Is the xbox series s worth it – Ultimate guide

 

The latest generation of video gaming consoles has been in the market for more than a year however, there are still shortages of stock. The Xbox One has gone out of production and has been it has been replaced by a pair newly released Xbox consoles. The Xbox Series X, priced at $500, and the Xbox Series X and the $300 Xbox Series S are both built on the same foundation and will be able to play the identical games for years to be. Each model has the same performance level and graphic performance. With this in mind we’re here to assist you determine which you should get, or, in the event that you have to purchase one in the first place.

Xbox Series X review – Is the xbox series s worth it

With superior graphic quality, more space and disc drives with a disc drive, with a disc drive, the Xbox Series X is worth the premium price in many instances. If you own an HDTV, especially one that has features of high-end quality like 120hz and variable-refresh rate, or are planning to purchase one in the near future You’ll probably find games that benefit from the additional graphics capabilities on the Xbox X over the Xbox Series S review. Although both consoles feature incrediblely fast storage, which speeds up loading times and boot-up times however, they differ in terms of storage capacity. The Series X drive has over 800GB of internal storage more than double the storage capacity in the Series S. Plus, If you have a library from games that are physical Xbox One, Xbox 360 or other Xbox games you’d like to play it is the only option. Series X has a disc drive, which makes it the best choice when you’re looking for an Xbox that also can serve as a 4K Blu-ray player.

Xbox Series S review

However, if you don’t own an HD TV (and aren’t planning to purchase one in the near future) If the space available in your entertainment center is a problem or you don’t want or need to purchase a lot of discs in physical form The Xbox Series S review offers a good value, and offers the opportunity to play the latest generation of games that are coming. For those who play a lot of games on Xbox GamePass, the monthly subscription that grants unlimited access to hundreds of games including the latest releases — will probably not miss having a disc drive. It also this makes Xbox Series S an especially affordable option for kids who are just starting out because the lower-cost console and the monthly membership will give you the most games a child could ever play, and without the requirement to purchase new games constantly. It’s possible that the Series S might also be an ideal choice for hosts and travellers. If you’re planning to travel to stay for a longer period of time It can be easily tucked away in a carry-on luggage. Also, if you own the luxury of a guest room or vacation home, a Series S adds a lot over a typical streaming media box.

If the primary reason you’d purchase a new console is to play brand new games that you cannot play on your current Xbox One (or, for the matter of an PlayStation 4), you might not have to jump to buy a new console but yet. The majority of the top games of the year are being released on older consoles. If you do spend much time on you Xbox One now and are looking forward to a lot of evident improvements in quality of life and features, as well with visual and performance improvements on the games you already own and are looking to upgrade, an Xbox Series S or Series X will bring plenty of benefits immediately.

We have also provided answers for the questions we get asked most often.

Xbox Series S vs. Series X: What’s the difference?

The Xbox Series S and Series X come with a number of the same games. However, with a $200 there are some real distinctions in the capabilities. The two consoles aren’t the best one for every. Here’s what you need to know about the main points:

