Cross reference my post from the Xbox Series Thread, 1st impression of Xbox as compared to playstation:
My Xbox Series X just arrives. I must say I am one of the more luckier persons....
I managed to preorder PS5 and got it on launch day without much fuss (just woke up one morning and browse qisahn site and found the preorder open so i just add to cart and checkout and that's it).
Similiarly on the Series X...i really don't have much intention to own it so i am not even looking much for it until i accidentally chanced upon here last week where someone posted it was available on MS Store and i just visited it, add to cart and checkout and got it the week after without much fuss.
Now unto some first impressions (as someone only from Playstation/Nintendo perspective):
Pros:
1) The packaging is much slicker than PS5 and almost presented the Xbox like an Apple product which makes it looks premium
2) Haven't try out much on the games other than download some games that's somehow on my Xbox library like Lost Odyssey. Everything seems fast and responsive and all.
3) The hardware itself is definitely much more solid and 'orthodox' than the weirdo that is the PS5 and thus 'easier to accept' on first glance.
4) The network test and Screen section gives alot more useful technical information about your TV and network conditions than the PS5's. On the PS5, it only gives you what your TV is capable of, on the Series X it shows what your TV is capable of and what it is not (in my case, it's 120fps since my TV is not HDMI 2.1).
5) The startup sound is definitely much less 'aggresive' than the PS5's loud 'BEEP' (the same 'BEEP' since PS3's).
6) A lot more librated app stores which means stuff like Kodi, VLC player, etc can be used. And also a valid Browser (unlike the PS5 which you have to use a 'workaround' to access the browser).
Middling:
1) Do not like the constant changing between the Non-HDR UI and the HDR/Auto-HDR switching..to the point i disabled Auto-HDR. I will rather they enable HDR on the UI dashboard itself so there isn't such HDR switching constantly when launching a HDR enable game and going to the dashboard.
2) The contoller: Already using a Series X on my gaming PC so nothing surprising good or bad. Just one thing though, everything is so 'clicky' for better or worse. For better, the dpad is better (still not 'good'). For worse, it's too noisy, pressing any buttons on it will make a sound. That's okay if you are gaming by yourself in a room but if you are gaming with a sleeping spouse or baby by your side, these 'clicky' buttons ain't helping
Cons (dis gonna be a long one):
1) Holy moly mother of lord. What is up with that User interface. I am sure many of you guys might disagree with me on this but i absolutely DO NOT like the UI at all. It reminds me of everything regarding the worst aspect of Windows 8. First of all, why are there so many Apps for everything? For example, why is HDR Calibration Tool a separated app from Settings? Why is Avatar Editor a separate app from Avatar Viewer itself? Why is Xbox Accessories an app? Even 'Friends' is a separate app, WTF... Due to this, the first default row of the dashboard where it displays your recently used apps will display all these nonsense if you even attempted to launch any of those previously. Shouldn't these be lumped into settings as a whole? The whole UI is definitely less 'slick' than the PS5's. Now i am not saying the PS5's UI is great and all, it itself a regression of the PS4's, which i think is the best UI for a game console. The PS5 UI lacks some of the basic stuff like custom wallpaper, folders/pinned support and the party creation is currently pretty atrocious (though that is changing for the better going by the PS5 Beta OS that i am currently testing). But at least it works in that when you first powered on the PS5, you will be presenting with the 'Explore' tab showing games updates/news with the games evidently by the right. On the Series X, the first thing you will be shown are your 'recent'. If that's your recent games with fast resume and games are just what you launched, that will be dandy and all. But if you even attempt to launch anything other than games, those will be piled up there as well. Also, your games are not displayed full front and center on the UI and you have to go to 'Games & apps' to access it by default (until you manually customize yourself and add them to the UI or create a group and add the games to it. I don't know about you but for me, a game console should always display games, especially games already installed, by default front and center without the need for the user to manually dig them out and pin them to the frontend UI. That's a fail in my book (and my opinion obviously. Your mileage and preference may vary).
2) What's up with that screenshot/record functionality. It's a regression from my PS4/PS5 experience in every way and it takes alot more steps to just capture a screenshot. Heck, i can't even screenshot the main dashboard for some reason. Yes, the video capture and screenshots were uploaded automatically to the onedrive and that's neat compared to PS5 (although that's also changing to behave like Xbox's based on the current beta i am testing) but interface is clunky and the length of the video capture is extremely limited.
Now, this is not some console warring 'PS5 betta xbox sux!' posts....seeing as i have BOTH.

I am just stating my opinion.
All in all, as someone with everything (PS4, PS5, Switch, Gaming PC with TRX3070), i am neither unimpressed or super impressed by the Series X. It's just another box that plays games which will be a valud add if you are a gamepass subscriber and some of the features like Backward compatible, FPS Boost, smart delivery and Quick Resume are definitely forward thinking as compared to the PS5 but certain others like UI elements (which i've been told is a legacy residual from the Xbone days) bugs me to no end (Disclaimer: I took up UI Design as a minor back then). So this is where i currently stands.