Xbox Series X vs PS5: The Ultimate Gamer’s Guide 2025

Tossing up between Xbox Series X and PS5? You’re not alone, mate. Every week at SMASHED IT, our Parnell, Ponsonby, and Papakura stores see Aucklanders wrestling with this exact choice.

After fixing hundreds of both consoles Xbox and PS5 and seeing what makes them tick (and what makes them break), here’s the straight dope on which console deserves your hard-earned dollars.

TL;DR: Which Console Should You Buy?

• Choose PS5 if you want: Epic exclusives, next-level controller feels, and the best single-player experiences
• Choose Xbox Series X if you want: Best bang for your buck with Game Pass, backwards compatibility gold mine, and rock-solid reliability
• Current prices (July 2025): PS5 costs less than Xbox Series X after Microsoft’s recent price hike

Performance: Xbox Series X vs PS5 – What’s Actually Faster?

While Xbox Series X looks superior on paper, real-world gaming tells a different story. The performance gap between these powerhouses is surprisingly narrow in practice.

Raw Power on Paper

Xbox Series X packs more grunt with 12.15 TFLOPS versus PS5’s 10.28 TFLOPS. The Xbox also runs an 8% faster CPU. Sounds like a clear winner, right? Not so fast.

Real-World Gaming Performance

Here’s where it gets interesting. In actual gameplay, the performance gap nearly disappears. Most games run virtually identical on both consoles. Sometimes PS5 even edges ahead thanks to its lightning-fast SSD and clever optimization.

• Loading Times: PS5’s custom SSD delivers near-instant loads. Fast travel in Spider-Man? Blink and you’ll miss it. Xbox Series X loads quickly too, but PS5 takes the crown here.
• 4K Gaming: Both hit 4K at 60fps in most games. For 120fps gaming, expect some resolution scaling on demanding titles.
• Ray Tracing: Both support fancy lighting effects, though don’t expect miracles – it’s still early days for console ray tracing.

Pricing: What is Cheaper – Xbox Series X or PS5?

Microsoft threw Kiwi gamers a curveball in May 2025 with significant price increases:

• PS5 Slim (Disc): $499
• PS5 Digital: $449
• Xbox Series X: $599 (up from $499)
• Xbox Series S: $379

The PS5 is now cheaper than Xbox Series X for equivalent performance. That’s a $100 difference that could buy you a game or two.

Hidden Costs to Consider

• Game Prices: New AAA games hit $80 across both platforms. Ouch.
• Storage Expansion: PS5 wins big here. Standard NVMe SSDs cost around $135 for 1TB. Xbox’s proprietary cards? Much pricier and you’re stuck with Microsoft’s pricing.
• Controllers: Both suffer from stick drift. PS5 controllers cost $70 to replace, but fail more often in our repair experience.

Game Libraries: PlayStation vs Xbox Exclusives

The console wars ultimately come down to games, and each platform takes a dramatically different approach. PlayStation focuses on blockbuster single-player experiences, while Xbox emphasizes subscription value and accessibility.

PS5’s Exclusive Heavyweights

PS5 serves up consistently brilliant exclusives:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• God of War Ragnarök
• Horizon Forbidden West
• The Last of Us series
• Gran Turismo 7

These aren’t just games – they’re interactive blockbusters with Hollywood-level production values.

Xbox Series X Game Selection

Xbox offers solid titles like Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, and Starfield. But here’s the kicker – Microsoft’s putting many “exclusives” on PlayStation too. Good for consumers, less reason to buy Xbox hardware.

The Game Pass Game-Changer

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $17-20 monthly but includes hundreds of games, with new Xbox exclusives available day one. It’s like Netflix for gaming and genuinely brilliant value.

PS Plus can’t match this. Sony’s service costs more ($135-160 annually for the good tiers) and doesn’t include new exclusives on launch day.

Backwards Compatibility: Xbox Demolishes PS5

Xbox plays games from four console generations – original Xbox through Xbox One. Many run better than ever with 4K upgrades and 60fps boosts.

PS5? Just PS4 games. That’s it. Disappointing for a company with such gaming heritage.

Controller Experience: Innovation vs Reliability

Both companies took different approaches to their controllers – Sony pushed the boundaries of innovation, while Microsoft refined what already worked. The result is a fascinating trade-off between cutting-edge features and dependable performance.

PS5 DualSense: Revolutionary but Fragile

The DualSense controller is genuinely impressive:

• Haptic feedback makes you feel raindrops, gunfire, different surfaces
• Adaptive triggers change resistance – drawing a bow feels different to firing a machine gun
• Built-in speaker and mic for immersive audio

The downside? Stick drift affects 40% of DualSense controllers within 12 months. We see this constantly at our repair centres.

Xbox Controller: Boring but Bulletproof

Xbox refined their already-excellent controller. It’s familiar, comfortable, and reliable. Less exciting than DualSense, but it just works.

Pro tip: Xbox One controllers work perfectly on Series X/S. That’s money saved and less e-waste.

Build Quality: What Breaks and When

From our repair benches across Auckland, here’s what we see:

PS5 Common Failures

• HDMI port issues (35% of repairs): Those delicate pins bend easily
• Power supply problems (25%): More complex internal design means more failure points
• Overheating (20%): That liquid metal cooling is clever but risky
• Loud fan noise: Normal according to Sony, annoying according to customers

Xbox Series X Issues

• More robust overall: Fewer repair visits in our experience
• Quieter operation: Better cooling design
• Traditional thermal paste: Safer than PS5’s liquid metal approach
• Easier repairs: More technician-friendly internal layout

Storage Solutions: PS5 Wins on Value

PS5: Uses standard NVMe SSDs. Pop down to PB Tech, grab a Samsung 980 Pro for $135, install it yourself. Easy.

Xbox Series X: Locked into Microsoft’s proprietary cards. Expensive and no alternatives.

Winner: PS5, and it’s not close.

VR Gaming: PS5’s Unique Advantage

PSVR 2 offers proper VR gaming on PS5. Xbox has no VR plans. If virtual reality interests you, PS5 is your only console option.

The Verdict: Which Console Reigns Supreme?

There’s no universal winner – it depends what you value:

Buy PS5 if you want:

• Best exclusive games (they’re genuinely special)
• Cutting-edge controller immersion
• Faster loading times
• VR gaming option
• Better value storage expansion

Buy Xbox Series X if you want:

• Game Pass value (seriously, it’s incredible)
• Extensive backwards compatibility
• More reliable hardware
• Seamless PC integration
• Quick Resume feature

SMASHED IT’s Auckland Recommendation

For most Kiwi gamers, we’d lean toward PS5 in 2025. The exclusive games are consistently excellent, it’s now cheaper than Xbox Series X, and the controller experience is genuinely next-level.

However, if you’re budget-conscious or have an existing Xbox game library, Xbox Series X with Game Pass offers unbeatable value.

Xbox Series S remains the smart choice for casual gamers or as a secondary console.

Need Console Repairs in Auckland?

Whether you choose PS5 or Xbox, things can go wrong. SMASHED IT’s expert technicians have you covered with warranty-backed repairs across our Parnell, Ponsonby stores, plus our partnered Papakura store.

From HDMI port failures to stick drift fixes, we’ll get you back gaming fast. Don’t let hardware issues ruin your gaming sessions – visit us when things go sideways.