With the official reveal of the Xbox Series X and Series S yesterday, many fans are now spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing their next-generation Microsoft console. Let’s find out which console is best for you and help you make a decision!
Xbox Series X VS Xbox Series S – A comparison
Microsoft has fired the first shot in ending the hype for the next-generation console wars. In the day’s fans will wait for Sony to respond to yesterday’s well-handled PR situation with Microsoft, let’s find out which console is best for you and why you should go for it!
First off, you can look at the official pages for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S here.
Here is a hardware spec sheet of both consoles for those who are tech savvy.
With the technical specifications out of the way, let’s jump into individual factors that can influence your console purchase.
Price
The Xbox Series S will retail at $299, and for $24.99 over a 24-month period, you get the Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass, and EA Play (Formerly EA Access). When you’re paying $24.99 over 24 months, that totals to $599.76. While many might see this as overpaying, keep in mind that Game Pass annual subscription is $119.99, Xbox Live Gold is $59.99 for 12 months, and EA Play is $29.99 for 12 months.
If we only calculate the services, you’re paying $240, $120, and $60 respectively which adds up to $420 over a 2 year period.
With the installment plan, you’re actually saving $120.
In the same case, the Xbox Series X will retail at $499, and for $34.99 over a 24-month period you’re again getting all of the previously mentioned services. Over a 2 year period, you’re paying a total of $840, if you minus the $499 for the console, you’re left with $340, meaning you’re now saving $80 over a 2 year period.
You can see that buying the installment plan deal of either console is beneficial and also offers savings for the long run. It’s all up to your budget on which machine you can afford without hampering your credit.
Performance
First off, both systems will utilize the Xbox Velocity Architecture. This means regardless of system choice you’re still getting the speedy load times, super-fast framerates up to 120FPS, the ability to switch between actively running games, and all the other offerings of the Architecture.
Before we come to display, you have to make sure the display you’re going to use is capable of HDMI 2.1.
However, the biggest distinguishing factor here is resolution. The Xbox Series S cuts off at 1440p which means Microsoft intended this for use with monitors. The Xbox Series X is capable of outputting 4K.
If you’re a student who will do a lot of moving, the Xbox Series S is the best option for you as its the most portable and can easily work in a dormitory-like setting where monitors are more common over TVs.
If you have a home and have a 4K ready TV which you can easily play without interruption, then go for the Xbox Series X.
Portability
Hands down the Xbox Series S is meant to be carried around with better comfort and ease. According to a handy spec sheet on Engadget.
We know that the Xbox Series S is 60% the size of the Xbox Series S, so it’s meant to be a more portable and lightweight solution.
The Xbox Series X is also light, but the form factor of it makes it very inconvenient, especially, standing at almost 12 inches in height.
The Xbox Series S is easier to fit in the arms overall as its similar to carrying a weighty laptop. The Xbox Series X is almost rounded like a basketball and you will have to carry it similar to one.
It all comes down to if you’re going to frequently take your console from your home to your dormitory, office, or any other setting and said place will have a capable display.
My personal preference would be the Xbox Series S for portability, but if you don’t mind carrying the taller Xbox Series X, you will get used to it.
Summary
Both consoles will offer little to no difference when it comes to major titles. At most, the Xbox Series X will offer 4K and 60FPS to certain titles while the Xbox Series S can not. Otherwise, both console will be able to play the same games, but at different resolutions.
This is more or less akin to the previous generation of console generation choice, with the Xbox One S and Xbox One X all over again.
In the end, it all comes down to whether you can afford the monthly payments and if you can offer a display to pair with the console you choose.