Which is Better - PS3 or Xbox 360

Disclaimer: When the article was first written back in 2010, Sony was riding high on its PS3 gaming console, while Microsoft had Xbox 360 to its credit. Over the course of time though, things have changed considerably. With the trend of slim gaming consoles setting in, both the companies have come up with the revamped versions of their video game consoles - Sony PlayStation 3 slim and Microsoft Xbox 360 S. (Even though the new models are referred to as PS3 slim and Xbox 360 S technically, they are officially still marketed as PS3 and Xbox 360.) Taking a note of this change, we have updated the following article, which now compares PS3 slim and Xbox 360 S to find out which is a better bet of the two.

One can have a tough time comparing two things, especially, when both of them are fabulous, and confusion is bound to set in when you want to choose one of them. Comparison between Sony PlayStation 3 slim (redesigned, slimmer version of the PlayStation 3) and Microsoft Xbox 360 S (redesigned, slimmer version of the Xbox 360) is one such task which is bound to leave you exhausted. Even the most ardent fans of gaming out there will have a tough time guessing which is better, PS3 slim or Xbox 360 S. In order to find the answer to this intricate question, one has to take a brief look at each of these consoles and their salient features as only after doing so, one will be able to know, which is better, Xbox 360 or PS3.

Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3)
PlayStation 3 slim (PS3 CECH-2000 model) is the revamped version of Sony's seventh generation video game console - PS3, which was launched by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2009. Other than the new sleek design, these PS3 slim console also boasts of potent mix of new (such as the removable hard drive) and old features (such as online gaming, a high-definition optical disc format and Blu-ray Disc technology), which make gaming easier and interesting. While the first two consoles of these series were armed with 120GB and 250GB HDD, they were eventually discontinued to make way for the two existing models - the 160GB slim and the 320GB slim in 2010. (The 320GB PS3 slim though, is only available as a part of the PS3 bundle.) As with their predecessors, both models come with a Blu-ray drive which can be used for multimedia purposes as well. Some of the most popular PS3 games include Medal of Honor - Frontline, Far Cry 2, Demon's Souls, MAG, inFamous, Resident Evil, Kill Zone 2, etc. At the same time, the addition of PlayStation Move which facilitates motion gaming has also added to the popularity of PS3 slim console.

Microsoft's Xbox 360
Nearly a year after Sony introduced PS3 slim, Microsoft was ready with a revamped version of its seventh generation video game console Xbox 360 named Xbox 360 S. This redesigned, slim version of Xbox 360 was launched in 2010. Even though it was named Xbox 360 S, Microsoft continues to market it as the new slim Xbox 360. Other than being 17 percent slimmer than the previous console, Xbox 360 S also boasts of features like five USB ports, integrated 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, a TOSLINK S/PDIF optical audio connector and XCGPU (CPU with integrated GPU chip), which - along with Xbox Live and other existing features, makes it a delight for all the ardent fans of gaming out there. At present, Xbox 360 is available in two configurations - 250GB Xbox 360 and 4GB Xbox 360. In 2011, Microsoft launched 320GB Xbox 360 consoles as a part of Limited Collectors Edition. Some of the most popular Xbox 360 games today include series like the Fable, Gears of War, Halo, Call of Duty etc. Xbox 360 is compatible to the Kinect motion gaming system which was introduced by Microsoft in 2009.

Which is Better: PS3 or Xbox 360?
In order to decide which is better, Xbox 360 S or PS3 slim, we will have to take some of their prominent features into consideration. While both these gaming consoles have cut down on size and weight, the relatively dull look of PS3 slim gives Xbox 360 S an advantage in the design department. As with dimensions, even the interiors of these consoles have been tweaked which, in turn, has made them a lot less noisy and power efficient as compared to their predecessors. To combat the Cell engine (microprocessor chip) in PS3, Microsoft has replaced the 65nm chip with 45nm XCGPU - a CPU with integrated GPU chip. As a result of this addition, the difference in the two consoles in terms of performance and graphics has reduced to a great extent.

Storage medium is an important factor, due to online game purchasing capabilities of both console manufacturers. Also, more memory ensures that the saved game data does not become a hindrance while downloading games. The primary storage medium in PS3 is the Blu-ray Disc (which is again a Sony product), with a storing capacity of approximately 54 gigs. The Blu-ray technology from Sony and user-replaceable hard drives continue to give PS3 an edge over Xbox 360. Almost all the tech experts are of the opinion that Microsoft is far behind Sony when it comes to this aspect. Add to it the Bluetooth compatibility with a range of devices, and this Sony gaming console seems to be a lot better than its Microsoft counterpart.

Interestingly, PS3 slim has also caught up on Xbox 360 slim in the games department with quite a few exclusive games to its credit. These include titles like Metal Gear Solid, God of War III, Killzone 3, Resistance 3, and many more. However, you also need to take into consideration the fact that this console is not backward compatible to PS2 games. Some of the exclusive Xbox 360 titles on the other hand, include games like the Halo series, Crackdown 2, Gears of War series, Kinect Adventures, etc. While Xbox Live service does have an upper hand over PlayStation Network (PSN) when it comes to online service, many people will opt to go for the free service offered by PSN than paying US$50 as the subscription fee for Xbox Live.

PS3 vs Xbox 360 Price Comparison
As the performance of these gaming consoles does match to a great extent, price can turn out to be a deciding factor at the end of the day. In case of the Xbox, the higher end model which comes with a 250GB HDD is priced US$299.99, while the 4GB onboard console is priced at US$199.99. If you want Kinect motion gaming system as an add on (which is recommended), you will have to shell out approximately US$100 extra as Xbox 360 S 250GB with Kinect is priced at US$399.99 and Xbox 360 S 4GB costs US$299.

As we mentioned earlier, Sony's PlayStation 3 slim is available in two different models. The basic model comes with a 160GB hard drive and is priced approximately, at US$249.99. The higher end model with 320GB HDD exclusively comes as a part of PS3 bundles starting at US$299.99. These bundles include the PlayStation Move motion controller, eye camera, and some games. The higher end PS3 bundle which includes the 320GB console and PlayStation Move system comes with a price tag of US$349.99.

To sum up, both Xbox 360 S and PS3 slim seem to have their own pros and cons which makes it difficult to decide which is better of the two. Xbox 360 does have a slight edge as the price factor works in its favor, but the subscription fee of US$50 negates this advantage. While the price tag in excess of US$50-US$100 might end up being a major deterrent when it comes to PS3, the Blu-ray technology can tempt users to go for it. Even though it is very difficult to figure out which is better, the PS3 slim or Xbox 360 slim, we believe hardcore gamers will prefer the Xbox 360, while people looking for an all round entertainment device will find PS3 more tempting.