On PS5 vs Xbox specs, the Xbox Series X is slightly more powerful on paper: about 12 teraflops of graphics power against the PS5’s 10.3. The PS5 answers with a faster SSD, and in real games the two look and play almost the same.
This page is only about hardware. For games, subscriptions and which to buy, see PS5 vs Xbox Series X.
Specs side by side
| PS5 (standard and Slim) | Xbox Series X | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core AMD Zen 2, up to 3.5 GHz (variable) | 8-core AMD Zen 2, 3.8 GHz (3.66 GHz with SMT) |
| GPU | 10.28 TFLOPS, 36 compute units, up to 2.23 GHz | 12.15 TFLOPS, 52 compute units, 1.825 GHz |
| RAM | 16 GB GDDR6, 448 GB/s | 16 GB GDDR6 (10 GB at 560 GB/s, 6 GB at 336 GB/s) |
| Storage | 825 GB original (about 667 GB usable); 1 TB Slim (about 848 GB usable) | 1 TB (about 800 GB usable) |
| SSD raw speed | 5.5 GB/s | 2.4 GB/s |
| Adding storage | Standard M.2 NVMe slot | Plug-in expansion card or USB drive |
| Resolution / fps | 4K up to 120 fps; 8K supported on paper | 4K up to 120 fps; 8K supported on paper |
| Disc drive | 4K Blu-ray; Digital models without | 4K Blu-ray; Digital Edition without |
| Size and weight | Original about 4.5 kg; Slim about 3.2 kg (2.6 kg Digital) | 30 × 15 × 15 cm tower, about 4.45 kg |
| Power | Typical gaming draw roughly 200 W | Typical gaming draw roughly 150–210 W |
The PS5 Pro sits above both, with a stronger GPU (around 16.7 TFLOPS) and 2 TB of storage, but no disc drive in the box.
Does the extra power show in games?
Mostly, no. The Series X has about 18% more GPU power, but developers target the same resolution and frame rate on both. In side-by-side tests, differences are small: a slightly sharper dynamic resolution here, a steadier frame rate there, and some games run better on PS5.
On a typical Kenyan living-room TV, which is 4K at 60 Hz, you won’t spot the gap. 120 fps modes need a 120 Hz TV with HDMI 2.1, and that matters more than teraflops; see 120Hz TVs explained.
Loading speed and storage
The PS5’s SSD is roughly twice as fast on paper, yet real loading times are close, often within a few seconds, because both consoles use fast compression and custom hardware.
Usable space matters more day to day. Big games take 100 GB or more, so either console fills quickly. The PS5 takes any compatible M.2 NVMe drive from a shop; Xbox needs its own expansion card, usually dearer per gigabyte. Steps for PS5: how to expand PS5 storage.
What matters more than specs
- Games: exclusives decide most buyers.
- Subscriptions: Game Pass vs PlayStation Plus, and how you’ll pay from Kenya.
- Your TV and internet: a 4K60 TV and slow download speed limit both consoles equally.
- Size: the Series X tower fits TV stands better; the original PS5 is large.
Quick answers
Yes, slightly: 12.15 vs 10.28 teraflops of GPU power, and a faster CPU clock. The PS5 has the faster SSD.
In practice they’re nearly identical. Some games look a little sharper on Xbox, others run smoother on PS5.
Not in a way most people notice, especially on a 4K 60 Hz TV.
