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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 vs. Xbox One: Hardware, Price & Release Date. See how the Xbox One S compares to the original with our overview, covering hardware, prices, and all the other streamlined changes to Microsoft’s console. The Xbox One S is official. All those Xbox One leaks have been confirmed, and the Xbox One S comes equipped with plenty of quality-of-life upgrades, including new HDMI ports to support 4K streaming and media. The most obvious features are the vertical stand (bundled with all new Xbox One S consoles), the streamlined Xbox One controller, and the white colorway that better matches the original Xbox 360 . That’s just scratching the surface — we’ve scrounged together all the confirmed information fit-to-print and collected it in one location for you to peruse.. Scroll down to learn how the Xbox One S is different than the original Xbox One — what’s new, what’s different, how the hardware compares, how much it’ll cost, and the release date. The Xbox One starts at 299$, and you can preorder it right now. Hopefully we can make your purchasing decision just a little bit easier. [ UPDATED 7/18: Xbox One S Launch Edition August 2nd release date revealed.] Xbox One S vs. Xbox One. The Xbox One S is the Slim version of the original Xbox One . The Xbox One S is also the smallest Xbox yet, taking up even less room in your media cabinet than the Xbox 360 (S) . That isn’t the only feature, the new Xbox One S comes with other hardware upgrades and features not available on the original Xbox One . Here’s a quick overview of everything new. The Xbox One S , officially announced on June 13th during Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference, 40% smaller than the original Xbox One . Supports 4K Streaming Services (Netflix & Amazon Streaming) Supports 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray media. HDR Sets for wider color range. Gears of War 4 is set to be the first game released to take advantage of the added HDR Sets. Don’t worry, you won’t need HDR Sets or the Xbox One S to play Xbox One games. Other than the hardware changes listed above, there are no other changes to the system. The Xbox One supports 4K media, but does not support 4K game resolution, so all the other internal systems aren’t getting an upgrade. There’s plenty more that’s changed. The Xbox One S has been streamlined in other important ways in comparison to the Xbox One . Integrated Power Supply (No more heavy power supply brick.) Can be used vertically (Vertical Console Stand Included with all bundles.) Can be purchased with a new 2TB HD. Front USB Ports Removed Kinect Port (Kinect can now use a new USB adaptor.) White Color Redesign. The Xbox One S also includes a streamlined and redesigned controller. Here are some of the new features: Improved Connectivity Range Bluetooth Textured Grips Comes included with all three new Xbox One S bundles. Those are all the improvements and changes released so far. Here’s how much you can expect to pay, and when the new console drops into retail. Xbox One vs. Xbox One S – 4K Output. The original Xbox One is capable of 4K output, but was severely hindered by its HDMI port. The new redesigned Xbox One S adds proper 4K support thanks to an upgraded HDMI 2.0a port. The original Xbox One included the HDMI 1.4a port The Xbox One was only capable of 4K output at 30Hz The Xbox One S includes the HDMI 2.0a port The Xbox One S is capable of 4k out at 60Hz. Xbox One vs. Xbox One S – Performance. Everything under the hood is unchanged, and there will be NO PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCE between the two console versions. Both versions of the Xbox One can play the same games and feature the same graphics performance, framerate, and resolutions. The Xbox One S is a purely optional upgrade if you already own an Xbox One console and is not required for future games. The Xbox One S comes in three bundles; 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB versions. Xbox One S (500 GB Bundle) – $299 Xbox One S (1TB Bundle) – $349 Xbox One S (2TB Bundle) – $399. All versions of the Xbox One S come bundled with: The original Xbox One released on November 22, 2013. It’s been three years, and the bulky box finally has an upgrade under it’s belt. Are you interested in pre-ordering? Waiting to purchase? Or looking for the next price-drop? 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. 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. 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 favourites 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 colours 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 colours 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 favourite broadcasters with Mixer, an interactive live streaming 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 and more. Watch films in stunning detail with built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray TM . Spatial Audio. Bring your games and films to life with immersive audio through Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. 