon

Prices from the maker or retailer named on each pick below, checked 26 October 2026. A dash means the price changes too often to quote: tap through for today's.

Get the right console for your games, first time. This guide is for UK shoppers choosing between the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, whether for yourself or as a gift. It comes down to price, the games only one console plays, and whether your older games still work. The PS5 is also the smaller box: 3.2 kg against the Xbox's 4.4 kg.

Both in detail

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1★ Top pickBest for lower RRP, PlayStation exclusives

PlayStation 5 (1TB, disc drive)

Play disc, download and PS4 games on one slim console.

What it is: The PS5 1TB has a built-in Blu-ray disc drive and a fast 1TB SSD. Play PS5 games on disc or as downloads, whichever suits you.
Perfect for: This suits you if PlayStation exclusives are your priority and you want a lower RRP.
Why we picked it: Sony says you can play over 8,500 PS4 games on it, so your PS4 games still play here. Astro's Playroom comes pre-installed, so a game is ready as soon as you switch on. Sony also says the slim model cuts its volume by more than 30% compared with previous models.
What's new: The slim model reduces the console's volume by more than 30% compared with previous models and has a 1TB SSD.
Price: £569.99 (direct.playstation.com, checked 26 October 2026)

Sony lists it at approx. 358 x 96 x 216 mm and approx. 3.2 kg.
It has a built-in Blu-ray disc drive and a 1TB SSD, and plays PS5 and PS4 games on disc or as downloads.
Sony says you can play over 8,500 PS4 games on PS5 consoles.
Sony's own energy test puts the CFI-21 console with disc drive at an average of 214.0 W for active gaming (tested 5 February 2026).
The box holds the console, one DualSense controller, an HDMI cable, a power cord, a USB cable, two stand feet and the pre-installed game Astro's Playroom.

The catch: Sony says that from January 2028 newly released PlayStation games will be sold digitally only; the vertical stand is also sold separately.

Check today's price on Amazon

2Best for Game Pass, Xbox back catalogue

Xbox Series X (1TB, disc drive)

Play thousands of Xbox games, old and new, on one box.

What it is: The Xbox Series X plays games in 4K at up to 120 fps from a fast 1TB built-in SSD, and its disc drive plays 4K UHD Blu-ray, like the PS5's.
Perfect for: This is the one for you if Game Pass and older Xbox games are what you play most.
Why we picked it: Thousands of older Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games play on it, so your old library comes with you. Quick Resume lets you switch games and carry on from where you left off. When space runs low, Storage Expansion Cards add more, sold separately.
Price: £669.99 (xbox.com, checked 26 October 2026)

Microsoft lists true 4K gaming with a performance target of up to 120 FPS, a 12 TFLOPS custom RDNA 2 GPU, 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and an HDMI 2.1 port.
It has a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive and a 1TB custom NVMe SSD, and Storage Expansion Cards (sold separately) add more space.
It plays thousands of games from Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox, and Quick Resume lets you switch between titles and pick up where you left off.
Microsoft's lab measurement for the Series X in active gameplay is about 154 W, measured at the wall socket (Series S is about 74 W).

The catch: It is larger and heavier than the PS5, at 15.1 × 15.1 × 30.1 cm and 9.8 lb (about 4.4 kg) with the disc drive.

Check today's price on Amazon

What we left out, and why

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (825GB): It has no disc drive and 825GB of storage, and Sony sells a disc drive separately if you want one later.
PlayStation 5 Pro (2TB): It is a higher-spec model with 2TB of storage and PSSR upscaling, so it is a different class from the standard disc PS5.
Xbox Series X 1TB All-Digital (Robot White): It has no disc drive, so it cannot play 4K UHD Blu-ray or game discs.
Xbox Series S: It is a smaller, lower-powered console; Microsoft's lab figure for active gameplay is about 74 W against 154 W for the Series X.

How we chose

Our buying criteria

Only disc-drive flagships made the cut. A model had to play physical discs, not just downloads, and come with a fast 1TB SSD. Both picks have that, plus one controller in the box. Then we weighed what matters at home: exclusive games, subscriptions, backward compatibility, storage expansion and size. Every figure here comes from Sony's and Microsoft's own UK stores, and each console shows its catch.

Games: the PS5 plays PlayStation Studios exclusives; the Xbox Series X plays Xbox games and Game Pass titles.
Subscriptions: Game Pass is the draw for the Xbox Series X, while the PS5 is the pick for PlayStation games.
Backward compatibility: the PS5 plays over 8,500 PS4 games; the Xbox plays Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games.
Storage and size: the Xbox adds Storage Expansion Cards (sold separately) and is larger and heavier than the PS5.

How we choose every pick

Your questions, answered

Which is cheaper in the UK, the PS5 or the Xbox Series X?

The PS5. Sony lists the PS5 with disc drive at £569.99, against £669.99 for the Xbox Series X on Microsoft's UK store, so the PS5 leaves £100 for games.

Can I play my old games on a PS5 or Xbox Series X?

Yes, on each console for its own family of games. The PlayStation 5 plays over 8,500 PS4 games, so your PS4 library comes with you. The Xbox Series X plays thousands of Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, so it suits a big Xbox back catalogue.

Do I need a subscription to play online on PS5 or Xbox?

For most online multiplayer, yes, on both: PlayStation Plus on PS5 and a Game Pass plan on Xbox. Game Pass also adds a library of games to download, and it is the main reason people pick the Xbox Series X.

What comes in the box with each console?

The PS5 box holds one DualSense controller, an HDMI cable, a power cord, a USB cable, two stand feet and the game Astro's Playroom, pre-installed. The Xbox Series X comes with one Xbox Wireless Controller, an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable and a power cord. The PS5's vertical stand is sold separately.

Will the PS5 still play discs after 2028?

Yes, for the games you own. Sony says that from January 2028 newly released PlayStation games will be sold digitally only, but discs for games released before then keep playing on this console.

Can I buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X without a disc drive?

Yes. Sony sells the PS5 Digital Edition (825GB) with no disc drive, and the disc drive is sold separately. Microsoft sells the Xbox Series X 1TB All-Digital, which has no disc drive. Want to play discs? Go for the PS5 Console 1TB or the Xbox Series X 1TB, both with a disc drive.

Which one is for you?

At a glance

Side by side

Both in detail

PlayStation 5 (1TB, disc drive)

Xbox Series X (1TB, disc drive)

What we left out, and why

Our buying criteria

Your questions, answered

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