Is It Better to Get an Xbox Series X or Series S?

The latest Microsoft Xbox consoles both boast high processing power and superior gameplay, but there are some notable differences between Xbox Series S and X.

If you are a moderate gamer or just getting into the world of Xbox, the slimmer Xbox Series S is probably the right console for you. The bigger Xbox Series X is worth considering if you are a more serious Xbox enthusiast and are looking for the most advanced gaming experience available. When examining Xbox Series S vs. X, choosing the right console really just comes down to your gaming needs.

Xbox Series X vs. Series S

Since there are two consoles with similar names, it is natural to ask, “what is the newest Xbox called?” Collectively, Xbox Series X|S is the latest gaming venture from Microsoft. The Series X is bigger with more impressive hardware, but the sleek Series S still offers advanced gaming with an identical library of games to choose from. So, determining which Xbox Series X|S console is better depends on your personal preference.

Does the Xbox Series S have a disc drive?

The biggest difference between Xbox S and X is that the Series S does not have a disc drive. This limits the slimmer console to only playing digital games. Xbox Series X, however, does include a UHD Blu-ray disc drive that can play all of your favorite movies in addition to physical Xbox games. There are some people who prefer the convenience of just downloading a game rather than getting a physical copy. So, when looking at Xbox Series S vs. Xbox Series X, the absence of a disc drive might not make a difference at all.

Which Xbox has better graphics?

The larger Xbox Series X has better graphics than the Series S. Both consoles support 4K, but only the X Series displays games in native 4K, which brings out the pixels more for a sharper, more detailed picture. Xbox Series S usually offers a 1440p performance, which is better than HD but still not as smooth and clear as true 4K.¹ The differences between the 1440p of the S series and the superior 4K quality of the X Series are even more noticeable when played through a gaming TV, which can significantly enhance any gaming setup.

Xbox Series S size

Size matters when looking at Xbox Series S vs. Series X. Since it has less hardware and doesn’t include a disc drive, the Xbox Series S is considerably smaller than the Series X. In fact, measuring in at 11” x 5.9” x 2.6”, the Series S is the smallest Xbox ever manufactured. This can save space when storage options are limited. Xbox Series S and Series X can both be stored horizontally or vertically, depending on what fits your setup the best.

Xbox package deals make perfect gifts

Are you buying an Xbox Series X|S for a gift? If so, both models boast several package deals that come with bonus games and other Xbox accessories, like extra controllers and memory cards. If you’ve read the guide to getting the best gifts for gamers, you’ll know that game playing is much more fun and immersive when you have more accessories.

Xbox Series X specs

If you are still unsure what Xbox console is right for you, here are the specifications of the Xbox Series X:

Black exterior
16 GB of RAM
1 TB storage drive (800 GB of usable space)
560 GB/s of memory bandwidth
12 TFLOPS
3.8GHz CPU speed
1825 MHz GPU clock speed

Xbox Series S specs

And, here are the specifications of the slimmer Xbox Series S:

White or black exterior
10 GB of RAM
512 GB storage drive (360 GB of usable space) or 1 TB storage drive, depending on the model
224 GB/s of memory bandwidth
4 TFLOPS
3.6GHz CPU speed
1565 MHz GPU clock speed

Since the white Series S 512 GB model has less storage space, game drives and storage expansion packs are available to ensure you have enough space for all of your favorite digital games. If you are initially overwhelmed with these various specifications and need a refresher on some tech lingo, feel free to refer to our gaming spec reference guide below.

Hopefully this article answered the question, “what is the newest Xbox?” and helped you decide what Xbox Series X|S console is right for you. Xbox Series X offers superior playability with advanced hardware and extra storage while the Series S is more practical with comparable (and exclusively digital) gameplay. Regardless of your preference, you can now finally sit back and enjoy some gaming.

Gaming spec reference guide

GB. A gigabyte, or GB, is a unit that measures internal data storage capacity and is equal to 1024 megabytes (MB).
RAM memory. Resetting itself every time a system is rebooted, random access memory (RAM) stores the short-term data that an Xbox requires to operate smoothly.
Storage space. Sometimes confused with RAM, storage space permanently stores data. For context, the average Xbox game requires 45 GB of storage space.
Memory bandwidth. The higher the memory bandwidth, the quicker data is retrieved, which improves computing performance.
TFLOP. A teraflop, or TFLOP, is a direct mathematical measurement of the Xbox’s computing performance. A TFLOP does trillions of calculations per second, providing optimal processing power.
CPU speed. How quickly the central processing unit (CPU) retrieves and interprets instructions is measured by the CPU speed, helping an Xbox’s overall performance.
GPU. Graphics processing units, or GPUs, are designed to process images and accelerate the rendering of graphics. Image quality greatly improves with a higher number of GPUs.

References

1. Hill, Brandon. “What Is 1440p? QHD/WQHD Resolution Explained.” Tom’s Hardware, Future US, Inc, 2023. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-qhd-wqhd,5755.html.