  • Game choice: The two consoles are able to play the same games both of which are backward-compatible and capable of playing nearly every game you can enjoy on your Xbox One (which, in the process, implies many Xbox 360 games as well as a few Xbox One games from the original). Without a disc drive however it’s not able to play discs, and the Series S can’t play physical games that you already have.
  • Resolution: Both consoles support 4K resolution, therefore the experience of watching video on a television that is 4K will be exactly the same on any console. If you want the ability to run games at 4K then you must opt for that Xbox Series X. It is the Series X is designed for games with resolutions ranging from four kilos (and it is theoretically able to support the resolution of 8K for videos) The Xbox Series S has less-powerful graphics hardware that game designers are aiming for 1080p, and occasionally 1440p images.
  • Additional graphics qualities: The Xbox Series S and Series X have the same basic capabilities for graphics, such as support for shading at variable rates and the ray-traced effect, which is an sophisticated and realistic method to create visual and lighting effects. For instance, the Xbox Series X features a 12.1-teraflop GPU and 16GB of RAM. The Xbox Series S features a 4 teraflop GPU as well as 10 GB of RAM. Microsoft states that this power difference will be reflected in the resolution difference. But some games have removed the ray tracer in the case of an series S.
  • disc drive: It is the Series X comes with a slot-loading UHD Blu-ray drive, while it is the only model that Series S is completely discless. If you own lots of Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray discs, are planning to purchase second-hand games, or want physical discs, then the Xbox Series X is your best alternative. If you plan to purchase games that are brand new and digitally available through on the Xbox Store and online, and also rely more upon Xbox GamePass the lack of disc drives in the Series S won’t be a issue.
  • Storage base:The Xbox Series X has a 1 TB storage drive, with around 800GB available space. In addition, the Xbox Series S has a 500 GB drive that has around 360 GB of usable storage.
  • expandable storage: Both Series X and S Series X and Series S include a slot which allows for expansion of storage using cards that use the CFexpress connection standard. The only models that are officially licensed (from Seagate) retail for $140 for 500 GB and 220 dollars to 1TB as well as 400 to buy 2TB. However both the Series X and Series S continue to support external USB drives in the exact as it works with Xbox One does, and any Xbox One-formatted drive can be compatible with the latest consoles.
  • Dimensions: The Xbox Series X is a tall block that measures around 6-by-6 inches from its base and 12 inches high. Its Series S, meanwhile, measures 11.2 by 5.9 by 2.6 inches. It’s the smallest Xbox ever made, and is intended to be used either horizontally or vertically.

Deciding to upgrade from an Xbox One

If you have an Xbox One and need a huge, generation-introducing exclusive to get you on board, you may not find it on the Xbox Series S and Series X yet. Exclusives such as Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite bring significant visual enhancements that are available to Series X and S owners in the coming years they will also release new games. Series X and S will bring new games that are not available for both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and include the forthcoming Redfall (from the developers of Dishonored and Prey) and Starfield (from the developers of Skyrim and current Fallout Games). We’re also seeing more examples of improved gaming with both the X|S and PlayStation 5, including Battlefield 2042 that has double the number of players as well as greater multiplayer options on the new consoles.

After months of constant usage, however, the most significant, immediate changes in the latest generation of consoles result from significant improvements in quality of life The most notable of these is a faster and faster user experience, from the top of the screen to the bottom.

Setup and load times

When you turn on your Xbox Series X or Series S for the first time, it will be apparent immediately how drastically changes have occurred. Before, the initial setup process for an Xbox console was typically an extensive manual entry of account numbers and passwords using an on-screen keyboard and then, navigating options drop-downs using the controller. Today, you can manage most of the process with either your Android smartphone or iPhone as well as the most recent versions of the Xbox application. The phone will be able to communicate through Wi-Fi Direct to the latest consoles, and restore settings preferences, settings, and game data from your console as well as cloud storage. Based on numerous occasions in “first-time” setup with the Series X and Series S the setup was on average one minute from beginning to close.

When your new console is setup, the difference in performance and responsiveness will be apparent immediately. Both consoles start up from standby to the console’s dashboard in less than 20 seconds. They also go from standby to console dashboard in about three minutes. Switching between apps is astonishingly rapid, and they load quickly (internet connectivity notwithstanding). In terms of the basic user experience The Xbox Series S and Series X offer a similar performance enhancement over the previous Generation of consoles. If you’ve used the Xbox One for years, the change is quite astonishing. Think of it as purchasing your first phone within seven years. It’s that kind of advancement.

Interface

While the interface is quicker, the style of it on the latest new Xbox consoles is very similar the design of the previous generation console. If you’re familiar with the design shifts between Xbox 360 to Xbox 360 to Xbox One and Xbox One, you’ll miss some enjoyment from the fresh scent of playing with the new console generation this time around. However, this process of iterative development has resulted in a feeling of stability and maturity in the OS. Features such as complete support for external storage as well as game-level support and modifications to features like Auto HDR and FPS Boost and variable refresh rate are all in place as well as those on the Series X and S have already seen a number of upgrades. The latest update includes a 4K-enabled display for the Xbox Series X, an automated night mode that can adjust UI colours based on time of the day, and even cutting down the brightness of the console, it’s status lighting, as well as other. We also love little features such as animated dashboard backgrounds, such as one that is a special Xbox 20th anniversary themed theme. It’s available when you connect a special edition controller for the 20th anniversary of your console.

