Introduction
People have a hard time deciding which gaming console they want – the PS4 or the Xbox One. After all, both offer fantastic gaming experiences, and gamers have been arguing about which console is better for a decade. Of course, there is no foreseeable end to this debate, as in the end, it is a matter of preference. Some like pineapple on their pizza, while others consider it blasphemous – people like what they like; there is no changing it.
Therefore, it is natural for some players to favor PS4 over Xbox One. However, those who want something more features than an immersive gaming experience love Xbox One. Fortunately, though it is unclear which gaming console is superior, it is clear they have different things to offer. So, people can pick one that best suits them.
PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One
The original PlayStation 4 cost $399, and people had to pay an extra $60 if they wanted a PlayStation camera for motion control. The original Xbox One with Kinect cost $499 (wait, a gamer had to pay a hundred dollars more to get a similar gaming experience?). However, the currently available models (PS4 Slim and Xbox One X) do not significantly differ in their costs.
Difference Between PlayStation 4 And Xbox One In Tabular Form
| Parameters of Comparison | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One |
| Backward compatibility | PlayStation 4 is not backward compatible. Therefore, people will be unable to play their favorite games from the previous generations. | Xbox One is backward compatible (hurray!). People can even play games from the original Xbox to their hearts’ content (nostalgia is a powerful emotion, and sometimes people want to replay their old favorites). |
| Game Library | It offers more awesome and exclusive games than Xbox One. | It offers a wider range of games than PlayStation 4. It may have fewer new hit games for gamers to play than PS4, but it more than makes up for it with its backward compatibility. |
| Storage capacity | PS4 has a 500 GB hard drive, which is removable and upgradable. | Though Xbox One has the same storage capacity, the hard drive is neither removable nor upgradable. |
| Resolution | PS4 supports 480p, 720p, 1080p, and 4K resolutions. | It supports 720p and 1080p resolutions but does not have 4K resolution. |
| Virtual Reality | It is possible to play virtual reality games on PS4 with the PlayStation VR headset. | People cannot play virtual reality games on Xbox One. |
| Dolby Atmos | It does not support Dolby Atmos (a spatial audio technology). | It supports Dolby Atmos, meaning people can enjoy an immersive sound experience. |
What Is PlayStation 4?
PS 4 is the first thing that jumps to mind when people speak about gaming consoles. It is a gamer’s heaven with its focus on providing the best gaming experience and affordability. Even those who do not care about video games know about PlayStations. And the hype increases every time Sony launches the next model. PS4 is still worth buying even though hardcore gamers have their eyes set on the latest model – PlayStation 5. After all, it is the second-best-selling gaming console of all time (PS2 still holds the crown).
The sheer number of fan-favorite games on PS4 is overwhelming and leaves a non-gamer spellbound when first introduced to its awesome game library. Exclusive games such as God of War, Bloodborne, The Last of Us Part II, Death Stranding, and Until Dawn make players and critics rave about PS4 for hours. Moreover, the PS4 controller DualShock 4 is better than the previous versions and is much more comfortable for gamers to use compared to Xbox One’s controller (gamers are going to need the most comfortable controller if they want to spend consecutive hours playing whatever game sucked them in.).
The DualShock 4 has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is charged using a micro USB connector. The usual way to charge it is to connect it to the PS4’s USB ports while in rest/sleep mode; however, it can be charged by connecting it to compatible phone chargers. PS4 has several social features like media sharing, live streaming, and Share Play (a feature that gives PS4 an edge over other gaming consoles). However, players must subscribe to PlayStation Plus to get the Share Play feature.
PS4 snagged the People’s Choice Award and emerged victorious against its main competitor – Xbox One. After all, certain games available only at lower resolutions (720 or 900p) on Xbox One are available in 1080p resolution on PS4s. On the whole, people will have a hard time finding a better gaming console than PlayStation 4.
PlayStation 4 Models
PlayStation 4s have three models, and they are as follows:
Original PlayStation 4
The original PS4 is a compact and lightweight model (it weighs only 6.1 pounds). The device has an Ethernet and a HDMI port at its back, making it possible for gamers to opt for the connectivity option they like best. It supports Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, and the games are more visually pleasing to play than in PS3s.
PlayStation 4 Slim
Though it is the most affordable PS4 model, it is more powerful than the original one. However, it cannot handle 4K resolution games. PS4 Slim gaming console’s USB ports are easier to plug into, and it has a PlayStation Camera expansion port.
PlayStation 4 Pro
It is slightly challenging to get one’s hands on PS4 Pros since their discontinuation in 2021. However, if people do get one, the refined gaming experience and smoother design will make it worth the effort they went through to track down the model. It is heavier and larger than the original model, but fortunately, the general agreement is that the heaviness does not affect the gaming experience (whew, that’s a relief!).
Unfortunately, all models of PS4 except the PS4 Slim model have been discontinued. People can get their hands on a used model or take heart in the fact they can play all their favorite PS4 games on the PS5 (if they manage to get hold of one, as PS5s seem to vanish the minute stores stock them).
What Is Xbox One?
Xbox One is a great gaming console that also allows people to stream TV shows and movies, listen to music, surf the web, and everything in between on their PCs. Therefore, Microsoft presented it as an all-in-one home entertainment device. In the beginning, Xbox Ones required internet connectivity. However, Microsoft made changes to them after receiving complaints; now, people can operate an Xbox One without an internet connection. That does not mean people will never have to worry about connecting to the internet. The Xbox One still requires the internet to sync data.
