PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are both great consoles, but in certain situations one system may be better than the other. From budgets to games, here are five key topics to consider.
1) Price: Xbox One X and PS4 Pro both promise a premium version of their 2013 counterparts, but it’s no secret that one machine is far more expensive than the other. PS4 Pro currently retails for $399, or $349 on sale, while the X has yet to dip below $499.
With that in mind, budget truly is a factor. If you’re strapped for cash but still want high-quality games, the Pro is a solid option. On the contrary, if you’re the type of gamer who doesn’t mind paying for the best tech, the Xbox One X offers that and more. It’s also worth noting that you could opt for neither of these consoles and buy a standard unit bundle plus a Nintendo Switch for around $499. Money is a big factor in this case.
2) Ecosystem Loyalty: The degree to which you’re entrenched in a specific ecosystem is also worth pondering, and it leans heavily in the Xbox One X’s favor. Those with a standard PS4 might want to go for the Pro because it allows games for that system to maintain value.
If you’re an Xbox loyalist or haven't bought current-gen hardware yet, however, the Xbox One X is the absolute best at creating a thriving ecosystem that spans generations. In addition to compatibility with all Xbox One titles, certain games for the Xbox 360 and original Xbox will also play on the same system. It’s a free legacy advantage that PS4’s paid classics lineup or PlayStation Now streaming service can’t match. Those with a large stack of old Xbox favorites will have a lot more to play on Xbox One X.
3) Do Exclusives Matter: If your primary reason for investing in a console is to play high-quality exclusive games that aren’t on PC, then the PS4 Pro has the advantage. In 2018 alone, some would say the PS4 may have too many exclusives. Games like Marvel’s Spider-Man, God Of War and Detroit: Become Human serve as great short-term rewards, while The Last Of Us Part II and Death Stranding wait deeper in the pipeline.
Xbox leadership promised a greater investment in exclusive games, but, thanks to Microsoft’s Play Anywhere initiative, every single one of those will also launch on PC. If you’ve already got a beefy PC and are comfortable using it, there isn’t much reason to spring for X.
4) 4K: Both PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are capable of outputting native 4K or 4K-like visuals. That being said, if you’re still happy with a 1080p TV, that advantage is sort of moot. The Xbox One X will super sample from a higher base resolution than Pro in many cases, but the visual difference from that is fairly negligible.
In the case of 1080p, then, it’s the PS4 Pro that potentially holds the greatest advantage because it’s cheaper. Those with no intent to upgrade to 4K in the next few years will be greatly serviced by the Pro and will have cash to spare to buy more games with the hardware. If 4K is on your radar, the Xbox One X will ultimately be the best showcase for those displays.
5) Is Third-Party Your Focus: While Sony clearly has a built up stable of PS4 exclusives, there are lots of third-party games like Far Cry 5, Wolfenstein 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2 that are playable on either system. Given its superior hardware, the Xbox One X is seemingly better equipped to handle those experiences at better resolutions with steady framerates.
There’s only been limited testing with the X so far, but in most cases it looks like third-party titles perform equal or often better than their PS4 Pro counterparts. This will obviously vary from game to game, but the trend is clear: Xbox One X has emerged as a superior third-party box.
Based on these topics will you be buying a PS4 Pro or Xbox One X? Which system do you think is best? Tell us in the comments section!