Better graphics on old games, great graphics on new games (eventually)

The Xbox Series S and Series X come with a brand new technology for graphics that’s more powerful than the previous consoles in many ways. In the majority of games you can expect better resolutions as well as higher frame rates and more detailed environments and characters in comparison to the games available on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 which all have better quality of images. Effects will also be more intense and complex because the brand new graphics hardware on these consoles will be able to create more extravagant effects like fog and smoke, which have physical properties and lighting that produces reflections and shadows that look more as it would in real life.

This is a feature that is likely to get better as the generation advances. Each of the Xbox Series S and Series X (and the PlayStation 5) feature hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing, which is a kind graphic rendering which lets you create the most sophisticated illumination and visual effects. Ray Tracing has been touted since the beginning of time in the past as being an “holy grail” of video games, and game designers have only begun to scratch an idea of the possibilities they can be able to achieve using it over the next few years. A number of games, including Resident Evil: Village, and The Medium use ray-traced reflections all over the world as an example. Likewise, the latest-generation game Cyberpunk 2077 features ray-traced shadows — at least for Series X (and PS5). Although both Series X and Series S have raytracing capabilities, these effects are not present in many games that are available on Xbox Series S, including those in Cyberpunk 2077 as well as The Medium. If raytracing is enabled it’s possible that the Series S finds it difficult to get to a full 60 frames per second (FPS) in Resident Evil Village even though it is playable with smaller frame rates (and you can turn off ray tracing if prefer).

Faster performance, higher frame rates

The Xbox Series S and Series X are significantly more powerful CPUs than the previous generation consoles. The consoles are four times the power of their predecessors in terms of raw speed as well as the number of threads and cores in addition to seven years worth of efficiency and other advancements. This means more responsive user interfaces as well as much quicker loading times, and more sophisticated game and character behaviours, and more content on the screen at any time.

The biggest improvement is evident in frame rates. They should reach sixty frames per second more frequently this time than the previous. The higher the number of frames you can play, the faster and more frequently the game and controller communicate. Therefore, a brand fresh Series X or Series S is likely to respond more quickly and with greater reliability to inputs. When games don’t have constant frame rates, the the ability to have variable rates of refresh will aid in keeping those games from becoming unresponsive. Some recent examples comprise Battlefield 2042, Elden Ring along with Psychonauts 2. each of which have 60 FPS modes available in the Series X and S which are not available to play on Xbox One.

The improvements are coming to a variety of games originally made available for the Xbox One; Gears 5, the entire of Halo The Master Chief Collection, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps all have been updated to 120 FPS to games on the Xbox Series X and Series S.

The controls also feel more responsive, partly due to the fact that Xbox has changed the controller’s software by introducing a feature called Dynamic Latency input (DLI). Microsoft announced its own numbers regarding its DLI improvements to Gears 5 for Gears 5 in Gears 5 which show that the time between the input of a controller and the display response has been reduced by an average of over 30 percent for the Xbox Series X versus the Xbox One X. In versus mode that increases to an estimated 57%. This is a game that has twice the frame rate that the game had on older systems.

Faster storage delivers much shorter load times

All saved games and games on the Xbox Series X or Series S are stored on a newer and faster form of storage, NVMe. It’s a platter-based hard drives that the Xbox One uses. The new storage technology helps to provide some of the clearest enhancements to the game experience and user experience on the new console generation with a difference between night and day in console boot-up, console gaming startup and loading times for games. Just about every streaming site you can think of has created an Xbox app

Quick resume acts like the ultimate pause button

With their speedy storage access and their fast storage access, the Xbox Series X and Series S permit you to suspend virtually any game by storing a copy of it within the system memory. Then, you can start a new game, or watch a movie or shut down completely unplugging your console. When you next start the game it will continue exactly where you ended your game. It’s like switching between apps on your phone and it’s possible to do this by playing multiple games at the same time. Games are already running quicker on new consoles due to their storage capacity and, if you’re playing more than one game switching between games with quick resume can save you a lot of time and stress since you don’t have to go through menus or save/load screens could otherwise force you to navigate. For the amount of period of time we’ve played with the console, each when we start an app to the very first time for a few weeks to be able to play precisely where we were in a matter of seconds is a wonderful experience.

