Specifications
- Processor
- 8‑core Custom Zen 2 @ 3.8 GHz (3.6 GHz with SMT)
Photos
What reviewers say
Digital Trends reviews the Xbox Series S as an impressive, compact next‑gen console that delivers instant loading and solid performance at a good price, but notes that its limited storage, lower visual fidelity compared to the Series X, and the cost of expanding memory make it less worthwhile for many buyers.
www.digitaltrends.com ↗
The Verge’s review praises the Xbox Series S for its compact size and sleek white design while noting its lack of a disc drive, Wi‑Fi 6, and USB‑C ports as drawbacks. The reviewer highlights that the console shares many internal components with the Series X but has less GPU power, making it best paired with a 1080p display. Overall, the review gives the console a strong score (7.5/10) for its design and performance potential.
www.theverge.com ↗
IGN’s review of the Xbox Series S acknowledges its affordability and compact size as positives but highlights several drawbacks: it lacks a disc drive, offers only upscaled 1440p rather than native 4K, has lower performance (4‑TFLOP vs. X’s 12‑TFLOP), limited storage (364 GB usable), and can feel underwhelming for serious gamers who might prefer the Series X.
www.ign.com ↗
Windows Central’s review acknowledges the Xbox Series S as a compact, capable console that delivers solid 1080p performance and quick load times, and praises its design, silent cooling, Quick Resume feature, and access to Game Pass. However, it points out drawbacks such as a quickly filling 512 GB SSD, visual issues in some titles, and most importantly the recent price hike that erodes its value for budget‑conscious buyers, making it less compelling compared with rivals like the PS5 Digital Edition.
www.windowscentral.com ↗
The review praises the Xbox Series S as a compact, silent, and affordable entry into current‑gen gaming that still delivers solid performance at 1080p–1440p with up to 120fps in supported titles. It highlights the console’s next‑generation hardware (4 TFLOPS GPU, 10 GB GDDR6 RAM, custom NVMe SSD), digital‑only design, and strong feature set such as Quick Resume, ray tracing, backward compatibility, and Xbox Game Pass integration. The author notes that the main drawback is limited storage on the base 512 GB model, recommending the 1 TB version for most users. Overall, the review gives the console an 8/10 score.
gamingpromax.com ↗
Tom’s Guide reviews the Xbox Series S as a compact, affordable next‑gen console that delivers solid performance and a large game library but falls short on future‑proofing, high resolution, and storage capacity. The article praises its sleek design, quiet operation, and value while noting its hardware limits.
www.tomsguide.com ↗
What Hi‑Fi? praises the Xbox Series S for its attractive price, solid AV and gaming performance and responsive controls, while noting drawbacks such as a complicated AV set‑up, lack of native 4K support and limited storage.
www.whathifi.com ↗
Our take
Based on 7 reviews
All seven reviews praise the Xbox Series S for its compact size, affordable price, and solid 1080p performance, highlighting quick load times, silent operation, and Game Pass access. Based on their tests, we conclude that the Series S remains a strong entry point for budget-conscious gamers seeking current-generation features without the premium price tag.
Reviewers agree that the 512 GB storage fills quickly, with several noting that expanding memory adds significant expense. While some praise its performance potential, others argue it falls short for serious gamers or those wanting future-proofing. Buyers should weigh the compact, affordable design against storage constraints and visual compromises.
Pros
- Compact size and sleek design
- Affordable price point
- Quick load times and silent operation
- Game Pass integration
Cons
- Limited 512 GB storage fills quickly
- No disc drive or native 4K
- Expensive memory expansion
Best for: Budget buyers on 1080p displays seeking compact, affordable next-gen gaming; avoid if you need high resolution or ample storage.
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