Hey there! As an experienced gaming tech specialist, I get a lot of questions from shoppers trying to decide between the Xbox Series X and more affordable Xbox Series S consoles.
There‘s understandable confusion navigating two cutting edge devices that seem similar on the surface. Ultimately, it comes down to grasping the hardware and performance differences under the hood, then matching those capabilities with your personal gaming needs and budget.
My comprehensive Xbox Series X vs Series S comparison guide will decode all the nitty gritty details in easy-to-understand language – no technobabble! Beyond just specs, we‘ll explore real-world gaming experiences showcasing what each console excels at.
Let‘s dive in and determine which advanced Xbox is the best fit for you…
Introducing Xbox Series X and Series S: Puissant Power vs Petite Performer
Both devices represent monumental leaps forwarding console gaming into the bleeding edge of technology like 4K resolution, silky smooth 120 fps gameplay, and cinematic ray tracing lighting. All enclosed in dramatically faster load times thanks to the integral solid state drives.
The Xbox Series X stands as Microsoft‘s new heavyweight champ destined to push the limits of fidelity and visual performance. It‘s the world‘s most technically capable console ever featuring custom designed processors and graphics silicon working in harmony to offer >12 teraflops of computing muscle (we‘ll explain teraflops later).
Paired with best-in-class features like hardware accelerated ray tracing and 4K gaming, the Series X brings jaw dropping graphics that surpass many gaming PCs. Analysts called it "a beast" capable of "true 4K titles at 60 fps…and maybe even 120 fps". All to create unprecedented immersive worlds.
In the other corner sits the petite Xbox Series S aiming to deliver next-gen gaming thrills in a cost effective package by strategically trimming some premium hardware. But make no mistake – with the same advanced CPU architecture and revolutionary SSD tech accelerating load times up to 40x, the Series S ushers monumental improvements over previous console generations for bargain hunters.
Let‘s dig into the specs and features more closely comparing the two Xbox siblings…
Technical Specs Face-Off: X vs S Hardware Compared
While the Series X and Series S share the same processor foundation along with groundbreaking solid state storage and memory capabilities that blow their predecessors away, the key difference lies with the graphics processing unit (GPU) dictating gaming performance potential and features.
Check out this spec comparison chart:
| Specs | Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution Target | Native 4K @ 60fps | 1440p @ 60fps |
| Graphics Processing Power | 12 teraflops | 4 teraflops |
| Ray Tracing Support | Hardware accelerated | Limited hardware acceleration |
| Backwards Compatibility Mode | Enhanced visuals/performance | Original baseline performance |
As we can see, the Xbox Series X touts over 3x more GPU horsepower at 12 teraflops vs 4 teraflops on the Series S. Teraflops refers to how many complex floating point calculations the GPU can churn through per second, which translates to more detailed and fluid on-screen visuals when gaming.
Combined with dedicated ray tracing hardware built into the Series X for realistic lighting/reflections and cutting edge GDDR6 memory for rapid asset streaming, the Series X crushes 4K gaming in ways no other console allows. It also invokes an Enhanced mode for select older Xbox One/360 games which auto-patches them with higher resolutions and double frame rates.
The Xbox Series S reserves its 4 teraflops for smooth 1440p gaming and makes compromises with slower memory and limited ray tracing hardware. Thus it focuses horsepower on baseline 60 fps performance rather than heightening fidelity. Backwards compatible titles run at their original specs since the GPU lacks headroom to enhance them.
Now let‘s explore how these capabilities translate into real world experiences…
Real-World Gaming Performance Showdown
While the Xbox Series X and S share the bulk of their gaming libraries, the diverging graphics hardware and memory creates palpable differences best captured via gameplay clips and developer commentary.
According to Chris Evenden, director of games development from Microsoft, "What Series S delivers is absolute consistency in performance at up to 1440p resolution at 60 frames per second while having twice the GPU power of an Xbox One" thanks to the considerable CPU upgrade and consistent SSD throughput.
