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Xbox One S vs Xbox One: Time to upgrade? Xbox One S vs Xbox One: Is it worth buying either console with Xbox One X now the most powerful console on the market? TrustedReviews has collected everything you need to know. Xbox One S isn’t a significant upgrade over the Xbox One, but does provide some cool benefits. Owners now have access to HDR support and a 4K blu-ray player, something PS4 Pro sorely left out. To put things simply, if you already own the original console there isn’t much incentive to upgrade. Sure, there’s the addition of HDR and 4K blu-ray support, but you’ll need an impressive 4KTV to make any use of these features. If you don’t already own one, though, it’s definitely worth considering a purchase. However, with Xbox One X out now, it makes things a little more complicated. TrustedReviews has broken down everything you need to know about the two consoles below, for anybody considering picking it up. Xbox One S Price: How much should you pay? With the Xbox One now discontinued and Microsoft continuing with the two main consoles of One S and One X, the One S has become significantly cheaper. Bundles are available for as littles as £200, which could go lower in sales. Xbox One S is 40% smaller with built-in power supply. The Xbox One S is 40% smaller than the original – a considerable reduction. Given that the original Xbox One is a chunky machine – at 333mm x 276mm x 78mm, it dominates the comparatively slight PS4 – this is an important change. However, PS4 Slim gives Xbox One S a run for its money in terms of sheer dimensions. Plus the power supply is now built-in. So, 40% smaller and no bulky power supply? That’s a pretty big tick in favour of the Xbox One S. 4K Ultra HD, 4K Blu-ray and High Dynamic Range support. Arguably the standout feature for Xbox One S. Not only does the Xbox One S support 4K video playback from streaming services like Netflix and Amazon, it’s also a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player. This makes the $299/£249 starting price excellent value compared to dedicated Ultra HD players currently available. Our testing suggests the Xbox One S is a more than competent Ultra HD Blu-ray player, so AV fans should hold no fears in that regard. While the original Xbox One is technically capable of supporting 4K gaming and video, it has an HDMI 1.4a port, meaning it can only output 4K at 30Hz, which is very limiting. The Xbox One adds support for HDMI 2.0a, so it now supports proper 4K 60Hz output. Sign up for the newsletter. Get news, competitions and special offers direct to your inbox. Xbox One S has a slight performance bump. Much like PS4 Pro, the Xbox One S is not the beginning of a new console generation, but an expansion of a platform we already know and love. But it does offer a very slight improvement over its predecessor. The Coalition head Rod Fergusson revealed to Polygon that his team had taken advantage of additional raw GPU and CPU power for Gears of War 4 , to improve frame rates. Ferguson claimed his engineers have been able to, as Polygon puts it, “leverage the additional power to reduce the frequency of the frame rate or resolution penalties.” A Microsoft spokesperson then confirmed, via The Verge, “We have the same SoC architecture as Xbox One today. “For games that want to take advantage of HDR, we gave developers access to a small amount of additional processing power.” Overall though, don’t expect games to look noticeably different on Xbox One S to Xbox One thanks to the additional power, instead only getting minor stability improvements. Xbox One S can upscale games to 4K. The upscaling capabilities of the Xbox One S were revealed by Jeff Henshaw, Group Program Manager at Xbox at an E3 session . Henshaw said: “It’s not native 4K, but the Xbox One S can upscale games from 1080p to 4K.” It means the Xbox One S will be able to offer gaming at a higher resolution than its predecessor, although it won’t quite be as good as native 4K. In our review, we found the Xbox One S is good at upscaling games and 4K video content – better than the TV we tested on. It can be stored upright. That’s great news, though the stand is an optional extra, unless you buy the 2TB model, which includes a stand. There’s no dedicated Kinect port. Not a huge surprise, given its increasing irrelevance, though owners who want to use Kinect can do say via a USB adapter. The adapter is sold seperately and can be ordered directly from Microsoft. Don’t expect any new Kinect games on the horizon, though. But there is an IR blaster. In the place of a dedicated Kinect port, the Xbox One S comes with an integrated IR (infrared) blaster. That means you can configure your Xbox One S to turn on other devices, like your TV, audio/video receiver, and cable or satellite receiver. The idea is that you can reduce the number of remotes you need to control your stuff. New controller adds Bluetooth. Not content with the already excellent Xbox One controller, or the incredible Xbox One Elite Controller, Microsoft’s unveiled the Xbox One S controller as well. The pad has a new textured grip, exchangeable colour covers, extended range and – most importantly – now has Bluetooth so you can use it with a PC wirelessly. Xbox One S vs Xbox One: Should you upgrade? There’s no doubt the new Xbox One S is a better all around console than its predecessor. Not only does it slim down the original console’s bulky frame, the Xbox One S comes with a load