Is Switch better than PS5?
If you‘re trying to decide between Nintendo‘s Switch and Sony‘s PlayStation 5, it‘s not an easy choice. The PS5 is more powerful technologically but the Switch offers exclusive games and total portability. Based on their respective strengths, the PS5 is superior for hardcore gamers who want immersive graphics and expansive libraries. However, the Switch is likely the better choice for casual gamers and families thanks to its low cost, party-friendly local multiplayer, and Nintendo exclusive games.
Graphics and Processing: PS5 is in a Different League
There‘s no contest when it comes to pure technical prowess – the PS5 blows the Switch out of the water. Powered by a cutting-edge AMD Ryzen Zen 2 CPU and Radeon RDNA 2 GPU, the PS5 packs up to 10.28 TFLOPS of processing power. This allows it to smoothly run games at 4K resolution and 60-120 FPS, a level the Switch cannot come close to matching with its mobile Nvidia Tegra X1 chip from 2015.
In fact, the PS5‘s GPU alone is more powerful than the Xbox One X console, with over twice the number of compute units and higher clock speeds. Digital Foundry calls the PS5 a "beast" in terms of raw horsepower. Here‘s a direct comparison of the key specs:
PS5 vs Switch Graphics and Performance
| Spec | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 720p handheld 1080p docked |
Up to 4K/8K |
| Frame Rate | 30 FPS most games Up to 60 FPS |
Up to 120 FPS |
| GPU Power | 1 TFLOP Nvidia Tegra X1 | 10.28 TFLOPS RDNA 2 GPU |
| Ray Tracing | No | Hardware accelerated |
| Loading Times | 5-15 seconds average | < 1 second with SSD |
To showcase the difference in graphical fidelity, take a cross-platform game like Doom Eternal. On PS5 it runs at 1800p resolution with graphics maxed out at Ultra Nightmare setting and maintains 60 FPS consistently. On Switch, it runs at 720p lowest settings and still only manages 30 FPS with frequent drops.
According to Digital Foundry's John Linneman, "The gulf in raw horsepower between the two is incredibly substantial. The Switch simply cannot reproduce the visuals of PS5 without severe cutbacks." This gives PS5 a monumental advantage in delivering jaw-dropping visuals and silky smooth performance that immerses you into its games.
More Teraflops = More Power
The number of teraflops a console can process refers to its ability crunch complex graphical data. More teraflops directly translates to higher resolutions, frame rates, and visual effects possible. To showcase the vast disparity:
- PlayStation 5: 10.28 teraflops
- Xbox Series X: 12 teraflops
- Nintendo Switch: 1 teraflop
So the PS5 and Xbox Series X have 10-12x times the graphics processing power of the Nintendo Switch. This empowers them to run cutting-edge AAA games the Switch could never handle.
Game Libraries: PS5 Takes Quantity, Switch Quality
With far greater technical capabilities, the PlayStation 5‘s library includes virtually every major third-party release designed to take advantage of its beefy specs. Huge franchises like Call of Duty, Assassin‘s Creed, sports games, and RPGs all launch on PS5 with enhanced graphics, performance, loading times, and features.
Sony also has a deep roster of top-tier exclusive franchises only playable on PlayStation like God of War, Spiderman, Uncharted, The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo, and more. These exclusives really showcase what the PS5 hardware can do at its full potential.
Comparatively, the Nintendo Switch‘s library is more limited but focuses on Nintendo‘s wildly popular first-party IP like Mario, Zelda, Smash Bros., Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Metroid, Donkey Kong, and more. While not as vast as PS5‘s catalog, Switch still offers many incredible exclusive experiences you simply can‘t get anywhere else.
First 12 months sales data shows how their libraries translate to software purchases:
- Top selling PS5 games: Call of Duty series, Spiderman Miles Morales, Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla, NBA 2K21
- Top selling Switch games: Mario Kart 8, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Ring Fit Adventure, Smash Bros. Ultimate
So PS5 dominates third-party AAA mega-titles while Switch relies more on its innovative first-party games. Both have robust libraries catering to their respective audiences.
Genre Variety and Mature Content
The types of games also differ quite a bit – PS5 caters to more adult players with many Mature-rated games in action, adventure, shooter, horror and RPG genres. The Switch skews more family-friendly with a heavy emphasis on platformers, party games, and cartoonish visual styles. However, the Switch still offers mature games like Doom, Skyrim, and Bayonetta 3.
Ultimately, PlayStation provides an unparalleled variety of both quality and quantity across nearly all genres. But Nintendo‘s whimsical first-party exclusives have an irresistible charm.
Online and Services: PS5 Offers More Extras
PlayStation requires a PS Plus subscription for online multiplayer which runs $9.99 monthly or $59.99 yearly. This is more expensive than the Switch‘s Online service at $3.99 monthly or $19.99 per year. However, PS Plus members receive up to 24 free games each year, exclusive discounts, and perks like online storage. So if you factor in the free monthly games, the value proposition of PS Plus becomes very appealing.
In terms of entertainment services, PS5 also offers far more robust options beyond gaming like streaming video and music from apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, and more. The Switch is designed purely for gaming so lacks these entertainment apps.
Both consoles let you purchase and download digital games directly from their online stores. PlayStation Store offers frequent discounts and sales while the Nintendo eShop has more limited promotions.
