PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Rival consoles each have their own agenda

The PS4 Pro (PlayStation 4 Pro) is coming out Thursday. The revamped gaming system from Sony will surely join Microsoft’s Xbox One S on the holiday blockbusters list come December. But which of the two is the perfect gift for a loved or oneself?

The Xbox One S was launched by Microsoft just over a couple of months ago and was warmly received by fans. Just like the PS4 Pro, the Xbox One S is a revision of a three-year-old model. Fans of the Sony console are still eagerly waiting for the development of the PlayStation 5. Microsoft, meanwhile, has already announced that the Xbox One’s true heir, which currently goes by the codename Project Scorpio, will be launched next year.

PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Performance

The Xbox One S is virtually similar to its predecessor when it comes to specs. There isn’t anything significant or distinguishable between the new and old model performance-wise.

On the other hand, the PS4 Pro showed improved performance at certain points across select games compared to the PS4. It also possesses stronger technical power with its 4 TFLOPS (trillion floating point operations per second) rating. Its Microsoft rival can only muster about 1.4 TFLOPS.

PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Resolution

While the Xbox One S and the PS4 Pro both provide HDR support, only the PlayStation console can yield games better than FHD. Sony hasn’t specified the exact resolution, though, according to Trusted Reviews. But no matter what game resolution is in play, it will be swelled to 4K with polished anti-aliasing.

The Xbox One S, meanwhile, reaches the 4K upscale without graphic accuracy improvements besides HDR. Both consoles provide 4K and HDR support for Netflix and Youtube.

PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Support

Between the two, only the Xbox One S can support 4K UHD Blu-ray disc playback, which is surprising since Sony holds the UHD Blu-ray torch.

PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Games

All titles from their respective predecessors can be played on the Xbox One S and the PS4 Pro, although some new games will receive 4K boosts without any visual enhancements.

PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Price

The PlayStation 4 Pro comes with a $559 price tag. The Xbox One S is available in optional bundles that start at $399.

PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Verdict

The Xbox One S and PS4 Pro each have their own agenda. While the Microsoft machine boasts of 4K support and playback, the Sony console flourishes on excellent gameplay. User preference still seals the deal.