Impressive value with low RRP.
Great design with silent cooling.
Quick Resume multiple games and boosted loading speeds.
The Xbox Series S retails for $299.99 at full price, but it’s often found in bundles for much better value such as the Xbox Starter Bundle which throws in 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate. Pictured with the Elite Controller Series 2 Core controller (not included)
Impressive FPS capabilities across many titles enhanced for new-gen consoles.
Xbox Game Pass and future first-party investment are beginning to show fruit.
512GB SSD fills up rapidly.
A handful of titles have visual issues that can’t be ignored.
1.Price & availability2.Design & hardware3.Operating System & Features4.Performance5.Should you buy?
Sure, some early memes compared it to doorbells and toasters, but that black circle?
It’s not just for show; it’s a vent keeping the console cool and quiet.
you might see the difference when you put them next to each other.
Microsoft made the Xbox Series S as light as possible, only keeping the most important parts.
What I love most about the Series S is its practicality.
Just be cautious if you decide to go vertical it’s a bit wobbly.
Now, let’s dive into the technical nitty-gritty.
The Series S doesn’t boast the raw power of its big sibling, but it’s no slouch.
Microsoft cleverly balances performance and affordability, making it an intriguing console.
It goes beyond flashy graphics; it’s about seamlessly integrating technology for players.
For me, it goes beyond flashy graphics; it’s about seamlessly integrating technology for players.
This collaboration opens up new gaming opportunities.
From speedy menus to reduced load times, Xbox Series S feels like a premium system.
The black grill on the Xbox Series S can make it resemble a doorbell, but it’s a bold aesthetic choice for the console fan that distributes heat.
The heart of the Series S is its custom CPU, operating at 3.6 GHz on a 7nm process.
While slightly slower than its big sibling, it eliminates a crucial bottleneck from previous hardware generations.
It’s not all bad news, though, as we’ll discuss later in performance.
Small but mighty: The sleek design of the Xbox Series S packs a powerful gaming punch
The standout hero in this tech tale, however, is the NVMe SSD.
A game-changer with its high-speed PCIe 4.0 drive.
Not perfect, but it’s cheap.
The internals of the Xbox Series S console
Despite these storage shortcomings, the Series S impresses with quiet cooling and aesthetics.
Defining the Series S proves challenging; it shares current-gen hallmarks but sits in a distinctly different category.
It outpaces the previous generation but currently stands as a side-grade to the Xbox One X.
The hidden world of ports at the back of the Xbox Series S
With advancements like FPS Boost, it even challenges the Xbox One X in frame rates.
For those hungry for the full 4K next-gen experience, however, theXbox Series Xremains the primary contender.
Building upon the mature Xbox One ecosystem, the Series S offers a seamless transition for returning Xbox owners.
Stellar Shift Dynamic Background(Image credit: Jennifer Young - Windows Central)
The Series S introduces a range of features that capitalize on current-generation technologies, enhancing speed and responsiveness.
The SSD plays a crucial role in this, powering features like Quick Resume.
So while handy, it’s not suited to everyone in it’s current form.
Xbox dashboard 2023(Image credit: Windows Central)
The absence of a disc drive also emphasizes online streaming over 4K Blu-ray playback.
The console compensates for these hardware omissions with a diverse lineup of streaming apps available through the Microsoft Store.
The Series S supports 4K HDR playback for most apps, despite its primary focus on HD gaming.
A controversial ad for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The first I noticed wasWild Hearts,which launched back in March last year.
At times, the awful weather effects and delays loading in assets meant I found the game unplayable.
Extra work and time some do not wish to spend.
The Xbox Store makes having a complete digital library seamless
Has the Xbox Series S ‘held back’ the generation?
Xbox Series S: Should you buy?
The portability of the Xbox Series S provides me with that flexibility.
The Xbox Series S cowers in size next to the Series X
For more casual users, I highly recommend this console due to its incredible price point.
It underscores Microsoft’s commitment to delivering games for everyone at an accessible price.
This shot is fromDigital Foundry’s testing, and while not completely true to life as a still from Youtube, it displays the huge visual differences between the two consoles for Wild Hearts.
I use my Xbox Series S mostly with an attached screen for total portability.
Hi-Fi Rush was a stand out triumph for Xbox first party titles last year.
Holding the gen back or a hero rising from the shadows?
Baldur’s Gate 3 was famously delayed from coming to Xbox because of issues developing for the Xbox Series S
Is the Xbox Series S still worth buying in 2024? More than ever.
