Recommended Free Tools
Some Xbox Series X models have a disc drive and one does not. The 1TB Carbon Black and 2TB Galaxy Black editions include a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive; the 1TB Robot White Digital Edition is all-digital and cannot play physical game discs. Check the full edition name on your local listing before buying, since availability varies by country.
Which Xbox Series X models have a disc drive?
| Edition | Disc drive | Storage | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1TB Carbon Black | Yes — 4K UHD Blu-ray | 1TB SSD | Plays compatible physical game discs and Blu-ray media. [Xbox Series X specifications] |
| 1TB Digital Edition Robot White | No — all-digital | 1TB SSD | Does not read physical game discs; games need to be available digitally. Xbox says it has the same speed and performance as Series X. [Xbox Wire, November 15, 2024] |
| 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition | Yes — 4K UHD Blu-ray | 2TB SSD | Has an optical drive and double the storage of the 1TB models. [Xbox Wire, November 15, 2024] |
Xbox’s product FAQ describes the Series X as available with a UHD Blu-ray Disc player and with either 1TB or 2TB SSD storage. The edition name—not just “Series X”—determines whether a particular console has the drive. [Xbox Series X FAQ]
What changed with the 2024 Series X lineup?
Xbox’s November 15, 2024 announcement presented three options: the 1TB Carbon Black Series X, the white all-digital 1TB Digital Edition, and the 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition with an optical disc drive. The 2024 change expanded the choice; it did not remove the disc drive from every Series X model. Xbox said the new editions were available in select markets, so local availability may differ.
The announcement listed U.S. suggested retail prices of $449.99 for the 1TB Digital Edition, $499.99 for the 1TB Carbon Black, and $599.99 for the 2TB Galaxy Black. Those were launch-announcement prices in 2024, not current price guidance. [Xbox Wire, November 15, 2024]
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- 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.
Can a disc-drive Series X play backward-compatible games?
Xbox says Series X works with thousands of games across four Xbox generations. For a supported backward-compatible game on disc, inserting the disc prompts the console to download the game to its storage; the disc must remain in the drive to play. The disc therefore acts as a required license check even though the game data is installed locally. [Xbox Series X FAQ]
Quick Recap
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.
Rank #3
- 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.
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
How to choose the right edition
- Choose Carbon Black or Galaxy Black if you want to use physical game discs. Both have a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive.
- Choose Robot White Digital Edition only if you are comfortable buying or accessing games digitally and do not need to play discs.
- Verify the exact model name in the regional product listing. Xbox states that availability varies by country; color alone or a generic “Xbox Series X” listing may not make the configuration clear.
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.