of features that make a far more desirable device. Firstly, you get a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Currently, those things will cost you upwards of £400 on their own. Secondly, you can stream 4K at the proper 60 Hz in HDR from apps such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video. Plus, there’s even a slight performance boost. The console benefits from extra processing power, too. It probably isn’t worth it for most Xbox One owners if you don’t care about 4K video, but it looks like a good upgrade if you fancy getting into Ultra HD Blu-ray. And if you don’t already own an Xbox One, the smaller size and great features make it very tempting indeed. But what about Xbox One X? While at the tail end of 2016 the choice between the two consoles seemed like a no-brainer, as we move closer the the supposed “holiday 2017” launch date of the Xbox One X, the proposition becomes even trickier. There’s still so much we don’t know about Microsoft’s all-powerful machine – most importantly, how much it will cost – but the fact this unit will represent a significant upgrade over anything that has come before it means that the idea of buying an Xbox One as a first-time buyer now becomes a bit of a tough sell. With Microsoft fully unveiling the Xbox One X at E3, it’s now easier decide whether you’re willing to wait for the next big thing. Will you be buying or upgrading to an Xbox One S? Let us know in the comments. Xbox One S. Over 1,300 games, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray™ and 4K video streaming. Now that’s a big fun deal. Xbox One S. The best value in games and entertainment. Xbox One S has over 1,300 games: blockbusters, popular franchises, and Xbox One exclusives. Play with friends, use apps, and enjoy built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray™ and 4K video streaming. Brilliant graphics with High Dynamic Range. Ultra HD Blu-ray™ and video streaming. Premium Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio. Xbox is the best choice. for your family. Xbox has something for all ages and interests, and will grow with your family. The only console designed to play the best games of the past, present and future. Play over 1,300 great games from the biggest blockbusters and most popular franchises to three generations of favorites you can play again or experience for the first time. Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures. Sea of Thieves. A Shared-World Adventure Game that lets you be the pirate you’ve always dreamed of. Super Lucky’s Tale. “Super Lucky’s Tale” is a delightful, playground platformer for all ages. Star Wars™ Battlefront™ II. Embark on an endless Star Wars™ action experience. The benefits of High Dynamic Range. Experience richer, more luminous colors in games like Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3. With a higher contrast ratio between lights and darks, High Dynamic Range technology brings out the true visual depth of your games. The benefits of High Dynamic Range. Experience richer, more luminous colors in games like Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3. With a higher contrast ratio between lights and darks, High Dynamic Range technology brings out the true visual depth of your games. Xbox One has more ways to play. Xbox Game Pass gives you instant, unlimited access to over 100 highly-rated and fun games, with new ones being added all the time. 1. Now when you own an Xbox Play Anywhere digital title, it’s yours to play on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC at no additional cost. 2. Experience legendary game franchises from the beginning and across generations with backward compatibility. 3. Watch and play alongside your favorite broadcasters with Mixer, an interactive livestreaming platform available on Xbox One. Xbox One games and accessories work together. The Xbox One accessories you’ve got now, or have got your eye on, work with Xbox One S.* The best in 4K entertainment. 4K Streaming. Stream 4K Ultra HD video on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and more. Watch movies in stunning detail with built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray TM . Spatial Audio. Bring your games and movies to life with immersive audio through Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. 4. Endless entertainment apps. Enjoy your favorite apps like YouTube, Spotify, HBO NOW, ESPN and many more. 5. Connect and play with friends on Xbox Live. Connect with friends and find rivals and teammates in the best global gaming community. 6. Xbox One S bundles. Not sure which console is right for you? The new Xbox One X. "For those looking for the very best" -GameSpot. * Excludes the Xbox One S stand that works exclusively with the Xbox One S. Xbox Kinect Adapter (sold separately) required for Kinect on Xbox One S and Xbox One X. 1. Game Pass monthly subscription required; continues until cancelled. Game selection varies over time. Learn more at www.xbox.com/game-pass. 2. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10. 3. Xbox One Backward Compatibility feature works with select Xbox 360 games, see www.xbox.com/backcompat. Xbox Live and broadband internet required for initial download of game to console. 4. Dolby Atmos for Headphones requires additional purchase from Microsoft Store. 