At first, Quick Resume support was somewhat sporadic, with a few games having issues due to the feature. However, recent patches have improved the overall stability, although there are some occasional, inevitable issues. For games like the 2018 remake of Dark Souls, which uses an “always online” server system, Quick Resume just about always causes an interruption in the server that will take you onto an initial screen (much as leaving the game unattended for too long could).

You can still play your old games—and they’ll look better

If you’re considering buying the new console but can’t find many new games you’re interested to play the majority of your games from the past will run in the brand new systems. It’s true that the Xbox Series S and Series X provide almost complete backward compatibility. This means that all your library of Xbox One-compatible games (which is in turn a huge collection of Xbox 360 and original-Xbox games) can be played in your Xbox Series X and Series S. (The one exception is Kinect hardware and software. The Kinect hardware and software will not be compatible with the new console.) Furthermore the Xbox One compatible pieces of software be able Microsoft Microsoft (and independently verified by a variety of media outlets) perform and appear better on these systems than on previous generation consoles. Its Auto HDR feature, which utilizes an algorithm to alter the game’s image to make use of modern televisions’ capacity to show more vibrant images with a higher contrast, results in an incredible new sensation of vibrance in games such as Geometry War: Retro Evolved 2. There are some games that have this feature that result in image quality that appears like a bit funny, but it is able to be disabled on a per-game basis.

Microsoft also provides FPS Boost for selected titles FPS Boost is the official name for an exclusive software method that allows Xbox Series consoles to effectively increase the frame rate of games that are backwards compatible without the requirement of patching from an developer who originally developed. For certain games, that’s 60 FPS or so at first on consoles. In other games, it’s 120 FPS when using supported televisions.

Choosing accessories for the Xbox Series X|S

Controllers

Each Xbox One accessory you may purchased after 2013 (with the exception of Kinect) Kinect) can be used on the Xbox Series S and Series X. Every third-party and first-party controller, every battle stick each driving wheel all media devices, as well as every existing formatted and formatted drive will work with the latest consoles. These controllers will require an update to the firmware the consoles will inform you whenever you plug in a controller which requires it. The firmware update is compatible with wirelessly and wired. Following the update, older generations of controllers are also expected to experience increased latency thanks to these new models. Basically, I can pick up my Xbox controller and do just about anything.

Headsets

The most extensive headset choice that is available for Xbox Series X and S is the latest Xbox Wireless Headset. It is connected via the proprietary wireless standard that is used for both the Xbox One and Series consoles (and is also compatible with Bluetooth to connect mobile devices) It also has the ability to be set to adjust game and chat volume. However, you’ll likely want to make use of Xbox Accessories to use the Xbox Accessories app to tweak its EQ that’s just a bit too much at the lower end of the spectrum.

But, you don’t have to buy an entirely new headset if you already have one that you like. Gaming headsets that use 1/8-inch connectors such as our preferred gaming headset that we recommend, that is the HyperX Cloud Alpha will function like they have done for a long time if you connect them directly to an Xbox Series X or Series S controller. Also, complete USB audio compatibility for gaming audio and chat as and chat/game sound balance for headsets that support it, is finally accessible on official licensed headsets. The xbox S is next Gen console. Xbox X is next Gen console.

Like similar to PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series X and Series S lack the optical audio output that the Xbox One and other previous-generation consoles had, which means that gamers’ headsets (and audio receivers) aren’t able to receive optical audio like they did previously. The good news is that Microsoft is working with several headset manufacturers to provide software updates to allow proper USB compatibility for both the Series X and Series S in their existing headsets. If you own an existing headset that utilizes USB to connect, conduct a simple Google search to verify that it’s supported by Microsoft.

