Which console is the strongest? (2023)

What console is the most powerful?

Against. Microsoft has got a really impressive hand to play this console generation, too, though, and the Xbox Series X is its new flagship. It's the most powerful console ever, too. An SSD and huge power mean it's right up there with the PS5, and the prices are similar too.

In the battle of the spec sheets, the PS5 appears to lose out against the Xbox Series X. Both have 8-core CPUs from AMD, but the Xbox's are clocked at 3.8GHz while the PS5's are 3.5GHz. Both consoles also use AMD graphics processors, with the Xbox's providing 12 teraflops of power to the PS5's 10.28 teraflops.

They use a custom 8-core x86-64 AMD Jaguar processor that's backed up by 8GB or RAM, with graphics taken care of by an AMD Radeon GPU. Both consoles use 500GB transitional spinning disc drive. Yet despite these specs, the PS4 is actually better at putting down its power than the Xbox One.

PS4 Pro features

The PS4 Pro specs and features that drive the most powerful PS4 console.

Think about it: Sony is confidently stating that the PlayStation 5 is the "world's fastest," even though we don't have any details about Project Scarlett at all. Sony already believes the PS5 has higher clock speeds, so this news may be just as interesting for Xbox fans as it is for PlayStation fans.

Best Graphics: Microsoft Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X is the most powerful home console ever created, powering up to 12 teraflops of graphical performance for hyper-detailed native 4K games at up to 120 frames per second on supported screens.

The PS5 is Sony's newest console, replacing the PS4 Pro as its most powerful gaming system. It boasts a better CPU, GPU, and an internal NVMe SSD, making the PS5 a faster and more capable console.

All games load faster on Xbox Series X, ranging in time differences between just a second and over 20 seconds. Red Dead Redemption 2 has the closest times between each console, with the Xbox Series X loading in 1 minute and 4 seconds and the PS5 loading in 1 minute and 5 seconds.

PS4 vs PS5: Graphics

As you can see, PS5's GPU comes with 10.3 TFLOPs, which means it can handle 10.3 trillion floating-point calculations per second, on average. In a word, PS5 is nearly eight times more powerful than PS4.

Why is PS4 so powerful?

Both feature eight-core processors, AMD Jaguar GPUs, and 8 GB of RAM. The PS4 has an advantage over its competition when it comes to resolution. Many third-party titles can run at a full 1080p at 30 or 60 fps on the Sony console, but cap out at 900p at 30 or 60 fps on the Microsoft console.

Sony's system, however, typically falls short when playing high-graphic titles. The ps4 slim is a faster running machine, however. That being said, if you're interested in playing high fps shooters it's better that you pick the Xbox. If you want a console with higher storage capacity, go with the ps4 instead.

While the Xbox Series S actually has a slightly more powerful CPU than the PS5 Digital Edition, its GPU, RAM and storage are all weaker. As a result, games will run in lower resolutions.

The PS5 is a powerful console offering a sublime current-gen gaming experience. Its library of exclusive games makes fantastic use of the DualSense controller, 3D Audio, and the console's lightning-fast SSD. It might be too big for some setups, though, and a handful of issues hold it back from perfection.

Sony's PlayStation 5 is ZDNet's top choice. With a futuristic look, it truly brings in next-gen style along with its next-gen internal components. But it's not the only console worth considering.

The Switch runs off of a customised Nvidia Tegra X1 chipset, while the PS4 contains an AMD Jaguar CPU and a 1.84 TFlops AMD Radeon GPU. What that translates to is that even though it was released several years before the Nintendo Switch, the PS4 outperforms it when it comes to overall computing power.

Which console is the best right now?

If you want a console with stronger graphical performance, then the PS4 Pro is the console you want to go with. If you want a console that has a higher frame rate, then you will want to consider the Xbox Series S.

Gaming Performance

The PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X can deliver a 4K experience at up to a whopping 120 frames per second — more than a high-quality gaming PC can produce — when paired with the right TV (HDMI 2.1-equipped televisions are a must-have for the latest Microsoft and Sony consoles).

Based off a 2021 job listing from Sony that suggests the development of a new console, we can assume that the PS6 release date will be around 2026.

Currently, PlayStation 5 is capable to support video games at an 8K resolution and has an HDMI 2.1 slot that enables the potential to play games in 8K resolution at 60 frame rates per second (FPS). However, 8K gaming is not available on the console for Sony has capped the current capabilities at a native 4K.