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Trusted Reviews: Xbox Series X is the Best console of 2021

Snake29

RSI Employee of the Year
You are flat out, 100%, wrong on this.

The WD SN850 came out right around the same time as the PS5 last year. Its price has remained the same throughout the entire year. I got a 2TB version in my PC in February, and then I bought a 1TB when the PS5 beta started.

The only "new" one that came out when the beta started was Seagate's. There were MANY PCIE4.0 SSDs available for a long time before that beta started.

Is it hard to read these days or something? Some drives had lower speeds.

Most of the SSD's on this list (https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-best-ssds-for-ps5) were release around early summer. There weren't many available at the PS5 launch....

Now proof me wrong...

Didn't Samsung released fast enough SSD at the end of last year?

Yeah, Sony fixed it. But that's my point. It took them almost year after release of their console. Xbox had more complete launch in terms of OS functionality and they had SSD expansion options available day one. Hence why they more deserve "console of the year" award, while Sony thanks to their exclusive games deserve "platform of the year"

That was just 1 SSD on the market. Most of the manufactures released theirs all around spring/summer.
 
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Lognor

Banned
Is this based on software or hardware or both? Imo, the best console should have the best, highest rated software, but that’s just me.
The best, highest rated software? But "best" is subjective.

XSX has better hardware, better features, games typically run better....all these probably go into it being the best (again, subjective) console of 2021. It's certainly my favorite console of 2021, and it's not even close.
 

Snake29

RSI Employee of the Year
Obviously it is hard to read since you’re ignoring how I bought a 2TB SN850 almost a year ago. And no it didn’t have lower speed than the 1TB I got in August.

You're ignoring the fact that i was talking about "AVAILABILITY". Don't you know that word or something? You're constantly talking about 1...yes just 1 drive with that 7GB/s speed released in November last year. Others all released in 2021.....

Again proof me wrong.
 
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Topher

Gold Member
so you mean actual external hardware? right so again that's a consumer choice. Actual sound options on the console though the xbox is better as it offers Atmos

No, the lack of consumer choice is the issue. I can use my non-licensed wireless headset on PS5 with a cheap USB bluetooth dongle. I don't have that option on Xbox so I have to buy an officially licensed wireless headset. This is an internal Xbox limitation put in place to force consumers to buy licensed products. Enabling USB audio would allow other options so Microsoft doesn't do that. This is clearly a PS5 advantage as USB audio factually provides more options.

The Atmos option is one advantage. Not requiring Atmos with Tempest is another advantage. Which is better....I have no idea.
 

HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
You're ignoring the fact that i was talking about "AVAILABILITY". Don't you know that word or something? You're constantly talking about 1...yes just 1 drive with that 7GB/s speed released in November last year. Others all released in 2021.....

Again proof me wrong.
Pretty certain I bought my first 1TB 980Pro end of last year thinking Nov when I bought one of my PCs and I know it wasnt my only choice at the time
 

Stuart360

Member
I think some people dont get this thread. This is about the best console, meaning hardware, features, etc.
PS5 already won best platform, whihc means games and stuff.
This has nothing to do with games, sales, or any of that stuff. Its purely about the hardware.
 

Snake29

RSI Employee of the Year
Pretty certain I bought my first 1TB 980Pro end of last year thinking Nov when I bought one of my PCs and I know it wasnt my only choice at the time

These 2 were the only one from last year so far....see my link, i already mentioned the 980 Pro before in another reply. What's so hard to understand that most other manufacturers released theirs in 2021 and not 2020?

Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus, Adata XPG Gammix S70, WD Black SN850, Samsung Evo 980 were all released either in October 2020 or by the end of 2020.

Adata was available in 2021, Sabrent i don't know but i only see 2021 reviews. So i'm still right about the availability of these high speed SSD's, all others on the list are 2021 drives....
 

HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
I think some people dont get this thread. This is about the best console, meaning hardware, features, etc.
PS5 already won best platform, whihc means games and stuff.
This has nothing to do with games, sales, or any of that stuff. Its purely about the hardware.
Nahh people get it 100%

There are threads where PS won platform and Ratchet won game those threads are fine for most.

