The Xbox Series S has less storage than the Xbox Series X, which is a digital-only device. Additionally, the system aims for 1440p game resolution rather than 4K. Naturally, it will upscale to 4K when connected to an Ultra HD display, but it’s important to remember that the console is primarily made to function at lesser resolutions.
Xbox Series S review: Design
The overall layout is traditional. We admire Microsoft’s use of two colors. All of this makes it possible for the Series S to simply fade into any setting. Additionally, only this new console feels natural in both horizontal and vertical orientation. Despite its small size, the Series S includes numerous air vents, including a sizable circular exhaust that, to put it mildly, is already the talk of the town.
The Xbox Series S is a substantially smaller console than the PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, or Xbox One at 10.8 x 5.9 x 2.6 inches. It has rubber feet on one of the horizontal surfaces and one of the vertical surfaces, and there is plenty of ventilation.
Xbox Series S review: Home Screen
We’re not sure what went wrong with Xbox’s user interface when it came time to design the new consoles. It’s comfortable and familiar, but we feel like there was a chance lost. Maybe they could have designed a more captivating and welcoming user interface that would have impressed their audience and drawn in new customers.
The new low-latency controller, the extremely fast internal solid-state drive, and more potent CPU processing have all contributed to the responsiveness of this device.
Xbox One is substantially faster than the preceding generation of Xbox systems. You can now pick up games right where you left off in a matter of seconds thanks to Quick Resume, which not only helps you move through loading screens with a greater sense of urgency, but also allows you to play three or four games concurrently. ..
Xbox Series S review: Features and Controllers
The brand-new Wirless Controller for Xbox Series X|S is included with the Xbox Series S. The Xbox Series X comes with the same controller as this one, albeit with a slightly different finish (even more matte than previously) and a modified D-pad. It is considerably better for combos and longer input strings now that the D-pad has been redesigned to allow for smoother and faster inputs. However, other from those modifications and the USB Type-C connection, this Xbox controller is the same as the one you’re used to from playing Xbox games, which is actually not a terrible thing. Particularly appealing to us were the textured bumpers and triggers.
Xbox One X and Xbox Series S share the new Xbox Velocity Architecture, which includes the helpful Quick Resume feature. With Quick Resume, you may launch many games and swiftly switch between them in a matter of seconds. On Series S, these games are only cached and can be picked up where you left off, unlike on Xbox One, when every time you started playing a new game, the old game would be closed and then needed to be completely reloaded through credits and menu screens. ..
Xbox Series S review: Ports
The Xbox Series S has a sleek, modern design that is perfect for any gamer. The ports are simple and easy to use, just like the Xbox Series X. The device also has a power button and a pairing button on the front, which makes it easy to connect and disconnect devices. There are two additional USB-A ports on the back, as well as an HDMI port and an Ethernet port. The Ethernet connector is typically the first component to disappear in cheaper device variants, so we were pleasantly surprised to see it still present on the Series S.
This omission is significant for two reasons. First, USB-C offers a faster data transfer rate than USB-A, which could be important for gaming and other activities that require high-speed data transfers. Second, without USB-C connectors, users may have to use alternative methods to charge their devices, such as using an AC adapter or using a wall outlet.
Xbox Series S review: Performance
The Xbox Series S is a powerful small powerhouse that can deliver native 1440p resolution, upscaled 4K gaming, or a 1080p image. While not as strong as the GPU in the Xbox One S, it can upscale games to 4K and still run games at 120 frames per second at 1440p. However, if you want to retain the resolution at 1440p, you’ll need an HDMI 2.1-compliant small TV.
Thanks to Microsoft’s Xbox Velocity Architecture, it can also do ray tracing and loads games more quickly than ever. You may create a powerful console by combining Velocity Architecture with the 10GB of GDDR6 memory and integrated SSD. Even better, Microsoft has improved Xbox Series S gaming performance, freeing up hundreds of extra megabytes of memory. Importantly, this ought to aid in enhancing graphics performance.
Xbox Series S review: Game Library
The Xbox Series S’s game library had a rough start, but we won’t mince words. Other than games that had already been released on Xbox, there were no first-party exclusives on the Xbox Series S at launch due to Halo Infinite’s delay. More first-party and third-party exclusives, such as The Medium and Microsoft Flight Simulator, have since been released, but Microsoft’s first-party work is finally catching up. As Dusk Falls, Psychonauts 2, Grounded, and Forza Horizon 5 are all currently playable.
The Xbox Series S will be appealing to those who enjoy having access to the complete library of Xbox games, both past and present. It’s pleasant to be able to choose between Xbox 360 classics like Viva Piata and Red Dead Redemption and more recent blockbusters.
Xbox Series S review: Hardware and Setup
The Xbox Series S is a simple, easy-to-use console that connects to your phone without any trouble. You can use this console to watch TV, play games, and more with just a few simple steps.
The Xbox Series S’s hardware cannot compare to that of the Xbox Series X, but its strong suit is its ability to play older games in addition to the newest ones. This approach is intended, at least in my opinion, for more casual players who want a method to play lots of older games in addition to the newest ones but don’t require the highest resolutions.
Microsoft has announced that the Xbox Series S’s target performance is 60 frames per second or more at a 1440p resolution, with the console also technically supporting 120 frames per second. This announcement comes as a surprise, as it was previously thought that only independent and previous-generation games would be able to achieve this frame rate on this hardware.
Xbox Series S review: Gaming Performance
The inconsistency with games comes in the form of first party and third party optimised games. The Xbox One S, a 1440p console, starts with the Xbox One S (and not the Xbox One X), or roughly 900p/30 frames per second. If that’s what you’re looking for, the Series X, which is designed to deliver real 4K gaming, will be able to get more gameplay out of older titles. However, if you want games that are optimized for 4K and look better than ever before, you’ll need to invest in the Xbox One X. ..
The main issue is that most games, like Forza Horizon 4 from Microsoft, have a 1080p resolution cap. Not because there aren’t any 1440p games. Examples include Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Gears Tactics. However, the Series S’s 1440p capabilities are at the heart of Microsoft’s entire marketing strategy, so most, if not all, next-generation titles ought to have kept their word. That’s in addition to the fact that the console doesn’t have a “exclusive” to show off next-full gen’s capabilities at launch.
Price
The Xbox Series S is an incredibly affordable system that offers a great deal of value for the price. Compared to the Xbox Series X, which is more expensive, the Series S offers a much better deal.
Conclusion
The Xbox One S is a powerful, affordable console that offers features and performance advantages over its predecessor. If you’re looking for a powerful gaming platform that doesn’t require a high-end graphics card, the Xbox One S is the perfect choice.
