Xbox Series S Now Priced Higher Than PS5 Digital Edition

Man, it’s kinda wild how I’m here gushing over PlayStation deals. Usually, I’m all about Windows and Xbox, but this week — bam! — Microsoft drops this unexpected bomb: prices are jumping for their consoles, accessories, games. Suddenly, I’m looking at PlayStation and thinking, seriously, it’s a better deal right now. Weird, right?

So, here’s what’s up. PlayStation’s got this Astro Bot PS5 Slim Digital bundle going for $449.99. Yeah, you heard me. That’s fifty bucks cheaper than just the standard PS5 Slim, and you get the Game of the Year 2024, Astro Bot. It’s honestly hilarious (and a bit sad) comparing this to Xbox’s new pricing. The PS5 Slim Digital 1TB — now twenty dollars less expensive than the Xbox Series S with the same 1TB. Which, by the way, just got a pretty hefty price hike from $349.99 to $429.99. If you’re hunting for value — PlayStation’s where it’s at. Chaos theory in action or something.

—Oh right, I was supposed to talk about Xbox vs. PS5?

Earlier? I’d tell anyone, the Xbox Series S was the way to go. Best bang for your buck into current-gen gaming, hands down. And personal fave for portability, too. But with the new price tag Microsoft slapped on it, oof, recommending it feels like I’m joking. I’m in the middle of updating my old Series S review, grumbling about it losing its sweet $299.99 spot, and then — bam! — this PlayStation deal jumps out at me like, “Hey, pay attention!”

So here’s how it breaks down: Microsoft hiked the price of their standard 512GB Series S up to $379.99, and the 1TB model hit $429.99. Meanwhile, the price gap with PlayStation’s dwindling fast. PS5 Slim Digital’s now at $449.99, though you can grab those Astro Bot bundles for less. Ironic, huh?

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Xbox Series S vs PS5 Slim specs — now there’s a line-up that’ll make your head spin. Eight-core processors, GPUs throwing around TFLOPs like confetti, RAMs for days. One’s pushing 120fps at 1440p, touting 4K upscaling. The other’s like, “Hey, up to 8K here, no big deal.”

Even with all this pointing towards PlayStation, I’m not totally switching teams. Xbox stays my MVP ‘cause of Xbox Game Pass. So. Many. Games. But, if you’re not knee-deep in Game Pass or you’re thirsty for PlayStation exclusives (or want to snag ex-Xbox exclusives like Forza without looking over your shoulder), then yeah, PS5 Slim Digital’s calling your name.

Can’t forget the hardware philosophies here either. Xbox: trim the unnecessary, slim it for portability. PlayStation: power and style, flexibility with add-ons down the line. Different strokes, right? And look, if we’re talking pure price-to-performance — PlayStation’s a clear winner.

So yeah, who’s laughing now?