Xbox One S - UHD Blu-ray, HDR and Verdict.
Sections.
Page 1 Xbox One S Page 2 Specifications and features Page 3 UHD Blu-ray, HDR and Verdict.
Xbox One S – A fine UHD Blu-ray player.
The Xbox One S doubles as a UHD Blu-ray player. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the real reason to consider getting one.
It’s a far more affordable option than the two dedicated UHD Blu-ray players currently on the market. The Samsung UBD-K8500 costs £430 and the Panasonic DMP-UB900 costs £600. Sony has one on the way, which is nice because the PS4 Pro doesn’t do 4K Blu-rays. As for the Xbox One S? The base 500GB model costs £250, while the 2TB model (reviewed here) costs £350.
It isn’t simply a price thing either, since the performance is more than respectable for the money. The Xbox One S does a fine job handling 4K Blu-rays. Load times are fast and it produced decent pictures across all three of my test discs ( Mad Max: Fury Road , X-Men: Days of Future Past and San Andreas ).
The console shows off the advantages of 4K: remarkable clarity, minute details and lifelike textures. I could make out the consistency of the motor oil Charlize Theron smears across her face as war paint.
You also get a noticeably higher dynamic range. It isn’t just about fierce bright areas and inky blacks: the fine increments between are subtly drawn too, and you get plenty of shadow detail. You also get the wider colour gamut that HDR promises. There’s a part in Mad Max: Fury Road where somebody gets shot with a flare gun. When the reddish-orange smoke explodes, it’s hard not to marvel.
UHD Blu-rays represent the pinnacle of home-cinema picture quality, and this console can wield them as well as a dedicated player. The Panasonic does look better, with more subtle processing. The finer details look sharper and the colours are more neutral, but there isn’t a huge difference considering the price gap.
The only clear disadvantage to using the Xbox One S as a 4K Blu-ray player is that it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos audio. Well not yet, anyway – Microsoft has promised an update. For now, you’ll have to settle for regular surround sound. It’s a small price, considering how much cheaper the console is. I’d also argue that anyone who can afford a home Dolby Atmos is likely to shell out for the premium dedicated player anyway.
Overall, the Xbox One S’ UHD Blu-ray player will be a big selling point for AV fans. UHD Blu-ray is still in its infancy, and this console might just help it grow. The Xbox One S’ features and performance make it the best-value UHD Blu-ray player on the market.
And don’t worry too much if your 4K Blu-rays haven’t arrived in the post yet. The Xbox One S’ Netflix app is compatible with 4K and HDR straight off the bat, so you can get ogling straight away. No such luck with the Amazon Video app, which is awaiting an update.
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Should I buy the Xbox One S?
The Xbox One S is far better than the original Xbox One, with improvements on every front. It’s smaller, it’s prettier and it includes a greater number of features. Sure, the gaming element is almost unchanged, but HDR gaming compatibility means at least a degree of future-proofing. Then there’s the 4K output: although it’s upscaled, rather than native, right now this is the best you’ll get from a console.
But the real worth is the ability to play UHD Blu-rays. This is the most affordable 4K Blu-ray player on the market, and it’s a competent performer to boot. If you own a 4K TV and you want your movies and games looking their best, the Xbox One S is a no-brainer.
Microsoft faces competition from Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro. While the Sony offers 4K and HDR in gaming, it doesn’t play UHD Blu-rays. That’s a major omission in my book, leaving an open goal for the Xbox One S.
It’s only timing that’s an issue. The upcoming Xbox Project Scorpio is due next year, which will be a proper step up. As a happy first-generation Xbox One owner, I’m tempted to wait for that. By the time it launches, I might even own a 4K TV full time.
A better Xbox all round, but essential only for 4K TV owners.
Xbox One S: 4K, HDR and what you need to know.
The highly anticipated, newly designed Xbox One S starts hitting shelves today. Since Xbox One S features 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, 4K video streaming and High Dynamic Range (HDR) for games and video, we wanted to ensure those who are about to unbox their new console know all the ins-and-outs when it comes to 4K, HDR and what you need to do in order to enable your 4K TV.
Getting Started: Three Things You’ll Need to Experience 4K.
