As the majority of tech enthusiasts are already aware, a new generation of gaming consoles will soon be released on the market. I bet most readers know what I’m talking about, but just in case, I’ll remind everyone that I’m referring to Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s recently revealed Xbox One.
Both consoles have been officially confirmed, but neither Sony nor Microsoft have revealed everything we would have liked to know about them. That said, gaming enthusiasts all around the world have started debating which one of these gaming rigs would be the best choice. Given the amount of official information (or lack thereof), deciding on a winner is not as easy as it may first sound. Nevertheless, today we’ll talk about the most important (known) PS4 and Xbox One features, in an attempt to help you decide for yourself.
Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4 – Hardware
Even though certain details about the hardware of these two next-gen gaming-consoles have been revealed, there are still several unknown specifics. Evidently, not being aware of all the details is making the task of picking a winner even more difficult.
In any case, the PlayStation 4 has been confirmed to feature an 8-core AMD “Jaguar” processor, a GPU similar to Radeon 7870, 8 GB of GDDR5 RAM, a Blue-Ray/DVD optical drive, USB 3.0, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, optical output, HDMI (4K support), Ethernet and WiFi connectivity. Other noteworthy PS4 features are: secondary screen support (which will work with PlayStation Vita, smartphones and tablets), Remote Play (you’ll be able to play PS4 games on your PS Vita, over Wi-Fi), and of course, motion control (the “motion sensing” DualShock 4 controller in addition to the PlayStation Move – PlayStation 4 Eye combo).
On the other side of the fence, the Microsoft Xbox One features an 8-core processor that hasn’t been fully revealed thus far. According to reports, Xbox One’s CPU will be either an AMD “Jaguar” (which is similar to the unit that’s powering the PS4), or a heavily modified AMD chip. Moving on, the console is confirmed to pack a Blu-ray/DVD optical drive, 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, a 500 GB HDD, USB 3.0 support, external storage possibilities via USB, HDMI in / out (4K), optical output, motion control via Kinect 2, and secondary screen support via SmartGlass. The One’s GPU is expected to be roughly the equivalent of a Radeon 7790 graphics card.
Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4 – Other Important Features
Even though hardware is important, when it comes to comparing two brand new consoles, there’s more to it than sheer processing power. Unfortunately, various characteristics of both consoles are still labeled as “TBA”.
What has been confirmed thus far is that the PlayStation 4 will not require an internet connection, will not be backwards compatible with PS3 titles, and that it will support live streaming, cloud storage, and cross-game chat features. The amount of storage is unknown, as well as whether or not voice commands will be supported.
The Xbox One does support voice commands and that’s been made abundantly clear during the unveiling event, when Microsoft has emphasized greatly on the console’s “Smart TV” and hands-free remote control features. As with the PS4, the One will lack backwards compatibility, but unlike Sony’s console, the Xbox will require an internet connection. Even though it’s not supposed to be an “always on” connection, it remains unclear how the system will function on the whole. Moreover, Bluetooth seems to be missing from MS’s gaming rig, while live streaming functionality is to be announced.
Last but not least, there has been a lot of buzz about Xbox One’s methods of allowing users to lend or utilize used games. But the exact method of playing borrowed or second-hand titles is still unknown.
Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4 – Verdict
Well, not so much a verdict as a few closing words. Evidently, it’s difficult to pick a winner when you don’t have the whole picture at your disposal. Nevertheless, it’s not difficult to realize that, as expected, Sony seems to focus more on the gaming capabilities of the PS4, whereas Microsoft intends on pushing the Xbox One as an all-in-one entertainment system.
The above conclusion can be easily drawn from the fact that PS4′s RAM and GPU are more powerful and gaming-oriented. Additionally, while Sony puts a strong emphasis on its console’s social aspects within the gaming niche, Microsoft has focused (at least during the official announcement) on Xbox One’s Smart-TV capabilities and exclusive content.
In the end, it mostly comes down to your individual needs. So where do you fit in? Which one of these two consoles do you think it’s going to provide the content and experience that you are looking for?
Vlad Andrici is editor for gforgames.com and writes about technology issues.
