A recent report focused on the latest generation of game consoles suggests that these high-powered machines offer impressive standby modes, but can swallow energy depending on how you are using them. The Natural Resources Defense Council says that while Microsoft’s new Xbox line and Sony’s PlayStation 5 consoles facilitate streaming services like Netflix or Disney +, they can consume 10 to 25 times more energy than a dedicated streaming device .
The report, published last week, focuses on the recently launched Microsoft Xbox Series S and Series X, as well as Sony’s PlayStation 5 with and without integrated disk drive. The practical tests were based on an S Series and both versions of the PS5 and the group’s findings show that this latest generation of game console can consume about 160 to 200 watts of power when running games designed specifically for these systems.
The history of power changes slightly when these new consoles run games designed for consoles of the previous generation, also known as backward compatibility. Thanks to efficiency improvements on their most current hardware, new consoles can often run those older games with better performance while still consuming less power than the consoles they replaced.
As for streaming, we note that these new game consoles have much more than enough power at their disposal to serve as capable streaming devices. However, NRDC data suggests that multifunctional convenience can come with the cost of higher energy bills. The group estimates that using a new Xbox or PlayStation console to stream Netflix or similar services may require 10 to 25 times more energy than if you used a dedicated box like, say, a Roku Ultra or a Chromecast with Google TV.
For example, the Xbox Series S, which is intended to be cheaper and less powerful than the Series X or PS5, needed about 31 watts to stream from Netflix and 41 watts to Amazon Prime during NRDC tests. The more powerful PS5 used about 68 to 70 watts for the same services, and it is possible that the X Series will require similar power.
That said, the NRDC praised Microsoft and Sony for improving efficiency when these new consoles are not in use. The new machines can consume less than 1 watt when in so-called standby or sleep modes, although the group has recommended that Sony and Microsoft look for ways to further improve their respective energy-saving options.
Overall, it is not so shocking that machines with the latest generation gaming hardware consume significant energy, but it is interesting to see how all of this can increase, especially if you want to save on your energy bill. The Xbox Series S / X and PS5 are certainly very capable streaming devices – even if certain features, such as 4K output via the PS5 Disney + app, are still missing. But if power consumption is a concern (and you have the budget and availability of HDMI to allow this), a dedicated streamer can be a good investment.
Philip Palermo