Head-to-Head: PS3 Slim vs. Xbox Elite

Which game system is best?

Now that they're the same price, the choice between the PlayStation 3 Slim and Xbox 360 Elite has become even more difficult. Even though these consoles are direct competitors, the PS3 is more powerful on paper thanks to features like a Blu-ray drive, Bluetooth and integrated Wi-Fi. Both consoles focus on the most realistic graphics rendering, and both can output games and video in 1080p high definition to an HDTV. Reviewers say that playing games, surfing the web and viewing your photos on a high-definition TV is fantastic. Although you can certainly use the Nintendo Wii with an HDTV, it doesn't output games in high definition.

Since the PlayStation 3 Slim is so new, few professional reviewers have done an extensive, test-based comparison between it and the Xbox 360 Elite. Some review sites currently offer feature comparisons, including Xboxist.com. Interestingly, this Xbox fan site, which admits that it is "obviously biased," gives the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim the advantage. "The Xbox Elite 360, even with a price drop to $299, still struggles to compete feature-for-feature," says Kris Erickson at Xboxist.com.

However, Adam Frucci at Gizmodo.com notes that not all features are created equal. "The Xbox 360 arguably has the best games library and the best online service. And for me at least, that makes up for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi about 50 times over, which is why I would personally recommend the Xbox 360 to a friend over the PS3," says Frucci. Still, he admits that the decision between the two has "never been harder." Frucci's comments predate the addition of Netflix streaming to the PS3, however.

For serious gamers, most experts say the Xbox 360 still comes out on top, mainly due to its larger library of games. Microsoft's online gaming system, Xbox Live, is also said to be far superior to Sony's PlayStation Network. The editors at Britain's TechRadar.com sum up the reviewer consensus: "If gaming is your major consideration when buying a console -- and it seems likely that it is -- your best bet is just to look at the games available for each platform and make a decision from there."

For those who want their console to do more than play video games, the PlayStation 3 Slim easily bests the Xbox 360 Elite in most reviews. Thanks to its many multimedia features, the PS3 has more options for media enthusiasts and casual gamers.