How they compare: XBox One and Playstation 4

Design

Both boxy designs, but the PS4 is smaller, sleeker and more angular.

Apps

Both the XBox One and the PS4 are aimed at being all-in-one entertainment consoles.

The XBox One launches with 13 apps including Amazon\LOVEFiLM, Netflix, Crackle, Eurosport, and Demand 5.

The PS4 offers a similar selection: Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Crackle, Redbox Instant by Verizon, VUDU and Sony's Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited.

The games

Xbox One launch games include Call of Duty: Ghosts and exclusives such as Ryse: Son of Rome, Dead Rising 3, Forza Motorsport 5, Killer Instinct, LocoCycle, and Kinect Sports Rivals: Preseason.

Sony is launching with Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag from Ubisoftalso plus exclusives Killzone Shadow Fall and Knack.

Controllers

Evenly matched. Techradar tested both, and said: "Sony's DualShock 4 felt leaps-and-bounds better than the PS3 DualShock 3 controller, however, it was only catching up to comfort already provided by the Xbox 360 and now Xbox One gamepads."

Motion-sensing cameras

Microsoft's Kinect 2.0 will be able to process 2GB of data per second, analysing more joints, the slight rotation of a wrist or shoulder and your heartbeat.

The PlayStation Eye features two 1280×800px cameras inside a similarly shaped camera bar.

Processing power

Both consoles feature eight-core processors from chipmaker AMD.

Memory

The XBox One frees up greater memory for gaming - 5GB - compared to the PS4's 4.5GB.

Price

Xbox One: £429 including the Kinect motion-sensing camera.

PS4: £349 not including the camera, which will cost an extra £54.

Launch dates

XBox One is out now, the Playstation 4 goes on sale next week.