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The $1,600 figure is not supported as the standard U.S. price of an Xbox Series X in the available reporting. GamesRadar reported an $800 U.S. price for the disc model in October 2026, while a Microsoft Store listing checked October 12 showed a $649.99 starting price alongside an out-of-stock notice. Those are different listings and contexts, not a universal price. Microsoft has cited rising memory and storage costs for price increases, but the available evidence does not establish a current retail-shortage rate. On exclusives, Xbox announced two console-exclusive games in June 2026; that does not mean every Xbox game will be exclusive.
How much does an Xbox Series X cost?
There is no single price established for every country, model, or retailer. In October 2026, GamesRadar reported that the U.S. disc version was priced at $800. A Microsoft Store listing accessed October 12, 2026, displayed “Starting From $649.99” and an “Out of stock?” prompt. The listings differ in context, and the Microsoft Store page does not establish that $649.99 is the price of the same configuration or an available console. Check the live listing and participating retailers for your market before buying.
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Microsoft’s product page describes the Series X with a 1 TB custom SSD, native 4K output and up to 120 FPS. Those are manufacturer specifications, not a guarantee that every game runs at those settings. The page also describes a UHD Blu-ray disc player, which is a key distinction from the disc-free Series S.
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Microsoft has attributed its price pressure to higher memory and storage component costs. In a June 25, 2026 announcement, the company said console prices would change on August 1 and said storage and memory prices had risen by more than 2.5 times, with another doubling expected by fall 2027. Those figures are Microsoft’s explanation, not an independent market-wide measurement.
#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.
In a separate June 10 Xbox Wire post, CEO Asha Sharma described the company’s internal costs for console storage components: “When I joined as CEO in February, the price we paid for console storage components was over 2x as high as we paid last fall.” She added, “These costs have since doubled again.” Sharma said another significant increase was expected by the 2027 holiday season. These statements concern Microsoft’s costs, not the retail price of every Series X listing.
Is the Xbox Series X out of stock?
The Microsoft Store listing checked October 12, 2026, showed an out-of-stock prompt, but that observation is specific to that listing and can change. Microsoft says availability depends on the market and directs customers to participating retailers. The reviewed reporting does not provide a named regulator, independent auditor or primary dataset that quantifies current Series X retail shortages.
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
Sales declines do not measure stock availability. GamesRadar, citing Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, reported that U.S. year-to-date Xbox hardware unit sales through August 2026 were down 33% year over year, compared with a 25% decline for PlayStation hardware, and described Xbox’s figure as an all-time low for U.S. year-to-date hardware sales. Those are sales figures, not a shortage rate; they cannot establish how many consoles retailers had in stock or how many buyers could not find one.
Does Xbox have any console exclusives?
At its June 7, 2026 showcase, Xbox announced Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution as console exclusives and explicitly said they were not timed exclusives. Xbox also said games already announced for multiplatform release would stay on that plan. This supports a limited conclusion: Xbox named two exclusive announcements and stated a strategy, not that all future Xbox games will be exclusive or that earlier multiplatform plans have been reversed.
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.
Windows Central reported that Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball described a “reliable pipeline” of exclusives and acknowledged that some Xbox exclusives would sell fewer units than they would on multiple platforms. These are Ball’s comments as reported by the outlet, distinct from Xbox’s official showcase announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you compare before buying?
Choose based on your local price and the games you want, rather than treating a headline price or an availability notice as universal. Microsoft presents Series X as the 4K model with a disc drive; it describes Series S as disc-free and designed for 1440p, with 512 GB or 1 TB storage configurations. Both support a storage expansion card, according to Microsoft.
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.
- Price and stock: Compare the exact configuration, seller, local currency and current availability. Prices and stock listings can change.
- Disc or digital: Series X includes a UHD Blu-ray drive; Series S is disc-free. Consider whether you use physical games or movies.
- Resolution and storage: Match the console’s target resolution and storage configuration to your display and library. Microsoft lists a 1 TB custom SSD for Series X.
- Games and platforms: Check the confirmed platforms for the particular games you plan to play. The two June 2026 exclusive announcements do not settle the platform plans for every Xbox title.
- New or previously played: Microsoft points buyers to certified-refurbished consoles and has discussed lower-priced previously played hardware through retail partners. Check the local offer, condition and seller terms.
Microsoft says the Series X package includes the console, an Xbox controller, a high-speed HDMI cable and a power cord. For more game storage, it recommends the 1 TB Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S, which Microsoft says is designed to retain the console’s custom SSD performance. The Series X page also says it supports thousands of games across four Xbox generations and that most Xbox One controllers and accessories work with Series X|S; these are manufacturer descriptions.
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Sources
- GamesRadar+ reporting on current U.S. console prices and sales figures
- Microsoft Store Xbox Series X listing
- Microsoft’s June 25, 2026 console price update
- Xbox Wire post by CEO Asha Sharma, June 10, 2026
- Xbox showcase announcement, June 7, 2026
- Windows Central report on Matthew Ball’s comments
- Microsoft Xbox Series X|S product and specifications page
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.
