Topic: Series X or S

Hi! I want to upgrade from Xbox One S to either series X or S. I play a limited amount of games but spend a great deal of time on the ones I do (GTA, rdr2, Assassin's Creed, Elder Scrolls, Fifa and Hogwarts Legacy when that comes out). I need a console that will last for a long time. I use my current console for "everything" including streaming services since I don't own a smart-tv. Should I get series S as I don't own a 4K tv anyway and already are buying all my games digitally, or should I get series X for better performance? Is there any reason to believe the series X will have a longer lifespan?

@Comenius It really depends on you and whether or not you 'care' about having the 'best' visual quality and/or performance too. The Series S isn't as 'weak' as the XB1S is relative to their 'X' equivalents - there is a bigger difference between XB1S and XB1X than between Series S and Series X.

What that will likely mean is that the Series S will offer 'similar' results to the XB1S in that you will still get to play the 'same' games, albeit with 'reduced' Visual Quality and/or reduced game mode frame rate options. Just like the XB1S has reduced resolutions, reduced visual settings (lower quality Shadows, reduced draw distance, reduced lighting quality etc) and often doesn't have 'Performance' modes (60fps), the Series S is 'likely' to offer similar reductions - in fact there are games that may not offer Ray Tracing - a higher 'setting' for 'better' lighting and/or effects (reflections, shadows etc) or a 120fps 'Performance' mode on Series S but Series X offers that.

The 'lowest' tier to play Xbox games is Xbox Cloud - limited to 1080/60 with streaming artefacts and slightly more input lag, limited library (only those available to 'stream') but its 'cheap' and you can play on 'any' compatible devices.

The 'next' tier is Series S. You get better PQ, even on a 1080p TV as it doesn't have compression artefacts and lower input lag. You have access to a much larger library - not just the titles you could stream or coming to Game Pass, but all those other releases you can purchase. You also get the 'console' features - like Quick Resume etc. However, it does cost 'more' but that's what you 'get' if you choose this tier.

The Series X is more Expensive, but it does offer the 'best' PQ on console and potentially best frame rate and/or modes too. On top of that, you also get a Disc Drive (useful if you buy/own 'old' Xbox, 360 or XB1 games) and a bit more storage. You are essentially paying 'more' for better PQ and a DD but whether its 'worth' paying more for, only you can decide.

The highest 'tier' is PC which can run games at the highest PQ and/or Frame Rates but to beat a Series X, you'd need to spend 'more' - but you also get access to Steam, PC exclusives and even some Playstation games too.

Point is, there is an 'option' to suit most people and their budgets. The 'more' important say PQ or frame rates are to you, the more you'd need to invest but its easy to justify because there is a noticeable difference. Compared to playing FH5 on Cloud or XB1, the Series S is a step up but that cost of buying a Series S is delivering an 'upgraded' experience. The Series X is 'more' expensive but you a 'bigger' upgrade - that's what you are 'paying' for.

I know you say you have a 1080p TV currently, but are you likely to keep that TV throughout the entire generation or likely to replace it. I don't think you can buy a 1080p TV these days as everything is 4k and if you do replace your TV, how would you feel with games being 1080-1440p instead of 1800-4k with possibly higher visual settings and/or better frame rate options? Is that 'worth' paying a bit more for a Series X? On a 1080p, the difference maybe won't be so noticeable when supersampled down from either console - obviously the Series X has more 'pixels' to sample and you'd get RT modes when the Series S may not...

I can't say the Series S would be 'perfect' for you because I don't know you, your financial situation etc but if you were 'really' concerned about the future, I'd look more to the past and see what XB1S is currently offering next to the XB1X, how well/badly you feel it is 'holding' up after nearly 10yrs. Maybe the Series S will only be 30fps and/or significantly lower PQ where Series X offers much higher PQ (at least on a 4k screen) and 60fps performance modes at better PQ too because it has 3x the GPU - the XB1S has less than 1/4 the GPU, a bigger gap between the CPU and RAM too so I think if you are 'OK' with the XB1S, which has the 'worst' PQ/frame rates compared to PS4, PS4 Pro, XB1X, Series S, PS5 and Series X, then I think you'll be 'OK' with a Series S.

One other thing to consider, if you play 'older' games, the Series S only gets XB1S Backwards Compatibility - meaning that if the XB1X version offered better performance and/or visual options, you won't get those on Series S. If a game is 720p and/or locked to 30fps on 1S, its the same on Series S but if you bought a Series X, its BC to the XB1X so you'd get all those 1X upgrades and with some 60fps modes, that's now a locked 60fps on Series X where 1X may of struggled. That's another 'bonus' you get if you wish to spend 'more' initially...

Hope that helps you to decide what will be the best option for you...

The Series S will be an upgrade to your current console and you will notice a difference so there is that. If at some point you think you will be upgrading your TV to 4k or would want to more power the series X offers or want to have disc games, then I would just get the Series X now and forgo the S.

Both are great machines and there isn't to much difference between the S and the X not as much as say the One S and the S that you will notice a huge difference. I own both a X and S. The X I use in the main room and the S I use in my bedroom when the main TV is in use. Plenty of times I started a game on the X and then someone wanted to use the main TV or I want to go into my room so I would switch to the S and really notice no difference, keep in mind I don't own a 4K TV so if that makes a difference I wouldn't know. As I said earlier the only draw back is if I want to play a game disc then I can't on my S but I own quite a few game from previous Xbox generations but if you own everything digitally then that won't be a problem.

Now if you are someone that wants to play older generation Xbox games, like Original Xbox, or 360 games you might want the X because some backwards compatible games like Forza Horizon 1, 2 and 3 are playing on the Series Consoles but can not be purchased digitally anymore so if want to play them you will need a disc, but that's just something to keep in mind.

Whichever machine you choose though, I cannot recommend Gamepass enough. That right there has allowed me to play so many games and save quite a bit of money. For the price of little more of two brand new Triple A games you get access to hundreds of games for a year. And if you go with the S it's perfect suited for Gamepass, not that the X isn't mind you.

Hope that helps and good luck with your choice.

My advice would be get the best you can afford and can justify spending the money on. Both are an upgrade from yours. If you will play a lot of back compat games, know series S will just play the 1S version of the game, so any improvements to your old console in x1 games without a series enhanced patch will be modest. Series x plays the 1x version.

I have both xsx and xss and use the xss for steaming to a phone with controller for remote play without putting wear on my xsx. Both work very well and are a pleasure to use. Just the difference of a mid vs high end video card on PC mostly.

If the budget supports series X and you play enough that the difference will be appreciated, you'll definitely see visual upgrade even on 1080p, and very visible if you play bc games since it upgrades to the x1x version and also enhances many further. But I don't think you'll be disappointed with what the xss does for the price either. It's less than you paid for your 1s and is better in most ways.

I'm terms of lasting longer, no reason to believe one is mechanically more or less robust. My launch xsx had a power supply fail luckily days before the 1 year warranty expired. Most never experience that. Xss runs cooler I guess so there's that.