Microsoft has finally revealed pricing and availability details for the Xbox Series X ($499, November 10). If that isn't enough to get you excited, the company revealed a whole other game console as well! The Xbox Series S is a pared-down, smaller version of the Xbox Series X with a much more modest $299 price. Here's what you need to know about how the two systems differ, and how they're similar.
Pre-order the Xbox Series X
Pre-ordersfor the Xbox Series X and Series S begin at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT on Sept. 22. Here's where you can buy:
4.0
Excellent
- $464.99 at Amazon See It
- $319.95 at Amazon See It
Amazon
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
Target
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
Best Buy
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
GameStop
Click here to get in a virtual pre-order line
Microsoft Store
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
Newegg
Xbox Series S
Walmart
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
Specs
Price
The Xbox Series X will be available for a hefty but not surprising $499, now a seemingly standard price for next-gen consoles at launch. The Xbox Series S will be just over half that, with a $299 price that pits it more against the Nintendo Switch and last-gen systems.
Size
Instead of a big, black near-cube like the Xbox Series X, the Series S is a slab that's downright slim in comparison (you can nearly fit two into one Xbox Series X). It's only small when compared with the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5, though, as the Series S is about the same size, if not a bit bigger, than the Xbox One X.
Power
The Xbox Series X is a processing beast, with AMD's Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures providing 12 teraflops of power. It supports ray tracing, it can render up to 4K (3,840-by-2,160) resolution at up to 120 frames per second, and it's "8K ready," which indicates it can upscale to that resolution.
The Xbox Series S still uses AMD's Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures, but it has only 4 TFLOPS of raw processing power, a third of that of the Series X. It also has 10GB of RAM to the X's 16GB. This means the Series S has a much lower rendering resolution ceiling of 1440p, two-thirds the vertical pixels of 4K. It can still handle ray tracing, and supports 1440p at up to 120 frames per second, but games won't render at 4K. The system still upconverts to 4K, so it'll look fine on your 4K TV, but don't expect quite as much sharpness, smoothness, or overall detail. General frame rates from game to game might take a hit, too.
The Xbox Series X covers all bases for both physical media and digital distribution, with an optical drive that supports up to Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, and a 1TB SSD. That's a lot of storage, plus the ability to play physical editions of games.
The Xbox Series S is an all-digital console with no optical drive at all. This means it can't play Blu-ray discs or the physical edition of games. It also has half the storage, with a 512GB SSD. That's a pretty big hit for a system that relies entirely on built-in storage, but it also accounts for the significantly lower price.
Recommended by Our Editors
How to Pre-Order the Microsoft Xbox Series X
Xbox Series X: Release Date, Price, News, and More
What's the Same?
While the two systems are wildly different in power and capacity, they have several similarities. To start, they use the same controllers and have the same support for last-gen controllers. They both support DirectX ray tracing, variable rate shading, and variable refresh rate, though just how much those things vary will likely depend on the power of each console.
They can both stream 4K media and output both games and video at 4K resolution. They also both benefit from the speed boost offered by relying on a solid state drive instead of a hard drive for storage. Finally, they both share the same compatibility with every game released for the Xbox platform.
Which Xbox Should You Buy?
We'll have to see both systems ourselves and put them through their paces to really know which is the better value. Based on the specs and features, the Xbox Series X seems superior across the board, with much more processing power and the ability to render at 4K, along with double the storage and an optical drive for physical media. It's much bigger and more expensive, however, so if budget and space are concerns for you, the Xbox Series S looks to be a respectable system with plenty of power in its own right, though the lack of a disc drive is a distinct weakness.
We'll update this story as we learn more about the new systems, so make sure to check back. And if you already know which one you want, head over to our story on how to pre-order the new Xbox.
Get Our Best Stories!
Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Sign up for other newsletters
I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I’m here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don’t need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).
Read Will's full bio
Read the latest from Will Greenwald
- Sony PlayStation 5 vs. PlayStation 5 Pro: Should You Upgrade?
- The Best Nintendo Switch Accessories for 2024
- Nintendo Sound Clock Alarmo Review
- Hands On: Meet the Kindle Colorsoft, Amazon's First Color E-Reader
- Meta Quest 3 vs. Meta Quest 3S: What's the Difference?
- More from Will Greenwald