Verdict
The Xbox Series S is the best next - gen console for anyone on a budget or without a in high spirits - end 4 K TV , with the tally performance superpower permit for importantly good graphics than what ’s possible with an Xbox One S. The meager 364 GB store capability is inexcusable for a console lack a disk drive , ready the add-on of a newfangled 1 TB Carbon Black model in June a welcome one .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Xbox Series S launch as the most affordable way into this latest propagation of cabinet games , with Sony offering no direct competition . Despite its low price , the Series S countenance you play the same games as the more powerfulXbox Series X. It had one key flaw at launching , which has now been somewhat correct .
This adaptation of the latest Xbox does n’t provide all the capability of the dear Series X , like a physical disk drive or native 4 K power , but you ’re sacrificing these for a lower monetary value .
Like the Series X , a big part of this console experience is the excellent Game Pass subscription service . The rank gives you many Xbox exclusives on day one as well as opening up a vast program library of title to you .
The Xbox Series S remains a singular economic value proposition up against thePS5and Xbox Series X , and Sony still has n’t put up a rival to present it , even with the latest PS5 Slim launching . However , the Series S was hamstring by a want of store . A fresh 1 TB Carbon Black model ( £ 299/$349 ) that wasintroduced in June 2023aims to fix this progeny though . allow ’s dive into our full followup .
Design and connectivity
The Xbox Series S is staggeringly small , alike in size to a hardcover book . This means that get a home for it in your idiot box cabinet will be improbably prosperous – which , arguably , ca n’t be said for either the PS5 or Xbox Series X.
There are four caoutchouc core on its undersurface , and four more on one of its slope , so you may seamlessly switch between horizontal and vertical standing positions . It ’s a little irksome that the radiate - up Xbox logo on the powerfulness release ca n’t twist around to accommodate a horizontal position , but this is a pocket-size criticism .
Microsoft has pore on practicality over styling , with the white cuboid box displaying a minimalist design . Circular vent-hole holes can be found on both the side and top of the Xbox , while the Xbox logotype has been etched into the top - right niche to provide some sophisticated flair . It ’s a gorgeous design , with Microsoft acknowledging that consoles should look fashionable but without imbibe undue aid to your amusement setup .
At the top of the boxful , you ’ll notice a big dark traffic circle , cover in dozens of lilliputian holes . This not only secern the console table from the Xbox One S , but also cue folk not to block the air vents from where most of the hot strain will be throw out .
On the front you ’ll detect a single USB 3.1 interface neighbour a syncing release , which is used to connect Bluetooth peripheral . Turn the console around and there are more ports on the hindquarters , let in 1Gbps Ethernet , two USB 3.1 , an HDMI 2.1 out and a storage elaboration one-armed bandit .
The latter allow for a way of life to increase the inner memory of the cabinet via bespoke Seagate SSD drive , which are n’t too unalike to the memory carte du jour of old . These may appear to be super - expensive store expanding upon solutions , but they ’re significantly easier to insert and hit compare to Sony ’s approach with the PS5 .
The braggart connectivity omission is Wi - Fi 6 , which allows for speedier and more stable internet connector with compatible routers . With the required hardware , the PS5 is technically able to download games 30 % faster than the next - gen Xbox consoles . It ’s a veridical shame that the Series S lack this feature , especially since it ’s also without a disk drive and is dependent on digital downloads .
I believe the Xbox Series S is the best - looking console of the next - gen trio , remain the most faithful to the authoritative figure . It count suave , is sufficiently thickset to fit in your TV console comfortably , and features all the ports required for a true next - gen experience . What more could you need ?
Specs and technology
The Xbox Series S is n’t as powerful as either the PS5 or Xbox Series X , but do n’t let that fool you into thinking it is a half - baked next - gen console table . The graphical faithfulness of which the Series S is capable is owing , packing high-pitched - closing spec you ’d normally only find in a £ 1,000 - odd gaming personal computer .
This bantam box features the same AMD Ryzen Zen 2 central processor as the Series X , with eight Congress of Racial Equality running at a eyeshade 3.8GHz frequency . One of those cores is give to the operating arrangement , which ensures you may flick through the habitation screen and menu mount without any delays or stutters .
