The PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4) and the Xbox Series S are both consoles that are interesting for the public that plans to buy new video games. Sony’s model offers the best possible experience for PS4 fans but has a high price in the domestic market, around $409.77. Microsoft’s option is cheaper and can be found for $369.99, being a less powerful alternative to the Xbox Series X. Techidence produced a comparison to help you choose which is the best product based on your profile as a gamer.
PS4 Pro vs Xbox Series S Datasheet
PS4 Pro | Xbox Series S | |
---|---|---|
Release date | November 10th, 2016 | November 10th, 2020 |
Price | $409.77 | $369.99 |
CPU | AMD Jaguar a 2.1 GHz | 3.8GHz custom AMD Zen 2 |
GPU | Radeon of 36 UCs at 911 MHz | AMD RDNA 2 custom 20 UCs at 1.56 GHz |
Computational performance | 4.2 teraflops | 4 teraflops |
Storage | 1 TB to 2 TB | 512 GB |
RAM | 8 GB GDDR5 | 10 GB GDDR6 |
Disc player | Blu-Ray | – |
Ports and interface | 3x USB 3.1, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x PS Camera, Optical Audio output, HDMI 2.0 | 3x USB Type-A, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x Xbox Radio, HDMI 2.1 |
Dimensions and weight | 327 x 295 x 55 mm; 3.3 kg | 275 x 151 x 63.5 mm; 1.93 kg |
Design
The look of the PlayStation 4 Pro is pretty much the same as a standard PlayStation 4, but a bit bigger and taller. The body of the console is also divided into 3 parts, while the regular PS4 and the Slim are divided into 2, which makes it easier to identify it visually.
The Xbox Series S has a simpler design, basically a white box with a black circle in the middle for ventilation. Although it has been the target of some jokes, the model is elegant in design, small and efficient, and easy to integrate into your decor. One big difference between the two is that the Xbox S Series does not have a disc drive, it is 100% digital.
A few years separate the launch of the PS4 Pro and the Xbox Series S. Sony’s console, which is bigger and has the image of being more powerful, is actually from a previous generation compared to Microsoft’s console. The Xbox Series S even in its diminutive size can offer much more power. While the PS4 Pro is large and heavy with dimensions of 327 x 295 x 55 mm and 3.3 kg, the Xbox Series S measures 275 x 151 x 63.5 mm and is 1.93 kg.
Specifications
Technically the Xbox Series S is far more advanced than the PS4 Pro as it is part of a new generation with the Xbox Series X. The rival, on the other hand, is intended to offer the best possible experience from the previous line. Although the Xbox Series S is a cheaper and less powerful version than the Xbox Series X, it is still well ahead of Sony’s option.
The processor of the PS4 Pro, an AMD Jaguar, runs at a frequency of 2.1 GHz, while the Xbox Series S comes with its processor based on the AMD Zen 2 architecture, running at 3.8 GHz. On the video cards, the PS4 Pro’s GPU is a Radeon with 36 processing units at 911 MHz, capable of running 4.2 teraflops of calculations. The current generation rival, on the other hand, is its own AMD RDNA 2-based version with 20 units at 1.56 GHz, capable of 4 TFLOPs.
Users may find it strange that the Xbox Series S GPU has a lower capacity than the PS4 Pro or even the Xbox One X. However, they are designed to run at Ultra HD resolution and need more powerful graphics cards. Microsoft’s entry-level console, on the other hand, is designed to run at 1440p and also offers support for Ray Tracing lighting technology, which did not yet appear in the previous generation. Users who wish to play Xbox Series S games in 4K can opt for the Xbox Series X, capable of 12.15 teraflops.
Storage Options
The PS4 Pro offers more space for your games, while the Xbox Series S has better quality with SSD. Standard PS4 Pro models come with 1TB of storage, and there are still more expensive 2TB models on the market. Another possibility is to expand the internal memory with an external hard drive.
The Xbox Series S only has 512 GB of storage, which is not much by the standard of today’s gaming requiring installations and downloadable digital games (something that may change with the recent advances of Xbox Cloud Gaming). By contrast, this is an SSD, much faster for loadings, but more expensive for expansion.
Microsoft will release 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB expansion cards in partnership with Seagate. The components exclusive to Xbox Series X/S will arrive “soon” in the smaller option for $139.99, while the 2 TB will cost the same as a PS4 Pro, $399.99. It is possible to use a regular external hard drive, but only for external storage, meaning that games will need to be moved to the console’s internal memory before they can be played anyway.
Features
When it comes to high resolution, the PlayStation 4 Pro is the most feature-packed console, being able to display PlayStation 4 games in resolutions up to 4K and at a frame rate of up to 60 fps (on some games you have to choose between Ultra HD or the higher frame rate). For titles that have not been specifically optimized for the console, it uses a “Boost Mode” that improves overall performance.
The Xbox Series S runs at a lower resolution, focused on reaching 1440p, but can run some of its games at up to 120 fps to achieve a great level of fluidity. Although not designed for 4K, the Xbox Series S can do “upscaling,” which resizes the image for larger screens, with a somewhat lackluster result compared to the natively generated Ultra HD image.
Microsoft’s console is also backward compatible with the Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox library, with an “Xbox FPS Boost” mode similar to that of the PS4 Pro to enhance games from previous generations, including Xbox One. Soon, the Xbox Series S will also receive Xbox Cloud Gaming support to run games straight from the cloud for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
Pricing
As for the price, there is no doubt that the Xbox Series S is the best deal for users who want to play games without worrying too much. Microsoft’s console offers a value of $369.99 and allows you to get into the new generation of consoles, even without the 4K resolution – the loss shouldn’t be felt as much. For technology enthusiasts who have a TV with Ultra HD support, the Xbox Series X or even the PlayStation 5 (PS5) may be better investments.
The PlayStation 4 Pro, on the other hand, being a “luxury version” of the regular PlayStation 4, is much more expensive and can be found today in stores for around $409.77, an investment that doesn’t make much sense when the next generation consoles are already available. For Sony fans who have no intention of buying an Xbox, however, the PS4 Pro can be interesting to give PS4 games a survival for a few more years.
- Buy PS4 Pro on Amazon
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