Xbox One S vs PlayStation 4 Neo: Microsoft and Sony Clash for the Best Gaming Console
We Compared the Rumored Features of the PlayStation 4 Neo with the Xbox One S
With the huge worldwide success of the PlayStation lineup, there is no denying that the new gaming console to be launched by Sony would be received similarly. Code named PlayStation 4 Neo, PlayStation 4.5, and PlayStation 4K, its main competition would be the Xbox One S. With Sony and Microsoft being tough rivals, which one will hold its own?
Design
There have amazingly been no confirmed leaked photos or renders of the PlayStation 4 Neo, so comparing the design with the Xbox One S would be almost impossible. However, it is said to be bigger than Microsoft's offering, and would be 40 percent smaller and thinner than its predecessor.
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4K Resolution and HDR Features
With everything about the PlayStation 4 Neo being rumors as of yet, the one confirmed detail about it is its capability to support 4K gaming. Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, hinted that the new PlayStation version will pack enough processing and graphic juice to render 2160p games, with a possible frame rate of 60 fps.
Microsoft's offering, however, does not support native 4K gaming. The device just effectively upscales all video output to 4K resolution. This includes both standard videos and games. However, the upscaling does not provide any more details to the screen. What the Xbox One S packs though is HDR gaming, giving games higher contrast and depth.
Also, one of the main advantages of the Xbox One S is its ability to play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Along with the HDR capability, the Microsoft offering offers a complete viewing package. However, the PlayStation 4 Neo is also expected to come with these features.
Performance
The Xbox One S clearly belongs with the One lineup. For its internals, users will see very minor tweaks as compared to the previous generation. The chipset, although being a quad-core processor and is clocked higher for a faster and more effective performance boost, sees a measly upgrade from the last iteration. The RAM gets somewhat upgraded as well, but perceivable improvements occur in the menu screen, rather than in actual gaming.
Meanwhile, the PlayStation 4 Neo is expected to pack an octa-core processor clocked in at 2.1GHz. the graphics is also said to perform 4.14 teraflops, with memory running GDDR5 technology with speeds of up to 218GB/s. With 4K capabilities at 60 fps, the PlayStation 4 Neo clearly trumps the Xbox One S on this department.
Backwards Compatibility
Both these devices are backwards compatible with games of their previous iterations. PlayStation 4 games will play with a higher resolution and a much better all-around graphics on the new console. Likewise, Xbox One games will take advantage of the new HDR capabilities of the One S.
Price
There are no rumors or official pricing yet for the PlayStation 4 Neo, but it is projected to be more expensive than the Xbox One S. As for the Xbox, pricing starts at $299 for the 500GB version, $349 for the 1TB one, and $399 for the 2TB model.
