As someone who became a gamer after inheriting an Xbox, I was ready to compare the two best consoles on Amazon. Read my hands-on reviews of the Xbox X and Xbox S to figure out which is perfect for you.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. Xbox Series X - True 4K Gaming Velocity Architecture
Top-rated: 24,227 ratings
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Fastest, most powerful Xbox ever.
Helpful review: "I have been a gammer all my life, have owned almost every console since the Atari Pong all the way till the Ps4 and Switch, but I have skipped most Xbox' s except for the original that was given to me as a gift.
This new console that Microsoft has made is in my opinion the absolute best in this generation. Spec-wise, it cannot be beat. But when you use your series X and in conjunction with Game Pass Ultimate (GPU), it simply becomes the hands down, no questions asked, absolute BEST VALUE in gaming anywhere! Today Microsoft has also teamed up their GPU service with EA, and now we can get most sports games and most EA titles included in GPU. But you must also add the future inclusion of Bethesda and all their amazing titles from day one in GUP since MS has bought them out.
So how can't you go wrong with the MOST POWERFUL CONSOLE EVER MADE and the potential of including GPU to make it the best value in gaming PERIOD.
PROS:
- Best Value in gaming when used with Game Pass Ultimate.
- Most powerful console ever made (12TFLOPS - 52 CU's).
- Intuitive and very functional OS.
- Great games even for this generation like: Medium.
- FPS Boos feature for older games.
- Automatic HDR for older games.
- Instant Resume feature is just awesome!
- Great controls, I thought I would not like them, BUT THEY ARE GREAT!
- Minimalistic design, that goes well with anything you have already.
- QUIET there is no noticeable sound of fans even when gaming for hours.
- More available space in the internal drive then PS5.
CONS:
- Controllers use a AA Battery... WHY would you do this in 2021? Yes there are options, but I should not need to look for options, personally for now I went the rechargeable Energizer route, but it is a hassle that should not be present in a console this generation.
- No gimmicks and straightforward pure power, no you don't get resistance in the adaptive triggers like a PS5, makes it feel a bit less futuristic.
- Had a bug happen to me more than once while purchasing new games, got an error, so for workaround I had to add to cart, go to billing address, put edit, select the same billing address and then it worked, very annoying.
SPECS:
- Processor: 8-core AMD Ryzen Zen 2-architecture CPU at 3.8GHz (3.6GHz with SMT)
- Graphics: AMD Navi/RDNA 2-family GPU with 52 CU at 1.825GHz (12TFLOPS FP32)
- Video:16GB GDDR6 with 14Gbps 320-bit interface (10GB at 560GB/s allocated to GPU, 6GB at 336GB/s allocated to rest of system with 3.5GB for GPU)
- Die Size: 360.45 mm2
- Process: 7nm Enhanced
- Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 w/ 320mb bus
- Memory Bandwidth: 10 GB @ 560 GB/s, 6GB @ 336 GB/s
- Internal Storage: 1 TB Custom NVME SSD
- I/O Throughput: 2.4 GB/s (Raw), 4.8 GB/s (Compressed, with custom hardware decompression block)
- Expandable Storage: 1 TB Expansion Card - Seagate ATM only avail.
- External Storage: USB 3.2 External HDD - WB Black Gaming 5TB what I got for it.
- Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive-
- Performance: 4K @ 60 FPS, up to 4K @ 120 FPS, 8K @ 60 FPS
- Size: 301mm x 151mm x 151mm
Finally, I will recommend this console over the PS5, it's simply a BEAST and a better value when teamed with GPU.
The Xbox Series X is such a great console that you would be hard pressed to look over the hype that the Ps5 has generated because of its lack of availability. So if you like simply the best console this generation and wish to get the best bang for your buck, Xbox Series X simply rocks.
It's also an amazing emulation system. It can run Retroarch with no hacks, with nothing weird, just look it up on YouTube and you will find tutorials. But it can emulate very few systems and it adds to its tremendous lineup and value. Great job Microsoft, you not only added a customer, but a new fan." — Ricardo Orrantia Ponce
Get it from Amazon now: $399.99 & FREE Returns
2. Xbox Series S - Up to 120 Frames per Second
Top-rated: 332 ratings
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Enjoy thousands of games from four generations of Xbox, with hundreds of optimized titles that look and play better than ever.
Helpful review: "Initially, I had the Xbox Series X but ended up returning it because I found myself playing games that were also available on my PS5 and Switch. My kid constantly complained about how slow the Switch performed with games like Fall Guys, especially when compared to the lightning-fast performance of my PS5. Given that I still had 2 years of GamePass subscription left, I decided to give the Xbox Series S a try. We primarily use it for GamePass, enjoying the selection of free games, and taking advantage of backward compatibility.
When playing on a 1440p monitor, the graphics are surprisingly decent. However, when playing certain games on a 4K TV, you can definitely notice the difference in resolution. It's crucial to understand these limitations before making a purchase. Personally, I wish the Series S+ would offer a consistent 1440p resolution at 60 fps, as it would greatly enhance the gaming experience. Nonetheless, I appreciate its compact size and portability, which allows us to move it around various rooms and even take it on trips.
If Microsoft were to release pro-level consoles in the future, I believe the Series S+ should offer options for both 1440p at 60 fps and 1080p at 120 fps to cater to a broader range of gamers. It's an excellent choice for family-friendly games and outperforms the Switch in terms of third-party titles, although the Switch does have a more extensive game library.
On another note, I'd like to mention my experience with Starfield. Unfortunately, I found it to be somewhat underwhelming. The game's graphics left much to be desired, and the world felt somewhat empty, with non-player characters lacking depth. Additionally, the character animations appeared jerky. I would advise against buying a console solely for this game, unless you're a die-hard Bethesda fan who can overlook its shortcomings.
A FRIEND’S REVIEW:
Ordered it and it came the next day. I was scared at first because the Xbox was hella smaller than usual (no bigger than a textbook) and I ain't seen the cords and controller, but it's at the front with the hole for you to open it. It came with 2 cords and a working brand new 100$+ wireless new gen controller with batteries. Setting it up was easy and then you'll have to update and auto restart the console. After that, sign in your account, make it your home Xbox, and you're good to go. The only thing that concerns me is that it said 1tb but it only said 800gb free when I went to my storage. Besides that, I hope this helps y'all decide if you want this. As far as I’m concerned, it’s definitely a better solution or alternative for the Xbox series X Enjoy Gaymers.
A FEW WORDS FROM MY NEIGHBOR:
I was going to save up for a Series X, but noticed this was cheaper. Yes, you lose the disc tray, but most of the games I used to play were on Gamepass... so that was no big deal. The black is nice and sleek looking and unlike the other Series S this has a 1tb hard drive. All in all this will work for a while until either I decide I need to upgrade to Series X or whenever the "refresh" comes out." — Bradley T. Lane
Get it from Amazon now: $379.99 & FREE Returns