Storage

The internal storage capacity of the Xbox Series S (an especially budget-conscious choice for younger kids) and Series X can quickly fill up in the event that the user downloads and plays lots of games (and you don’t want to erase and then redownload them). In the Xbox X’s storage, which is rated at 1TB and has 802 GB of storage space available at the time of launch, which accounts for the size of the drive as well as the cache and system files allotted for the operating system of the console. Its Series S, meanwhile, comes with 364 GB of space available for free space. There is an option to store more games.

In the case of Series S, storage space can be a major issue. For instance, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War takes more than 190GB of space which is more than half the storage included in the Series S.

If you’re looking to purchase additional console’s storage, you have three choices. The fastestand most compatible choice is the official certified Seagate Expansion Card they are just as fast as Series X and Series S’s internal storage. This performance comes at the cost of. The 1TB model has an estimated selling price of $120 as the newly-announced 2TB and 512GB options cost at $140 and $400, in total. It’s also the only option for add-on storage which can run Series X- or Series S-exclusive software. However, unlike the PS5 which is not able to install the standard PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive on Xbox Series consoles.

The middle ground, meaning, the fastest, but also more affordable are external SSD drives. You can pick our portable SSD option which is The Western Digital My Passport SSD or something similar or a simple SSD connected via a USB-to SATA cable. It’s true that, as Digital Foundry discovered, with backward-compatible games , this choice is nearly identical to the new consoles internal drive.

If you’re worried about the possibility of storing lots of games in the future then you should consider a USB hard drive such as one like the Toshiba Canvio Flex is your most affordable choice. The loading times are only slightly better than those on your Xbox One, and you aren’t able to use Series X and Series S games on these drives, but you won’t beat the cost per gigabyte.

Any drives that you’ve used connected to or an Xbox One console will work on the Xbox Series S and Series X. Connect them and any Xbox One, Xbox 360 or Xbox games that you’ve installed will be displayed instantly and playable despite any necessary updates.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re planning to buy an XboxSeries X (or already have a powerful gaming PC), the Series S makes a fantastic backup console for a bedroom or office, particularly since your library and save files can come with you anywhere.

I’d read plenty of horror stories about gamers running out of storage space after downloading just a handful of new titles.

Subscriptions

Xbox Game Pass and GamePass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass is the most competitive price for gaming on video. Xbox Game Pass is sort like Netflix It is a one-time fee for a subscription grants you access to all game that is available on GamePass, which sees new titles being added to the game as well as other next gen games rotate out in time.

The Game Pass service is full of hidden gems and also gives access to a variety of high-profile popular, well-received indie games. However, all first-party Microsoft games, which is to say, plays games that are paid for by or owned by Xbox in GamePass the same day they go live. Membership gives you immediate access to each Forza game as well as each Gears of War game, every Halo game (including the 2021 version of Halo Infinite) and many more.

In 2021, by the time the year ends, Xbox One owners should be capable of playing Series X versions of newest titles through Game Pass’s cloud-based streaming feature.

In the month of March 2021 Xbox has also concluded its purchase from Zenimax Media and with it Bethesda Studios, the publisher of Doom, Wolfenstein, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, as well as other big series such as Prey as well as Dishonored. Its Game Pass library includes almost all games from these teams, and will also include every game that comes out of the studios when it launches, many of which will only be available exclusively to Xbox or PC. It is also expected that this will occur as Microsoft closes on its purchase from Activision Blizzard, which includes the teams that developed games such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Diablo.

The streaming feature is available in GamePass, which allows gamers to stream any game via Game Pass to Android or iOS phones, and also through browsers such as Chrome or Safari. Also, the current Xbox One owners can play the Series X versions of games such as Halo Infinite as well as Forza Horizon 5 via cloud streaming.

For just $15 monthly, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to all Game Pass games on your console, as well as the PC version of GamePass with additional PC-exclusive games, as well as Xbox Live Gold together in one bundle, which is why we do not believe you should be paying to purchase Xbox Live Gold on its own.

