Xbox One S vs. PlayStation 4 (2016): Which mid-generation console upgrade is worth your money?
More than seven years passed between the release of the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4, but now it seems that Sony, and rival Microsoft, have opted for a new business model — one where the release of new hardware doesn’t necessarily antiquate the consoles (and games) that consumers already possess.
Related: The Xbox One S is here, so is it time to ditch your original Xbox One?
Wednesday’s PlayStation Meeting saw the official announcement of two new Sony consoles: the PlayStation 4 Pro and a new version of the PlayStation 4, which fans and media have been calling the “PS4 Slim.” The PlayStation 4 Pro (which you can read more about here) boasts some updated hardware that’ll allow gamers to play certain titles in upscaled 4K resolution, with support for high dynamic resolution (HDR) settings and improved frame rates. The new, slimmer PlayStation 4 — which will replace the current PlayStation 4 in stores — features a svelte new frame to house the same hardware that lived in the original PS4, plus some minor ergonomic design tweaks.
Sony’s announcement could be viewed as a response to Microsoft’s newsworthy press conference at E3, which also saw the announcement of two new consoles: the mysterious Project Scorpio –which you can learn about here — and the Xbox One S, a smaller version of the original Xbox One that features a boosted GPU which allows the system to render Blu-Ray discs and certain streaming media in 4K resolution. The Xbox One and the One S will be sold alongside one another.
Though these new additions to the Xbox and PlayStation console families aren’t exactly groundbreaking, they represent excellent value for anyone looking to purchase their first “next-gen” gaming system. If you’re considering adding one of these bad boys to your entertainment center at home, read on to find out which console we think deserves your hard-earned money.
Specs
Xbox One S
Xbox One S
PlayStation 4 Slim
playstation-4-slim
Dimensions
16.9″ x 11.5″ x 4.5″ (WxHxD)
10″ x 11″ x 1.5″ (WxHxD)
Weight Unlisted 4.6 lbs
Processor CPU: 1.75GHz AMD Jaguar eight-core
GPU: 1.4 T-FLOPS, 12 compute units @ 914MHz CPU: Eight-core X86 AMD Jaguar
GPU: 1.84 T-FLOPS, AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next Engine
Memory 8GB DDR3 RAM + 32MB eSRAM @ 219GB/s 8GB GDDR5 RAM
Hard Drive Built-in, up to 2TB HDD Built-in, up to 1TB HDD
AV Output HDMI 1.4 in/out, 4K, and 1080p support; Optical output; 4K video upscaling; HDR support HDMI 1.4, Analog-AV out
I/O Output USB 3.0 X 2, AUX Super Speed USB (USB 3.0) X 2
Communication Ethernet, IEEE 802.11n wireless with Wi-Fi connect Ethernet (10BASE-T,100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR), 5GHz IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Controller Updated Xbox One controller (includes Bluetooth connectivity and improved wireless range) 1000amAh DualShock 4 (210g, six-axis motion sensing, 2 Point Touch Pad)
Camera 512 x 424-pixel infrared depth sensor and 1080p camera (Kinect — adapter required) Dual 1280×800 @ 60Hz, 640×400 @ 120Hz, 320×192 @ 240Hz pixel cameras (PlayStation Camera)
Optical Drive DVD/4K-capable Blu-Ray BD 6xCAV, DVD 8xCAV
4K/HDR 4K video streaming and Blu-Ray playback, HDR support for select titles, 4K upscaling for games HDR support for select titles
Price $300-$400, depending on size of hard drive Starting at $300
Availability Available now Available now
DT Review 3.5 out of 5 stars Coming soon
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DESIGN
Xbox One S
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
The most noticeable difference between the original and 2016 PlayStation 4 hardware is the physical console itself. At about 70% of the size, the new system features a redesigned chassis with rounded edges and a matte finish across the entire box (as opposed to the glossy, fingerprint-friendly surface that previously occupied much of the console’s left side). The optical audio port and the auxiliary port have been removed to save space, and the troublesome touch sensors that controlled the disc drive and the power supply have been replaced with physical buttons.
The Xbox One S features a similar, but more extreme set of changes, to the point where it resembles the original Xbox One in shape only. It’s a smaller ‘box than its predecessor, reportedly 40 percent smaller than the original Xbox One. Where the Xbox One looked like the Batmobile of gaming consoles — dark, angular, and ominous — the One S looks a little bit more inviting, with a matte white finish, half of which is covered in small, aesthetically distinctive fan holes, sitting on a charcoal gray foundation.
