Both Sony and Microsoft has released some high-level specifications on their next-generation consoles in recent weeks. But with the consoles still being a year from release, how do they compare?
Sony was the first of the two companies to reveal the specs for the next PlayStation console, which we assume will be called the PS5. Microsoft followed suit, revealing the specs of Project Scarlett at E3 2019.
What you’ll find below is that both consoles are surprisingly similar. Both systems will be using AMD’s Zen 2 CPU architecture with a Navi GPU alongside. Both will also be using GDDR6 for RAM, and a solid-state hard disk (SSD) for faster loading times.
Specification Comparison
| Xbox Project Scarlett | Playstation 5 | |
| CPU | Custom AMD Zen 2 | 8-core AMD Zen 2 |
| GPU | AMD Radeon ‘Navi’ | AMD Radeon ‘Navi’ |
| RAM | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Storage | Next-gen SSD | Next-gen SSD |
| Video output | Up to 8K, up to 120Hz, variable refresh rate | Up to 8K, 4K at 120Hz |
| Disc Drive | Yes | Yes |
| Ray Tracing | Yes | Yes |
| Backward compatibility | Xbox One, Xbox 360, Xbox | PS4, PSVR |
| Release date | Holiday 2020 | After April 2020 |
As you can see, there isn’t much difference between the two. Microsoft hasn’t revealed the core count for the CPU, while Sony has already announced a 8-core Zen 2 CPU for the PS5.
Following the release of Project Scarlett’s specification at E3 2019, there are already rumours indicating that the PS5 will be more powerful than the next-gen Xbox. However, with such limited information to go on, this is purely speculation.