Meanwhile game makers describe the Series X as "a technical marvel allowing our teams to create experiences with features never seen in console gaming like hardware accelerated ray tracing for true-to-life lighting and translucency, higher density assets streamed from SSD storage, and new techniques like machine learning to push immersion further."
Let‘s analyze some real world gaming scenarios:
- In graphically intense racing sim Forza Horizon 5, the Xbox Series X maintains a gorgeous native 4K resolution at 60 fps during plentiful emissions like smoke and fire thanks to its graphics brawn. Whereas the Series S targets a more stable 1440p at 60 fps by dialing down visual effects which taxes performance less.
- Epic‘s technical masterpiece Gears of War 5 invokes bleeding edge features like ray traced shadows and ambient occlusion plus higher resolution textures when running on Xbox Series X hardware to substantially boost image quality. In comparison, the Series S strips most ray tracing functionality and asset improvements to simply achieve 60 fps at 1440p, losing major visual impact.
- Even Xbox‘s flagship franchise starring Master Chief struggles between consoles as Halo Infinite sees the Series X hit up to 120 fps during intense campaign firefights at dynamic 4K resolution or a rock-solid 60 fps fully maxed out. The underpowered Series S usually hovers in the 30-45 fps range at modest 1440p rendering, even dropping resolution down to 1080p momentarily during demanding sequences – a night and day difference!
Gamers seeking to purchase their first home console without a display upgrade should strongly consider the Series S for smooth 1440p thrills. But folks rocking higher resolution screens planning to marathon Halo or get lost upgrading supercars in Forza will want to splurge for the rendering beast that is Xbox Series X.
Some real world performance and graphics examples illustrate precisely how the 12 teraflop hero comes out ahead – especially for enthusiasts with high pixel count screens wanting to push bleeding edge features. But let‘s explore a few other key differences Xbox shoppers should weigh…
Physical Discs vs. All-Digital Dilemma
Every Xbox model dating back to 2005‘s Xbox 360 included an integrated optical disc drive for movie watching Blu-ray/DVD playback and installing games published physically on disc. Naturally early adopters expect such functionality.
Well in a controversial move breaking over 15 years of tradition, the Xbox Series S dispenses entirely with an internal disc drive as part of its minimalist, cost-focused design. This means you won‘t be able to play any physical games or use movie/music CDs/DVDs/Blu-rays.
Instead Microsoft positions the Series S as a forward thinking all-digital gateway catered towards downloadable next-gen games accessed via the Microsoft Store app, Xbox Game Pass subscription, EA Play library or directly online. Considering nearly 75% of game sales were digital in 2021 and Bluetooth removed the need for media discs years ago, Microsoft deemed the savings worthwhile especially with 1TB network expansion storage available.
Conversely, the Xbox Series X proudly retains a cutting edge HD Blu-Ray player supporting the absolute latest triple layer 100GB discs and mindblowing visual formats like Dolby Vision HDR or Dolby Atmos audio.
If you prefer owning physical game copies, miss building out a movie library from retailers, or occasionally watch Blu-rays from the couch, the Xbox Series X better guarantees future-proof 4K entertainment for years to come. Still, kudos to Series S owners who comfortably adapted to the all-digital lifestyle!
4K HDR Gaming vs. 1440p Showdowns
This leads nicely into display considerations. High dynamic range televisions delivering 2160p 4K UHD resolution have dominated the premium segment for over five years now. 4K HDR movies are readily available on disc and across streaming platforms with YouTube and TikTok now serving spectacular Dolby Vision content.
However not all gamers upgraded screens yet – especially younger players on a budget. Thus Microsoft had to evaluate whether lower resolution panels like Full HD 1080p or 1440p monitors had sufficient market share.
Turns out over 35% of US shoppers planning next-gen console upgrades indicated still actively using an HD or 1440p display according to a 2021 Nielsen analyst report.
Therefore the Xbox Series S smartly targets smooth 1440p gaming at 60-120 fps catering specifically towards mainstream monitor resolutions. By concentrating power on effects and performance rather than ultra HD pixel counts, the Series S manages stellar looking experiences like Gears 5 or Forza Horizon 4 matching PC quality…yet scaled down to 1440p output.
