The naming conventions of Microsoft’s Xbox consoles have been… questionable since the introduction of the Xbox One in 2013. A decade later, Microsoft continues to uphold the tradition with the Xbox Series X and Series S, two powerful gaming machines from its current generation of consoles.
Names aside, neither console will disappoint those looking to buy a new console and are put off by the price of Sony’s PlayStation 5. Here are all the ways the Series X differs from its smaller, cheaper counterpart, the Series S:
X Series vs. S Series: Size and Design
For starters, the Xbox Series X is a big boy. At nearly 10 pounds and nearly a foot tall, this behemoth isn’t a one-size-fits-all option for every gaming rig. One of the few areas where the Series S shines is size, and if you look at the Xbox dimensions listed below, you’ll see that the Series S is significantly smaller:
Design-wise, the Series X features a massive, vertical black box that at first glance looks like a speaker. The console also features an optical disc drive, which the Series S lacks.
The S series is smaller with a slimmer profile. Fortunately, both consoles use the same controllers, so aside from the differences in design and performance, you don’t need to spend extra to make sure you have the right remote to play games with.
It’s also wise to keep in mind that, thanks to recent leaks, the Series X will only get a digital redesign sometime in late 2024.
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X Series vs. S Series: Performance
Despite featuring the same processors, the clearest difference between the Series X and S aside from design is performance. The hardware behind the Series X is befitting of its size, as this behemoth of a console boasts more RAM, storage and native 4K display capabilities. The S Series has 4K upscaling and HDR, but that pales in comparison to a console that’s fully capable of 8K output. In our review of the Series S, the console could be described as a “streaming box that can play hit games.”
Still, at the price of the Series S, it still looks good on TV and comes with limited ray tracing support. So it’s still good value even if it doesn’t work as well like the Series X. Both offer a smooth gaming experience, but if you’re looking for something premium, the Series X offers triple the processing power of the Series S.
You can check out the specs below to see for yourself:
Xbox Series X: Zen 2 8-core processor, 12 teraflops GPU, 4K/8K 120fps, 16GB RAM, 1TB storage
Xbox Series S: Zen 2 8-Core CPU, 4 Teraflop GPU, 1080p 60/120fps, 10GB RAM, 512GB/1TB Storage
X Series vs S Series: Price
The S Series is far inferior to the X Series in many ways, namely performance. But one of the few areas where it excels is price. Simply put, the Series X will cost just $299. Compare that to the X Series, which costs $499.
Buy an Xbox Series X from Dell and get a $75 gift card
At this price, the Series S is ideal for relatively small budgets and modest entertainment setups, where the difference between 4K and 1080p doesn’t matter as long as the game looks good on the TV. And for pure value, if you’re looking to save money before the holiday season, you’re getting a lot of value with the Series S at just $299.
