The Xbox Series S offers an excellent entry point into the world of next-gen gaming for those comfortable with digital game purchases or Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. It’s a smart choice if you want to avoid the substantial financial commitment associated with a full-fledged next-gen console, but there are some downsides to consider. Notably, it has significantly less storage, prioritizes gaming at 1440p resolution, and lacks the 4K HD Blu-Ray drive found in the Xbox Series X.
Review of the Xbox Series S: The Xbox Series S offers a more affordable alternative to the Series X, retaining impressive capabilities despite its smaller size and a more budget-friendly price tag. It serves as an excellent entry point into current-gen gaming without breaking the bank.
The Xbox Series S is engineered to deliver the same generational advancements as the Series X, including features like ray tracing, lightning-fast load times, and higher frame rates. However, it remains significantly cheaper than its counterpart, albeit with a noticeable dip in overall power and features.
The console is lauded for its digital-only design but suffers from considerably less storage capacity compared to the Xbox Series X. It primarily targets a 1440p resolution instead of 4K, although it can upscale when connected to an Ultra HD display. It’s optimized for lower resolutions, so your choice of display setup matters when considering the Series S.
Microsoft’s more affordable Xbox also omits the 4K HD Blu-Ray drive present in the Xbox Series X, making it a digital-only platform. If you’ve accumulated a substantial library of top Xbox Series X games over time, this limitation could pose challenges, as it ties you to Microsoft’s store pricing for new titles.
These trade-offs might not suit every user, but they contribute to making the Xbox Series S a cost-effective and compact device. Crucially, it retains the ability to play next-gen games, making it an attractive entry point into the Xbox ecosystem.
During our evaluation of the Xbox Series S, we tested numerous games, ranging from last-gen Xbox Series X/S optimized hits like Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Forza Horizon 4, Doom Eternal, and Gears 5, to launch titles like Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Each of these games impressed us with smoother frame rates, higher resolutions compared to the Xbox One, and faster load times, despite not achieving the same visual fidelity as the Xbox Series X, primarily due to the Series S targeting lower resolutions.
For gamers comfortable with digital game purchases or Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, the Xbox Series S delivers a comprehensive next-gen experience, including Quick Resume, Auto HDR, and 120Hz support. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking the latest in gaming without the substantial cost of a full-fledged console.
However, there are certain drawbacks to consider. If you prefer physical game purchases or have amassed a substantial collection of Xbox One games, the absence of a disc drive in the Xbox Series S may be a deterrent.
Additionally, the console comes with only a 512GB SSD, with no higher-capacity option available. While the SSD offers dramatic speed improvements over the older mechanical drives in the Xbox One X and Xbox One S, it can fill up quickly. The five games we mentioned earlier nearly consumed the entire 512GB SSD in our review unit, leaving us with only 30GB of usable storage space.
This means that to install a game of that size on the internal drive, we would likely need to delete something first or consider purchasing the Seagate Xbox storage expansion card, which costs nearly as much as the Xbox Series S itself.
In summary, the Xbox Series S provides an accessible gateway to next-gen gaming, particularly for those who favor digital content and subscription services. However, it comes with trade-offs, including limited storage and the absence of a disc drive, which may not suit all users. Nonetheless, it remains a compelling option for those looking to experience next-gen gaming without the substantial financial investment required for a full-fledged console.
The Xbox Series S is currently priced at $299.99 / £249.99 / AU$499, with its initial release on November 10, 2020. This pricing significantly undercuts the Series X, which costs $499 / £499 / AU$749. It’s important to note that Xbox has not followed PlayStation in implementing price hikes, at least not yet, and it doesn’t appear to be changing in the near future.
However, keep in mind that without a disc drive, you won’t have the option to buy used games or trade games with friends. You’ll rely on the Xbox Store for purchases, which may not always offer the best deals. This limitation can be mitigated by subscribing to Xbox Game Pass, a separate but highly valuable expense, or by purchasing games at full price around their launch date. Nevertheless, it may not be ideal for those who heavily rely on physical game sales and trade-ins to support their gaming habits.
The Xbox Series S is also available through Microsoft’s Xbox All Access subscription service in select regions such as the US, UK, and Australia. This service bundles the console with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on a 24-month plan, offering access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for the duration, all for a monthly fee of $24.99 / £20.99 / AU$33. This option is often more cost-effective than purchasing the console and 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate separately.
