PS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X: Which Console Is Worth Buying?

Performance: The PS5 Pro Has More Power and Better Upscaling

The PS5 Pro has a bigger GPU than the Series X: 60 compute units and a 16.7 TFLOPS rating, against 52 compute units and 12 TFLOPS on the Xbox. Both consoles use an 8-core Zen 2 CPU, so the gap is in graphics rather than in how many things the game can simulate at once.

Sony also added an AI upscaler into the Pro called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). Games that support it can render at a lower resolution and upscale to a sharp 4K image, which leaves headroom for ray tracing and higher frame rates. More than 100 PS5 games have Pro enhancements, and the Pro can target 60fps or up to 120fps with ray tracing in compatible games. The catch is that each game has to be patched, so the benefit varies by title.

The Series X is no slouch. It also targets true 4K gaming at up to 120fps, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, up to 8K HDR output and fast load times from its custom SSD. If you play on a 1080p TV or mostly play less demanding games, you may not see much difference between the two.

Quick pick: go with the PS5 Pro if you own a 4K TV and want the sharpest image a console can give you. Go with the Series X if your display tops out below that.

Design and Size: A Slim Slab Against a Tall Tower

The two consoles could not look more different. The PS5 Pro keeps the PS5 family’s white shell and curved panels, and the stand and disc drive are not part of the base package. The Xbox Series X is a black monolith that is 5.9 inches wide and deep, 11.9 inches tall (15.1 x 15.1 x 30.1 cm) and weighs 9.8 lb in its disc version.

The controllers differ too. The PS5 Pro uses the DualSense, which adds haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games. The Series X comes with the Xbox Wireless Controller, which has a hybrid D-pad, textured grips and a Share button. Both consoles use HDMI 2.1.

Storage and the Disc Drive: 2TB Against a 4K Blu-ray Drive

Storage is a real point for the PS5 Pro. It comes with a 2TB SSD, twice the 1TB in the standard Series X, so you can keep more of today’s very large games installed. The Pro also has an M.2 NVMe slot for adding more later. Xbox uses a proprietary Storage Expansion Card, which matches the internal SSD’s speed but is sold separately, or an external USB 3.1 hard drive for older games.

The disc drive goes the other way. The Series X disc model plays 4K UHD Blu-ray discs out of the box, and Microsoft also sells an all-digital version. The PS5 Pro has no disc drive in the box, so you need to buy the add-on drive separately if you own discs or like to buy used games. That is a deal breaker for some collectors.

Quick pick: pick the Series X if you buy physical games or movies. Pick the PS5 Pro if you download everything and want room to keep it.

Games and Subscriptions: Game Pass Against a Deeper Back Catalog

Both consoles play a long list of older games. The PS5 Pro can play over 8,500 PS4 games and every PS5 game. The Series X plays thousands of games from Xbox One, Xbox 360 and the original Xbox, often with faster loads and smoother frame rates, and your Xbox One accessories carry over. If you have a library of older Xbox games, that is a strong reason to stay with Xbox.

The big difference is how you pay for games. Game Pass, sold separately, gives Xbox players hundreds of games and day-one releases for a monthly fee, which can cut what you spend on games over a year. PlayStation leans on its own studios, with Marvel’s Wolverine and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls leading its current lineup. If you care about a specific series, check which console gets it before you buy.

Whichever you buy, a good headset matters. Our guides to the best headset for Xbox Series X and the best headset for PS5 can help you pick one. If you are weighing the cheaper PlayStation, see our PS5 Slim vs PS5 Pro comparison.

PS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X: Full Specs

PS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X: Which Console Should You Buy?

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The Series X is the easier console to live with if you collect discs, subscribe to Game Pass or already own Xbox games, and it costs less. Even so, for most people who are choosing between a PS5 Pro and an Xbox Series X for the best picture, the Pro is the better buy. It has the stronger GPU, PSSR upscaling for sharper 4K, twice the built-in storage and Wi-Fi 7, and its enhanced games can pair 60fps with ray tracing. Take the Series X if you want physical games, a lower price or Game Pass, and you will not miss the extra graphics headroom. If you have a 4K TV and care about image quality above all, the Pro is the one to get.