One of the best things about Xbox One is that it is easy to set up and use (complex installation procedures take all the fun out of getting a gaming console, don’t they?). It has a vast gaming library, and what’s more, it is backward compatible! That means players do not have to miss out on all their favorite games from the previous Xbox versions. Moreover, people are not restricted to playing using only their consoles. They can play the games on their PCs (Xbox One’s integration to Windows 10 is one of its strongest points), phones, and tablets. The ability to stream from one’s PC to the Xbox is another reason for Xbox One’s popularity.
Exclusive games like Halo, Gears of War, and Forza Horizon make Xbox One a great contender in the gaming console market. People having EA access ($30 per annum) can play some EA games even before their release (imagine getting to play the next Sims game before its official release; so exciting, isn’t it?). Furthermore, Play First Trials allows people to decide whether to buy an EA game after playing it for ten hours (makes one want to try out every available game immediately, right?).
People with Xbox Gold membership have monthly access to free games; some of them are well worth the payment made to acquire membership, but some are the bane of people’s existence. However, a benefit of getting these free games is that the access granted is forever. People are not stopped from accessing the games even if they decide to discontinue their Gold membership (now that’s something people appreciate whole-heartedly), whereas gamers no longer have access to free games once they stop paying for PlayStation Plus membership (so unfair, though not from Sony’s viewpoint.).
Xbox One Models
Microsoft launched the original Xbox One in 2013 and newer models in 2016 (Xbox One S) and 2017 (Xbox One X).
Original Xbox One
The original Xbox One came with a Kinect sensor, causing it to be more expensive than PS4s. This price difference caused numerous gamers to opt for PS4s; therefore, Microsoft started introducing less expensive Xbox One bundles that did not include Kinect. This decision made the Xbox One cost nearly the same as the PS4. People were given the option to purchase Kinect as an add-on; however, Kinect for Xbox One was discontinued in the latter half of 2017.
Xbox One S
This model is an upgraded version of the original Xbox One. Xbox One X gaming consoles are 40% smaller and 7% faster than the original version. They do not have a Kinect connection port. People who wished to use their Kinect sensors had to get an adapter, which was sold separately. However, the adaptor was discontinued. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition is a variant of the Xbox One S model. Instead of using a disc drive, gamers have to download the games onto the console’s hard drive or other external storage devices.
Xbox One X
This version is the most powerful Xbox One model (4.5 times more powerful than the original) and allows gamers to play in 4K resolution and watch Netflix’s 4K and Blue Ray’s 4K UHD content. Xbox One X does not have a Kinect port or provide an option for using Kinect as an add-on since Microsoft created it after discontinuing Kinect for Xbox Ones (why does technological progress make every good thing go out of fashion or become outdated?).
Main Difference Between PlayStation 4 And Xbox One in Points
- Sony Interactive Entertainment developed the PlayStation 4, whereas Microsoft developed the Xbox One.
- Flextronics manufactures Xbox One. On the other hand, Sony Electronics manufactures PlayStation 4. However, Foxconn manufactures both gaming consoles.
- PlayStation 4 belongs to the PlayStation family, whereas Xbox One belongs to the Xbox family.
- Xbox One was launched in North America on November 22, 2013, and in Japan on September 4, 2014. Sony launched PlayStation 4 in North America on November 15, 2013 (Microsoft did not fear competition at all, did it? It launched its console a mere few days after this.) and in Japan on February 22, 2014.
- Though both gaming consoles have major entertainment apps like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Spotify, Xbox One can play 4K Blu-ray content, and PS4 cannot.
- PS 4 only focuses on providing exclusive games and the gaming experience. On the other hand, Xbox One focuses on providing more than only games. It allows people to switch from a game to a TV show or a movie (it can transmit people’s cable box signal) and run other apps simultaneously with only a voice command (so worth the extra dollars, but only if people care about the extra features).
- Xbox One’s controller does not have a share button that allows gamers to share their triumphs online. However, PS 4’s controller has a share button that allows players to live broadcast their games and ask for their friends’ help if they are stuck in a level or a section through Share Play (the friend can take over the controls and skate the original player into the next section/level. That is awesome!).
Conclusion
The consensus is that PlayStation 4 is the better gaming console. On the other hand, Xbox One is a better option for those who want a one-stop solution for enjoying multiple forms of entertainment in addition to gaming. In short, hardcore gamers will love PS4, whereas those whose lives are not consumed by the urge to play well into ungodly hours will fare better with an Xbox One. That is to say, Xbox One offers more value, as Microsoft strives to make it more than a mere gaming console.
References
- https://www.tomsguide.com/us/xbox-one-vs-ps4,review-2543.html
- https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/xbox-one-vs-playstation-4-57588650/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_4
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_One
- https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/xbox-one-vs-ps4/
- https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/a30933682/xbox-one-vs-ps4-pro/
- https://www.ps4home.com/10-ps4-facts-you-may-not-know/
- https://www.itechpost.com/articles/109149/20220215/xbox-one-microsoft-10-facts-about-xbox-one-should-you-get-xbox-one-xbox-one-features-xbox-one-kinect.htm
- https://www.thecoldwire.com/why-is-xbox-so-popular/
- https://www.nextgenintel.com/2022/08/07/why-is-xbox-so-popular-top-10-reasons/
- https://www.bloggersideas.com/what-makes-xbox-so-popular/
- https://www.alphr.com/ps4-model-guide/
- https://www.alphr.com/xbox-one-model-guide/
