PS4 or Xbox One: Which is the best games console in 2018?

If you want to buy a games console in 2018, you’ve got three main choices. There’s the portable joy of the Nintendo’s Switch, then there’s the iterative versions of Sony’s PS4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One. 

Putting Nintendo’s Switch to the side, the first question you’ll need to consider is whether you want to pay extra for a console that will make the most of a 4K television. If so, you’ll want to consider the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. You can read our in-depth comparison of those consoles here. 

If you have a non-4K TV, you’ll get better value for money with the PS4 Slim or Xbox One S. Both of those machines are a little different to the ones originally released by Sony and Microsoft, but that’s a good thing. They’re essentially as powerful as their predecessors, but more compact and – in the case of the Xbox One S – come with a few extra features. Read on for our rundown of these entry-level consoles. 

PS4 vs Xbox One: Design

Both the PS4 and Xbox One will form a permanent fixture of your entertainment setup, so it’s important they look good. After the somewhat generic design of the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation 4 is a return to form for Sony. Featuring a mixture of gloss and matte plastic, and a sophisticated status light separating the two, the PS4 is neat and compact – and looks like a PlayStation 2 in italics.

The PS4 Slim takes the original PS4’s angular design ethos, and makes it even more compact. Just like the original console, the new PS4 is divided into two layers, and replaces the old model’s touch sensitive Power and Disc Eject buttons, with physical ones – which most people seem to prefer. Sony has also ditched the mixed surfaces of the original machine, replacing it with an all-over matte finish.

After the curvy designs of the Xbox 360, the original Xbox One was a boxy rectangular affair, looking more like a PC or old-school VCR than a modern games console. That’s not to say it was an ugly device – Microsoft used a combination of gloss and matte finishes along with splashes of chrome to make the Xbox One look like a seriously sophisticated bit of kit.

In contrast, the new Xbox One S fixes all the problems of the original machine. It’s small, stylish and compact – and unlike the old Xbox One, it also doesn’t need a separate, cumbersome power brick.

PS4 vs Xbox One: Exclusive games

Although most games are available on both consoles, some titles only appear on one console thanks to business deals or in-house development by Sony or Microsoft.

For example, headline game series such as Halo, Forza Motorsport and Gears of War are only available on Xbox One, while Bloodborne, Uncharted and Horizon Zero Dawn are only available on the PlayStation 4. Third-party games such as FIFA, Fallout 4 and Destiny are available on both the Xbox One and the PS4.

It’s fair to say that both consoles have their fair share of great games. Sony tends to develop more exclusive titles due to having a larger network of first-party studios than Microsoft. Due to its close ties to the indie development community, the Sony also manages to secure more indie titles than Microsoft’s machine. However, it really does come down to a preference of what you’d like to play. For the sheer volume of exclusive titles alone, though, it has to be Sony’s machine.

PS4 vs Xbox One: Controllers

The PlayStation 4 features the biggest change to Sony’s iconic DualShock controller since the original PlayStation. All the key components such as the analog sticks and L1, L2, R1, R2 triggers are back, but the whole package is wrapped up in a far more ergonomic design. Sony has fixed the problems present in its PS3’s DualShock 3, most notably its awful triggers and horrific thumbstick deadzone. Seasoned PlayStation owners will also notice that all of the DualShock 4’s face buttons are now digital, as opposed to the spongy analogue ones used since the PS2.

As you’d expect from a next-gen controller, Sony has also added a slew of new features. There’s now a clickable touchpad located where the PS3’s PlayStation Home button was previously, with a front-facing speaker and the relocated PlayStation button located below.

Each PS4 controller includes a coloured light at the front for use with PlayStation Camera to identify which player is holding which controller. While some games use it to indicate player health, it’s also used for PlayStation VR to work out where a player’s hands are when using Sony’s virtual reality headset.

The Xbox 360 controller was, quite rightly, seen as one of the best controllers on the market during the last generation. Button placement felt perfect, its triggers were springy and responsive and it felt good in the hand. For Microsoft to have changed too much about its controller design with the Xbox One would have been foolish, and thankfully this time around there are only improvements on the unit’s design.

The D-Pad has been improved, making it more responsive than before, and its thumbsticks have been made more responsive too. The biggest addition to Microsoft’s pad comes in the form of Xbox One’s feedback triggers. While this may sound like a gimmick, it’s used rather intelligently in some games to indicate weapon fire and recoil and is especially good for reading the road when playing a racing game.

Like so many things, controller design is a tricky one to pin down. It’s all really based on preference. It’s clear Sony’s pad has more features crammed into it, but they’re also used far less than Microsoft’s simple tweaks. Does that make one pad better than the other? Hard to say, as both pads are comfortable for long play sessions – even if Sony’s does require charging more often than Microsoft’s replaceable battery approach. For now, we’re calling this one a draw.