5. Some apps require app provider-specific subscriptions and/or other requirements. See www.xbox.com/live. 6. Online multiplayer requires Xbox Live Gold subscription (sold separately). Xbox One S vs Xbox One Comparison Chart. This chart compares the Xbox One S and Xbox One game consoles and their significant hardware features. The Xbox One and Xbox One S share a similar architecture and play all the same games, but there are several important differences between them. This comparison chart illustrates the difference between these two versions of the Xbox.  PS4 vs. Xbox One vs. Wii U Comparison Chart Previous. Xbox One X vs. PlayStation 4 Pro vs Xbox One S Comparison Chart. © 1996-2018 Ziff Davis, LLC. We have updated our PRIVACY POLICY and encourage you to read it by clicking here. IGN uses cookies and other tracking technologies to customize online advertisements, and for other purposes. IGN supports the Digital Advertising Alliance principles. Learn More. Difference between Xbox One and Xbox One S. Main Difference. With the development in gaming, the demand for gaming consoles is also getting the momentum. The recent survey on demand and overall users of these gaming consoles has revealed that all editions of video gaming brand of Xbox by Microsoft collectively holds at least 30% market share. Xbox One S and Xbox one are two leading video gaming consoles of Xbox that are often confused to be one and delivering the same level of features and functions. But there is a fine line between these two that’s why the entertainment level in each case is different. Released on November 22, 2013, officially, Xbox One is the third game console by the Microsoft in Xbox game brand. The aim of launching behind Xbox One was to compete with Wii U and PS4 that were already serving as eight generating video game consoles. The exception about Xbox One is that it is full of entertainment in addition to simply being operating as a game console. Being an all in one entertainment system as declared by the Microsoft, Xbox One has been competing well with the advanced digital media players’ platforms like Google TV and Apple TV. For the first time, Xbox introduced various development in the Xbox One in which some most important are AMD Accelerated Processing Unit built around X86-64 instruction set. Xbox One memory subsystem also features additional 32 MB of embedded static ESRAM or RAM with a per second bandwidth memory of 109 GB. This game console 4K resolution and video output and 7.1 surround sound. The additional uniqueness about Xbox One is that it heavily focus on cloud computing and is integrated with entertainment apps and services, delivering the ability to overlay the live TV programming from an already serving digital turner or set up box for digital terrestrial TV with an enhanced program guide, enhanced support for the second screen and split screen terrestrial TV. Xbox One features the system of regular enhancements and updates making the users able to get more for both games and entertainment. It is also possible to stream Xbox One to any home based Windows 10 PC. Xbox One is currently available in two editions that are Xbox One with 500 GB capacity available for $279 and Xbox One with 1 TB capacity available for $299. Xbox One S. Xbox One S is the upcoming game console by the Xbox game brand that will be officially available by August 2016. Xbox One S is totally the revised, or you can say the most enhanced version of the Xbox One. The white-colored Xbox One S is 40% smaller in dimension as compared to the predecessor and original one but in performance, it is much time advanced. There are most of the similarities that Xbox One S possesses when compared to the original one, but it has the option of a 2Tb hard drive. Just like Xbox One, Xbox One S also supports both 4K output but support for HDR visual is extra by Xbox in upcoming Xbox One S. The new high dynamic range (HDR) system of Xbox One S will let the users have more luminous colors in the high-tech games then either it is Forza Horizon 3 or War 4. The higher contrast ratio will bring out the true visual depth of your favorite games. The wireless controller is same just like the original version, but IR Blaster is something new that is going to take this console to the next level. Now you will be able to enjoy more configuration to turn on other devices like satellite/cable receiver, audio/video receiver, and TV. The new IR Blaster system is for enjoying the movie and games in a more enhanced environment. Revision is also there in case of texture grips and Bluetooth that was not available in Xbox One controller. Microsoft has also stated that Xbox One S will contain an upgraded GPU and CPU components that are capable of delivering highly enhanced the gaming experience. Xbox One S will be available in three editions that are Xbox One S with a capacity of 500 GB against $299, Xbox One S with a capacity of 1 Tb against $349 and Xbox One S special edition with a capacity of 2 TB against $399. Engadget. ‘Diablo’ creator’s next game is a 2D dungeon crawler. YouTube's live TV service is now available on Apple TV. Wirecutter's best deals: HIFiMan's HE400i headphones drop to $180. Latest in Gaming. Sony CEO completes quest to make the company successful again. UNICEF recruits gamers to mine cryptocurrency for Syrian kids. Nintendo Labo hands-on: Cardboard has never been this fun. ‘Diablo’ creator’s next game is a 2D dungeon crawler. The Xbox One S vs. the original Xbox One: What's changed? It's been three years since the Xbox One's launch, which means we're due for a console redesign. But rather than give us the same system in