4. Endless entertainment apps. Enjoy your favourite apps like YouTube, Spotify 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. * 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). Analyzing the Xbox One S Hardware Rumors. 4K, HDR, and a new updated GPU? Last updated by Jimmy Thang on June 13, 2016 at 8:46AM. You are now subscribed. If you’ve been following E3 rumors, then you’ll know that there’s a supposed leaked image outing the smaller Xbox One console as the Xbox One S. The pictured white console refresh supposedly features a 40 percent smaller design and will come with a host of new improvements that include a bigger 2TB hard drive and more. Leading the charge for new features is support for 4K, which suggest an update to AMD’s integrated graphics processor for 2160p video decoding. Considering leading $600 PC graphics cards still struggle with UHD (which is four times as sharp as 1080p HD), expect it to be limited mostly to video playback, rather than native 4K game rendering. The image also mentions that the Xbox One S will support high-dynamic range (HDR). This means it could showcase double the amount of visible colors the human eye can see, provided you have an HDR-capable display. HDR generally provides a greater sense of contrast and makes colors "pop" more. Expect many new HDR TVs to release in the coming months/years. Finally, the image also says that the unit will come with a vertical stand and a “streamlined controller,” but judging from the image, it’s hard to see what’s different about the design. Assuming that these rumors are true, let’s break this down from a hardware perspective. Considering the Xbox One S is purported to support 4K, it could suggest a new HDMI 2.0a/b port, though considering it will also allegedly feature HDR support, DisplayPort is also a possibility. But how does the Xbox One S lose 40 percent of its mass? There’s a couple ways Microsoft could trim the fat. First, it’s worth mentioning that the current model is arguably bigger than it needs to be, and that the added bulk was a preventative measure against cooling issues. It is important to remember that Microsoft was still recovering from its Red Ring of Death heat issues during the inception of the Xbox One's design. This is the inside of the current Xbox One. The S model could feature different ports, a different thermal solution, and a more compact storage drive. The Philips optical drive in the current unit is also very bulky and Microsoft could be opting for a slim optical drive design for the S. The cooler used in the current Xbox one is also quite large and features three copper heat pipes with multiple fins and a large fan, which makes it very akin to a typical PC CPU air cooler. If the S is indeed 40 percent smaller than the current model, it most likely features a more compact thermal solution. It will be interesting to see if the fan will rev louder, as a result, or if the system will run hotter with the smaller chassis. Microsoft’s E3 press conference begins tomorrow at 9:30am PST. Hopefully will get more answers then. Note: This article originally and incorrectly stated that the original Xbox One used a 3.5 inch hard drive vs a 2.5 HDD. Xbox One Hardware Specs. EditXbox One Harware Specs. Clock: 2133MHz Bandwidth: 68.26 GB/s. Bandwidth: 204 GB/s(102 In/102 Out) [3] 8GB Flash Memory [4] Frequency: 1.75 GHz [5] Shader Cores: 768. Peak Throughput: 1.31 TFLOPS [6] Required for Online Play  The Xbox One is a powerful piece of hardware with 8GB RAM DDR3, 64-bit processors and plenty more muscle. But as time passes this hardware will age. As Xbox One Director of development Boyd Multerer pointed out, "You'll still have a limited number of transistors in your house; in your box." Not much is known about the Xbox One GPU, but a Microsoft representative has told IGN "AMD is our primary partner for the custom silicon that makes up our GPU/CPU SOC that is the heart of Xbox One." [Source: IGN interview with Microsoft] The Xbox One is built to communicate with servers in the cloud to increase the computational potential of the system. Boyd continued "[As a developer] I can start doing things like shifting latency insensitive things to the cloud. You may have a limited number of transistors in your house, but you have an unlimited number of transistors in the cloud" As bandwidth improves, there is potential for actual game computations to be off-loaded to servers in the cloud, essentially allowing the Xbox One to become more powerful over time as more and more transistors are connected to Microsoft's cloud infrastructure. EditA view of the rear ports on the Xbox One. The Kensington security slot is a anti-theft system which involves a lock and a rubberized metal cable attached to the lock to ensure that no one is able to steal the electronic device. Xbox One Console Design Previous. © 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. Microsoft Xbox One S review: Xbox One S is the best Xbox you might not want to buy. Xbox One S is the best Xbox yet. The Xbox One S is the most feature-filled console Microsoft has ever made, but that doesn't mean you should buy it. by Jeff Bakalar. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15. Microsoft Xbox One S (1TB) 7 Related Models. Hot Products. Apple iPhone X. Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Google Home Mini. Google Pixel 2 XL. The Good The Xbox One S is a slick looking game console that's 40 percent smaller than the original and ditches the infamously gigantic power brick. It can display 4K video from streaming services and Ultra HD Blu-rays, and supports HDR contrast on video and games. The updated controller works with other Bluetooth devices, too. The Bad 4K, Ultra HD Blu-ray and HDR settings only work with newer TVs, and may require some trial and error. The updated controller feels cheaper than its predecessor. Project Scorpio, the more powerful Xbox One successor, arrives in late 2017. The Bottom Line The Xbox One S is the console Microsoft should have delivered three years ago, but there's little reason to upgrade if you already own the original box. Review Sections. CNET Gaming Consoles Microsoft Xbox One S. Update 8/4/16: Several spec teardown reports have uncovered slight difference in the graphical hardware performance of Xbox One S. Specifically, Xbox One S has a small GPU clock increase of 914 MHz from 853 MHz and an ESRAM bandwidth increase of 219 GB/s from 204 GB/s. These bumps are only noticeable in-game in a small number of situations. In fact, they exist only as an bonus side effect of Microsoft ensuring HDR content performs without a hitch. This is more like it. The Xbox One S is the version of the console that Microsoft should've first released back in 2013 instead of the lumbering beast that we got. It's better in a number of ways, making it even more of a worthy alternative to Sony's PlayStation 4. Xbox One S offers a far more attractive enclosure, options for a bigger hard drive, a slightly redesigned controller and some video perks for owners of 4K TVs. It starts at $300, £250 or AU$400 for the 500GB version; $350, £300 or AU$500 for a 1TB model; and $400, £350 or AU$549 for 2TB. That last model is available to buy as of today in the US (and includes the vertical stand that otherwise costs $20 when purchased separately in the US), while those with the smaller hard drives will be available later in August, bundled with games such as Madden 17 and Halo. (Additional bundles will follow later in the year -- including a pricier 2TB Gears of War 4 version in October -- and may vary by region.) Sounds like a slam dunk, right? Unfortunately, it's never that simple. The One S doesn't get an across-the-board "buy it now" recommendation for two reasons. First off, it doesn't deliver huge improvements for anyone who already owns an Xbox One. But more importantly, Microsoft has already promised that the next Xbox -- dubbed Project Scorpio -- will be arriving in late 2017 with with the seriously amped-up graphics and VR-ready hardware that audiences are clamoring for. When it's all said and done, the Xbox One S should be primarily viewed as a slimmed-down version of the Xbox One that introduces a mildly updated controller and provisions for 4K display. It's not going to warp you into a state-of-the-art gaming experience. Pragmatically, you're probably better off nabbing an older Xbox One, which are now being sold at fire-sale prices. But if you are getting an Xbox One for the first time, have an interest in the bundled games and aren't saving your pennies for 2017's Project Scorpio, the One S is certainly a good all-round gaming and entertainment deal. What's new in the Xbox One S. There's a short but significant list of improvements and changes to the Xbox One S. Smaller, cleaner design: To start, it's 40 percent smaller, which considering its power supply is now internal, is impressive. It's also stark white, with some slick plastic moldings flanking the entirety of the box. I think it's the best-looking Xbox Microsoft has ever designed. The One S can also stand vertically, too. The 2TB model we received for review packs in a stand. If you buy one of the other models, you can get the stand separately for $20. 4K and HDR video: Xbox One S gets a fairly beefy upgrade on its video capabilities, with 4K resolution (3,840x2,160, or four times as sharp as standard 1080p HDTVs) and HDR (high dynamic range, which is basically enhanced contrast and color). Keep in mind: those features only work on compatible TVs and 4K functionality only works with a small but growing list of compatible video content. 