Xbox All Access

Instead of paying for everything in one go for a brand new Xbox it is possible to purchase one via this Xbox All Access program. For just $25 per month on Xbox Series S or $35 per month for the Xbox Series S or $35 per month for the Xbox X, you will receive the console as well as the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription in a contract with a 2-year term.

The total cost for Series S All Access is $600. Series S All Access plan is $600. For Xbox Series X, the total is $840. This is a bargain. For Series S, with Series S it’s like 0 percent financing and some bucks discounted Game Pass Ultimate every month while when you purchase the Series X it’s like 0 percent financing and a total of $35 savings. If you’ve passed the credit check, you’ll receive lower upfront costs for a new generation console.

Games we’re playing right now

One of the most appealing aspects concerning Xbox Game Pass is the collection of old Xbox 360 games available (Game library). The Fable trilogy is still a great choice partially due to backwards compatibility improvements like FPS increase and resolution We’re re-visiting it to be excited about the next Fable game, which isn’t yet set with any release date yet however we’re waiting with anticipation. In the same way, for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, all Mass Effect games are included with EA Play, and they’re perfect if you’re hoping to get into a more extensive and more narrative-driven series. We’re playing Mass Effect Legendary Edition Mass Effect Legendary Edition to play them again, since it collects the three games from the original trilogy together, and then optimizes their performance with 4K resolution and frame rate improvement and changes to the quality of life.

We’re playing Tunic that’s kind of similar to Elden Ring if your character was a cute Fox: You battle difficult enemies that come back when you stop at shrines and bonfires. You’re able to play the game without any instructions, and you’ll die often. But the game’s tough gameplay is enhanced by an artistic style that is vibrant as well as non-bloody battles, and a cute protagonist dressed as Link to The Legend of Zelda, which makes the game more enjoyable than frustrating. Tunic is part of Game Pass.

How the Xbox Series S and PS5 stack up

In addition to being a good match against its bigger brother The Series S gets more playtime in my house than my much more robust PS5 and it’s all due to the tiny things.

Although this wasn’t always the case for others consoles, I definitely favor to use the Xbox user interface over what PlayStation has to offer at the moment. It’s much more customizablenot only in the number of ways you can alter the colors and backgrounds however because it’s possible to pin most-used apps and games on your main screen to make them easier to access. In contrast, the PS5 interface feels bare. It’s not possible to set an individual wallpaper as well as the option to group the games in folders (a feature was available on the PS4 did not have) isn’t available.

The latest Xbox controller isn’t as well-equipped like the PS5’s DualSense controller, the gamepad is my preferred controller by miles. It’s the Xbox Wireless Controller just feels just right in my hands and is especially comfortable since it has gotten an improved ergonomic design, more textured grips and a more refined D-pad to match the latest generation. I’m still impressed by many things about the DualSense that has amazing features that are truly futuristic, such as tactile feedback that is precise and detailed and also adaptive triggers that better mimic the feeling of swinging like Spider-Man as well as firing the gun in Deathloop. However, the controller from Sony is too big for me and I’m far more comfortable using the Xbox pad.

However all of these features have any significance as the games that you can play on these consoles which is why it’s difficult to pick one of them. For me, the PlayStation 5 is the clear winner for major first-party games: Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Demon’s Souls and Returnal have all been huge successes during the past year and they all do an excellent job of showing what the PlayStation 5 can do. In fact, the Free Astro’s Playroom game that comes preloaded on the PS5 is far superior to the paid games I’ve recently played.

However, that’s not all. What the Xbox platform has to offer in top chart-topping tentpoles, it more than compensates for with its price. When you bundle Series S Series S with an Xbox Game Pass subscription (starting at $10 per month) you’ll have a $300 gaming system which instantly gives you accessibility to an ever-growing collection providing many games. Game Pass’ Game Pass library includes all Microsoft first-party titles such as Halo and Gears, some huge third-party games such as Destiny 2 and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order along with a plethora of excellent independent games that I wouldn’t likely have played without the Game Pass service.

