The current generation of consoles kicked off in November 2020, and although many of us thought we would be facing the usual battle of Xbox Series X against PlayStation 5the truth is that Microsoft decided to add a new element to the formula with the launch of Xbox Series Sthe youngest of the family.
Under the same architecture, those from Redmond surprised by launching a much more economical model of its new generation console, with the intention of gaining a market share among those users who wanted to enjoy the news of a new console, but without the need to invest the large amount of money that this implies.
In fact, Xbox Series S has positioned itself as the best-selling console of Microsoft’s current generation, surpassing its older sister, and causing debate among many users about which of them they should choose if they want to opt for one. For that reason, below we are going to compare the main differences between Xbox Series X and Xbox Series Sso that you clear up any doubts.
Xbox Series X |
XBOX SERIES S |
|
---|---|---|
CPU |
Custom 3.8GHz 8-core processor with AMD Zen 2 microarchitecture and 7nm photolithography |
Custom 3.6GHz 8-core processor with AMD Zen 2 microarchitecture and 7nm photolithography |
GPU |
Custom graphics processor with 52 compute units at 1.825 GHz, AMD RDNA 2 microarchitecture, and 12 TFLOPS |
Custom graphics processor with 20 compute units at 1.565 GHz, AMD RDNA 2 microarchitecture and 4 TFLOPS |
MEMORY |
16 GB GDDR6 con bus de 320 bits |
10 GB GDDR6 con bus de 128 bits |
MEMORY BANDWIDTH |
10 GB vs. 560 GB/s 6 GB vs. 336 GB/s |
8 GB vs. 224 GB/s 2 GB vs. 56 GB/s |
I/O PERFORMANCE |
2.4 GB/s (uncompressed data) and 4.8 GB/s (compressed data) |
2.4 GB/s (uncompressed data) and 4.8 GB/s (compressed data) |
INTERNAL STORAGE |
Custom 1TB SSD with NVMe interface |
Custom 512GB SSD with NVMe interface |
OPTICAL UNIT |
4K Blu-ray reader |
No |
sound |
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby TrueHD with Atmos and LPCM up to 7.1 channels |
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby TrueHD with Atmos and LPCM up to 7.1 channels |
connectivity |
1 x HDMI 2.1, 3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet and 1 TB Seagate expansion card slot |
1 x HDMI 2.1, 3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet and 1 TB Seagate expansion card slot |
wireless connectivity |
WiFi 802.11ac |
WiFi 802.11ac |
Dimensions |
151 x 151 x 301 mm |
65 x 151 x 275 mm |
weight |
4,44 kg |
1,92 kg |
precio |
From 529 dollars |
From 299 dollars |
Xbox Series X – Standard Ed
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
Xbox Series X Vs Xbox Series S
Same generation, different hardware
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S belong to the same generation, but they have quite noticeable differences when it comes to internal hardware. It is true that share some elements, such as the processor, which is manufactured under the Zen 2 architecture and only present differences in the variable frequency that each one reaches. And the same goes for the performance of the internal NVMe M.2 SSD of both devices, which manage to reach up to 4.8 GB/s with compressed data.
However, Xbox Series X comes out the winner in the rest of the device’s components. The biggest difference lies in its GPU, since the older sister has a 12 TLOPS AMD RDNA 2 based card, with 52 computing units at 1.825 GHz; while Xbox Series S opts for a model also based on RDNA 2, but de 4 TFLOPS
Power vs balance
The power differences between both consoles are quite palpable when comparing both devices. While Xbox Series X is able to achieve 4K resolutions (even 8K in very specific cases), Xbox Series S supports a maximum resolution of 1440p. In addition, the difference will also be noticeable in the rate of frames per second that both consoles are capable of achieving, the most common thing being that the first always offers the possibility of playing at 60 fps, while the second remains at the “old-fashioned” ones. 30 fps.
The price, a determining factor
Given the above, many players might think about unceremoniously opting for the eldest in the family. However, Xbox Series S has a great advantage compared to its older sister, and it is none other than its price. The RRP of 299 dollars means that we are faced with a console with a really considerable quality-price ratio, especially if we are not players looking for the highest possible graphic quality.
For less than 300 dollars we can enjoy the same catalog of games and the same technologies that we find in the most powerful console on the market. Furthermore, and even more importantly, in both we will be able to make the most of the Xbox Game Pass catalogue, so the Xbox Series S is positioned as a really interesting low-cost option.
Physical or digital console
To conclude, the last difference that needs to be mentioned is that Xbox Series X has a 4K Blu-ray readerwhile Xbox Series S is a digital console, which does not incorporate a reader of any type. Therefore, depending on whether we are lovers of the physical format, or if we intended to use our console to play Blu-ray movies, we must be aware that the only one that offers this option is the most expensive option.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, which one to buy?
Why choose Xbox Series
Although the Xbox Series
- It is the most powerful console in the world. If we are looking for a device with which to have the best performance, Xbox Series X is the best choice. Today, it is the most powerful console on the market, even surpassing PlayStation 5.
- Has a disc reader. Many gamers continue to cling to the physical format, so if you are part of them, or simply want to watch a Blu-ray movie from time to time through your console, Series X is the ideal option for that.
- More options than Series S. The lack of power of the Series S has caused games like Baldur’s Gate 3 to dispense with certain elements, such as cooperative play. Therefore, Series X is capable of offering a more complete gaming experience.
Xbox Series X – Standard Ed
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
Why choose Xbox Series S
The Xbox Series S is positioned as an economical alternative to take into account, especially for its price of 299 dollars. Below we detail all the reasons that justify your purchase:
- Precio. What Xbox Series X offers for the amount of money to invest is difficult to match. It is the best value for money console on the market, so if we are looking to play everything current in exchange for “little” money, it is the best option that exists.
- Same catalog and technologies. Although we have commented that it skips some functionalities of some games, the truth is that Xbox Series S and Xbox Series true next gen.
- Design. The design of the Xbox Series S is not only smaller, but it also fits better anywhere than the Xbox Series X. In addition, it is a console that will not cost us much to transport to another residence or to a friend’s house.
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
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Image | Tom Tang in Unsplash, Mika Baumeister in Unsplash, Billy Freeman in UnsplashXbox
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