PS4 vs Xbox One: Online

Which online service offers you more bang for your buck: Microsoft‘s Xbox Live Gold or Sony‘s PlayStation Plus?

Priced at around the same mark of £40-50 for a 12-month membership, both services offer up a range of additional benefits beyond simply paying to play online. Every month Sony gives away six PlayStation games across PS4, PS3 and Vita. At least two of those will be PlayStation 4 games, but the number can rise up to four titles if Sony puts cross-platform games up for grabs.

Similarly, Microsoft also puts up two free Xbox One games a month in its Games with Gold package. However, since enabling backwards compatibility, Microsoft now gives away two Xbox One-compatible Xbox 360 games each month as well. Unlike Sony, which offers up all PlayStation Plus games in one go, Microsoft splits its giveaway into two-week chunks, meaning you have to check back more often to pick up your new titles.

Both subscriptions also offer heavy discounts on sale titles, and exclusive discounts on new releases and pre-orders.

Sony’s service also comes with a nice little extra: Share Play. Share Play allows you to share your game with friends online who don’t own a copy of the game. It means you and a friend can fire up a co-op game of Far Cry 4 and play together even if they don’t have PlayStation Plus or a copy of the game. You can also do pass-the-pad play this way too, bringing a couch-co-op experience to online gaming.

One thing to bear in mind is how often Sony’s service goes down for maintenance compared to Microsoft’s. While it’s not really an inconvenience, it’s just worth considering if you can’t stomach the thought of occasionally not being able to play online for a day.

PS4 vs Xbox One: Streaming apps

Consoles aren’t just about gaming. Alongside social features, and the ability to manage saved games and downloadable content, both the Xbox One and PS4 are also compatible with a wide range of apps – from BBC iPlayer to Spotify. That means that if you don’t have a smart TV, your games console could be a gateway to a huge amount of content.

Both consoles are fairly even when it comes to apps. Although there are certain applications exclusive to either console – such as Spotify on the PS4 and NFL on the Xbox One – both have all the main services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer. In addition to streaming services, the Xbox One also lets you run content from a set-top box or tuner through your console. The result? You’re able to use your Xbox One as a PVR, complete with a EPG.

If you’re into streaming, you’ll also be able to use Twitch and YouTube to broadcast your gameplay, too.

Both consoles are evenly matched when it comes to apps. There are a few apps exclusive to either console, but they aren’t significant enough to make a difference.

PS4 vs Xbox One: Graphics and performance

As most games are available on both consoles, it’s easy to compare their relative graphical performance. The PS4 is capable of producing 1080p or 920p-resolution images, often 60fps, making games look rich and smooth. While the Xbox One certainly looks like it can match the PS4 on the surface, it appears to lack the polished-look many PS4 titles manage. It tends to run most games at sub-1080p, instead upscaling a lower resolution image, meaning that more often than not lighting effects are less subtle, models are more jagged, and the end result is a game that looks slightly less refined.

Both consoles also have HDR capability, so they’ll be able to show a wider, brighter range of colours – if you have a compatible TV, of course.

PS4 vs Xbox One: Price

The PS4 used to be much cheaper than the Xbox One, but in 2018 the consoles are more evenly matched. You can pick up an Xbox One S 1TB with Fifa 19 and Overwatch for just £245, and a 1TB PS4 Slim with two games will also set you back around £280.

You can see our latest picks of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 deals to find out what the current asking price for a next-gen console is. However, when you’re spending this much, the price difference is so marginal that it’s really down to which console ticks more of your boxes. The Xbox One X, on the other hand, is significantly more expensive than the PS4 Pro.

PS4 vs Xbox One: Verdict

So which one should you buy, the Xbox One S or the PS4? Both consoles are still pretty even, but the arrival of the Xbox One S has arguably made the decision even more complex – and that’s because it has a built-in Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Although neither console can play games at 4K – that’s PS4 Pro and Xbox One X territory – the inclusion of an Ultra HD Blu ray player makes the Xbox One S a steal at its current price, and probably worth picking up if you’ve got a 4K TV. In contrast, both the PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim are missing a 4K Blu-ray drive, which is something to think about.

Blu-ray aside, Sony’s console still takes the crown. Having owned both consoles from launch, the game library of Sony’s PlayStation 4 is just that bit better than the Microsoft machine’s. While we’d say buy PS4 Pro and an Xbox One S if you want the best of both worlds, if you can only have one, make it the PlayStation 4, or the more powerful PS4 Pro.