How the Xbox One squares up to arch rival PS4 More than six years since their last games consoles were released, Microsoft's Xbox One, above, and Sony's PlayStation 4 have both gone on sale almost simultaneously, pitching the Xbox One's superior voice controller and impressive multimedia capabilities against the PS4"s better graphics and lower price. Key similarities Both the arch-rival consoles offer fresh attempts, such as more immersive play, to win over lapsed gamers and those who have so far been content just to play Angry Birds on an iPad, instead of taking up arms with the Call of Duty franchise or racing around Silverstone in Forza Motorsport. The graphics are more realistic, thanks to powerful processors: bigger than ever zombie hordes can now crowd onscreen, while scratches appear on your racing car exactly where you pranged it. However, neither console manages yet to leap the so-called "uncanny valley" - a term used to describe an unsettling gap between the appearance of game avatars onscreen and real humans. Overall, the degree of improvement in visual quality on both feels less than the previous versions did over their predecessors. Both consoles have new cameras and microphones to bring extra personalisation - such as using facial recognition to log in automatically different members of the family - and more intuitive controlling options with hand gestures or voice commands. Each charges a subscription for online extras such as multiplayer gaming and other entertainment options. Key differences The PS4 has better graphics but it suffers from a weaker line-up of launch games in which to showcase them. Microsoft is pitching the Xbox One as more than just a games console - it wants to take over your whole home entertainment system, including cable and satellite television - but many of those impressive features work only in North America so far. The price difference - $500 (£430 in the UK) for the Xbox and $400 (£350) for the PS4 - is smaller than may initially appear. The PS4 might look like a relative bargain, but you pay an extra $60 for the additional PlayStation Camera whereas the Kinect sensor is always bundled in with the Xbox. Xbox One For Microsoft, it is about more than the joystick. Its new and improved Kinect voice- and motion-sensor is central to not just gameplay but also navigating the Xbox One. It is the sort of unified, voice-controlled entertainment hub that many have been waiting years for Apple to deliver. Users with a connected TV service can call up not just a particular channel but a specific show. Kinect also enables one of the Xbox's most appealing improvements: the addition of Skype. Video calling from the living-room sofa, rather than peering into a laptop or balancing a tablet on your knee, feels much more natural and Kinect's digital zoom ensures the other party sees faces properly. When it comes to games, Kinect now detects movements more precisely, for example in Kinect Sports and even the player's heartbeat in Xbox Fitness - a cross between an exercise video and a personal trainer. PS4 The sleek and elegant design is one of its best features. With distinctive angled-edges, it is much smaller than the Xbox One, while its onscreen user interface is much better than its predecessor's confusing attempt. Sony claims the PS4 is 10-times more powerful than the PS3. Motion is fluid and smooth - for instance, even the crowd in sports games reacts realistically to events on the field. When judged on its raw graphics power alone, the PS4 has an edge over the Xbox: some launch games such as Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4 run in a higher resolution than on the Xbox, making a noticeable difference. The Sony machine's DualShock4 controller represents the pinnacle of joystick design, including a touch-sensitive pad for smartphone-like gestures, well-designed thumbsticks and a "share" button that makes it easy to upload video clips to the web. Overall Once its selection of games improves, the PS4 is likely to win over more of the dedicated gamers but the Xbox One's Kinect controller gives Microsoft's console wider appeal and greater ambition to transform the living room. What it is: PlayStation App, free for iOS and Android Why you should try it: Downloading this free app is a no-brainer. It allows you to control your PS4 remotely, purchase PlayStation Store games and push them to your PS4 console, keep abreast of updates, monitor your friends" "trophies," exchange messages with them and challenge them to games. Disappointingly, it stops short of enabling your handset to function as a second screen - that is reserved for Sony's PlayStation Vita.