Microsoft has been also stepping up its game when regards the quality of exclusive games, as evident by the amazing Forza Horizon 5 and what we’ve played from Halo Infinite so far. While new PS5 exclusives can cost you around $50-$70 The majority of Microsoft’s new releases are available on Game Pass the day they are released. While I’ll turn on my PS5 every couple of months to play the biggest exclusives, I prefer to revisit the Series S far more frequently because I know I’ll be able to try something new without having to shell out any additional money.

In conclusion

The last time we did the course of our Xbox Series S review, we talked about how this sleekand user-friendly console could be the right choice for younger, casual or budget-conscious gamers that would like the latest and most exciting games but aren’t willing to take the 500-dollar plunge. On the other side that spectrum is if thinking of buying the Xbox X (or already have a current gen gaming PC with a high-end gaming performance) The Series S makes a fantastic backup console for your home office, particularly because the save and library files are portable and can be taken with you everywhere.

The Xbox Series S is too special to be recommended to anyone. If you own a top-end 4K TV, you’ll be better in that Xbox X — specifically because, with less horsepower and a lower resolution, the Series S may be less capable of handling next-generation games because they will be more demanding over the coming years. The absence of disc drives limits its backwards compatibility, as well as its hard drive is likely to get full quite quickly. If those issues aren’t a problem, you can purchase a lot of games for the money you’ll save.

Frequently asked questions

When will the Xbox Series X and Series S be easy to find?

The Xbox Series S and Series X was launched on 10 November 2020 and have been in low supplies ever since. The shortage of supplies that affects PlayStation’s PlayStation 5, PC graphics cards, and other components and microprocessors that are used in the production of vehicles and other electronic devices are widespread and is related to Covid-19 and various other manufacturing issues. Although it is true that the Xbox Series S has become slightly easier to locate however, the difficulty of finding the Series X is likely to continue until 2022.

How much does the new Xbox cost?

The cheaper Xbox Series S is $300, and the Series X (powerful console) is $500. Microsoft also provides both the Xbox Series X and Series S through the Xbox All Access plan, that is a 24 month commitment that comes with XboxGamePass Ultimate and an Xbox console for $34 (Series X) or $25 (Series S) per month.

Is the new Xbox backward compatible with older games?

The Xbox X and Series S are backward-compatible with all but some Xbox One titles that were built around the discontinued Kinect sensor. It is possible to play the Series X and Series S will also support the many Xbox 360 or Xbox games that Microsoft has made the Xbox One backward-compatible with. Most backward compatible titles feature a variety of graphics enhancements.

Will my apps still work?

Every Xbox One app is compatible with the all Xbox Series S and Series X others new xbox video game consoles. Everything about the more expensive console, from its aesthetics to its processing power, screamed ultra-modern.

Will my old Xbox accessories work?

Every Xbox One accessory other than the Kinect should work on the Series X and Series S.

Can I move my Xbox One games and saves to an Xbox X or Series S?

If you’ve already an Xbox Live account on an Xbox One that has been connected to the internet, your saved games are already online in the cloud. And they’ll be accessible while you’re logged in to an Xbox Series X or Series S. Additionally, you can transfer saved games and games from your Xbox One console to an Xbox X or Series S through your network, or using an USB storage device. If you own one of the Xbox 360 but don’t have an Xbox One, good news: Microsoft is making cloud saves available to Xbox 360 owners free, in addition to the Xbox Live subscription.

For games that are compatible with backwards compatibility for Series S and Series X and Series S saved games from an older-generation Xbox will be able to work. This should also be the case for games that have Smart Delivery. For games that have the Xbox One version separate from the Xbox Series S and Series X version — such for NBA 2K21 or Call of Duty: Black Ops ColdWar save compatibility rests with the game’s creator to make it happen (or to not implement).

How big are the Xbox Series X and Series S?

Series X:

  • Dimensions: 6 by 6 by 12 inches
  • Weight 9.8 pounds

Series S:

  • Dimensions: 11 by 5.9 by 2.6 inches
  • Weight. 4.25 pounds

Does the new Xbox support 4K?

