Here’s why you might want to consider a Series S over a Series X.
1. The Series S Is More Affordable
At the time of writing, the Xbox Series S retails at $299. By contrast, the Series X will set you back $499. This is a difference of $200 and so it goes without saying that the Series S is the more affordable option.
Obviously, you need to make some sacrifices here. The Series S is a digital-only console, so if you’ve got a bunch of backwards-compatible physical games, then you won’t be playing those with your new console. Likewise, if you wanted to use the device for playing other media discs, like a Blu-ray or a DVD, then you can’t.
However, if you are happy with a digital only device, then the Series S makes a more affordable option.
2. The Series S Is More Portable
This writer owns a Series S and, when it arrived, he realized how small it actually is. The Series S dimensions are a miniscule 10.83 x 5.94 x 2.50 inches, and it weighs only 4.25 pounds. The Series X is 11.85 x 5.94 x 5.94 inches, and weighs 9.8 pounds.
With this in mind, you could quite easily pop your Series S in your bag and take it away with you. If you are going to be staying in a hotel, you can hook it up to the TV, connect to the hotel Wi-Fi, and game away to your heart’s content. Lugging a Series X around is a significantly less appealing option, you have to admit.
3. The Series S Is Ideal for Both Casual and Serious Gaming
Whether you take gaming seriously and spend hours on the hobby (or profession, if gaming is your source of income), or you just like to dip in and out of games on a whim, the Xbox Series S is ideal to service your needs. It might lack some of the specs that the Series X boasts, but it is still a great option no matter how you game.
For casual gamers, this is great because you can spend less on your console and just play digital titles. If you are a hardcore gamer, then despite lacking 4K output and a huge amount of storage space, the Series S still offers current-gen gaming, so you can enjoy the titles you decide to play without a marked depreciation in quality.
4. The Xbox Series S Has the Same Games as the Series X
Aside from disc-based games, obviously, the Xbox Series S has access to all the same games as the Series X. Sure, you can’t play your old Xbox discs, but you can access digital games quickly and easily, either via your Game Pass subscription, or buying them from the Microsoft store.
The point being, if a new game comes out, then it will be available for both the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X. So, you don’t have to worry about missing out on Bethesda’s next game on the Xbox, you can buy it from the Microsoft store, download it to your Series S, and play it within minutes.
5. The Xbox Series S Has Less Moving Parts to Fail
When you consider that the Series S has no optical drive, you might feel a little hard done by. However, consider this as future proofing your console, rather than as a negative point.
Why? Because no optical drive means less moving parts. And less moving parts means there is less that can go wrong due to wear and tear. Let’s face it, nobody likes a console problem to present itself a year or two down the line. If there are fewer components prone to wear and tear, then your console will naturally last longer without needing a fix.
6. An Xbox Series S Takes Up Less Space
If real estate is a primary concern for you in terms of your living space and entertainment setup, then the Series S is an excellent option.
We mentioned earlier that the console is much smaller and lighter than the Series X, and so it goes without saying that it will take up less room, no matter where you set it up. So, if you play Xbox while sat at your gaming desk, then the Series S will nestle nicely on the corner, or underneath your monitor stand, if you have one!
Likewise, it won’t take up too much space around the TV, if that is where you hit Halo Infinite the most.
7. The Xbox Series S Is a Quieter Device
Linked to the fact that it has less moving parts, the Xbox Series S is also a quieter device. The internet is littered with people complaining that their Series X disc drive is noisy. Especially so when installing a game. As the Series S has no disc drive, it won’t make any noise when you are installing games on it.
So, if you want a device that isn’t going to sound like a heliport when you use one of its primary features, then the Series S is the console for you.
8. You Don’t Have a 4K Display
If you don’t have a 4K display, and don’t plan on getting one for a while, then you don’t really need a console with 4K capabilities. The Series S, although it obviously has 4K upscaling capabilities and HDR, doesn’t output video at 4K resolution, natively.
So, if you don’t own a 4K display, there is not much point spending the extra $200 on the Series X. You may as well save the money and use your existing display.
9. The Lower Specs Aren’t Actually a Problem
While the specifications of the Series X and S are different, especially in terms of the GPU and the SSD, this is no reason to discount the smaller console. If you have a Series S, then you can make use of the Smart Delivery feature. This ensures the smaller, max 1440p content arrives on your Series S automatically, which is naturally smaller in file size than a 4K game.
So, while your game might not have all the glory of 4K features, it will download faster and take up less space on your console SSD. Plus, you can always increase your storage space with one of Seagate’s official Xbox Series X/S storage expansion cards.
Are You Convinced?
The Xbox Series S is growing in popularity, especially in the wake of the console shortage we are experiencing at the time of writing. The Series S is a fantastic machine and, despite a downgrade in graphics output and storage space, you can’t go wrong adding one of Microsoft’s little consoles to your gaming rig.