4K can currently be accessed through streaming video services such as Amazon and Netflix (as long as you have the bandwidth to support it and pay for their premium tier) and those new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Certain games, meanwhile, will eventually be able to take advantage of HDR visual improvements, but don't look for PC-like 4K graphics -- the games are merely upscaled to 4K. So no, you're not getting native 4K gaming out of an Xbox One S. In fact, only a limited number of games will feature HDR and none of them are out yet. They are Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3 and 2017's Scalebound. New controller design: The Xbox One controller has been updated for the S, too. It has a more streamlined top section, better range and textured grips. It can also use Bluetooth to connect, which opens the door for compatibility with other devices -- no more annoying dongles, at least on Bluetooth-compatible PCs. The One S controller (right), compared with its predecessor. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of the new controller's design. It's not a drastic departure from the original, but there's just enough of a change to make it feel cheaper. The plastic textured grips don't feel good the way rubberized ones do, but thankfully the triggers seem unchanged. The D-pad also feels slightly less tactile -- I even noticed differences between two of the new controllers side by side. IR blaster and receiver: Still present is the IR port for controlling the console with a remote, but the Xbox One S also features an integrated IR blaster to control or power on other devices in the room. And it still does everything the old Xbox One does: The good news is that you're not losing anything with the Xbox One S compared with its predecessor. Around back the console offers a lot of the same ports as the original Xbox One, though noticeably absent is a dedicated Kinect port. You can still attach Kinect to the Xbox One S, you'll just need a special $40 (!) adapter. Either way, the omission of a Kinect port should give you an idea of how that peripheral is regarded at Microsoft HQ. HDMI-in and -out ports are still there, so you can still make use of the Xbox One's live TV integration if that's something that appeals to you, but I never found it overly useful. Suffice it to say, the One S plays all existing Xbox One games, and a growing list of Xbox 360 games. It also includes all of the encouraging software improvements Microsoft has made over the past few years, including the redesigned interface, support for the Cortana digital assistant (using a microphone headset), compatibility with the Windows Store and, soon, additional cross-play options with Windows PC gamers on certain titles. 4K and HDR scorecard. I want to personally thank the Xbox One S for introducing me to the hot mess that is the world of 4K and HDR formats. I considered myself fairly fluent in the language of home theater, but I was bewildered at the insane of amount of granularity and confusion that the format is currently plagued with. Hot Products. Apple iPhone X. The best iPhone asks you to think different. Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Excellent, powerful -- and pricey. Google Home Mini. Google Home Mini sounds great but lacks vision. Google Pixel 2 XL. Google Pixel 2 XL: What we know so far. August Smart Lock (2017) August's affordable Smart Lock is solid, even sans Siri. This week on CNET News. Discuss Microsoft Xbox One S. Be respectful, keep it clean and stay on topic. We'll remove comments that violate our policy. The Xbox One S has more powerful hardware, but will developers take full advantage? Microsoft delivered a very interesting E3 2016 keynote yesterday, even if many announcements had already leaked in the press a few days before the annual gaming show. However, while we already knew that the company would announce a slimmer Xbox One as well as a way more powerful hardware revision for late 2017, we’re still impressed by what Microsoft has achieved with the new Xbox One S: at a $299 price tag, the gaming console features a 40% smaller body, a 500GB internal HDD, an internal power supply, an IR Blaster and a redesigned controller with bluetooth support. Following the press event, we also reported yesterday that the new Xbox One S will still run on semi-custom AMD SoCs which is obviously more powerful as it will enable 4K video streaming and HDR support. The Xbox team shared more technical details in a blog post yesterday: You’ll now be able to watch Blu-ray movies and stream video in stunning 4K Ultra HD video, with content from partners like Netflix and Amazon Video. Xbox One S also offers High Dynamic Range (HDR) support for video and gaming, so you can experience richer, more luminous colors in games like Gears of War 4 and Scalebound. With a higher contrast ratio between lights and darks, HDR brings out the true visual depth of your games and media. On the official product page for the Xbox One S, Microsoft clarified that HDR functionality will be “available with supported games and TVs” which means that it’s up to developers to implement it into their games. Furthermore, according to what The Coalition studio head Rod Fergusson explained yesterday to