The power supply has been installed inside the console, so you won’t need to deal with an unwieldy “brick”-type cable. Just like the PlayStation, some inconvenient touch-sensitive buttons (in this case, the power and controller sync functions) have been turned into physical buttons and relocated on the front of the console. Finally, the Kinect port has been removed, signaling Microsoft’s move away from the Kinect program altogether.
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CONTROLLER
DualShock 4.0
DualShock 4.0
Sony announced that its Dualshock 4 controller will see a few minor design tweaks this year with the release of the PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro. The light bar on the back of the controller now shines through the touch pad on the controller’s face, so battery life indicators and other uses for the light bar (check out a list here that includes game-specific functions) will be easier to read. The D-pad and the analog sticks also received a new rubbery grip, and the controller itself is a shade lighter than before (in color, not weight).
The new Xbox One controller also received updates to the D-pad and analog sticks. The new controller — white, to match the console — also features improved wireless range and Bluetooth connectivity, which should be a popular feature among gamers that want to connect their controller to a PC. A 3.5mm headphone jack was added to offset the Kinect port’s removal, as well as textured grip to make the controller feel more comfortable.
Separately, Microsoft also introduced the Xbox Design Lab, a new service that allows you to build create a controller with a custom color scheme for $80. While it doesn’t have the technical improvements of the Xbox One Elite controller, it’s pretty cool to have a unique controller with your favorite colors and your gamertag engraved on the front.
Performance and features
Xbox One S
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
In addition to addressing some aesthetic issues with the original PS4’s physical design — like the inconsistent touch-sensitive buttons and the glossy finish that proudly displayed dust and fingerprints as if they were a child’s artwork — the new PS4 has one major technical improvement, the addition of 5GHz IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac support. With improved wi-fi compatibility, many upgrading users should expect to see a more stable internet connection when downloading games and playing online.
Microsoft, on the other hand, took a different route. On top of the obvious size reduction and ergonomic improvements, the Xbox One S is being marketed as a videophile’s dream. The One S is one of the most affordable (if not the cheapest) 4K Blu-Ray players on the planet. Assuming you have a television or monitor capable of rendering images in such high resolutions, the console can also stream select media in 4K. Though the insane graphical fidelity doesn’t extend to games — certain titles feature HDR visuals, while other games will “upscale” to 4K on televisions that can handle it — the One S would be a steal if you were just buying it to play Blu-Ray; combined with the fact that it has hundreds of apps (including a web browser) and that it plays Xbox games, its $300 price tag is beyond reasonable.
Neither console boasts any notable improvements in terms of actual game performance.
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PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The 500GB PlayStation 4 “Slim” is set to release on September 15 at a starting price of $300. Currently, there a multiple $300 500GB PlayStation 4 bundles, which pair the console with popular games, such as Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. While the PS4 Slim is set to replace the original PS4 model in stores, Microsoft will continue to sell both versions of the Xbox One. Current Xbox One owners might not be inclined to spend another $300 on an Xbox One S for its games, but the console may appeal to movie-lovers, given that a standalone Ultra-HD 4K Blu-Ray player will cost you around the same amount of money. The Xbox One S is currently available via most retailers.
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CONCLUSION
Xbox One S
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Neither of these mid-generation consoles are “changing the game”, per se. The new PlayStation 4, in particular, doesn’t boast any features to help it stand out from the crowd. That being said, the base specs on the PS4 are still more impressive than that of the Xbox One and Xbox One S. unless you’re dying to play some Blu-Ray discs in Ultra-HD, the PS4 remains a more capable and powerful gaming machine.
The Xbox One S, on the other hand, stands as a niche investment for gamers, but a solid one for those who don’t currently have a gaming system. The console’s appeal largely lies in its accessibility; the Windows 10 operating system and the intuitive apps are a better fit for a household (or a person) looking to do more than just game.
Both these consoles are objectively worth the price tag, and yet they both feel like stopgap solutions to keep the publicity flowing while newer, more powerful consoles are slowly making their way to shelves and warehouses. If we have to declare a winner here, though, the Xbox One S brings more to the table and improves more upon its predecessor than the new PlayStation 4.
Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/xbox-one-s-vs-ps4-slim/#ixzz4KOUzgCON
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