a slimmer case, the Xbox One S also features a few tweaks under its stylish hood. The inclusion of 4K video is a welcome addition, but what else has changed? We've gathered all the relevant specs right here so you can start planning that next console purchase. Specs in italics are unconfirmed, but no significant performance changes have been announced. We will update this post as more details become available. While the specifications mentioned today for Project Scorpio are promising, we don't have enough data to do a proper comparison yet. We'll be sure to take a closer look as more information becomes available over the next year. Kris runs Engadget's awesome product database with an iron fist. She's also written stuff for Anime Insider and Anime News Network, as well as a lengthy stint editing Pokémon things for The Pokémon Company. She still plays the games and seriously can't believe there are 807 Pokémon now. Sony CEO completes quest to make the company successful again. Operating income this quarter was higher than the whole of either of the last two years. UNICEF recruits gamers to mine cryptocurrency for Syrian kids. It hopes to appeal to young people's desire to do social good. Apple sold the most smartphones over the holidays. But Samsung still sold the most number of phones in 2017. Sony CEO Kaz Hirai will step aside on April 1st. As first reported by Japan's Nikkei, current CFO Kenichiro Yoshida will take over. Coord feeds real-time transportation info into navigation apps. It provides data on alternate transit modes, tolls and more. What’s the Difference Between the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X? There’s more than one Xbox One. Microsoft has already released the Xbox One S, a redesigned Xbox One with a few upgrades. Microsoft also released a major upgrade named the Xbox One X, which was released on November 7, 2017 and was codenamed “Project Scorpio”. All Xbox One models will play the same Xbox One games (and even Xbox 360 games!). However, newer models may play those same games with more detailed graphics and smoother framerates. Here are the main differences. Xbox One (Released November 22, 2013) You’re probably already familiar with the original Xbox One. The console itself is a a large, black, VCR-style box. All Xbox One packages originally included the Kinect, Microsoft’s solution for voice recognition, motion tracking, and controlling your cable box or other TV service with its integrated IR blaster. The Xbox One was released a week after the PlayStation 4, and the two consoles directly competed with each other. The Xbox One was a bit slower and $100 more expensive than the PS4 (no thanks to those TV and Kinect features). As a result, Sony pulled ahead in sales. Microsoft has shifted gears since then. Microsoft dumped the Kinect from most Xbox One bundles and matched the PlayStation 4’s price. In fact, Microsoft has all but abandoned the Kinect. You can still buy a Kinect for about $100 and connect it to your Xbox One afterwards, if you like, but don’t expect to see any new Kinect-enabled games any time soon. The Kinect will one day vanish as an aftermarket add-on, too. Microsoft has already stopped manufacturing it. Xbox One S (Released August 2, 2016) The Xbox One S is a streamlined, slightly faster Xbox One with some other improvements. It costs around $299, about the same price as the original Xbox One now costs, although Microsoft sometimes cuts the price. For example, Microsoft cut the price by $50 when the Xbox One X was announced. Where the original Xbox One was black, the Xbox One S is white. The console itself is about 40% smaller than the Xbox One, and it doesn’t have the Xbox One’s massive power brick. The console has been redesigned in small, smart ways. There’s now a USB port on the front of the console instead of on the side, for example, making it easier to plug in USB sticks. You can also stand the Xbox One S up vertically, if you like. The Kinect is missing in action here. No models of the Xbox One S ship with a Kinect. The Xbox One S does not have a dedicated Kinect port on the back of the console, as the original Xbox One does. If you buy a Kinect and want to use it with your Xbox One S, you’ll need to get a Kinect-to-USB adapter from Microsoft. The new controller bundled with the Xbox One S is white, too. It includes a few minor improvements, such as a textured back for easier grip. It now supports Bluetooth, which means you can connect it directly to a Windows PC without buying the Xbox Wireless USB adapter. However, you can use any model of Xbox One controller with any Xbox One console. Under the hood, the big new improvements are support for 4K resolution and HDR color. You’ll only be able to see that 4K improvement if you have a 4K TV, and you’ll only get HDR content if you have a 4K TV that supports HDR-10. You won’t notice any difference otherwise. If you have a TV that supports only Dolby Vision HDR instead of HDR-10 HDR, you won’t be able to view HDR content. Blame your TV’s manufacturer for not supporting both. The Xbox One S isn’t actually powerful enough for 4K gaming, unfortunately, so games will still play in their normal resolution. The 4K support is mainly for movies and TV shows from Netflix or 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. While games can’t take advantage of 4K, they can use HDR when running on the Xbox One S. This requires the game developer to enable support for HDR. Some game developers have gone back