Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition vs Microsoft Xbox Series S Console (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition

9.2/10 Excellent

4.8★ (28,400 owners)

PS5 without disc drive, same performance, PS5 exclusives, PlayStation Store only. £100 cheaper than Disc.

Full Review

Microsoft Xbox Series S Console

9.0/10 Excellent

4.7★ (28,400 owners)

1440p/60fps, all-digital, Game Pass, compact. Best value current-gen console.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition	Microsoft Xbox Series S Console
247Verdict Score	9.2/10	9.0/10
Owner Rating	4.8★ (28,400)	4.7★ (28,400)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Disc	None (digital only)	None (digital only)

Quick Verdict

Both are strong choices, but the Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition edges ahead with a 9.2/10 vs 9.0/10. PS5 without disc drive, same performance, PS5 exclusives, PlayStation Store only. £100 cheaper than Disc. That said, the Microsoft Xbox Series S Console is worth considering if 1440p/60fps, all-digital, Game Pass, compact. Best value current-gen console. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition

Identical performance to PS5 Disc Edition — same SSD, same GPU, same DualSense controller
£100 cheaper than Disc Edition — saving pays for 1-2 digital game purchases
PlayStation Store has regular sales — digital pricing frequently matches physical retail
Same exclusive game library: Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök, Horizon series
Lighter and more compact design without the disc drive bulk

No disc drive — physical game collection incompatible entirely
Cannot use second-hand physical games — locked to digital purchasing prices
PlayStation Store prices occasionally higher than physical retail on new releases

Microsoft Xbox Series S Console

£249 — the most affordable current-generation console
Same Game Pass Ultimate access as Series X — all 300+ games for $14.99/month
All-digital design (no disc drive) matches how most people buy games today
Compact white design fits anywhere — significantly smaller than PS5 or Series X
Quick Resume and backward compatibility identical to Series X

1440p maximum — no 4K output (Series X required for 4K)
512GB SSD fills quickly with modern games — external storage often necessary
No disc drive — physical game library incompatible

FAQ

Which is better, Sony PlayStation 5 or Microsoft Xbox Series S?

Is the Sony PlayStation 5 worth the extra cost?

Yes — Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition scores higher at 9.2/10 vs 9.0/10.

Who is the Sony PlayStation 5 best suited to?

PS5 without disc drive, same performance, PS5 exclusives, PlayStation Store only. £100 cheaper than Disc.

Who is the Microsoft Xbox Series S best suited to?

1440p/60fps, all-digital, Game Pass, compact. Best value current-gen console.

What are the main downsides of each?

Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition: No disc drive — physical game collection incompatible entirely; Cannot use second-hand physical games — locked to digital purchasing prices. Microsoft Xbox Series S Console: 1440p maximum — no 4K output (Series X required for 4K); 512GB SSD fills quickly with modern games — external storage often necessary.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition sits at 4.8★ from 28,400 verified Amazon owners, and Microsoft Xbox Series S Console at 4.7★ from 28,400.

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