Polygon it’s up to developers optimize their games for the Xbox One S : According to Fergusson, the Xbox One S has additional raw GPU and CPU power compared to the Xbox One, and The Coalition’s engineers have been able to take advantage of that to reduce the frequency of frame rate or resolution penalties in more demanding sections of the game. While Microsoft has clarified yesterday that all existing games and accessories will work with every Xbox One console going forward, some questions still remain. How many upcoming games will leverage the improved performance of the Xbox One S? Could developers patch their existing games to improve performance on the new console? Lastly, could existing Xbox One games still run marginally better on the new hardware without any optimization work from the developers? We can’t wait for Microsoft to answer those questions as it seems the landscape of Xbox One games could soon become fragmented. TechRadar. Xbox One S sets a new high point in console development. Our Verdict. Xbox One S is the pinnacle of what Microsoft set out to create with the original Xbox One. As the new de facto Xbox, the One S is everything a game console should be: sleek, powerful and well-stocked. It's not quite at Xbox One X's level in terms of performance, but the Xbox One S makes a pretty compelling argument by balancing power and price point. Vastly reduced physical footprint 4K & HDR streaming HDR gaming Xbox platform is steadily improving. Needs adapter for Kinect 4K gaming limited to upscaling. Three years after the release of the original Xbox One, Microsoft released an updated version of the console, the Xbox One S, which has now become the de facto Microsoft system moving forward. While we're sad to see the original Xbox One sail into the sunset, the Xbox One S is smaller, runs quieter and makes the transition from HD to Ultra HD, aka 4K. To that end, games are upscaled to the new, higher resolution (a process which doesn't look as good as the true or 'native' 4K performance on the Xbox One X), but movies will happily make the most out of the extra pixels whether you're streaming 4K Netflix or else playing an Ultra HD Blu-ray. Beyond 4K, the addition of HDR is also a great inclusion for the console. It's more powerful than it was when the system came out three years ago, and more spacious thanks to a larger 2 TB hard drive that can be found in many of the special editions of the console. But analyzing Microsoft's souped-up console has given us an opportunity to reevaluate how we see the platform as a whole, the good and the bad. In our opinion, the Xbox is the healthiest it's ever been. It's added plenty of first-party exclusives, and the new interface has made the platform even more accessible for first-time users - even if it's still not as clean or as simple as the one you'd find on Sony's PlayStation 4. To fully digest every detail of the console, we've spent a good deal of time pouring over every inch of the console itself. From its porous white exterior to its reconfigured front panel, the One S feels more well-constructed and solidly built than its predecessor ever was. Spin the console around and you'll find an HDMI 2.0a port that supports HDCP 2.2 allowing for 4K video streaming and HDR in games and movies - a small but crucial upgrade on its predecessor. However, all of these features that we've been craving for have come with a trade-off: the new Xbox One S forgoes a standard Kinect port on the console. In order to use the Kinect, the Xbox One S requires you to pick up a USB adapter – which, to its credit, Microsoft has said it will provide free of charge to any original Xbox One owner who asks for one. While the lack of Kinect capabilities will affect very few gamers, the removal of a Kinect port will be a shame for those who've grown used to being able to control their console using just their voice. The other thing to consider is that now the Xbox userbase is slightly fragmented. The gamers who own an Xbox One S or an Xbox One X will get to play Xbox-exclusives like Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3 in HDR, while owners of the original hardware will only get to see them in the standard color range. That will mean the difference in conversations about which games are beautiful or, more frightening, how games handled loading times and lag. Microsoft originally said that there wasn't any real difference between the hardware inside the Xbox One S and the original console but performance analyses conducted after the console's launch have found that certain games will run slightly more smoothly on the new console. Whether a discrepancy between systems will be a boon for Microsoft or a curse, however, the Xbox One S is quite easily the best system, hardware-wise, since the Xbox 360 Elite that Microsoft released back in 2007, especially when you consider its price – $399 (£349 / AU$549) for the 2TB version that first went on sale in early August of 2017, $349 (£299 / AU$499) for the 1TB version and $299 (£249 / AU$399) for the 500GB model that resides on most store shelves. One more thing before we dive into the full review. If you're a gamer, you're probably wondering how the Xbox One S stacks up against the PS4 Slim that was released around the same time. For you guys and girls we put together a special guide that should answer all your questions: Xbox One vs PS4. How does it stack up against the PS4 Pro? Watch this video to find out! Current page: Introduction. Tech deals, prizes and latest news. Get the best tech deals, reviews, product advice, competitions, unmissable tech news and more! 