Clash of the console titans: Xbox One X vs. PlayStation 4

MICROSOFT are set to release what it dubs ‘the world’s most powerful console’ next month. So how does it compare to the high-end PS4 Pro?

CONSOLE wars are nothing new — readers with long memories may recall the particularly bitter conflict between the Sega Megadrive and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in the 1990s.

And now we are set to see a battle again with Microsoft’s powerful new console, the Xbox One X, launching on November 7.

Since its announcement there has naturally been discussion among the gaming community about how it will compare to the current top-end console, the Sony PlayStation 4 Pro.

With both 4K resolution consoles — offering four times the level of detail seen on Full HD — soon on the market. people may well wonder what the differences are.

The best place to start is with the technical specifications.

Microsoft are calling the Xbox One X the most powerful console ever, based on the fact it is running an eight-core processor with a 2.3Ghz clock speed, a proprietary graphics processor with a 6 Teraflop processing capability, and has 12Gb of DDR5 RAM in it.

The PS4 Pro also runs an eight-core processor, albeit with a 2.1Ghz clock speed, and its graphics processor clocks in at 4.2 Teraflops, with the system backed by 8GB of DDR5 RAM.

Essentially this means the Xbox has the edge on a pure technical specification basis, as the system runs faster and has more RAM, but both systems have similar processors under the bonnet. Both consoles also feature a 1Tb hard drive and wireless internet connections.

PlayStation 4 Pro was the first to bring 4K HDR to gaming.

For an optical drive (for discs), the One X has a 4K Ultra-High Definition Blu-ray player in it, while the PlayStation 4 Pro has a conventional Blu-ray player in it; both of which will play conventional DVDs and even audio CDs if you’re a time traveller from the turn of the century.

In practical terms this means the One X can play 4K Blu Ray movies from a disc while the PS4 Pro can’t, but both units can play 4K games or streamed content and also have High Dynamic Range image capabilities.

On a pure numbers scale, it’s tempting for the Microsoft enthusiasts to say “See? The One X is better than the PS4 Pro” but as with all things in life, both systems have their strengths and weaknesses.

At time of writing, the PS4 Pro has better exclusive titles like the Uncharted series, The Last of Us, and Horizon Zero Dawn, while Xbox has Forza and Halo Wars 2.

The other feature the PS4 Pro offers is Virtual Reality, via the PSVR. Representing pretty much the only affordable (and readily available) mainstream VR gaming option on the market at present, it’s an offering lacking from the One X and an attraction for people looking to get into VR gaming without having to buy a supercomputer to do it.

Sony PlayStation VR headset and accessories, something you can’t find on Xbox One X.

The One X lacks VR and exclusive titles, but it is undeniably far out ahead with its back catalogue, being able to play Xbox 360 games and even (thanks to a special project being run by Microsoft) a number of original Xbox games which are being remastered for the platform — including the beloved cult classic multiplayer aerial shooter Crimson Skies.

While the PS4 Pro has limited backwards compatibility, it’s not possible to put a PlayStation 2 or PlayStation 3 disc in the machine and play the game, while the One X will play Xbox 360 game discs quite happily for the most part.

Having played with both consoles on 4K TVs, the graphics look amazing on both — but in my opinion the edge goes to the One X, particularly once the HDR effects come into play.

Of course, most of us don’t have 4K TVs or enough loose change down the back of the couch to pop out and grab one on a whim, which is why it’s fortunate both the One X and the PS4 Pro use a lot of technical wizardry to provide an enhanced gaming experience even on a standard 1080p HD TV, as well as faster performance and a form of upscaling to make graphics look nicer even without 4K capability.

Ultimately, both systems deliver a high-end gaming experience along with the ability to stream TV such as Netflix, Stan and YouTube; the decision on which platform to go with will be an

individual one for gamers — but either way, they’ll be getting a top-notch, well-rounded system to enhance their living room.