The original version of this Xbox Series S review was published on November 5, 2020. The Xbox Series S is one of the most bizarre gaming consoles I’ve seen in recent memory, and it’s worth noting.
As a consequence, it’s a less expensive and less powerful version of Microsoft’s flagship Xbox Series X system – the kind of stuff you’d expect to see after a console’s first few years on the market, such as the Wii Mini or the PS2 Slim.
So here it is: a sleek, white box that releases on the exact same day as its bigger, beefier sister while being substantially smaller in size.
Because it costs $300 instead of $500, the Xbox Series S is much more economical than the Xbox Series X. However, money is never a guarantee of quality or worth.
Given the fact that it is hard to foresee what will happen in the future, I am cautiously enthused about the Series S after putting it through its paces. No, it does not have the same processing capabilities as the Xbox Series X.
From the perspective of performance, storage, backwards compatibility, and media, its hardware constrains what it can achieve. In spite of this, it’s still a highly powerful console with an enormous amount of games to select from – not to mention that it plays streaming media with ease, so it won’t take up too much space in your home.
Affordability and cost
There are various methods to break into the current generation of video games for less than $300. The Xbox Series S is one of them. As a bonus, it’s considerably easier to locate in stock than an Xbox Series X replacement.
With the Xbox All Access subscription programme, you may purchase an Xbox Series S for less than $300 if you don’t want to buy it directly. A 24-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership with access to the Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming service cost $25 a month.
This offers you access to the console and a wide selection of titles.It’s worth mentioning that Xbox is reported to be introducing new hardware this year, so keep an eye out for that.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Fantastic game choices
- Smooth performance
- Sleek, quiet design
- Relatively affordable
Cons
- Not particularly future-proof
- Graphics and storage limits
Design
Taking the Xbox Series S out of the box was an eye-opening experience. In compared to the PS5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One, the new system measures 10.8 x 5.9 x 2.5 inches. A lot more games can be played on this device, which is nearly the same size as the Wii U.)
The review of the Xbox One S Tom’s Guide features a picture of a giraffe.In contrast to the rest of the frame, the top of the console incorporates a circular black vent that provides aesthetic appeal.
Regardless of how you put it, it has rubber feet on one of the horizontal surfaces and one of the vertical surfaces.
Despite the fact that “the console is so little,” it amazed me how much of a difference the Series S’s size made.
Despite the fact that my entertainment centre is already crowded with electronics, I was able to squeeze in the Series S with ease.
In my bedroom, between a huge TV stand and a messy dresser, I slipped it when I finished testing it. This item was unwillingly approved even by my domestic partner, who has strong views against gaming consoles in the bedroom owing to their massive size.
Ports
This is a basic port system like the Xbox Series X. A USB-A connector, a power button, and a pairing button are all positioned on the device’s front panel. Empty space occupies the entirety of the front panel of the Series S, as there is no disc drive.
Another two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a power outlet may be found in this model’s rear. I was pleasantly pleased to discover an Ethernet port, because that’s often the first to go in lower-cost electronics.
The same problem I had with the Xbox Series X applies here: there are no USB-C ports accessible. This looks to be a huge omission for consoles that are supposed to last for the next five to seven years.
New gaming accessories that rely on USB-C dongles take use of USB-quicker C’s charging and data transmission rates. USB-C. For the time being, USB-A connectors will suffice, but the absence of USB-C ports is a serious omission.
Interface
If you’ve used the Xbox One’s UI, you’ve already used the Xbox Series S’s. That’s not me being evasive; it’s just an honest comment. Despite Microsoft’s latest upgrades to the Xbox store, the user experience hasn’t evolved much in years.
You’ll still see your most recent games and activities on the Home screen when you initially switch on the system. You’ll still see the Store, Media, and Game Pass possibilities if you scroll down. Navigate between your games and programmes by pressing the Xbox button on the controller.
You’ll be able to explore your full library, get system notifications, manage your friends list, examine your achievements, and so on.
There’s little need in going into great detail regarding the Xbox Series S interface because you’ve undoubtedly already seen it (or something similar) (or something similar).
It’s not the most visually beautiful interface, but once you get the hang of it, it gets you where you want to go quickly. As a bonus, if you’ve used the Xbox One recently, you’ll be able to hop straight in.
That’s what makes the Series S UI so great: it’s so constant. Microsoft’s store and Xbox programmes for PCs and Androids have been substantially overhauled in the previous few months. The Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox PC software, and Xbox Android app all have a lot in common now. You will be able to access the Xbox environment from nearly anyplace, since Microsoft is developing one.
Performance
With all due respect, the Xbox Series S is not nearly as powerful as the Xbox Series X, at least in terms of computing power. To understand why, you need to know about the hardware requirements of the two consoles.
A 12-teraflops graphics engine, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage are included in the Series X model, although the Series S variant has just 10GB of RAM and no disc drive at all.
Most Xbox Series X games will function at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, although uncommon titles may support resolutions up to 8K and frame rates up to 120 frames per second. Although the frame rate of 120 fps is theoretically attainable, the Xbox Series S is restricted to 1440p for games.
Without going too deep, the simple line is that the Xbox Series S is significantly less powerful than the Series X, which is why it costs so much less. According on your setup and planned usage, the Series S’ low specifications may be an issue or even a non-issue.
Using three distinct ways, I was able to establish how well the Xbox One S Series performed. Gears 5, Maneater, Ori and the Will of the Wisps and Yakuza: Like a Dragon are all in Microsoft’s “optimised for Xbox X/S” list.
Microsoft claims that the Xbox Series S and Series X will have superior lighting, texturing, frame rates, and other visual effects than the Xbox One versions of these titles.
Conclusion
In our Xbox Series S review, we analysed how this sleek, approachable console may be precisely the ticket for young, casual or budget-minded gamers who want the latest and finest games, but aren’t quite ready to take a $500 jump.
On the other end of the scale, if you’re expecting to buy an Xbox Series X (or already have a strong gaming PC), the Series S makes an excellent backup console for a bedroom or office, particularly because your library and save data can move with you anywhere.
The Xbox Series S is too specific to suggest to everyone. If you have a high-end 4K TV, you’re arguably better off with the Xbox Series X — particularly because with weaker technology, the Series S may be less equipped to play next-gen titles as they get more demanding in the following few years.
The lack of a disc drive limits its backwards compatibility, and its hard drive will fill up rather soon. Still, if those issues aren’t dealbreakers, you can buy an awful lot of games with the $200 you’ll save.