The Xbox Series S is distinct from Microsoft’s flagship Xbox Series X. It offers the same generational jump as Microsoft’s more capable hardware, such faster frame rates, ray tracing, and super-fast load times, but at a lesser price. This involves tradeoffs.
Xbox Series S will likely be reduced on Black Friday 2022. Black Friday Xbox offers should include it with controllers and headphones. If you want the latest information about January 25 discounts, bookmark our hub.
The Xbox Series S is a digital-only console with less storage and a 1440p resolution instead of 4K. It upscales to 4K when connected to an Ultra HD monitor, and certain games can run at native 4K, such Ori and the Will of the Wisps. The console is meant to operate at reduced resolutions.
- Read our review of Xbox Series X: Xbox Series X: A full Review of the Gaming Console
Price of Xbox Series S
The Xbox Series S was launched on January 10, 2020 for $299.99/£249.99/AU$499. That’s the same release date as the Series X, but it’s much cheaper. Xbox won’t follow PlayStation with price rises. While Xbox doesn’t rule out future price hikes, this won’t change soon.
Without a disc drive, you can’t buy secondhand games or swap with friends, so you may not get the greatest value.
Xbox Series S Design
The Xbox Series S hardware is new, but the design is similar to the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition.
The console includes a black fan vent, much like a speaker grille, on top to evacuate heat. Microsoft’s smallest Xbox contains a single USB connector and a power button. It’s simple and functional.
HDMI 2.1, two USB 3.2, Ethernet, a storage expansion slot, and AC input are all included. The Xbox Series S lacks a connection for Kinect and an HDMI input for cable boxes. Xbox Series S arrives with a High-Speed HDMI cable, not Ultra High-Speed.
Xbox Series S weighs 4.25 pounds and dimensions 6.5 x 15.1 x 27.5cm (around 2kg). Its size and weight make it easy to transport to a friend’s home or on vacation.
Performance of Xbox Series S
The console is a small powerhouse. It can display 4K gaming, 1440p, or 1080p.
Its GPU, although not as powerful as the Xbox Series X’s, can upscale games to 4K (like the Xbox One S) and run games at 120fps at 1440p, but you’ll need an HDMI 2.1-compliant TV. Microsoft’s Xbox Velocity Architecture allows for ray tracing and speedier game loading.
Velocity Architecture, 10GB GDDR6, and an SSD make for a powerful console. Microsoft has boosted console gaming speed, freeing hundreds of megabytes of RAM. This should boost graphics performance.
Xbox Series S Features
- A few areas of the user interface seem busy and sluggish.
- Quick Resume seems quite modern.
- With Smart Delivery, a game will always be delivered in its finest state.
- Several good streaming applications are available, and Dolby Vision and Atmos are supported.
If it’s been a while since you purchased an Xbox, don’t worry about setup. The new Xbox app for Android and iOS made setting up the Xbox Series S easy. Discord is now accessible for Xbox S gamers.
Controller of Xbox Series S
The Xbox Wireless Controller for Series X/S may look similar to the Xbox One Controller. Due to ergonomic modifications, it’s now more comfortable and simpler to operate.
Its overall proportions have been modified, lowering the controller’s size, although not noticeably. The redesigned Xbox pad can fit more hand sizes. Textured and matte grips, triggers, and bumpers improve grip during intense gameplay.
The new D-pad is a 360-degree pad that feels excellent on the thumb. Each direction clicks with a nice sound and tactile feedback (albeit it’s loud). Smooth finish makes fighting game half-circle sweeps easy.
Purchase it if..
- You’re on a budget, but still want to experience next-gen gaming: Original Xbox One owners should get the Series S. It supports 1440p at 120 fps. It’s not the finest console, but it’s far better than its predecessors.
- You plan on mostly getting games from Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold: Because console games are digital, we suggest adding Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold. Xbox Live Gold includes the newest first-party games, online play, and two free games every month.
- You’re tired of sitting through long loading screens: SSD and Xbox Velocity Architecture highlight the Xbox Series S. Quick Resume lets you switch games without waiting for them to load, and the SSD cuts load times in half compared to the previous generation.
don’t purchase it If…
- You love keeping a library of games installed at all times: SSDs are speedy, but they sacrifice storage capacity. The console has 364GB of useable space after the operating system, which fills quickly. Keeping games on your system requires the Xbox Series X or an external storage option.
- You have a large physical game or Blu-ray library: The other big drawback to the console is that it doesn’t have a disc drive. That means you won’t be able to use your old Xbox 360 or Xbox One games with the new console, nor will you be able to use it as a 4K UHD Blu-ray player, as you can the Series X, One X and One S.
- You demand a next-gen experience with no compromises: The console supports Quick Resume, ray tracing, and 120fps gaming. The Series S lacks native 4K resolution in most games and a disc drive, combined with a small amount of SSD storage.
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