Playstation 4 vs. Xbox One: The Giants in the Test. When Xbox boss Don Mattrick presented the new Xbox One to the public for the first time ...
When Xbox boss Don Mattrick presented the new Xbox One to the public for the first time on May 22nd, game enthusiasts from all over the world expected impressive gameplay videos to demonstrate the performance of the new console. Of course, the demos came, but only towards the end of the presentation. Previously, efforts were made to advertise the Xbox - One not as a conventional game console, but more as a multimedia center in the networked home. In general, the Xbox makers don't seem to love the term very much. As early as 2011, Steve Ballmer said the Xbox is “not a game console”. Quite different with Sony: The Playstation 4 should be exactly what the name promises - a gaming platform with a few multimedia features on top.
Here we show you a direct comparison of the two consoles, the possibilities in the connected home, as well as the general performance in games.
If you look purely at the facts of the data sheets, there doesn't seem to be that much of a difference between the two newcomers at first glance. Both have a massive 500GB hard drive, with the PS4's even being swappable. With an 8-core processor, PS4 and Xbox One are equipped for the next few years. The main memory is also very high at 8GB. However, Microsoft uses the slower DDR3 RAM, while Sony relies on GDDR5 storage space. Of course, this is also noticeable in the graphics performance, where the PS4 leaves the competitor behind. However, the relevant gaming portals were not able to identify any major differences in the first available games. For many current games, Xbox users have to be satisfied with the comparatively lower resolution of 720p, but what the previous model already did. According to their own information, the developers only want to exhaust the existing potential for full HD with 60 frames per second with future titles. Except for the shooter "Battlefield 4", all titles run on the PS4 with this resolution, on the Xbox only one of the exclusive titles managed this: the racing game "Forza 5".
Xbox One photos: Wikimedia
For the connection to the outside world, an internet connection is essential for the current consoles. But WLAN and Gigabit Ethernet are not only available for online gaming, the downloading of videos, music, and games should also be very quick, provided you have the right data line. This also reveals other differences between the consoles. Because while you can also access photos, videos, and music files stored in the home network with the Xbox One via the data connection, Playstation users are denied this very advantageous and practical function.
In addition to WLAN and Ethernet, both devices have several USB 3.0 inputs, an optical output, and an HDMI output. The fact that Microsoft wants to position the Xbox One as a multimedia console is also shown by the HDMI input on the back. In addition, users can B. Connect a set-top box. Since the "Kinect 2.0" camera solution is also included in the starter package of every Xbox, the user can also control a number of functions by hand gestures (even in the dark thanks to infrared) or by voice commands.
For example, the command "Xbox TV" starts the playback of the TV program. In this way, individual channels can also be selected directly. However, in this scenario, in addition to the television, the Xbox also runs as additional power consumption. Sony is also planning control without a controller using the Playstation Camera, which can be purchased separately.
In one respect, however, the PS4 surpasses the Xbox when it comes to networking. Although users can get additional information on some games via the corresponding smartphone apps, control the console or chat with fellow players on both consoles, only Sony offers the portable Playstation Vita the option of continuing to play a game that was interrupted at home.
Conclusion: Anyone looking for a pure gaming console is well advised to go with the €100 cheaper PS4, but the Xbox One can claim better integration into the home network.