Its GPU is the biggest difference between the Series S and Series X. Both consoles feature custom AMD RDNA 2 GPUs , but the former sees just 4 TFLOPs of public presentation power compare to the 12 TFLOPs plant in the Series X. It ’s important to annul getting becharm up with teraflop numbers when judging the performance of any gadget , but it does emphasise the graphical gulf between these two Xbox consoles .
Xbox Series X targets a 4 K functioning at 60fps for AAA games , with the shape pace speed up to a 120fps crest for less demanding titles . Meanwhile , the Xbox Series S targets a 1440p resolution and a maximum 120fps performance . This is still very much a obtrusive excrescence up on 1080p gambling , although you ’ll need a compatible presentation with HDMI 2.1 support to benefit from these visual improvements .
The bigger issue here is the lack of GPU dynamic headroom that developers have to cultivate with . We ’ve already seen Devil May exclaim 5 cut beam retrace support for the Series S , and there may well be further compromises for other game down the road when liken to the more brawny next - gen consoles .
That say , with the Xbox One S featuring only 1.4 TFLOPs of grunt , the Series S still offers a significant carrying into action leap on its predecessor . Optimised games from the back catalogue such asGears 5look remarkably better , with the developer able to embrace more advanced shading techniques .
We ’ll only pop to see the lawful potential of the Series S once games arrive that have been build up from the ground up for the next - gen hardware , with the likes ofHellblade 2,Halo InfiniteandStarfieldall promising exercise for the future .
The new RDNA 2 GPU computer architecture also allows developers to take reward of several next - gen feature , with the standout being DirectX Raytracing . This engineering allows compatible games to render hyper - realistic lighting , shadow and thoughtfulness core . This is very much a cutting - edge technology , so to see it arrive on a £ 249 console is phenomenal .
However , since this tech often causes a significant carrying out penalty , it may be the case that developer will be hesitating to implement it . So far , the only extremely notable Series S games confirm to put up ray trace include Watch Dogs Legion , Forza Motorsport 8 and Halo Infinite . That ’s a pretty miserable oblation , but it will likely improve importantly over the next yr or so .
The Xbox Series S also boast a Custom NVME SSD , which any PC gamer will tell you propose a hearty footstep up from HDD drives found in old - generation consoles . Xbox claims this NVME SSD boasts a humongous 40x improvement to the throughput of Xbox One , resulting in significantly shorter load times . The graphics boost may be the most exciting feature , but it ’s the new SSD fastness that will belike have the adult impingement for the next - gen console .
The main downside of the original Xbox Series S is that NVME SSDs are expensive , so Xbox only provide 512 GB of computer storage capacity , which is incredibly stingy . To make matters worse , only 364 GB is available for game downloads , as the respite is take up by the system software . Consider that the the likes of of Gears 5 and Doom Eternal both demand over 50 GB of storehouse space each , and you could see how this console table is going to reach maximum capacity very quick . Thankfully , in June of this year , Xbox launched a raw 1 TB Carbon Black theoretical account to go some style to fix this issue .
Cloud plot saves at least mean you wo n’t have to cancel your progress when you uninstall a game file , but the hassle of redownloading a game every clip you require to roleplay it is still very frustrating . dilate the storage is essential , driving up the cost of the console table considerably .
Graphics and performance
That ’s enough of the jargon and teraflop numbers . How do games look on the Xbox Series S ? Unfortunately , Microsoft was only able to provide us with a fistful of optimised games forwards of the review embargo , include Gears 5 , Gears Tactics and Tetris Connected .
Gears 5 was comfortably the respectable example of what the Series S is capable of , with light visual improvements compared to the Xbox One S. With the add GPU index , The Coalition has been able-bodied to hike up the graphics to a higher setting , so the Series S matches the carrying into action of a mellow - end personal computer .
Without getting too technical with nomenclature , The Coalition has implemented more sophisticated proficiency to make in - game environment , lighting and character models appear more naturalistic . As you’re able to see in the photo below , the improved ignition effects leave in greater contrast between bright lightsome sources and shadowy corridors , helping to produce a far more immersive atmosphere .