and added this feature to their existing Xbox One games with patches, but not all developers have. Technically, the Xbox One S is a bit more powerful than the original Xbox One. Its graphics processor unit (GPU) runs about 7.1% faster. Microsoft says its internal testing shows this may result in minor improvements to some games, and Eurogamer found that to be true. This isn’t a big reason to upgrade, and you might not even notice the difference in many games. Overall, the Xbox One S is a redesigned, streamlined console with support for 4K and HDR on modern televisions. It can’t actually play games in 4K, but it’s a decent stopgap until Microsoft releases a console that can. Considering it costs the same amount of money as the Xbox One, it’s definitely a better choice than the original. Xbox One X (Released November 7, 2017) Microsoft released the Xbox One X, a major upgrade to the Xbox One, on November 7, 2017. This console was known as “Project Scorpio” during its development period, and Microsoft dubs it “the world’s most powerful console”. It’s significantly faster than the original Xbox One, and promises support for actual 4K gaming, with content rendered in 4K rather than simply being upscaled. It will also include an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive so you can watch 4K Blu-ray discs. The Xbox One X costs $499. That’s more than the Xbox One S, but the Xbox One S isn’t going anywhere. While this is a major upgrade, it isn’t a new console generation. The Xbox One X won’t have any exclusive games. You can continue playing Xbox One games on the original Xbox One and Xbox One S, although the Xbox One X will be able to play some games at a higher resolution and with more graphical detail. Other games will just offer smoother framerates and faster load times. Microsoft advertises “6 teraflops” of processing power, a four and a half times improvement over the current Xbox One and more than the PlayStation 4 Pro’s 4.2 teraflops. The Xbox One X’s graphics processor runs at 1172MHz, an improvement over the original Xbox One’s 853MHz. It includes 1 TB of internal storage space, whereas the Xbox One S starts at 500 GB. Despite all the power, this is the “smallest Xbox ever”. It’s more compact than the Xbox One S, and is black instead of white. Like the Xbox One S, the Xbox One X does not include a dedicated Kinect port. This speedy hardware will be the only Xbox One powerful enough to run “high-fidelity VR”. So, technically, virtual reality games will be exclusive to the Xbox One X because they can’t run on any other Xbox One hardware. The Xbox One X doesn’t yet support any VR headsets, but Microsoft is pushing a whole new ecosystem of “Mixed Reality” headsets for Windows 10 that may eventually arrive on the Xbox One. This is Microsoft’s answer to Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro, a more powerful PlayStation 4 console that can play games in 4K (and was released on November 10, 2016). The PS4 Pro only costs $399, however. Microsoft is leapfrogging Sony and now has the most powerful console hardware, although it’s being released nearly a year after the PS4 Plus and will cost an extra $100. What all this power means for your gameplay depends on the games you run, as some games could offer 4K resolution while others could offer faster performance at a lower resolution. It depends on the game and what the developer has done to take advantage of the hardware. If you’re curious about how a particular game looks or plays better on the Xbox One X, look up a comparison for that game online. Which Xbox Should You Buy? If you want to buy an Xbox One today, you should probably skip the original Xbox One. The Xbox One S should be about the same price as the original Xbox One, and it’s newer and better. However, you may find old models of the Xbox One priced a bit cheaper, especially if you’re willing to buy used or refurbished. The original Xbox One will likely vanish from store shelves one day. If you already have an Xbox One, the Xbox One S isn’t a huge upgrade. While it is an improvement, all you’re really getting is support for watching 4K videos and viewing HDR content in games—if you have a modern TV that supports these features and games that support HDR. The Xbox One X offers a lot more power. That’s something to weigh when considering your purchasing decisions. Do you want to pay an extra $200 for better graphics and smoother performance? It’s the sort of decision PC gamers have always had to make, but now console gamers get to make the same decision. If you don’t want to pay extra for a more powerful console because you’re happy playing the same games at lower detail settings, the Xbox One S is still a great option. It will still be able to play games released after the Xbox One X, so you won’t be buying into a dying console. The Xbox One S and Xbox One X will continue to exist alongside each other. Games will look better on the Xbox One X, but you’ll get the most improvement on a 4K TV. Microsoft does promise that the Xbox One X “will make your existing library better” even on a 1080p TV, however, so you’ll see improvements on any TV. Chris Hoffman is a technology writer and all-around computer geek. He's as at home using the Linux terminal as he is digging into the Windows registry. Connect with him on Twitter. Did You Know. Counterintuitively, people who live near coal-driven power plants have a higher level of radiation exposure than those living near nuclear-powered plants; coal