Before you can experience 4K and HDR games and video, you’ll need to make sure you’re set up properly and have the right equipment.
1. You’ll need a 4K capable device.
Good news, the Xbox One S is 4K Ultra HD capable.
To check if you have a 4K TV, you can consult the packaging or manual for your TV. Different manufacturers have different names, but here are somethings to look for:
Commonly used names for 4K: 4K, 4K Ultra HD, UHD, UHD 4K, SUHD TV, Ultra HD, Ultra UDTV, 2160p Listed resolutions or modes: 3840 x 2160 at 24 Hz, 50 Hz, or 60 Hz Commonly used names for HDR10: HDR Premium, High Dynamic Range, HDR, UHD Color, Ultra HD Premium, Ultra HD deep color.
To check your TV’s 4K and HDR capabilities, with your Xbox One S connected and on, double-tap the Xbox button on the controller to open the guide. Choose Settings > All settings > Display & sound , then choose Advanced video settings > 4K TV details .
If your system should support 4K and HDR but it isn’t working (for example, you can’t select the 4K UHD resolution, 4K features aren’t supported in the 4K TV details screen, 4K content won’t play, or you’re seeing video quality problems), click here for some help.
If you are using a monitor, you’ll also need to check if it is compatible.
Pop in your favorite 4K UHD Blu-ray disc or open the Netflix app. As a reminder, if you want to check out programs in 4K on Netflix, make sure you have a subscription plan through Netflix that supports streaming in Ultra HD. More info can be found here.
We also wanted to provide information on 4K, HDR and resources for trouble shooting – all in one spot:
A simple question, but not everyone knows the answer. 4K is a new standard for consumer televisions. The industry term is 4K UHD but you may also see this referred to by various manufacturers as 4K Ultra HD or 4K Ultra High Definition. 4K UHD packs in four times the pixels (3840×2160) of a 1080p HDTV (1920 x 1080). This makes for a sharper, more detailed picture. To experience 4K, you must have three things: a 4K TV, a device that can play 4K content (like Xbox One S), and 4K content (like a new UHD Blu-ray or access to a streaming service that supports 4K, like Netflix).
In addition to supporting 4K video content when used in conjunction with a 4K TV, Xbox One S will also upscale non-4K content to display at 4K when paired with a 4K TV. When you set your console resolution to 4K UHD, everything on the console — Home, games, and apps—will display at 4K. 4K content is displayed in its native 4K resolution, and other content (like 1080p content) is upscaled to 4K.
To set your resolution and upscale everything to 4K, double-tap the Xbox button to open the guide, go to Settings > All settings , then choose Display & sound > Video output . For TV resolution , select 4K UHD .
HDR is an acronym for High Dynamic Range. With HDR color support on your Xbox One S, your TV can display deeper colors and richer contrast, meaning the picture will appear more vibrant and realistic than on a regular HDTV.
To display HDR, you must have an HDR capable TV, and HDR content. Content that’s recorded for regular TV and non-HDR games won’t appear different—to see true HDR, look for HDR Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, HDR content in video streaming apps, and HDR games.
There are two HDR formats that your TV manufacturer can choose to support: HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Your TV must support HDR10 to display HDR content from your Xbox One S. See Troubleshooting 4K and HDR on Xbox One S for more info.
If your 4K TV is set up correctly, it should automatically play HDR content—you don’t have to change anything on your Xbox One S.
Check your TV’s settings menu to make sure HDR is turned on. We have seen that some TVs come with HDR-off by default. Your TV must also support the HDR10 media profile to display HDR with Xbox One S.
If you have changed the video settings on your Xbox One S and want to double check that HDR is enabled, double-tap the Xbox button to open the guide, go to Settings > All settings , choose Display & sound > Video output , then choose Advanced video settings . Both the Allow 4K and the Allow HDR settings should be checked if you want HDR on.
Connecting your Xbox One S to a 4K TV.
If you have upgraded from an HDTV to 4K UHD TV, you may need to upgrade your cable as well. Getting all those 4K UHD pixels from your Xbox One S to your TV requires use of a High Speed HDMI cable . Xbox One consoles have all shipped with a High Speed HDMI cable, including Xbox One S.