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On left : Xbox One S. On mightily : Xbox Series S
Metal objective , such as the room vents and pipes stretched out across the wall , now appear more reflective . On the One S , these objects look like they ’re made of charge plate .
Improved textures will also help to add more photo realism , both for character models and various objects that make up your surroundings . This is evince with the rubble on the left-hand - hand side in the picture below .
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The extra GPU grunt also allows developers to ameliorate the contingent of far - away aim , helping a mountain landscape or remote fiber appear more marked , for lesson .
There are uncounted other enhancements to get aroused about , too , with the photos below evince the Series S to be capable of displaying more pictorial coloring and finer detail .
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Although not percipient in the photos , the 1440p resolution also makes images sharper , form the less pixelated 1080p adaptation on One S appear muzzy by comparability . However , unless you have a Quad HD play monitor or a 4 kilobyte television receiver you ’ll likely be limited to Full HD visuals and so wo n’t benefit from this upgrade .
The added power of the Series S also allow you to play Gears 5 at60fps , which is a noticeable improvement on the 30fps Xbox One S performance . This rise ensures smooth motion when aiming your shooter or charge into battle . The Coalition has enabled up to 120fps for the multiplayer for even smoother visuals , although you ’ll need a reasonably expensive TV with HDMI 2.1 musical accompaniment ( or a gambling reminder ) to see the difference beyond 60fps .
You ’ll comment significant execution improvement for racing games in this regard too , with fluid motion when err around a tight corner at lightning speeds . More slow - paced games such as Sea of Thieves and Minecraft wo n’t see much of a benefit from the varying refresh rate documentation , but it ’s still nice to have the option .
Gears 5 looks wondrous now , and yet this is just an optimised update rather than a complete remaking . you may expect games that are plan specifically for the next multiplication of consoles to look even substantially , although it will unfortunately take prison term for such titles to be issue . With the delay of Halo Infinite , Xbox ’s first - party launch lineup picket in comparison to the PS5 ’s game such asMiles MoralesandDemon ’s Souls .
That said , Microsoft has done a stellar job of ensuring its entire back catalogue of game ( excluding those that require Kinect ) across Xbox , Xbox 360 and Xbox One all wreak on the Series S. sealed games that have been optimised for Series S and X ( such as Gears 5 ) offer the greatest visual improvements , but other deed that lack the next - gen update have still seemingly benefited too . Colours appeared more vivid in Doom Eternal , for good example , give more justice to the DOE plasma beams that barbeque the barrage of demons .
The absolute majority of games I ’ve prove benefit from the ultra - quick NVME SSD , too , with loading times plump to such an extent that I ’ve now scarce get fourth dimension to unlock my smartphone before the Series S loads into monolithic open - world game .
I measured how many second it took for the Series S to load up various games from the chief computer menu , and then compared the final result to the Series X , One X and One S consoles . Drive speeds can be affected by many variable , such as the amount of data being stash away , so although you may not see these exact figures with your consoles , they nevertheless provide a very good melodic theme of how these consoles compare .
The Series S trounced the Xbox One S in our test , involve less than 15 seconds to load Gears 5 , Doom Eternal and The Witcher 3 . Even Final Fantasy XV read only 17 second to load ; it take on a lengthy 1 bit and 23 indorsement to do the same on the Xbox One S. These rapid SSD speeds do n’t only make respawns more seamless , but also allow developers to create more obtusely detailed environments for next game .
Our test argue that the Series X was marginally fast than the cheaper Series S Xbox when payload games , but unremarkably only by a twosome of moment . Once again , this punctuate the head that the Series S is proffer a proper next - gen experience , minus the 4 K performance for gaming .
Despite packing so much power , the Xbox Series S remained silent throughout testing , whether I was gunning down extraterrestrial being in Gears 5 or building up my garden in Viva Pinata . I have noticed that the top gentle wind vent-hole generates a tidy sum of hot air when playing extraneous game . This is hardly an payoff , with all in high spirits - end gaming hardware generating heat these days . Nevertheless , you ’ll want to ensure the blowhole has plenty of airflow to keep issues further down the line .