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All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Gaming & Culture / Gaming & Entertainment. Is Microsoft’s “true 4K” console worth $100 more than the PS4 Pro? by Sam Machkovech and Kyle Orland - Nov 3, 2017 7:01 am UTC. When the Xbox One launched in 2013, Microsoft had to try to convince gamers that extra features and hardware like the Kinect made its console worth $100 more than Sony’s PlayStation 4. Today, Microsoft is trying to convince many of those same gamers that the extra horsepower in the Xbox One X makes it worth $100 more than the PS4 Pro for the definitive living room 4K gaming experience. When it comes to hard numbers, the Xbox One X definitely merits Microsoft’s marketing hype as “the most powerful console ever.” Microsoft has pulled out the stops in squeezing stronger components into the same basic architecture of the four-year-old Xbox One. In games like Gears of War 4 and Super Lucky’s Tale , the system generates performance that’s equivalent to modern PC hardware that costs hundreds of dollars more. When it comes to seeing the value of that hardware on the screen, though, the promise of the Xbox One X is currently unfulfilled—at the very least, it's incomplete. We’ve only been able to test a relative handful of games that have gotten a downloadable patch providing the full “Xbox One X enhanced” treatment as of press time. That list excludes high-profile exclusives like Forza Motorsport 7 and Halo 5 , as well as major cross-console comparisons like Rise of the Tomb Raider or Middle-Earth: Shadow of War . While Microsoft promises similar enhancements for dozens of games are in the pipeline (including 70 titles that should be enhanced “right around release”), most publishers seem to need more time to adapt their titles to use the full power out of the system. That’s a bit concerning, especially when considering how long Microsoft has been gearing up for its big 4K play. For the games we have tested, the value of those enhancements varies greatly depending on the specific software and your specific living room setup. Enhanced games we’ve tried definitely look and perform better on the One X, but it’s often hard to suggest they perform $500 better on a 4K display (or even $250 better, if you’re coming into the Xbox ecosystem fresh). And if you don’t have a TV that supports 4K and/or HDR colors, the improvements are much more marginal. So as with the PS4 Pro, the lack of any exclusive software that needs the One X hardware means Microsoft’s best competition is the older console that runs the very same set of games at acceptable levels. How you know it's an X. Upon your first power-on of the Xbox One X, you'll know it's all X'ed out in two ways. First, the booting sequence now has a brief flash of microchips and DIMM modules whizzing past like something out of a cheesy '80s movie—which apparently is meant to represent the added power inside the Xbox One X. Otherwise, all system menus look exactly like the ones you'll find on other Xbox models (with an optional 4K resolution, just like on Xbox One S). It's worth noting that Microsoft has been diligently updating the console's menus over the past few years. If you haven't hopped on an Xbox One in a while, you'll be happy to know that its "home" interface is now far more streamlined and that a single tap of the big "Xbox" button finally brings up a quick-options menu like the one we loved so much on Xbox 360. There is a second tell, however, and it's one that even PlayStation 4 Pro doesn't have: a toggle in its "games and apps" menu that lets you sort by "Xbox One X Enhanced Games." Doing this doesn't tell you exactly how each game you have installed is enhanced, but at least Microsoft leaves players without a doubt that, yes, your game has (or has not) been patched with Xbox One X in mind. Highly Dynamic Colors. There’s a lot to be said about HDR (and we’ve sure said it), but the biggest takeaway to currently emphasize is this: 4K resolution and HDR boosts need each other to look their best. HDR’s jump in wow factor and color impact truly depends on the number of pixels it’s working with. Xbox One X, like the PlayStation 4 Pro before it, unifies these two standards to give you full-fat video games with that visual PB+chocolate combo: more pixels smothered in more HDR-10 color/luminance data.The last system revision, the Xbox