Xbox wins something the thread is twice as large because people have to come in and war
 

ManaByte

Member
Adata was available in 2021, Sabrent i don't know but i only see 2021 reviews. So i'm still right about the availability of these high speed SSD's, all others on the list are 2021 drives....

You're aware there's a chip shortage right and not every website could get review units to post a review the day they came out?

The SN850 is NOT a 2021 drive. I'm done arguing with you about this.
 

Ozriel

M$FT
PS5 is better for me if you include control haptic quality and Pulse headsets. Also the SSD option on PS5 is better.

Regarding power to run videogames both consoles has their pros and cons but as a whole system think PS5 has less bottlenecks than Series X.

You know, there’s still a chance you can edit your post so people don’t see that you’re trying to add in pulse headsets to the PS5 column. Because that’s just…weird.
 

Snake29

RSI Employee of the Year
You're aware there's a chip shortage right and not every website could get review units to post a review the day they came out?

The SN850 is NOT a 2021 drive. I'm done arguing with you about this.

So it's true...you have trouble reading? Were am i talking about the SN850 being a 2021 drive? Show me that right now? Since i'm not seeing that in the quote.

You know i'm right since i showed you facts about other manufactures released theirs this year....that's why you constantly ignoring that and only talk about the SN850 as if that's the only SSD on the market next to the 980 which has way lower speed.

You're aware there's a chip shortage right and not every website could get review units to post a review the day they came out?

So there you have the answer why PS enabled the expansion bay this year....
 
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MarkMe2525

Gold Member
This Snake29 Snake29 person is cracking me up. I appreciate your dedication as it is quite entertaining.

On topic, I have been lucky enough to play extensively on both. I agree with article. Quick resume and smart delivery has been on point. Oddly enough I get a lot of usage out of the web browser. It seems to be on par with the native windows edge browser.
 

Sosokrates

Report me if I continue to console war
Definitely the best designed piece of hardware with the best next-gen software features and services. Upcoming games look hot too.

I hope more backward-compatible titles will be added as this is mostly what I use my Series X for (I'm PC-centric).

Yes, minimalist and functional are the best design imo.
Makes me wonder how they decided on the PS5 design.
the playstation design team would of had lots of different designs, likely a few which were minimalist , my guess why the shot callers did bot go with a more minimalist design is because they want it to stand out and be a talking point, weather it was good talk or bad talk. Somtimes in business all press/talk can be beneficial.

Now that I think about, the Xbox design team really did great because not only was the xsx minimalist and functional but it was also a talking point.
 
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Sosokrates

Report me if I continue to console war
This Snake29 Snake29 person is cracking me up. I appreciate your dedication as it is quite entertaining.

On topic, I have been lucky enough to play extensively on both. I agree with article. Quick resume and smart delivery has been on point. Oddly enough I get a lot of usage out of the web browser. It seems to be on par with the native windows edge browser.

PS5 instant loss due to no internet porn access.

Its what killed betamax and now the PS5!
 

Snake29

RSI Employee of the Year
This Snake29 Snake29 person is cracking me up. I appreciate your dedication as it is quite entertaining.

On topic, I have been lucky enough to play extensively on both. I agree with article. Quick resume and smart delivery has been on point. Oddly enough I get a lot of usage out of the web browser. It seems to be on par with the native windows edge browser.

Now if manabyte would just read, instead of ignoring everything and not come up with facts himself, it would have been a lot easier.
 

Wizz-Art

Member
Good point. I haven't had time to look into the customization options. Out of the box though, it is a bit of a mess, imo.
It used to be early on in the One gen but they fixed it and it's very clean, fast and responsive now especially on the series consoles. The homepage let's you pin all the games and apps that you want and if you customize it further you can delete every section (or move it to the bottom) you don't want and keep everything you want pinned and it's perfect imo.
 
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phil_t98

#SonyToo
No, the lack of consumer choice is the issue. I can use my non-licensed wireless headset on PS5 with a cheap USB bluetooth dongle. I don't have that option on Xbox so I have to buy an officially licensed wireless headset. This is an internal Xbox limitation put in place to force consumers to buy licensed products. Enabling USB audio would allow other options so Microsoft doesn't do that. This is clearly a PS5 advantage as USB audio factually provides more options.