ash contains uranium and the radioactive byproducts of coal combustion are more poorly controlled and regulated than the byproducts in the nuclear industry. Best of How-To Geek. Get the HTG Newsletter. Join 100,000 other subscribers. Follow How-To Geek. More Articles You Might Like. Enter your email address to get our daily newsletter. Join the How-To Geek Club! (It's Free) ✕ Get exclusive articles before everybody else. Get downloadable ebooks for free! Get geeky trivia, fun facts, and much more. What's the difference between 4K Ultra HD, HDR, and Xbox One X Enhanced games? Xbox One X opens a window onto several visual enhancements that target the latest UHD (ultra-high-definition) TVs. As you shop for Xbox games, you’ll see these terms in various combination, depending on the game: 4K, HDR, and Xbox One X Enhanced. Here’s a breakdown on each. 4K refers to image resolution, or the number of pixels used for each image. Games described as being 4K offer a resolution of 3840 pixels × 2160 lines, offering roughly twice the resolution of 1080p HD. To view 4K games at their native resolution, your TV must be 4K-capable. HDR (high dynamic range) Visual dynamic range refers to the difference between the darkest and brightest information a game can show. As suggested by the term HDR, or high dynamic range, some games offer darker darks and brighter brights than others, depending on the screen you view them on. HDR on Xbox has a 10-bit color range, or wide color gamut, which uses more colors for a richer, more detailed image. Enable 4K HDR on your Xbox One X or Xbox One S to get the visual benefit of games and apps that support HDR. To see HDR visuals, your TV must be HDR-certified and support the HDR10 standard. This means it must have a display range that skews toward either extra brightness (peak brightness over 1000 cd/m2 and black level below 0.05 cd/m2, for a contrast ratio of at least 20,000:1) or extra darkness (peak brightness over 540 cd/m2 and black level less than 0.0005 cd/m2, for a contrast ratio of at least 1,080,000:1). Xbox One X Enhanced. Games that are said to be Xbox One X Enhanced offer one or more of the following benefits over non-Enhanced editions: Graphic enhancements Additional visual effects Higher framerate Higher resolution (up to 4K, depending on your TV) Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: Which Console Should You Buy? Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: Microsoft’s two consoles offer some similar features, but very different levels of performance. Which console is right for you? The decision isn’t as easy as you might think, so Trusted Reviews has put together a breakdown to help make up your mind. Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: What do they have in common? In order to make this buying decision as simple as possible, we’ll start with the features that are common to both devices. If nothing else, this will ensure you don’t buy the more expensive One X if what you really wanted was already part of the One S. The main similarities come in the form of ports, connectivity and media playback. Both consoles have three USB 3.0 connectors, one on the front and two at the rear. Also at the rear, the consoles have a pair of HDMI ports (2.0b out and 1.4b in), Ethernet, S/PDIF audio and an IR output. Both consoles support 4K HDR content through the HDR 10 standard, and both have UHD Blu-ray disc drives. Dolby Atmos is present, as is Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. For home theatre enthusiasts, both consoles excel. Both consoles support HDR in certain games, but as we’ll see in the ‘What’s different’ section, it’s not quite that simple. Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: What’s different? Design: The One X is slightly smaller than the S, but the differences don’t end there. If you’re going to replace your S, you’ll be interested to know that all the heat extraction takes place around the back of the console. Unlike the S, which blows some hot air out of the top, the top of the X is completely devoid of any opening. This means you could stack other AV kit on top of your X, which you couldn’t do with the S. Performance: In terms of technical prowess, the two consoles are very different. Without getting deep into talk about specifications, the Xbox One X is a thoroughly modern console with components that are a match for today’s mid-range gaming PCs. The One S is no slouch, but it’s using very similar technology to the original Xbox One that launched in 2013. Sign up for the newsletter. Get news, competitions and special offers direct to your inbox. This means, in gaming performance, the two will handle very differently, even though on the face of it they both deliver the same UHD resolution. In the case of the Xbox One S, it delivers UHD gaming that’s been upscaled from Full HD. The console is using clever so-called ‘checkerboarding’ anti-aliasing technology to create pixels where there are none, giving the impression of a sharper, clearer image. It works well, but it’s not ‘true’ 4K by any means. The console also supports HDR gaming at any resolution. The One X, meanwhile, has massively beefed up specifications. While, again, the console occasionally uses some form of upscaling, it’s powerful enough to render games at a much higher resolution than the One S, so there’s a lot less upscaling to be done. This makes for a much richer, more detailed image. The increase in video memory means textures in