One S, brought with it very limited implementations of two rising TV standards, 4K and HDR. 4K was limited solely to non-gameplay content like streaming apps, 4K Blu-ray, and menu text. The One S’ HDR boosts to gamut range and luminance, on the other hand, began rolling out to a very limited set of Xbox One games, but these only operated at a maximum 1080p resolution. Owners of HDR-compatible TVs should temper their expectations for the pop on Xbox One X games in general, though. Some “Xbox One X enhanced” games will technically get the HDR label to pop up on your TV screen, but these only deliver enhanced 10-bit color depth. This added color gamut doesn’t include the luminance data that helps make bright areas of a game scene really pop with extra light. The lack of full HDR is most evident in Halo 3 ’s otherwise impressive update for the Xbox One X, which also includes a brand-new upsampling of its polygonal assets. The color data here is certainly broader with the update, and the color balance looks better than in the Halo: Master Chief Collection version, but the romps through jungles and military outposts still look a little flat without that heightened luminance range. A comparison gallery of shots of the stock Xbox One and the Xbox One X (be sure to blow up full screen on a 4K HDR monitor to get the full effect, and step back to a living room viewing distance). Here's Gears of War 4 on Xbox One X. A comparison gallery of shots of the stock Xbox One and the Xbox One X (be sure to blow up full screen on a 4K HDR monitor to get the full effect, and step back to a living room viewing distance). Here's Gears of War 4 on Xbox One X. . and a similar firefight on a stock Xbox One. Hurling a grenade on Xbox One X. . and on stock Xbox One. Killer Instinct on the Xbox One X. . and on the stock Xbox One. Note this game doesn't make use of HDR colors. Mickey introduces you to Disneyland Adventures on the Xbox One X. . and fewer Mickey pixels on stock Xbox One. ("Mick-sels"?) Super Lucky's Tale on the Xbox One X. . and on the stock Xbox One. Jagged lines on object edges are more prevalent here. A dialog screen from Super Lucky's Tale on Xbox One X. . and the same conversation in lower resolution on stock Xbox One. Ziplining in Disney/Pixar's Rush on the Xbox One X. . and on the Xbox One stock. Woody finishes a level on the Xbox One X. . and on the stock Xbox One. FIFA 18 on Xbox One X comes with an even more underwhelming HDR boost, which suffers primarily because the game focuses its cameras on an evenly lit pitch. You’ll absolutely notice and appreciate the game’s 4K resolution boost—which comes without a hit to the frame rate and makes your tiny midfielders’ details stand out that much more. But even during replays when cameras point up at field lights and other dramatic lighting, everything’s still mapped to an “SDR” range of luminance. Gears of War 4 fares much better—and, at this point, it's probably the system’s HDR TV showcase game. Dramatic color and lighting effects seem to jump off the screen when so much detail and so many particle effects are visible in the game’s 4K mode. Moonlit stealth-runs through enemy territory and rushes through lightning-singed sandstorms really stand out with a full HDR range of color and light. The design team at The Coalition has absolutely given this game a stronger once-over with HDR than I’d previously encountered at events last year. (The Xbox One X version of Gears of War 4 also comes with the welcome option to choose a lower-resolution, 60 fps campaign mode if you don’t want the full 4K experience at a lower frame rate. It’s a nice choice to have, but the lower resolution really mutes the impact of the HDR colors. On the bright side, all multiplayer and Horde modes run at 4K and 60 fps by default, which means you don’t have to trade anything to get amazing performance and HDR benefits when playing online.) While Forza Motorsport 7 hasn’t been enhanced on the Xbox One X as of this writing, we suspect it will look similar to the 4K and HDR-enhanced PC version that we’ve previously evaluated: Thanks to better optimization and higher resolution, details like headlights, reflected streetlights, and the bright sun look phenomenally better in the Windows 10 HDR version than on Xbox One S. However, the dramatic color tone I had hoped for, especially in-car paint jobs, is still lacking. Those enhancements compare unfavorably to those in Gran Turismo Sport , whose HDR implementation was built from the ground up to look amazing on a 4K HDR screen. HDR’s artistic and rendering pipeline takes a lot of effort, so it shows when a game goes the extra mile for the tiny percentage of current players who can appreciate it. Sam Machkovech / Sam has written about the combined worlds of arts and tech since his first syndicated column launched in 1996. He can regularly be found losing quarters at Add-A-Ball in Seattle, WA. You May Also Like. WIRED Media Group. © 2018 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.