Microsoft currently offers two game consoles: the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X. They are a little different, so which one should you choose? Here are our tips for choosing wisely.
Sony and Microsoft have two very different strategies for approaching the new generation of consoles. If Sony has chosen to offer a PlayStation 5 and a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition very close, which makes it, in our opinion, quite easy to choose which is the best model, this is not the case at Microsoft. Here is our comparison between the Xbox Series S and the Series X.
The Redmond firm has, in fact, opted for two console models with very different characteristics. If the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X have the DNA of next-gen consoles, they are not aimed at exactly the same target. Are you looking for the best gaming console? Visit our dedicated buying guide.
What is the best Xbox to buy?
Here in a few words are the big differences between the two consoles.
The Xbox Series S is an entry-level next-gen console designed for 1440p rendering at up to 120 frames per second. It is compact, does not have a Blu-ray player and is priced at 299 euros.
The Xbox Series It is more bulky, it has a 4K Blu-ray player and it is sold at 499 euros.
Two radically different designs
- The Xbox Series S is much more compact and easier to store than the Series X
As the Xbox Series S scales back most of the features of the Series X, Microsoft may offer a completely different design. And yes, the console doesn’t have a Blu-ray drive and is much easier to cool. It therefore does not require the same ventilation system as the Series X.
The side of the Xbox Series S // Source: Microsoft
The minimalist design of the Xbox Series S // Source: Microsoft
The console is designed for horizontal // Source: Microsoft
Designed to be used horizontally, the Xbox Series S is particularly easy to integrate into a living room with its minimal size: only 27.5 cm x 15.1 cm x 6.5 cm. It’s the smallest Xbox ever designed and that makes it the most compact next-gen console on the market.
The Xbox Series X is the equal of the PlayStation 5: a high-end and bulky console. The dimensions are 30cm x 15cm x 15cm. For its cooling, it was designed to be used vertically, which makes it more difficult to integrate into a living room, compared to its little sister.
What is the power difference between a Series S and a Series X?
- The Xbox Series X is much more powerful, but Microsoft promises that the Series S is not penalized by its power deficit
The two models have a very different technical sheet, but a common base in terms of architecture. In both cases, we find: a powerful AMD Zen 2 processor, an AMD RDNA 2 graphics chip with the latest technologies (VRS, ray tracing, mesh shader, etc.) and an SSD with Xbox Velocity Architecture. It is this common base that makes the Xbox Series S a true next-gen console, capable of running the same games as the PS5 (excluding Sony exclusives) or the Xbox Series X.
| Xbox Series S | Xbox Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Zen 2, 8 cores at 3.4-3.6 Ghz | AMD Zen 2, 8 cores at 3.6-3.8 Ghz |
| GPU | AMD RDNA 2 20 CU @ 1.565 GHz | AMD RDNA 2 52 CU @ 1825 GHz |
| Graphics power | 4 Tflops | 12.15 Tflops |
| RAM | 10 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Bandwidth | 8 GB to 224 GB/s 2 GB to 56 GB/s | 10 GB to 560 GB/s 6 GB to 336 GB/s |
| Target rendering | 1440p at 60 FPS (up to 120 FPS) | 4K 2160p at 60 FPS (up to 120 FPS) |
| Storage | 512 GB NVMe PCIe 4 | 1 GB NVMe PCIe 4 |
| Speed | 2.4 GB/s decompressed data 4.8 GB/s compressed data |
|
| Disc player | No | 4K UHD Blu-ray |
| Dimensions | 27.5cm x 15.1cm x 6.4cm | 12 x 6 x 6 inches |
Beyond this common base, we can emphasize two major differences between the two consoles. First the power delivered, with a GPU which is limited to 4 Tflops of raw power, it is three times less than the Xbox Series for the Series the Series S. This means many fewer pixels to display, so less need for RAM and raw power, in principle. This 1440p rendering can be displayed on 4K screens thanks to upscaling (artificial improvement of the definition) managed by the console.
It is impossible at the moment to know what concrete differences will be in play for the two consoles, especially in the years to come when the games will be fully developed for the new consoles. If you are the type to watch the tests of Digital Foundry To know how games run on each machine down to the pixel, you should definitely turn to the Xbox Series X. On the other hand, if you already can’t tell the difference between Full HD and 4K with the naked eye, or if you game on a Full HD screen, the Series S may probably be right for you. This can also be a good idea if you are already planning to change consoles mid-generation. Because it is very likely that Sony and Microsoft will launch new consoles in a few years which will be more powerful, like the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X on the previous generation. In this case, the Series S can be a good investment while waiting for a move to 4K in a few years.
