If you are buying a console from scratch in the UK in late 2026, buy the PS5. It costs about £100 less than the Xbox Series X, it has the stronger set of single player exclusives, and it plays the biggest upcoming games. If you already own a large Xbox library, or you want new Xbox games on day one through a subscription, stay with the Xbox Series X. Your existing games and your subscription habit matter more than the small hardware gap between the two consoles.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X: UK prices in 2026
Prices changed the value story completely in 2026, and older guides now mislead buyers. At launch in 2020 both flagships cost the same. Sony raised UK PS5 prices on 2 April 2026, then Microsoft raised Xbox prices in the UK on 1 August 2026. After both rises, the Xbox Series X costs more than the equivalent PS5 for the first time in this console generation.
| Console | UK list price reported in October 2026 |
|---|---|
| PS5 Digital Edition (1TB, no disc drive) | £519.99 |
| PS5 standard (1TB, disc drive) | £569.99 |
| PS5 Pro (2TB) | £789.99 |
| Xbox Series X digital (1TB, no disc drive) | £619.99 |
| Xbox Series X (1TB, disc drive) | £669.99 |
| Xbox Series S (512GB, no disc drive) | £429.99 |
The key comparison is the disc models: £569.99 for the PS5 against £669.99 for the Xbox Series X, a £100 gap in Sony’s favour. The digital models show the same £100 gap.
Refurbished consoles change the maths again. Sony’s Certified Refurbished PS5 Digital Edition has been listed at £429.99, and the refurbished disc model at £479.99, each with a 12 month warranty.
Performance: close enough that games matter more
On paper, the Xbox Series X has slightly more raw graphics power than the standard PS5. In practice, most multiplatform games look and play very similarly on both. Both support 4K output, ray tracing, fast storage, and up to 120 frames per second in supported games.
The PS5 Pro is a separate question. It costs £220 more than the standard PS5 and offers sharper images in games that receive a Pro patch, but not every game gets one. Unless you play on a large 4K TV, the standard PS5 is the sensible buy. Your TV matters too, as our guide to the best TV settings for PS5 gaming explains.
Games and exclusives: PS5 leads for single player fans
This is where the PS5 pulls ahead for most buyers. Sony’s first party studios produce story driven single player games that do not appear on Xbox, including God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon, The Last of Us and Ghost of Tsushima. If those names are why you want a console, the decision is already made.
Xbox exclusives are strong in a different way, led by Starfield, Forza and Halo, and Microsoft now owns a very large set of studios, including the makers of Call of Duty. Many Xbox games also appear on PC, which weakens the case for an Xbox console if you already own a gaming PC.
One game deserves a special mention. Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, with no PC version announced and no console exclusivity. You do not need to pick a console for GTA 6 alone.
Subscriptions: Game Pass vs PlayStation Plus
Subscriptions are Xbox’s strongest argument, and they are worth pricing honestly. Xbox Game Pass in the UK now has three console tiers. Essential costs £6.99 a month, with online multiplayer and over 50 games. Premium costs £10.99 a month, with over 200 games, but new Xbox published games arrive within a year of launch rather than on day one. Ultimate costs £16.99 a month, with over 400 games, new games on day one, cloud gaming, EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics.
PlayStation Plus has three tiers too. Essential is reported at £7.99 a month, covering online multiplayer, monthly games and cloud saves. Extra is reported at £11.99 a month and adds a large downloadable catalogue. Premium is reported at £14.99 a month and adds classic games, trials and cloud streaming. Unlike Game Pass Ultimate, it does not put new first party games into its catalogue on day one.
The honest summary is this. If you play many different games and like trying new releases without buying each one, Game Pass Ultimate is the best subscription in gaming. It does not erase the £100 hardware gap by itself: at £16.99 a month, Ultimate costs £203.88 over a year. If you mainly play two or three games all year, buying them outright on PS5 is usually cheaper.
Controllers, storage and backwards compatibility
The PS5 DualSense controller has adaptive triggers and detailed haptic feedback. In supported games, you feel trigger resistance when you draw a bow or brake a car. The Xbox controller is simpler, and it runs on AA batteries or a rechargeable pack, while the DualSense has a built in battery. Both controllers can develop stick drift, where the character moves without you touching the stick. Our guide explains how to fix stick drift on a PS5 controller without opening it, starting with the least invasive fixes first. The DualSense also works on PC: see how to connect a PS5 controller to a PC via Bluetooth.
Both flagships come with 1TB of storage, which holds roughly eight to twelve large games. The PS5 accepts standard NVMe drives that meet Sony’s specification, giving a wide choice of brands and prices. The Xbox Series X uses a proprietary expansion card, which is simpler to fit but usually costs more per gigabyte. Backwards compatibility favours Xbox: the Series X plays Xbox One games plus many Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, while the PS5 plays almost all PS4 games but not PS3, PS2 or PS1 discs.
Who should buy which console?
Buy the PS5 if you are starting fresh, you love story driven single player games, or you want the cheaper flagship console. Buy the Xbox Series X if you already own Xbox games, you play mainly through Game Pass Ultimate, or you want the widest backwards compatibility.
Buy the Xbox Series S only if budget is your main concern and you accept the trade offs: £429.99 for the 512GB model, no disc drive, and less power than either flagship. For most buyers, saving for the PS5 Digital Edition at £519.99 is better.
How to buy smart in the UK
First, decide disc or digital before you shop. A disc drive lets you buy second hand games and sell games when you finish them, and those savings add up fast. Second, price the whole setup, not just the box: add a second controller, a multiplayer subscription, and extra storage if needed. Third, check manufacturer refurbished stock and retailer bundles, plus the warranty and return policy, and avoid marketplace sellers with no track record. Black Friday, on 27 November in 2026, often brings genuine bundles, but a bundle is only a deal if you want everything in the box.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PS5 cheaper than the Xbox Series X in the UK?
Yes. The PS5 disc model is listed at £569.99 and the Xbox Series X disc model at £669.99, a gap of £100, and the digital models show the same gap.
Can I play GTA 6 on both consoles?
Yes. It launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, with no console exclusivity.
Do I need a subscription to play online?
Yes. Online multiplayer needs PlayStation Plus on PS5 or Game Pass Essential or higher on Xbox.
Which console has better exclusives?
For single player story games, the PS5. For a subscription library with day one new releases, Xbox through Game Pass Ultimate. The right answer depends on how you play.
Should I wait for a price drop?
Probably not, unless you are buying close to Black Friday. Both companies raised prices in 2026 and neither has signalled a cut.
Conclusion
The answer is clearer in the UK in late 2026 than it was at launch. The PS5 is £100 cheaper and has the stronger single player exclusives. The Xbox Series X remains right if your library, friends, or Game Pass habit already live on Xbox. Pick the platform that fits how you play, buy the disc model if you resell games, and check refurbished stock before you pay full price.
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