Cost per hour of gaming at 26.32p per kWh (UK average), the live standard variable rate since 1 October 2026.
Side by side
| PS5 | Xbox Series X | |
|---|---|---|
| Watts while gaming | 200–218 W | 154 W |
| Per hour | 5.5p | 4.1p |
| Per month (3 hrs/day) | £5.04 | £3.70 |
| Per year (3 hrs/day) | £60.52 | £44.38 |
| Standby (default) | under 1 W (rest mode) | about 10–15 W (Sleep) |
While you're playing, the Series X uses roughly a quarter less power than a PS5. Over a year of 3-hour sessions, that's a saving of about £16.14.
Standby can flip the result
The PS5 uses well under 1 watt in its basic rest mode, rising to about 4 watts if it's also charging controllers. The Xbox Series X uses about 10 to 15 watts in Sleep mode. Left in Sleep around the clock, an Xbox can use more electricity on standby than you'd save while gaming.
The fix is simple: switch the Xbox to Shutdown (energy saving) mode, which uses about 0.5 watts. See how.
Should running costs decide which you buy?
Probably not. The difference is small compared with the price of the console and games. But if you play a lot and want the cheapest option, the Xbox Series S is cheaper still at 1.9p an hour.
Sources: Digital Foundry via Notebookcheck, Microsoft lab platform baselines, PlayStation eco-design figures, Tom's Guide, Octopus Energy tariff data.