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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Choose an Xbox by checking four things first: whether you need a disc drive, what resolution and refresh rate your display supports, how much game storage you need, and whether you can reuse Xbox One accessories. Pick a disc-drive Xbox Series X for physical games or UHD Blu-ray playback; an all-digital Series X for Series X gaming without discs; or an Xbox Series S if an all-digital library and its 1440p design suit your setup.
Which Xbox consoles are available?
Xbox’s current product pages list several Series X and Series S configurations. Capacity and disc-drive details vary by configuration, so check the exact model before buying.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Xbox Series X | Disc Gaming Console | 1TB SSD | $799.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Xbox Series S | Digital Gaming Console | 512GB SSD | $498.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Xbox One S, 1TB Console (Renewed) | $244.71 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Xbox Series X 1TB Gaming Console Console + 1 Wireless Controller - Backward Compatible with... | $848.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
X Box Series S All-Digital Console | $498.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| Console | Configurations listed by Xbox | Disc support | Resolution positioning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X | 1TB Carbon Black, 1TB all-digital Robot White, and 2TB Galaxy Black special edition | Disc-drive configurations include a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive; the 1TB Robot White configuration is all-digital | True 4K gaming resolution |
| Xbox Series S | 512GB or 1TB | All-digital; does not play physical discs | Designed for 1440p gaming, with the ability to upscale to 4K |
These are specifications and product descriptions from Xbox’s console comparison page, Series X product page, and Series S product page. They are not independent performance-test results. Console editions and availability can change, and price and stock depend on retailer and market.
Do you need a disc drive?
Choose a disc-drive Series X for physical games or UHD Blu-ray
If you want to use physical Xbox game discs or watch 4K UHD Blu-ray discs, choose a Series X configuration that explicitly lists an optical drive. Do not assume every Series X has one: Xbox also lists an all-digital Series X.
#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.
Choose an all-digital console if you buy games digitally
The 1TB Robot White Series X and both Series S storage options are all-digital. They suit players who are comfortable buying and accessing games digitally, but they cannot play physical game discs. Xbox describes Series S as designed for disc-free gaming. If you rely on a disc collection, an all-digital console is the wrong fit.
How should your TV or monitor affect the choice?
Series X is positioned for True 4K gaming, while Series S is designed for 1440p and can upscale to 4K. Upscaling does not make Series S the same as native 4K rendering. Match the console to the display you own and the resolution you value; Xbox advises checking your TV’s settings to confirm its resolution.
Rank #2
- 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.
Both product pages advertise frame rates up to 120 FPS, but that is a maximum dependent on supported game content and a compatible display—not a promise that every game runs at 120 FPS. Check your display’s refresh-rate support and the games you play before treating high frame rates as a deciding factor. See the Series X specifications and Series S specifications.
How much storage do you need?
Xbox lists Series S with 512GB or 1TB of internal SSD storage, and Series X with 1TB or 2TB, depending on configuration. Choose a larger capacity if you expect to keep a bigger installed library on the console; the listed capacity is the console’s internal SSD tier, not a promise about how many games will fit, since game sizes vary.
Rank #3
- Access your favorite entertainment through apps like YouTube, Netflix, and more
- Watch 4K Blu-ray movies and stream 4K video on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Microsoft Movies & TV, and more
- Play with friends and family near and far—sitting together on the sofa or around the world on Xbox Live, the fastest, most reliable gaming network
- Xbox One games and accessories work together
- Bring your games and movies to life with immersive audio through Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Expand storage with an Expansion Card or USB drive
Xbox says its Storage Expansion Card connects through the dedicated rear port and replicates the console’s custom SSD experience for additional game storage at the same performance. The card is sold separately. Xbox also lists support for USB 3.1 external hard drives, but its product information does not establish that every game can be played directly from any external drive. Check the game and storage requirements before relying on a USB drive as a play-from location. Details are on the Series X and Series S pages.
Can you reuse Xbox One accessories?
Xbox says Series X|S works with most Xbox One gaming accessories. If you already own a compatible controller or other gaming accessory, check its compatibility rather than automatically replacing it. A console bundle includes one controller, an HDMI cable, and a power cord, so a second controller is optional unless you need local multiplayer or a spare.
Rank #4
- 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
Which Xbox is the best fit for your setup?
- Pick a disc-drive Series X if you want physical Xbox games, UHD Blu-ray playback, or Series X’s True 4K positioning.
- Pick the all-digital Series X if you want Series X and its 4K positioning but do not need an optical drive.
- Pick Series S if an all-digital library and 1440p design fit your needs, and its 512GB or 1TB storage tier is appropriate for your library.
Before purchase, verify the configuration, price, and stock with retailers in your market; Xbox says prices and availability vary by retailer and region. A Game Pass subscription is a separate purchase, not something established as included with buying a console.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- What's in the box: Xbox Series S 512GB console, 1 Xbox 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 FP.
- HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
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.
