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Microsoft’s announced Xbox price increase took effect on August 1, 2026, so buying “before” it is no longer possible. Xbox said 512GB consoles would rise by US$100 and 1TB consoles by US$150 worldwide, and that the 2TB Series X would be discontinued. If you’re shopping now, compare the exact model, current retailer price and condition rather than relying on older MSRP figures.
What changed, and when?
In an announcement dated June 25, 2026, Team Xbox said the worldwide price update would take effect August 1. The announced increases were based on console capacity: US$100 for 512GB models and US$150 for 1TB models. Xbox also said the 2TB Series X Galaxy Black Special Edition would be sunset. The announcement does not provide a complete country-by-country price list.
Xbox attributed the move to rising component costs, stating: “Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027.” That is Xbox’s explanation and forecast, not an independently verified market statistic. Read the Xbox announcement.
How the Series X and Series S differ
Choose based on whether you need a disc drive, your display target and how much built-in storage you want. Xbox describes Series X as its native-4K console, sold with a UHD Blu-ray disc player or without one. Series S is disc-free, designed for 1440p gaming and able to upscale to 4K.
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- FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL XBOX — Experience next-generation performance with 12 teraflops of processing power, delivering smoother gameplay, richer worlds, and faster responsiveness than any previous XBOX.
- TRUE 4K GAMING UP TO 120 FPS — Enjoy breathtaking visuals with true 4K resolution, HDR, and frame rates up to 120 FPS, plus hardware-accelerated ray tracing for a heightened level of realism.
- 1TB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 1TB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
- QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
- FOUR GENERATIONS OF GAMES — Play thousands of games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX, with many titles enhanced for better visuals and performance on XBOX Series X.
| Model | Disc access | Xbox-described display target | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S | Disc-free | Designed for 1440p; can upscale to 4K | 512GB or 1TB |
| Xbox Series X Digital | Disc-free | Native 4K | 1TB |
| Xbox Series X with UHD Blu-ray drive | UHD Blu-ray discs | Native 4K | 1TB |
| Xbox Series X Galaxy Black Special Edition | UHD Blu-ray discs | Native 4K | 2TB; Xbox announced it would be sunset |
These distinctions come from Xbox’s U.S. console product page. If you own disc games or want to watch UHD Blu-rays, make sure the listing is for the drive-equipped Series X; the Series S and Series X Digital cannot use discs.
Why older prices are not a current buying guide
Microsoft’s U.S. recommended retail price sheet dated May 1, 2025 listed these prices. They are historical U.S. MSRPs, not current retailer offers.
Rank #2
- What's in the box: Xbox Series X console, 1 Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black, Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, Power cord.
- Equipped with AMD's Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures, DirectX ray tracing delivers true-to-life lighting, shadows and accurate reflections to create dynamic, living worlds.
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6 w/320 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 10 GB @ 560 GB/s, 6 GB @ 336 GB/s; Internal Storage: 1TB Custom NVME SSD
- Gaming Resolution: True 4K; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; High Dynamic Range: Up to 8K HDR; Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
- Bundled with HDMI_Cable
| Console (U.S.) | MSRP on May 1, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series S 512GB | $379.99 |
| Xbox Series S 1TB | $429.99 |
| Xbox Series X Digital 1TB | $549.99 |
| Xbox Series X 1TB with disc drive | $599.99 |
| Xbox Series X 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition | $729.99 |
Microsoft’s dated U.S. retail price sheet provides the baseline. TechCrunch reported rounded U.S. post-change prices of $499 for Series S 512GB, $599 for Series S 1TB, $750 for Series X Digital 1TB and $800 for Series X 1TB with a disc drive. These are reported figures, not live quotes; check the retailer listing and stock before purchasing. TechCrunch’s June 25, 2026 report is secondary coverage of those prices.
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Compare the exact new-console SKU
Check capacity and disc-drive status in the product name and specifications. Retailers may carry different Series X and S configurations, so a headline price alone is not enough to identify what is being sold. Compare the current price and stock directly; the cited historical MSRPs and reported post-change figures do not establish today’s street price.
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- BEST VALUE IN GAMING — Experience next-gen speed and performance in the smallest XBOX ever. The XBOX Series S delivers powerful all-digital gameplay in a sleek, compact design.
- UP TO 120 FPS GAMEPLAY — Enjoy smooth, responsive gaming with frame rates up to 120 FPS, powered by XBOX Velocity Architecture, a custom NVMe SSD, and DirectX Raytracing for a heightened level of realism.
- 512GB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 512GB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
- QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
- FOUR GENERATIONS OF DIGITAL GAMES — Play thousands of digital games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX with backward compatibility. Many titles are enhanced for better visuals and performance. Smart Delivery ensures you always get the best version for your console.
Investigate Microsoft Certified Refurbished
Xbox says Certified Refurbished consoles are available through Microsoft Stores for up to US$100 off MSRP. The actual model, stock and offer can vary, so check the live store listing and its condition, warranty and return details before ordering. Microsoft Store’s Xbox Certified Refurbished page is the place to check availability.
Treat other used-console programs as unconfirmed until listed
Xbox said it was working with retail partners on lower-cost previously played consoles and trade-ins, but the announcement did not name partners or confirm that those programs were available. Do not assume a particular store has a deal: verify the listing, console condition, seller, return window and warranty terms.
Rank #4
- What's in the box: Xbox Series S 512GB console, 1 Wireless Controller, High Speed HDMI cable.
- CPU: 8X Cores @ 3.6 GHz (3.4 GHz w/SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU; GPU: 4 TFLOPS, 20 CUs @1.565 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU; SOC Die Size: 197.05 mm2.
- Memory: 10GB GDDR6 128 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 8GB @ 224 GB/s, 2GB @ 56 GB/s.; Internal Storage: 512GB Custom NVME SSD
- Gaming Resolution: 1440p; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
Review financing terms before choosing installments
Xbox mentioned buy-now-pay-later and interest-free financing options for eligible hardware purchases, with availability depending on region, eligibility and terms. The announcement does not verify a particular provider or offer. Read the checkout terms, including payment schedule and any applicable charges, before committing.
Quick Recap
A quick decision checklist
- Need physical games or UHD Blu-rays? Choose a disc-equipped Series X.
- Want a disc-free Series X? Check that the listing explicitly says Digital.
- Prefer a lower-resolution target and a disc-free console? Compare Series S configurations and their 512GB or 1TB storage.
- Considering refurbished or previously played? Confirm the exact SKU, condition, warranty and returns with the seller.
- Ready to buy? Verify current price, stock and seller terms directly, since the published figures above are dated or reported rather than live offers.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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