games will be higher resolution, and there’s more scope for big effects such as smoke and explosions. We go into much more detail in our Xbox One X review, with an entire page of screenshot comparisons in three games. Here’s a couple to whet your appetite: Titanfall 2: Textures are sharper here, and you can see there’s better flare coming from the titan’s red lights. The lighting overall is of a higher quality, although the colour of the scene is the same as the One S (below) Gears of War, Xbox One X: This cropped image in Visuals graphics mode shows dynamic lighting to its best effect. This scene in HDR is stunning. That same scene again on the One S. There’s a lack of sharpness and the colours are quite clearly more muted. Not exactly ugly, though. Games: While the One S and One X share an identical library of games, certain titles will launch with the ‘Enhanced for One X’ label, which means they will have extra visual fidelity that you won’t see in other versions of the game. Hardware: Away from performance, the Xbox One X has a new cooling and power delivery system. This is crucial for such a small and powerful box, where keeping temperatures down and efficiency up is top of the agenda. Based on our review, we’d say the One X and S run at around the same noise level. In other words, they’re both nice and quiet. Storage is different, too. The One S can be found with as little as 500GB of storage, up to 2TB, all on mechanical hard disks. The One X comes with a 1TB hard disk with 8GB of flash storage. This sounds confusing, but what this secret 8GB does is help speed up the operating system by storing the most frequently-access filed (the operating system) on faster solid-state storage. Based on our testing so far, we’ve not found much difference in terms of storage performance. Value: The final difference is, of course, price. The One S can be found for as little as £200 in the UK, while the One X will cost more than twice as much at £450. That in itself will make a huge difference to which you buy, especially if you’re not convinced by the promise of 4K gaming. For home cinema enthusiasts who want to watch 4K video content and play a few games, the One S continues to be a great choice. For gaming lovers who want the absolute best technology, the One X will be the best choice. What do you think of Microsoft’s new Xbox One X? Let us know on Twitter and Facebook! The five biggest differences between the original Xbox One and the new Xbox One. You may have heard there's a brand new version of the Xbox OneВ that just came out, called the Xbox One S. Don't be alarmed! Your old Xbox One is still just fine. It will still play the same games and have access to the same services. The original Xbox One does not float. Don't believe this lie of an image. Microsoft. So, what's different about this "new" Xbox One? Should you rush to trade-in your old Xbox One in favor of the shiny new model? The short answer, thankfully, is "probably not." But there are some important differences between the two — here's the full rundown: View As: One Page Slides. The new Xbox One — dubbed the "Xbox One S" — is white and features a slightly different design. It's also MUCH smaller than the original Xbox One. As you can see, the Xbox One S is a nice looking piece of hardware. It's 40% smaller than the original Xbox One and looksВ much more attractive than the big, black brick we've come to know over the past few years. There's a new gamepad. It's also white! The Xbox One S controller isn't a completely new controller, but it's a slightly enhanced version of the existing Xbox One controller. With the ability to connect to PCs via Bluetooth and textured grips for added comfort, it's a slightly better version of an already-great controller. There's no power adapter this time. Don't you just hate having to plug in a separate, cumbersome power brick to make video game consoles work? How about hiding a gigantic power supply somewhere behind your TV? Also pretty stupid! The Xbox One S gets rid of this problem by putting that power brick inside the console itself, making it much more convenient to move around. It's also nice that you don't have to put a giant brick somewhere in your entertainment center. Games look (slightly) prettier! Perhaps the biggestВ difference inВ everyday usage is that, with the Xbox One S, games and movies can look better. Using HDR (high dynamic range) lighting technology, some Xbox One games like "Gears of War 4" will look slightly better on Xbox One S. It's unlikely to be a huge difference (not big enough to trade in your old Xbox One), but it's a nice bonus. Movies and TV shows could see a substantial visual upgrade with the addition of 4K support. 4K is basically the next jump in quality after HD, and though relatively few people have 4K televisions right now, they're getting more affordable every day. Of note, both of these upgrades require televisions that are able to support this stuff. You'll need an HDR-enabled TV for the former, and a 4K/UltraHD TV for the latter.В. The new Xbox One S doesn't have a built-in port for Kinect. If you're still usingВ the Kinect, the motion-sensing camera that originally came packed with every Xbox One, there's some bad news:В The Xbox One S does not have a built-in port for the Kinect, meaning you need a special adapter to make your Kinect work.