Playstation and Xbox series X are already in the market. Although there is no definite choice regarding the one to opt for as an Apple user, there’re a couple of pros and cons to every platform if you own a Mac, iPad or iPhone.

Keep in mind that Apple doesn’t deal with Microsoft and Sony’s game console divisions directly. All in all, the two gaming consoles play a crucial role in gamers’ lives. The two companies use mobile applications to manage game libraries, in-game chat, purchases or even second-screen experiences.

 Microsoft has released two new consoles, the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S, and the two comes with different abilities. Series X is the flagship model and has the ability to endure 8K HDR gaming and 2160p at 120Hz. Besides, it comes with a disk drive.

Series S, on the other hand, supports 1440p at 120Hz and is typically an all-digital console. Remember, the difference between the two models does not impact how they’ll work with your iOS devices.

 There’re applications available on iOS created by Microsoft for controlling and managing your Xbox.

Generally, the Xbox app is the entry to the remote and social management of your Xbox console. With this app, you can easily locate games to buy and download, create party chat groups with your friends or even manage the download cue.

The good thing about this application is that it will help you set up the console for the first time if you pair it to your local network. The already configured consoles can be paired via a similar process. After pairing, you can view the captured media as you play or even remotely play the games. 

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With remote play, you’ll be able to mirror your Xbox onto your iPad or iPhone and play games over the network. Well, while this type of play leads to quality loss and lots of lag, it’s still feasible. It’s possible to pair the Xbox controller to your device and play.

Viewing in-game video recordings and screenshots from your mobile is a nice functionality. You can effortlessly see your recent media and even directly share it to social media from the Xbox app.

The main goal of this application is to let users download games to their consoles. While it’s doable from the Xbox application, the Xbox Game Pass is precisely designed for browsing the service’s content. Remember, the app is a monthly subscription that gives you access to an extensive catalog of previous Xbox games plus other exclusives.

Well, this is an app designed to offer parents the capability to manage and monitor their kid’s Xbox remotely. As a parent, you can select a game’s time length, see the activity results or even see the players that your kids talk to.

 Microsoft included the Xbox controller to Apple’s supported controller list for the latest operating system, such as iOS 13. The current Xbox controller incorporates not only a new design but also Bluetooth connectivity. With this, you’ll effortlessly pair it with other devices. It also works well with iOS 14.

 Sony has released two PS5 models with no difference in their performance capabilities. Generally, the basic console incorporates a disk drive that makes it compatible with PS4’s disk titles. On the other hand, the Digital Edition is slightly thinner and lighter as it lacks a disk drive.

 PS5 can handle 4K gaming at 120 Hz or output of up to 8K. It’s worth noting that the capabilities don’t affect how the console interacts with your iOS devices. 

 There’re applications on iPadOS and iOS created by PS5 to control and manage the console.

The Playstation application is quite inventive. With this app, users can voice chat and text, join games or even create parties. However, you cannot share or view videos or pictures saved on the console.

 You can see the games you’ve been playing and view the trophy list. Additionally, you can view the online friends and check their playing games, plus their trophy list. With the updated Playstation application, browsing the store is effortless and lets you purchase a game and transfer it to your download cue instantly. It’s possible to manage PS5 storage remotely.

As opposed to Xbox, PS5 includes a separate application designed for remote gaming on iOS. Generally, it’s a single-purpose application optimized for playing on your console if you’re on the same network. The app has the ability to stream full HD (1080p) signal in HDR to an iOS device.

Sony’s DualShock 4 for PS4 is compatible with iOS 13 and newer systems. When it comes to the new Dualsense controller for PS5, Sony hasn’t publicized any official compatibility. So, perhaps that release will come shortly.

The two consoles offer the Apple TV app. This means that any TV shows or movies bought in Apple TV+ content, iTunes or even Apple TV Channels will appear in the application. Since Apple created it to appear and function like the Apple TV app, it’s worth keeping in mind that the experience is similar on the two platforms.

Sony’s consoles have been resistant to outside interaction or influence. Note, besides Playstation incorporating a couple of lock-in effects, it’s quite impossible to play the exclusive titles on the console on another platform. Well, a similar approach has been undertaken when it comes to iOS compatibility with features.

Having said that, the experience that you’ll get from the Playstation application isn’t bad. Although it’s limited compared to Xbox, the essential features, such as game library management, remote gaming and voice chat-in-app, are present. For the standard gamers, these features are pretty enough, but Xbox has a slight edge.

When it comes to Xbox, it offers more friendly features plus an application intended for family screen time management. Additionally, it incorporates incredible social features with easy access to video recordings and screenshots on the console in-app. Xbox’s system management is also much more detailed.

Xbox includes a couple of extra bonuses. For instance, you can use Xbox Game Pass on Windows 10 and has been publicized for imminent capabilities. Note, Sony hasn’t announced such promise for Playstation’s future. All in all, they plan to include Playstation exclusives to PCs soon.

Irrespective of the console you pick or the motives behind it, you will have a strongly integrated experience with your iOS devices. Remote gaming, chat tools and remote console management are present on the two consoles. However, Xbox has a slight edge regarding family management, plus future plans for iOS compatibility.