Xbox Series X vs. PlayStation 5: One next-generation console works notably better for streaming services.
If you’re looking for your console to be an all-in-one entertainment system, though, it’s a much different story. While both offer the major streaming services, Microsoft’s console has a much more comprehensive selection of options that continue to fulfill its long-standing mission to be the streaming hub of the living room. That really shouldn’t come as a colossal shock. Microsoft has been using the Xbox as a not-so-subtle Trojan Horse since the Xbox 360 days — in 2009, it was the first console to incorporate Netflix streaming. That deal was an exclusive, and Sony has been playing catch-up ever since in nongaming entertainment. The Xbox One doubled down on nongaming options and the Series X and Series S keep that momentum going. Whether you’re looking for niche streaming services, music options, or the latest video on demand, the Xbox has you covered. That’s not to say the PlayStation 5 is bereft of options when you want to take a break from the game. The system has 20 streaming partners, including Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and Spotify — the options most people are likely to use. If you’re a subscriber to NBC’s Peacock streaming service, you can access it here as well. And Apple TV is finally available on both PlayStation and Xbox for the first time with this generation.
