Group Says Latest Game Consoles May Be Power-hungry Streaming Devices

A recent report focusing on the latest generation of gaming consoles suggests that these high-powered machines offer impressive sleep modes, but can devour power depending on how you use them. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, while Microsoft’s new Xbox line and Sony’s PlayStation 5 consoles make it easy to stream from services like Netflix or Disney +, they can use 10 to 25 times more power than a device. dedicated streaming.

The report, released last week, focuses on the recently released Microsoft Xbox Series S and Series X, as well as Sony’s PlayStation 5 with and without a built-in disc drive. The practical tests relied on an S series and both versions of the PS5 and the group’s results show that this latest generation of gaming console can draw around 160-200 watts and more power when running games designed specifically for these systems.

The history of power changes a bit when these new consoles run games designed for the previous generation consoles i.e. backward compatibility. Thanks to the efficiency improvements of their newer hardware, newer consoles can run those older titles often with better performance while consuming less power than the consoles they replaced.

When it comes to streaming, we’ve noted that these new game consoles have far more than enough power to serve as capable streaming devices. However, data from the NRDC suggests that all-in-one convenience could come at the cost of higher energy bills. The group estimates that using a new Xbox or PlayStation console to stream Netflix or similar services could require 10 to 25 times more power than if you were using a dedicated box like, say, a Roku Ultra or a Chromecast. with Google TV.

For example, the Xbox Series S, which is said to be cheaper and less powerful than the X Series or PS5, needed around 31 watts to stream from Netflix and 41 watts for Amazon Prime during NRDC testing. The more powerful PS5 used around 68-70 watts for the same services, and the X-series may require similar wattage.

That being said, the NRDC praised Microsoft and Sony for improving their efficiency when these new consoles are not in use. Newer machines can consume less than 1 watt when in so-called sleep or rest mode, although the group recommended that Sony and Microsoft look for ways to further improve their respective power saving options.

Overall, it’s not that shocking that machines with high-end gaming hardware use a lot of power, but it’s interesting to see how it all can add up, especially if you want to save some money. money on your energy bill. The Xbox Series S / X and PS5 are certainly very capable streaming devices – although some features, like 4K output via the PS5’s Disney + app, are still missing. But if power consumption is an issue (and you have the budget and HDMI availability to allow it), a dedicated streamer may be a wise investment.

Philip palermo

Philip has spent most of the past two decades as a journalist and photographer. Prior to joining the Cord Cutters News team, he worked for Engadget and Reviews.com. Philip cut the cord years ago and hasn’t looked back since.