In conclusion, Microsoft’s Xbox Series S provides an affordable entry point into next-gen gaming, but it’s essential to consider your storage needs and digital gaming preferences when making your decision. If you’re budget-conscious and don’t mind digital downloads, it could be a suitable choice. However, if you have a vast physical game collection or demand the highest graphical fidelity, you might want to explore the Series X or other options.
The Xbox Series S sports a unique black fan vent resembling a speaker grille on top, breaking up the dominant white color covering the rest of the console. Most of the heat is efficiently exhausted through this vent. It’s the most compact Xbox ever produced, with a clean and functional front face featuring a single USB port and a power button.
As for connectivity, it offers an HDMI 2.1 output, two USB 3.2 ports, an Ethernet port, a storage expansion slot, and an AC input. Notably, the Xbox Series S lacks a port for Kinect, the now-defunct motion-sensing camera, and an HDMI input for cable boxes. It’s worth mentioning that the console ships with a High-Speed HDMI cable, not an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable.
In terms of size and weight, the Xbox Series S measures 6.5 x 15.1 x 27.5cm and weighs approximately 4.25 pounds (around 2kg). Its compact size ensures it fits easily into most entertainment center cabinets and on TV stands, making it portable enough to take to a friend’s house or on a vacation.
Despite resembling the design of the previous generation, it’s reasonable to appreciate the continuity, especially when marketed as part of a device family. Its appearance is straightforward and industrial-like.
Transitioning from the Xbox One Controller, you might initially think that the Xbox Wireless Controller for Series X/S hasn’t changed much. However, it’s now more comfortable and user-friendly, thanks to subtle ergonomic adjustments.
The controller’s overall dimensions have been slightly altered, making it slightly smaller overall without becoming noticeably different to the average user. This adjustment allows more hand sizes to comfortably use the new Xbox controller. Other enhancements include textured and matte finishes on the handles, triggers, and bumpers, providing better grip during intense gaming sessions.
One of the most significant changes to the controller is the revised D-pad, now a full 360-degree pad that offers an enjoyable experience for your thumb. Each direction provides a satisfying click with tactile feedback (though some may find it noisier than desired). The smooth finish allows for smooth execution of half-circle sweeps in fighting games.
Another minor change involves shortening the triggers to accommodate smaller hands. These triggers still feature haptic feedback via rumble motors, although it’s not as advanced as the adaptive triggers in the PS5 DualSense controller, which can adjust resistance dynamically.
The new Share button serves its purpose well, capturing and sharing in-game moments on your Xbox Feed or social media. A single click captures a snapshot, while holding the button captures a 15-second video (duration adjustable in the Capture settings). It’s a more user-friendly approach compared to the Xbox One, where you had to press the home button twice and then X or Y, although it may take some getting used to if you’re accustomed to the old method.
Overall, the controller maintains the familiar features, including two asymmetrical analog sticks, menu and view buttons replacing start and select, and the four face buttons (A, B, X, Y).
The Xbox Series S controller retains its 3.5mm audio jack and expansion port at the bottom, but it now utilizes a USB Type-C charging port instead of microUSB. Additionally, the pairing button is located at the top for syncing the controller to the console or for Bluetooth pairing.
While the new Xbox controller remains comfortable to use, its primary drawback is the continued reliance on AA batteries. This contrasts with rechargeable lithium-ion cells found in controllers like the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller or Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. A pair of AA batteries typically lasts around 10 days of heavy gaming.
For those who find the idea of AA batteries in a controller in 2020 off-putting, Microsoft offers a play-and-charge kit, comprising a rechargeable battery and USB-C cable, for $24.99 (£20.99 / AU$29.95), offering long-term cost savings (rechargeable AAs can also be used).
Although the kit incurs additional expenses that may be bothersome to some, it provides flexibility and avoids the issues associated with lithium-ion cell batteries, which can deteriorate over time and are costlier to replace in case of malfunctions.
Our recommendation? Consider rechargeable batteries or Microsoft’s play-and-charge kit if you anticipate more than 40 hours of gaming per week.