There will be lots about 4K when you’re looking for games or a television. It’s the latest technology in high-definition video with 3840×2160 pixel resolution, four more than the 1080p resolution. The Xbox X and Series S have support for 4K resolutions which means that the video signal transmitted to your TV can be as high as 4K. Additionally, video applications like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video can play games in 4K (with HDR). However Series S Series S is not designed to play games in 4K.

Does the new Xbox have 4K/UHD Blu-ray?

The Xbox Series X has a UHD Blu-ray drive that allows you to play back regular Blu-rays and UHD discs. It can support Dolby Vision with video games such as Netflix, Vudu, and other apps, however it isn’t able to support Dolby Vision on UHD discs. It is the Xbox Series S does not possess disc drive, therefore it cannot read back discs from Blu-ray.

Do I need a new HDMI cable?

The Xbox Series X comes with an HDMI 2.1 cable which you must make use of it. HDMI 2.1 is needed for features like 4K120 60 Hz images and HDR. If you try to connect an uncertified HDMI 2.1 certified cable on any console, you could encounter issues such as an unresponsive black screen, or perhaps there is no signal.

Will my current audio receiver or speaker system work?

If your soundbar or receiver makes use of HDMI to play audio, you are likely to be able to use the Xbox X or Series S. But neither of the consoles has an optical port. This could be an issue with older soundbars and receivers. The previous consoles offered the optical port (a somewhat like a D-shaped port that is somewhat D-shaped) for connecting to certain audio soundbars and receivers, both the Xbox X and Series S do not have this feature. There are alternatives for your situation such as connecting your TV to HDMI and then connecting to its optical output or eARC to connect soundbars (which is similar to pass-through for HDMI) and USB audio connectivity for official licensed headsets that are compatible with Series X and S. Series X and Series S.

But, you’ll require the HDMI 2.1 receiver in order to be compatible with 4K resolution and 120 frames per second. And even that’s not a warranty the receiver will function in a correct manner.

Do the Xbox Series X and Series S support HDMI-CEC?

The Xbox Series X and Series S both come with support for HDMI-CEC-compatible televisions and other AV equipment. This according to our test results can switch displays off and on or turn them on when the appropriate video input is chosen on supported televisions, in addition to regulate the volume of an Audio device with HDMI-CEC.

Do the Xbox Series X and Series S support Bluetooth?

The Xbox X and Series S are not compatible with Bluetooth connectivity, however, their controllers provide Bluetooth for phone or PC play.

Do the Xbox Series X and Series S support Wi-Fi 6?

The Xbox X and Series S support gigabit LAN connections, as well as 802.11g/n/ac wireless connectivity, but don’t support Wi-Fi 6. The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device.

Does the Xbox support Dolby Vision?

The Xbox Series X and Series S both come with Dolby Vision with compatible apps which include Netflix, Vudu, Disney+ and many more. From Fall 2021 onwards the Xbox X and S will support Dolby Vision for games running on televisions that are supported, such as at 120hz or more. Some games will make use of Microsoft’s AutoHDR function to playback Dolby Vision. Dolby Vision, and other games this holiday season are expected to be natively compatible with the feature. As we’ve mentioned in the previous paragraph it’s the Xbox Series X does not provide Dolby Vision for UHD Blu-ray playback.

What output formats does the nex gen Xbox support?

The Xbox Series X and Series S are able to output signals at 1080p, 1440p, or 4K resolution at 120 Hz for displays compatible with. Both consoles support output of 8K at 60 Hz, however this feature isn’t available in the initial launch as per an Microsoft spokesperson.

Does the Xbox support variable refresh rate, and at what frame rates?

The Xbox X and Series S offer variable refresh rates from 30 Hz to 120 Hz.

Does the ninth generation Xbox support Dolby Atmos and/or DTS:X?

From the box The Xbox Series X and Series S both have support for Dolby Atmos in home theatres, as well as compatible televisions as well as the home theatre receivers. Dolby Atmos headphones require the purchase of a license. Most headsets that can support Atmos have a license included however if it does not, you may purchase one separately. The DTS Headphone:X as well as the DTS Headphone:X are both supported by DTS Sound Unbound, the DTS Sound Unbound app on Xbox X and Series S consoles.

 

 

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