Is the Xbox Series S truly next-gen?
With such a difference in power, one might wonder if the Xbox Series S is truly a next-generation console. Some may remember that the Xbox One delivers an identical raw power of 4 Tflops. First, the optimizations of the RDNA 2 architecture should make it possible to obtain, more or less, the same performance as the 6 Tflops chip based on AMD GCN of the Xbox One , which is not the case for the Series S.
The Xbox Series S is truly considered a next-gen console. It benefits from all the games that will be released on Xbox consoles for years to come. It is because it integrates an SSD and an RDNA 2 graphics chip that Microsoft can provide support for essential features for game developers on this new generation.
512 GB vs 1 TB of storage
- Xbox Series X can store more games
Another important point that changes between the two technical sheets is the integrated storage. The Xbox Series S only offers 512 GB of storage space compared to 1 TB for the Xbox Series X. On paper, that’s a lot less space to store games. Microsoft promises that games for the Series S will be able to occupy 30% less space, notably by saving on 4K textures.
We can still remember that the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X are entitled to 1 TB external SSDs marketed by Seagate to relieve internal storage. It is also possible to store game downloads on an external hard drive (but the SSD will be required to launch them).
Games and the price of games: what is the best console to enjoy them?
- New and recent physical games are cheaper, but Xbox Game Pass is a strong argument
As we explained in our comparison between the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition, the price of the games is very different between their disc version and the version that can be purchased from the online store. We are talking about a difference of 10 to 15 euros on recent and new games between a purchase in store or in digital format. Ultimately, it is this argument that pushed us to recommend the PS5 with Blu-ray player. In addition, consoles without a disc drive do not allow games to be loaned or resold used.
The Xbox situation is a little different, however. We are thinking here of the Xbox Game Pass which allows for around ten euros per month to access a catalog of more than 100 games including all the new releases. Add to that the regular promotions for older games on the Xbox Store and you get a much tougher choice.
Gaming enthusiasts who want the biggest releases from day one will likely go for the disc model. In all other cases, it is not at all ridiculous to imagine having an Xbox without a disk drive.
A big price difference: our comparison of Xbox consoles
- The Xbox Series S is much cheaper than the Xbox Series X
The strong point of the Xbox Series S is above all its aggressive price of 299.99 euros. You have to count 200 euros more to afford a more powerful, but more bulky, Xbox Series X. Such a difference in price will require purchasing around ten games in physical version over the lifespan of the Series X to be amortized, that’s not nothing.
Xbox All Access to take into account
Microsoft is offering a new way to buy an Xbox console in France with the Xbox All Access service. This is nothing more and nothing less than a 24-month credit (at a slightly negative rate) including the purchase of the console and 24 months of subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
For this subscription, the Xbox Series S is offered at 24.99 euros per month, while the Xbox Series X is offered at 32.99 euros per month. There is therefore a difference of 8 euros per month between the two console models, which seems more painless than the 200 euros difference when buying cash.
Conclusion: why choose the Xbox Series X rather than the Series S?
If we could have easily recommended the PS5 rather than the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, the choice on the Xbox side is much more difficult. The Xbox Series S is really a very interesting console on paper. For 300 euros, this is a next-gen console which promises to be able to run all games with rendering up to 1440p and up to 120 frames per second. Its lack of a disc player is partly compensated for by the Xbox Game Pass subscription which is becoming more and more interesting. It also has the advantage of being much more discreet and compact than the PS5 or the Xbox Series X. It is a “slim” console before its time.
Ultimately, everything comes down to the confidence that we can have in Microsoft’s promises regarding the console’s ability to really be comfortable with games in 3, 4, 5 or even 6 years. It is difficult to know in advance whether the compromises chosen by the firm will be too difficult for developers to bear.
But this promise seems to mainly concern video game enthusiasts. Those for whom running a game in Full HD or 1440p would be two completely different things. For this audience, Microsoft rather recommends the Series X and we would be tempted to follow (if we stop at the Xbox consoles). For others, the Series S could well be a great deal allowing access to the next-gen at a low price and benefiting from the Game Pass catalog. The Series S seems to have been designed with subscription in mind, as it makes sense for a console without a disc drive.
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