Additional subscriptions on PS5 provide benefits like:
- PlayStation Now ($9.99/month): 700+ PS4/PS5 games available for download or streaming similar to Netflix or Stadia.
-
PlayStation VR ($299.99): cutting-edge virtual reality headset that transforms gaming (requires accessory purchase on PS5).
The Switch lacks a direct equivalent to PlayStation VR but does have Labo VR cardboard kits for simple VR experiences.
Overall, PS5 edges out the Switch with more subscription services, accessories, and entertainment functionality beyond gaming. But sticking to multiplayer, the Switch provides it for free.
Active Online Users:
- PlayStation Network: 114 million monthly active users
- Nintendo Switch Online: 32 million subscribers
PSN‘s huge user base has far more players to matchmake online with across its library. This can result in better multiplayer connectivity.
Backwards Compatibility
The PlayStation 5 has extensive backwards compatibility with 99% of PS4 games, giving you access to an enormous back catalog of last-gen titles. This allows PS4 owners seamless cross-generational upgrades while retaining their full libraries.
Comparatively, the Switch can only play titles specifically developed for Switch natively. Select Wii U ports like Mario Kart 8 have been upgraded and re-released on Switch, but otherwise you cannot play older Nintendo games unless they are part of the Switch Online retro library.
Nintendo‘s Virtual Console which let you purchase and play classic NES, SNES, and N64 games is not currently implemented on Switch. So legacy content is very limited compared to PS5‘s expansive backwards compatibility.
Number of Playable Previous-Gen Games
- PlayStation 5: 99% of over 4,000 PS4 games playable
- Nintendo Switch: Only Switch-native games, some Wii U ports
Sony‘s commitment to back compat is a huge value-add for PlayStation owners. Switch misses out on tapping into Nintendo‘s incredible retro library beyond select NES/SNES titles.
Price and Cost Considerations
The upfront purchase price clearly favors the Switch at only $299 compared to $499 for the PS5. However, to access everything PS5 offers, you‘ll need to budget in the annual cost of PS Plus (~$60) and games which run $49.99-$69.99 each. Multiplatform games are typically the same price on both consoles.
Costs can scale higher on PS5, but you get what you pay for in terms of advanced tech and blockbuster games. Nintendo‘s first party games rarely come down in price from $59.99, so software costs even out somewhat long-term. Overall the Switch is more affordable, especially for younger gamers and families.
Here‘s how the costs stack up:
| Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | |
| Hardware Price | $299 | $499 |
| Online Service | $19.99/year | $59.99/year for PS Plus |
| Games Price Range | $39.99-$59.99 | $49.99-$69.99 |
| Estimated Total First Year Cost | $558 | $838 |
PS5 is an over $200 more expensive investment upfront, but delivers far superior performance. For budget-minded buyers, the Switch provides plenty of value and fun at a lower buy-in cost.
Portability: Switch‘s Killer Feature
This is where the Switch completely outshines PS5. Its innovative hybrid design lets you seamlessly transition between playing on a big screen TV while docked and on-the-go as a handheld system. Detachable Joy-Cons make multiplayer gaming anywhere a blast.
Plus the Switch Lite offers a dedicated portable model without TV connectivity for just $199 – the perfect affordable on-the-go companion. PlayStation is chained to the living room TV only. Without portability, PS5 misses out on a massive part of what makes the Switch so enjoyable.
According to Nintendo, over 50% of Switch usage happens in handheld mode away from the TV. This demonstrates how integral portability is to the experience. Given the choice, players may opt for the Switch version of a cross-platform game simply due to its flexibility for gaming anywhere. Couch co-op is also more seamless with wireless Joy-Cons.
For gamers who only play at home, the PS5 will deliver superior fidelity and performance. But the ability to game on the big screen or on the go is exclusive to the Switch.
Key Differences At a Glance
| Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | |
| GPU Power | 1 TFLOP Nvidia Tegra X1 | 10.28 TFLOPS RDNA 2 |
| Display Resolution | 1080p docked, 720p handheld | Up to 4K, 8K support |
| Frame Rate | 30 FPS typical, up to 60 FPS | Up to 120 FPS |
| Game Library | Nintendo exclusives, some third-party | Sony exclusives, all third-party |
| Online Service | Free ($19.99/year for full features) | PS Plus $59.99/year |
| Backwards Compatibility | Only Switch games | Almost all PS4 games |
| Portability | TV, Tabletop and Handheld modes | TV-only |
| Target Audience | Younger gamers, families | Core/hardcore gamers |
| Price | $299 | $499 |
Which Console Should You Buy?
For hardcore gamers who want the most immersive visuals and vast libraries with all the biggest new releases, PlayStation 5 is the superior choice. If you want a lower cost console that offers incredible portability and Nintendo exclusive franchises for gaming on the go, the Switch is hard to beat.
The PS5 pushes the boundaries of what‘s possible in console gaming. The Switch emphasizes fun gaming experiences anyone can pick up and play. While PS5 boasts far more processing muscle, the Switch packs surprisingly capable hardware into a tiny portable package.
Look at the games each offers, the convenience of the Switch for portable play, and your budget to decide which is a better fit. Both platforms provide tons of entertainment, but cater to different audiences. For multiplatform living room gaming, PS5 can‘t be matched.