User Experience
Microsoft has n’t made many alteration to the Xbox ’s user interface . The more powerful CPU has at least made darting between the online Xbox Store and arrangement options a more seamless experience – but , otherwise , everything will be very conversant for those who ’ve antecedently owned an Xbox One S or X.
game , apps and the Xbox Games Pass library each have their own ascribe row , so it ’s incredibly sluttish to site what you ’re calculate for . Your Xbox game library can also be filter between generations , so you could easily locate your Xbox 360 plot amidst your huge collection of Xbox One title .
Those titles that offer optimisation financial backing for Series S and X are distinctly indicated , with games such as Gears 5 and Gears Tactics displaying the S / X symbol .
One of the good new features for the Series S is Quick Resume . The next - gen SSD drive enables the console table to store up to six games on a cache simultaneously , allowing you to open them up from a freeze state and return you to incisively where you left off . This avoids the need for loading up menus every time you swap between various games , permit me to wait just 7 seconds to trench Doom Eternal and start playing Gears 5 .
I ’m also impressed at how gentle it is to remove all of your games and save data to the Series S. Xbox automatically saves all of your keep open data to the cloud , so as long as you have an net connection , the console should load up all your save file without proceeds . Every digital biz you antecedently purchased on the Xbox One S / X should pop up in your game assembling , too , simply requiring a download to instal it on your Series S.
While play is the focus , the Xbox Series S also has a twine of video playback apps to make it a fantastic multimedia twist . Netflix , Disney Plus and Prime Video are all included , and while there are some noticeable skip for UK - base viewing audience such as Now TV , Sky Go and BritBox , I ’m surefooted they ’ll arrive on the political platform at a later date .
The Xbox Series S is able of up to 8 kB resolutions for video streaming apps . While every major app presently lacks support for this picture caliber , it ’s still very welcome that this mini box is future - proofed for the foreseeable . For now , the Series S can treat 4 special K message with sang-froid . In increase , support for HDR , Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos ensures that the Series S is more than capable of being the centering point of your dwelling house cinema setup .
Unfortunately , the lack of a disk drive mean the Series S wo n’t be able to play your aggregation of Ultra HD Blu - ray discs . If that ’s an essential requirement then you ’re better off opting for the PS5 or Xbox Series X instead . I see the large legal age will be content with pour apps , though .
You should buy the Xbox Series S if…
You want a fellow traveler to the PS5 : If you ’ve already purchased a next - gen console in the pattern of Sony ’s PS5 , the Xbox Series S is a perfect familiar piece . Xbox Game Pass will allow you to access all of the grown exclusives once they arrive and still love a solid gambling experience with little compromise .
You do n’t mind lesser nontextual matter and performance : The Xbox Series S is n’t as powerful as its next - gen companions , that much is a fact . However , if you ’re happy with 1440p functioning and lower graphic fidelity in general , the Xbox Series S stay a very alluring option indeed .
You want a little console table : I’m honestly floor by how dinky the Xbox Series S is , and how Microsoft manage to fit such power into a tiny box . It ’s awful , and can well be slip into a backpack or underneath your desk with ease . This is a far cry from the other two console , which demand their own major space to even manoeuver .
You should not buy the Xbox Series S if…
You want gravid exclusives right now : Halo Infinite has been delayed , and Microsoft ’s exclusive slate beyond Master Chief ’s next risky venture is incredibly light in good order now . This picture will alter , but those who require instantaneous satisfaction from next - gen gaming might not rule it here .
You ’re apprehensive about a deficiency of memory : You should avoid buying the original 512 GB SSD variant of the Xbox Series S if you have any concern regarding there being enough storage for you . But , the 1 TB model is now available at a higher price .
You desire gaming at 4K : This is n’t a 4 K machine , targeting 1440p as its maximal resolution . So , if you wish to regard modern games at their best you ’ll either require to invest in the PS5 , Xbox Series X or even a microcomputer . Series S can still compete in the field of performance , largely because of modest firmness of purpose and graphical choice .
[ squirrel make=”Microsoft ” model=”Xbox Series S ” ]
