Shopping for a new Xbox? Following two options will leave you spoilt for choices! The $500 Xbox Series X or the $300 Xbox Series S. Both play the same games for years. But they differ in graphics power and disc support. Series X supports discs; Series S is digital-only. Let’s break it down and help you choose!

Microsoft Xbox Series X

The Series X costs more but delivers better graphics. Perfect for 4K TVs! Got a fancy TV or planning to buy one? This Xbox console is worth it. It also has way more storage for your games. Plus, if you own old Xbox discs, only the Series X has a disc drive.

Microsoft Xbox Series S

The Series S is cheaper but still packs a punch! No 4K TV? No problem. Play all current games without breaking the bank. It’s great for Game Pass fans—you won’t miss the disc drive! Ideal for kids, travelers, and budget-conscious gamers. Bonus: It’s compact enough to fit in your carry-on luggage.

The Series S has two versions:

  • White (512 GB) for $300.
  • Black (1 TB) for $350.

The white version will save you money while delivering great value—it’s a solid deal!

Xbox Series X vs. Xbox Series S: Quick Comparison

Feature

Xbox Series X

Xbox Series S

Game Selection & Discs

Plays new games and old ones (backward compatible). Has a disc drive for physical games.

Plays the same games but no disc drive. Digital-only gaming.

Resolution

Designed for true 4K gaming. Best for 4K TVs.

Optimized for 1080p or 1440p. Not ideal for 4K gaming.

Graphics Quality

Supports ray tracing, variable refresh rates, and shading for top-tier visuals.

Similar features but less powerful. Some games skip ray tracing.

Expandable Storage

Expandable via memory cards (512 GB: $80, 1 TB: $150, 2 TB: $250). Supports external USB drives.

Same expandable storage options as Series X.

Size

Big and boxy: 12” tall, 6” x 6” base.

Compact and slim: 11” x 5.9” x 2.6”. Easy to place anywhere.

Which Should You Choose?

  • Xbox Series X: If you want to play 4K games as well as use physical media while demanding peak performance this device satisfies those needs. 
  • Xbox Series S: For budget-friendly, digital gaming, and compact spaces.

No matter which version of Xbox gaming console you choose you will enjoy gaming for multiple years ahead.

Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S: why are they worth the investment?

Setup

Your initial boot of either the Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S showcases all the transformation Xbox has undergone. Now, your Android or iPhone can handle most of the setup. You can recover your settings along with preferences and game files from both your previous console system and cloud storage. In just a few minutes, you’re good to go!

Load Times

Speed is the biggest upgrade. Both consoles take about 9 seconds to boot up from being unplugged. Returning from standby? Just a couple of seconds. Thanks to fast load times, we recommend using the enhanced power-saving settings. These power-saving features let you have non-compromised gaming without losing performance. The Quick Resume feature enables players to restart their supported games exactly at their previous stop without disconnecting their gaming console. Just be aware, online games might have a few hiccups with this.

Fast Storage

The Xbox Series X and S incorporates fast NVMe storage protocol that delivers both quick initializations and rapid game launches alongside buttery-smooth in-game performance. Everything loads almost instantly, depending on your internet connection. Coming from an Xbox One? It’s like upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone—crazy fast!

User Interface

The system interface runs quickly while maintaining its accustomed presentation. You’ll find external storage support, Auto HDR, FPS Boost, and cool features like night mode. Plus, you can adjust the interface colors depending on the time of day! There are even fun animated backgrounds, including a special Xbox 20th-anniversary theme when you connect a limited-edition 20th-anniversary controller.

Better Graphics

Games from the past benefit from improved visual fidelity that delivers both enhanced pixel density and improved frame rates while adding additional detail to graphics elements. Users will find enhanced realistic game environments alongside better lighting conditions as well as effects featuring natural physical elements such as smoke and fog features.

Videos look even more premium through ray tracing technology that exists solely on Series X models for Xbox games. Forza Motorsport, for example, supports ray-traced reflections and shadows on the Series X, but not on the Xbox Series S.

Smooth Performance

Both consoles boast powerful CPUs, four times more powerful than the Xbox One and PS4. Higher frame rates at 60 fps deliver games which feel much smoother to play. Multiple games reach a rate of 120 frames per second which leads to insanely smooth gameplay. And with variable refresh rates, even games with inconsistent frame rates won’t feel sluggish. Titles like Dead Island 2, Diablo 4, and Elden Ring hit 60 fps modes, something the Xbox One can’t do.

Backward Compatibility

You can still play your old Xbox One games, and they’ll look even better on the Series X|S. Enhanced gaming displays through Auto HDR technology enable older titles to deliver ultra-bright and crystal-clear visuals. Some older titles, like Fallout 3, get a 4K 60 fps update. And with FPS Boost, some games even run at 120 fps. The best part? Xbox’s Smart Delivery ensures you always get the best version of a game, so no more confusion about which version to download.

Recommended read: Best Xbox Games of 2025

Xbox Series Controller

The Xbox Series X and S controllers come with an evolution of the classic Xbox design, adding a share button below the jewel icon and textured grips and triggers for better control. Gamers using older Xbox One accessories can keep playing with their current equipment thanks to the backward compatibility between the Series X and S consoles.

Controllers fight sticks, media remotes and formatted storage devices can all interoperate. The only exception is the Kinect, which is not supported. Users must perform a firmware update on their older controllers to optimize latency performance between these controllers and the latest console hardware.

Conclusion

Xbox Series X and Series S provide exceptional gaming experiences although they have different storage sizes. Xbox Series X features 1 TB standard storage and can provide 802 GB of user space yet Series S users only get 364 GB which runs out faster. You should invest in Official Storage Expansion Cards from Western Digital or Seagate to boost your storage capacity although these devices remain costly.

Alternatively, external SSDs can store games, though they can’t run Series X and S exclusives directly. Performance excellence in both Xbox Series X and Series S represents strong reasons to upgrade regardless of which xbox console you select.

FAQs

1. Are Xbox Series X and S backward compatible?

Players can access Xbox One titles (exclusive of Kinect games) and numerous Xbox 360 games on both systems which run at improved framerates and resolution levels.

2. Do the Xbox Series X and S support 4K?

Users can play games at 4K resolution on the Series X console while the Series S provides lower end resolution options. Every streaming service option operates at 4K resolution and has HDR functionality active. The UHD Blu-ray drive appears in the Series X model even though the Series S version does not integrate a disc drive.

3. Do the Xbox Series X and S support variable refresh rate?

The consoles deliver variable refresh rate using HDMI 2.1 technology together with low frame rate compensation to achieve smoother gameplay performance. Learn more about display technologies in our blog on Curved vs. Flat Gaming Monitors.