It’s been more than seven years since the launch of the Xbox 360, and in that time we’ve seen two major revisions of Microsoft’s console – the ‘slim’ model which launched in 2010, and the 4GB ‘E’ model which hit store shelves in 2013. So it’s no surprise that there’s been a lot of speculation about what the next-gen Xbox will bring to the table.
The Xbox One has now been officially announced, and it’s fair to say that it’s a pretty significant upgrade on its predecessor. But just how big are the differences between the two consoles, and is the new machine really worth upgrading to? We take a look at both systems side by side to find out.
xbox one vs xbox 360
The Xbox One has a slightly higher clock speed than the Xbox 360 – 1.75GHz vs. 1.6GHz – and it has 8GB of RAM compared to the Xbox 360’s 512MB. The Xbox One also boasts a more powerful GPU, which is said to be around 20% more powerful than the one in the Xbox 360. The hard drive in the Xbox One is also 500GB larger than the one in the Xbox 360 – 500GB vs. 250GB. So, in terms of raw horsepower, the Xbox One is definitely more powerful than the Xbox 360.
The jury is still out on whether or not these hardware improvements will result in better-looking games, however. While it’s true that the games will undoubtedly look better on the Xbox One than they do on the Xbox 360, it’s worth noting that many of the early releases for the new console are actually ports of older games or re-releases with minimal graphical improvements. So, if you’re looking for jaw-droppingly gorgeous graphics, you might want to wait a few months for some of the newer titles to come out.
A comparison of the games
The Xbox One has NFL on-demand, but the 360 has the NFL app for streaming live games. However, if you want to use the NFL app on Xbox One, you have to have an Xbox Live Gold subscription, which isn’t required for the 360. The Xbox One has Skype integration while the 360 does not.
The Xbox One can also control your TV and set-top box (if you have one) with its Kinect sensor, while the 360 cannot. The Xbox One has a Blu-ray drive while the 360 does not, so if you want to watch movies in high definition on your console, the Xbox One is the way to go. The Xbox 360 is available in a 4GB model and a 250GB model, while the Xbox One is available in 500GB and 1TB models. TheXbox One also comes with a Kinect sensor, while the Kinect sensor is optional for the360.
A comparison of the online features
In terms of online features, both the Xbox One and Xbox 360 offer a variety of games and apps that can be played online with friends or strangers. The Xbox One has a slightly more robust online offering, with a larger selection of games that can be played online and more features in its app store. However, the Xbox 360’s online features are still very good, and it offers a significantly cheaper price point than the Xbox One.
The verdict – which console is better?
It’s hard to definitively say which console is better when they both have such different strengths. The Xbox One is a more powerful system, with better graphics and a larger selection of exclusive games. If you’re looking for the best possible gaming experience, the Xbox One is the console for you. However, the Xbox 360 is more affordable, and it has a large library of backwards-compatible games. So if you’re on a budget, or if you want to be able to play your old Xbox 360 games, that console is probably the better choice for you.