Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSome links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Microsoft opened pre-orders for three revised Xbox consoles on August 21, 2024: a white, 1TB all-digital Xbox Series X for $449.99 U.S. ERP; a 2TB Galaxy Black Series X with a disc drive for $599.99; and a white, 1TB Xbox Series S for $349.99. The two Series X models launched October 15, 2024, with select countries following October 29. These are historical 2024 launch prices and dates, not a new 2026 announcement. Microsoft later said it would sunset the 2TB model effective August 1, 2026.
What went up for pre-order?
The August 21, 2024 announcement covered three consoles, not just the two Series X configurations. Microsoft’s pre-order notice said orders would open later that day through Xbox.com, the Microsoft Store, and participating local retailers, subject to market availability.
| Model | Storage | Disc drive | Launch U.S. ERP | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X – 1TB Digital Edition | 1TB SSD | No | $449.99 | Robot White; digital-only game access |
| Xbox Series X – 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition | 2TB SSD | Yes | $599.99 | Galaxy Black finish and matching special-edition controller; limited quantities in select markets |
| Xbox Series S – 1TB | 1TB SSD | No | $349.99 | Robot White; a separate, lower-tier console option |
Microsoft’s June 2024 product announcement listed U.S. and European estimated retail pricing (ERP): $449.99/€499.99 for the digital Series X and $599.99/€649.99 for the 2TB edition. The Series S 1TB White was listed at $349.99 in the U.S. ERP. ERP is an estimate, not a guarantee of what a retailer charged at checkout. Taxes, local pricing, bundles, stock and retailer pricing can differ.
How the two Series X models differ
Both are Series X consoles with the same stated core speed and performance. The premium for the Galaxy Black edition did not buy a faster processor or a performance tier: it bought twice the advertised internal storage, an optical disc drive, a special finish and a matching controller. At the original U.S. ERPs, the difference was $150.
#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.
1TB Digital Edition: lower entry price, no physical media
The Digital Edition is Robot White and has a 1TB SSD, but no optical drive. It can play digitally owned games and games accessed through a subscription when the relevant access is available; it cannot read physical Xbox game discs or 4K UHD Blu-ray discs. A physical game disc is not a digital license, so this is not a suitable replacement for someone who expects to use an existing disc library.
This model makes the most sense for players who already buy games digitally, use digital access such as Game Pass, and do not need Blu-ray playback. The cost saving is real at the launch ERP, but storage is still 1TB—not 2TB. A large digital library may mean rotating installations or later adding storage.
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
2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition: more room and a disc drive
The Galaxy Black model has a 2TB SSD and an optical disc drive. Its finish uses a celestial silver, gray and green effect, and the included Xbox Wireless Controller has a Galaxy Black D-pad and Velocity Green rear section. Microsoft described it as limited in quantity in select markets. The November 2024 availability update also confirmed the disc drive and repeated its $599.99 U.S. ERP.
Choose it over the digital model if you own compatible physical Xbox games, want 4K UHD Blu-ray playback, or keep many large games installed at once. Its disc drive also makes it a more flexible option for physical purchases. The advertised capacity is not all available to games: the operating system and reserved system data use some space, and the exact usable amount depends on the console and software. Microsoft’s launch materials do not establish one universal usable-space figure.
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.
Storage expansion and game compatibility
The 2TB console supports Xbox Series X|S Storage Expansion Cards; Microsoft’s product listing says compatible cards provide storage performance matching the internal drive. A card is sold separately. That is the straightforward high-speed route when you need more capacity for native Series X|S games.
External USB storage can be useful for storing games and playing compatible older titles, but it is not generally a substitute for the internal SSD or an Expansion Card for playing native Series X|S games. The practical comparison is therefore not simply “1TB versus 2TB”: consider whether you need a disc drive and whether you want to pay for high-speed expansion later. Do not assume the 2TB premium is cheaper than an expansion card without checking current local prices.
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.
Backward compatibility does not remove the disc-drive distinction. Series X|S supports many games from earlier Xbox generations, but a digital console cannot read a physical disc that is needed to authenticate a disc-based copy. Check a title’s compatibility and ownership requirements before relying on a physical copy.
Launch dates and regional availability
Microsoft scheduled the main launch for October 15, 2024, with select countries receiving the consoles on October 29. Availability varied by country. The August pre-order notice listed Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States for the rollout. It separately said Mexico pre-orders were coming soon.
The announcement named Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Israel, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and the UAE as excluded from that pre-order rollout. Those statements describe the 2024 announcement, not a guarantee of later stock or present-day availability. For current purchases, check Microsoft’s store or a local authorized retailer; U.S. ERPs should not be treated as universal prices.
Which Series X is the better fit?
- Pick the 1TB Digital Edition if you have no physical-game or Blu-ray collection, buy digitally, and want the lower 2024 launch price for Series X performance. Be prepared to manage a 1TB library or pay for extra storage if needed.
- Pick the 2TB Galaxy Black edition if you need a disc drive, want twice the advertised capacity, or value its design and included controller. The extra $150 at launch did not provide higher performance.
- Consider the standard 1TB Series X if you want a disc drive but not 2TB or the special-edition design. Xbox listed its Carbon Black 1TB model at $499.99 U.S. ERP in November 2024, between the two launch prices.
- Compare the Series S separately if price is the priority. It was included in the same pre-order announcement, but it is a different console tier and should not be treated as another Series X configuration.
There is no universal winner. Physical-media ownership makes the digital model a poor fit; digital-only players may have no use for the 2TB model’s disc drive. For a large installed library, compare the value of 2TB built in against adding compatible storage later, using current prices rather than the 2024 ERPs.
What changed after the 2024 launch?
On November 15, 2024, Xbox said the revised console options were available in select markets, while reiterating that availability varied by country. That update followed the August pre-order opening and October launch; it was not the original order date.
There is a further status change for readers arriving in 2026: in a June 25, 2026 price update, Microsoft said it would sunset the 2TB Xbox model effective August 1, 2026. That is a production-status announcement, not proof that every retailer immediately ran out of remaining inventory. An indexed store page or reseller listing may reflect residual stock, and current availability and pricing depend on market and seller. The 2024 launch ERPs above are historical reference points, not current price quotes.
Quick Recap
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.