В. This is sad if you still loved using the Kinect's motion and voice controls to navigate the console interface, or if you still saw potential in Kinect games, but it's not surprising. MicrosoftВ stopped packing in the Kinect with the Xbox One a while back, and once that happened, the writing was on the wall. GamesRadar+ What's the difference between PS4 slim and Xbox One S: all your questions answered. Both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One just so happened to get their most significant hardware revisions yet within a month and a half of each other. What are the chances? The slimmed down PS4 and Xbox One S make some sneaky changes to their base consoles, so make sure you get all the info before you decide to pick up one or the other (and check out the differences between PS4 Pro and Xbox One Scorpio too). Note that for clarity's sake I refer to the revised PS4 as "PS4 slim" here, even though you won't see "PS4 Slim" printed on any bundle boxes. Do PS4 slim and Xbox One S do 4K? Neither PS4 slim nor Xbox One S can play games in 4K resolutions. In both cases, the best you'll get is an auto-upscaled 1080p version from your 4K display. However, they can both play native 4K entertainment like movies. Read on for an important distinction between the two consoles for playing 4K shows and movies on Blu-ray. Do PS4 slim and Xbox One S support HDR? Yes! Both Xbox One S and PS4 slim launched with support for high-dynamic range (HDR) displays. If you're not familiar with HDR, in this context it refers to a set of specifications for rendering and displaying more varied colors and brightnesses. But you won't notice any difference unless you have both an HDR-compatible TV (which are generally also 4K) and HDR-compatible content. Both PS4 and Xbox One are fairly lacking in the latter category at this point, at least in terms of games. Can PS4 slim and Xbox One S play UHD Blu-ray movies? PS4 slim can't play UHD Blu-ray movies, but Xbox One S can. It comes down to a difference in disk drives: neither PS4 slim nor PS4 Pro's drives support the new UHD Blu-ray format. Sony says it's banking on video-on-demand taking over. Which is more powerful, PS4 slim or Xbox One S? The original PS4 was slightly more powerful than the original Xbox One, which gave it resolution and framerate advantages in some cross-platform games. But while PS4 slim only stays the course, Xbox One S is actually slightly more powerful than Xbox One. Performance differences between the two should be all but negligible at this point. Do PS4 slim and Xbox One S support VR? PS4 slim supports PlayStation VR just as well as the chunkier model, while Xbox One S doesn't add any virtual reality support on top of the original Xbox One. If VR is a big selling point for you, be aware that certain PS VR games like Farpoint will look better on PS4 Pro than they do on PS4 slim. Microsoft plans to start supporting VR devices with Xbox One Scorpio. Do PS4 slim and Xbox One S play all my current games? Yes, both PS4 slim and Xbox One S can play their entire respective PS4 and Xbox One libraries. Xbox One S doesn't have a dedicated Kinect port so you'll need an adapter for the Kinect sensor if you plan on playing any Kinect games. Here are Microsoft's instructions on how to get an adapter (potentially for free). There may be Xbox One Scorpio-exclusive games in the future, but that's at least a year or two off. Sony says it has no plans to make games that only run on PS4 Pro. Do PS4 slim and Xbox One S use my current accessories? Most of your existing accessories should work on PS4 slim and Xbox One S. Controllers, headsets, and generally anything else you plug in or sync up should be fine, but consult the included ports in the next section to make sure. Exceptions include the aforementioned Kinect sensor and anything that attaches to the console itself (like PS4 hard drive bay expanders), since they're both built and shaped differently from their older versions. What kind of ports and A/V outputs do PS4 slim and Xbox One S have? PS4 slim has two USB ports on the front, and an HDMI, ethernet, and "AUX" port on the back ("AUX" is used for the PS4 Camera, which also got a minor redesign). It doesn't have an optical audio out, unlike the older PS4 model. Xbox One S is a bit more extensive: it has one USB port on the front and two on the back. It has an HDMI out and an HDMI in, the latter of which can be used for watching TV with OneGuide. It has an IR out port, which can help control your home theater setup if you don't have a Kinect or the Kinect's signal can't reach. It has an optical audio out, unlike PS4 slim, and it has an ethernet port. Oh, and they both have connectors for power cords. Duh. What storage options do PS4 Slim and Xbox One S have? PS4 slim currently comes with a 500GB internal hard drive standard, and 1TB models are on the way. Xbox One S also starts at 500GB, but current bundles also offer 1TB and 2TB of internal storage. As with their older versions, PS4 slim hard drives can be replaced with standard 2.5" SATA drives, while Xbox One S storage (including game installs) can be expanded with an external USB hard drive. What do PS4 slim and Xbox One S cost? Both PS4 slim and Xbox One S start at $299/£249 for their 500GB versions, and prices increase from there depending on hard drive and bundled games. I wouldn't be surprised if their prices drop a little more by the time Xbox One Scorpio arrives in holiday 2017. Seen something newsworthy? Tell us! Recommended. 8 things to watch out for this week. Who are the GamesRadar+ team? 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