The Atmos option is one advantage. Not requiring Atmos with Tempest is another advantage. Which is better....I have no idea.
Xbox have their own version of tempest as well as Atmos so it’s more options sound wise.

yes I get what your saying about external hardware options but I could also say the PS5 won’t work on my 9.1 Atmos setup so there is that also.
 

Topher

Gold Member
Xbox have their own version of tempest as well as Atmos so it’s more options sound wise.

yes I get what your saying about external hardware options but I could also say the PS5 won’t work on my 9.1 Atmos setup so there is that also.

Your Atmos setup requires Atmos sources for it to even function?
 
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coffinbirth

Member
It's just a perception. You can buy xbox because less people want it.
Ps5 is more popular and selling more, so it's harder to get
That is YOUR perception.

XSX has been extremely hard to source for friends and family, whereas I was able to help procure the PS5 for several people(thanks wario64!).
You can skew that however you would like, but it's been established that Sony began production literally months before Microsoft did and thusly have been able to produce more consoles.

Now, I'm not suggesting that XSX would currently be outselling PS5 if supply wasn't an issue, but I don't think this gen will be a blowout like it was between PS4 and XBO, at any rate.
 

ManaByte

Member
Right....but does that mean that devices that do not support Atmos won't work at all or you simply not getting the full Atmos experience?

Games will output to the receiver in either DD or DTS. UHD discs or movies that support Atmos will play in Atmos if you use bitstream out and let the receiver decode.
 

Topher

Gold Member
Games will output to the receiver in either DD or DTS. UHD discs or movies that support Atmos will play in Atmos if you use bitstream out and let the receiver decode.

Thanks.

phil_t98 phil_t98 this isn't the same as what I was talking about regarding wireless headsets at all. Atmos is certainly an advantage for XSX for those with Atmos systems like yours, I'll give you that.
 

phil_t98

#SonyToo
Your Atmos setup requires Atmos sources for it to even function?

the games encoded in Atmos will work on my Atmos setup. No PS5 games are in Atmos because the system does not support it as if yet

also with the currant wireless headphones that support series consoles they support both Atmos and Microsoft’s own version of tempest (I forgot what it’s called tbh) so that’s an advantage as well
 
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phil_t98

#SonyToo
Games will output to the receiver in either DD or DTS. UHD discs or movies that support Atmos will play in Atmos if you use bitstream out and let the receiver decode.

some games are encoded with Atmos on Xbox and have been since last gen
 

Nitty_Grimes

Made a crappy phPBB forum once ... once.
giphy.gif
Fucking hell Bill Clinton looking rough as fuck there 😉
 

phil_t98

#SonyToo
There is a big difference in saying PS5 "doesn't work" with your setup and doesn't support Atmos.

Edit:



Ok....you've clarified. Thanks.
The PS5 doesn’t work with games on my Atmos setup that’s the point. It only uses DD or DTS that’s the point. Tempest is good spatial audio similar to Atmos but not the same.

woth Xbox you can play games in Atmos if the are encoded with it

without wanting to sound patronising maybe you should read up about xbox and the sound options it provides for games
 
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Topher

Gold Member
The PS5 doesn’t work with games on my Atmos setup that’s the point. It only uses DD or DTS that’s the point. Tempest is good spatial audio similar to Atmos but not the same.

woth Xbox you can play games in Atmos if the are encoded with it

without wanting to sound patronising maybe you should read up about xbox and the sound options it provides for games

Why? I've already acknowledge Xbox has an advantage with those with Atmos setups like yours. I'm not sure what else you want me to say. Perhaps you should read up on USB audio output and the options it provides that Xbox doesn't give you.

Seth Meyers Whatever GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers
 

phil_t98

#SonyToo
Why? I've already acknowledge Xbox has an advantage with those with Atmos setups like yours. I'm not sure what else you want me to say. Perhaps you should read up on USB audio output and the options it provides that Xbox doesn't give you.