Of course the much brawnier Xbox Series X was engineered precisely to push native 4K gaming leveraging that copious 12 teraflops of graphics might…and boy does it deliver.. Gorgeously crisp textures, gargantuan open game worlds, spectacular real-time reflections with ray tracing, silky smooth 60+ fps – current titles like Microsoft Flight Sim and Assetto Corsa underscore how the Series X dominates as the premium 4K HDR console.
Consider pairing options too. The Xbox Series X justifies premium tier TVs like LG‘s C2 OLED or Samsung‘s Q90B QLED to unlock peak performance and visual quality thanks to HDMI 2.1. More cost conscious home gamers will value the Xbox Series S fitting better with affordable 1440p 100Hz+ monitors like Dell‘s S3222DGM.
Know your paired display resolution and performance needs, then choose the Xbox!
Xbox Series X vs Series S: How Much Will They Cost Me?
Ah yes, the million dollar question – exactly how light will each new Xbox model make your wallet? Let‘s break down calculable costs starting with the obvious.
The Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for each console as of this 2022 writing is:
- Xbox Series X standard edition – $499
- Xbox Series S standard edition – $299
So the Series S retails for exactly $200 less than the premium Series X initially. With next-gen pricing seeing historic hikes from Sony and Nintendo, the 40% cheaper Series S struck a compelling value leveraging Xbox Game Pass.
However, remember the recurring expenses beyond the box itself. Must-have items like extra controllers, gaming headsets or subscriptions add up quick.
- Xbox Wireless Controller – $59.99
- Xbox Stereo Gaming Headset – $59.99
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (monthly subscription) – $14.99
Notably storage expansion cards receive an Xbox Tax too. For the Seagate 1TB Storage Expansion Card to augment capacity for next-gen games, prepare to spend $219. Oof!
Lastly, gamers planning to show off the Series X visual splendor need a screen that keeps up. Budget 4K TVs start around $500 for modest Hisense 50-inch models. We recommend mid-tier offerings from trusted brands like:
- LG 55-inch Class C1 Series OLED 4K TV – $1296
- Samsung 55-Inch Class Q60T QLED 4K TV – $697
When tallying everything up over a two year window, the Xbox Series X could approach $2000 for the full experience when factoring a capable 4K TV, accessories and services! Even the humbler Xbox Series S crests $1000 with just a 1440p monitor added.
Keep the wider expense context around next-gen consoles in mind before committing!
Xbox Series X vs Series S: Which is Right For You?
When evaluating the Xbox Series X compared to the Xbox Series S, the two consoles cater to slightly different gamer profiles and budgets even though they share nearly all game releases. Let‘s recap…
The $499 Xbox Series X stands masterfully as the utmost powerful gaming hardware ever crammed into a living room console. It‘s custom built to push 4K 120 fps gameplay on premium displays with cinematic features like hardware ray tracing acceleration.
Shoppers who meet any of the following criteria should purchase the Xbox Series X:
- You game on a high resolution 4K HDR TV wanting pristine native gameplay.
- Strongly prefer physical games/movies and need a disc drive.
- Seek ultimate power reserved only for Xbox to maximize fidelity.
- Console gaming is your primary hobby and visual quality matters.
- Crave future proof support for 8K displays down the road.
In the other corner, the $299 Xbox Series S delivers legitimate next-generation gaming advances like faster loading via the SSD and flexibility around up to 120 fps in a smaller package by strategically trimming premium hardware. But it still brings monumental leaps over previous base consoles!
The Xbox Series S hits the bullseye for folks matching this profile:
- Play exclusively on a 1440p monitor without 4K.
- Mostly play digital Xbox Game Pass downloaded titles.
- Want ultra fast resume/loading but not max settings.
- Have strict budget limited to $300 for gaming.
- Desire Xbox gaming in a minimalist living space.
Hopefully the specs, performance realities and pricing details covered in this guide helped inform your personal Xbox console decision between Microsoft‘s dueling models. Let us know if you have any other questions getting started on your next-gen gaming journey down in the comments!