Seth Meyers Whatever GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers

and what option is that? not clued up on usb audio output if am honest
 

Topher

Gold Member
and what option is that? not clued up on usb audio output if am honest

I mentioned the USB bluetooth adapter that allows you to use any bluetooth wireless headset. Beyond that USB audio output allows pretty much anything you want. 3.5, optical, DAC, etc. I have an old USB adapter with 3.5 and toslink that works fine with PS5. Just gives a lot of options without having to resort to an HDMI audio extractor which still won't help with wireless headsets.

The highest rated console game of 2021 so far is Flight Simulator. So I guess XSX wins by that metric?

Actually Psychonauts 2 scored higher, but same difference.
 
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I have both and rn I’d agree. PlayStation exclusives haven’t really hit yet and Xbox has better features in quick resume, and easier to transfer data. Game pass has been a steal and as a smaller note, the best internet browser for streaming sports and fights. That’s not really a big one tho lol
I still cannot figure out why people get so excited about quick resume. How many times per day are you switching games to the point where it matters? I think I've used it about 3 times total in the whole time I've been using the console.
 

phil_t98

#SonyToo
I mentioned the USB bluetooth adapter that allows you to use any bluetooth wireless headset. Beyond that USB audio output allows pretty much anything you want. 3.5, optical, DAC, etc. I have an old USB adapter with 3.5 and toslink that works fine with PS5. Just gives a lot of options without having to resort to an HDMI audio extractor which still won't help with wireless headsets.

tbh that sounds like a backwards way of doing it. Does any wireless headphones that work on the PS5 offer full spatial audio?
 

Topher

Gold Member
tbh that sounds like a backwards way of doing it. Does any wireless headphones that work on the PS5 offer full spatial audio?

Any bluetooth wireless headphones that offer full spatial audio will work with PS5. They will not work with Xbox. So that's backwards, huh?
 

phil_t98

#SonyToo
Any bluetooth wireless headphones that offer full spatial audio will work with PS5. They will not work with Xbox. So that's backwards, huh?

well the wireless headphones that are available for Xbox are spatial and Atmos enabled to.

end of the day PS5 has more headphone options I grant you

but Xbox has more sound options which can be used on headphones and amplifiers so I personally would pick that choice as no home. Cinema hardware uses PS5 spatial software
 

Topher

Gold Member
well the wireless headphones that are available for Xbox are spatial and Atmos enabled to.

Oh....I misunderstood your question. Yeah....any headset works with Tempest as well.

end of the day PS5 has more headphone options I grant you

but Xbox has more sound options which can be used on headphones and amplifiers so I personally would pick that choice as no home. Cinema hardware uses PS5 spatial software

Ok.....your turn. What sound options are you referring to?
 

phil_t98

#SonyToo
Oh....I misunderstood your question. Yeah....any headset works with Tempest as well.



Ok.....your turn. What sound options are you referring to?

it has spatial audio and Atmos that’s more sound options when playing my games. If I want to play on my headphones I can select either and if I play on my home cinema setup I have the option for Atmos which is spatial also where as DD is only 5.1 and not as good as Atmos
 

Topher

Gold Member
it has spatial audio and Atmos that’s more sound options when playing my games. If I want to play on my headphones I can select either and if I play on my home cinema setup I have the option for Atmos which is spatial also where as DD is only 5.1 and not as good as Atmos

I'm not following. Atmos gives you option of using Atmos?
 

MikeM

Member
No, the lack of consumer choice is the issue. I can use my non-licensed wireless headset on PS5 with a cheap USB bluetooth dongle. I don't have that option on Xbox so I have to buy an officially licensed wireless headset. This is an internal Xbox limitation put in place to force consumers to buy licensed products. Enabling USB audio would allow other options so Microsoft doesn't do that. This is clearly a PS5 advantage as USB audio factually provides more options.

The Atmos option is one advantage. Not requiring Atmos with Tempest is another advantage. Which is better....I have no idea.
Better is probably dependent on the ears. What I find interesting is that everyone focuses on comparing pixels but no one has done anything comparing sound quality out of these machines.

I personally feel, through headphones, the PS5 outputs better quality spatial sound versus my Series X with Atmos for Headphones. In saying that, I also realize that everyone’s ears can be different and perceive sound differently than me.

I was pissed though when I found out my Arctis 7P headset wouldn’t work with Series X. Had to order up a 7X because of the proprietary nonsense. Ugh…
 
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