If you are using a device to pass-through the HDMI signal, such as an AVR or a device that extends the length of the HDMI connection, that device must also be capable of supporting 4K UHD and HDCP2.2. If you are experiencing problems, make sure you are not using an older, Standard HDMI cable, and eliminate any additional devices between the Xbox One S and the television.
For best results, use the cable that is included with your Xbox One S and connect your Xbox One S directly to your 4K UHD TV.
Calibrating Your Television.
Once your Xbox One S is setup and ready to go, you may want to fine-tune your TV to get the best possible picture. The Xbox One S includes a very simple HDTV calibration walk-through, which can help optimize your brightness, contrast, and color to get the best possible picture for your Games and Movies. To access this feature, go to Settings > Display & sound > Video output > Calibrate HDTV . Here you can walk through a few simple steps to improve your visual experience.
Modern televisions do a lot of work to process incoming video signals. Sometimes the television’s onboard processing effects can introduce latency, often called display lag, between what is going into the TV and what the player sees on screen. For watching movies and videos, these few milliseconds of latency are not noticeable. However, for fast-paced gaming this lag can introduce a very small delay between when you press a button and when the character reacts on screen. Many modern TV’s implement a setting called “Game Mode” which reduces the amount of processing the TV does, thereby reducing the latency between the game and the screen. For gamers looking to maximize the responsiveness when playing competitively, we suggest trying your TV in “Game Mode” to see if that improves your experience.
What if I don’t have a 4K TV?
Xbox One S automatically scales down any 4K and HDR content to the resolution your TV supports.
If you’ve done everything right but 4K doesn’t work or you don’t see these settings, see Troubleshooting 4K and HDR on Xbox One S.
Note: You must have an Xbox One S console and a 4K TV with HDR10 support to display 4K and HDR content. If you’re not sure, see Troubleshooting 4K and HDR on Xbox One S to learn how to check your console and TV.
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).
The Xbox One S could be 4K Blu-ray's white knight. And it plays games, too.
The $300 Xbox One S will be the cheapest 4k Blu-ray player when it's released in August, making it a potent weapon in the disc format's battle against 4K streaming video.
Could Microsoft's latest game console be the X factor that helps 4K Blu-ray become mainstream?
The first 4K TVs hit the market in 2012, but the first actual 4K Blu-ray discs only began shipping this February. The new physical media format faces an uphill battle against streaming services like Netflix and Amazon, which beat it to the punch in delivering both high-resolution 4K and high dynamic range (HDR) video. Disc sales have been declining for years, falling 12 percent in 2015 according to the Digital Entertainment Group, compared to an 18 percent rise in digital revenues.
The forthcoming Xbox One S game console could be the best thing to happen to 4K Blu-ray since, well, ever.
Microsoft will release the new Xbox in August 2016, with prices starting at $299 for the 500GB model. The console will support both 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray discs and 4K streaming services, with HDR support for both.
The only 4K Blu-ray player available today, the Samsung UBD-K8500, currently costs $100 more than the Xbox One S . Others announced but not yet shipping, namely the Philips BDP7501 ($399) and the Panasonic DMP-UB900 (no official US or Australian pricing yet, but the UK price is £600, which converts to $846), are just as expensive or more.
Meanwhile Sony has announced it will also build 4K Blu-ray support into its "PlayStation 4 Neo," but that console is expected to cost at least $399. Sony has yet to announce a standalone player but says it will commit by March 2017.
With its $100 discount compared to other 4K players, and the fact that it plays games, the new Xbox looks like a really good deal to people looking for a 4K Blu-ray player. Even if you're only curious about the new Blu-ray format, the game playing aspect and other home-theater facilities will likely make the purchase worthwhile.
And it could also serve as a "Trojan Horse," getting a 4K Blu-ray player into the hands of gamers who might eventually use it to play discs, too. There's plenty of precedent for that.
Can the Xbox One S pull a PlayStation 3?
Previous game consoles have played big roles in popularizing next-gen video formats. The original PlayStation helped the DVD replace VHS as the defacto video standard, and the PlayStation 3 went a long way toward popularizing Blu-ray. Game consoles were also among the first to offer streaming video, and are still among the most popular streaming devices.
Things are different this time around, however. While the Xbox One S and the new PlayStation 4 Neo will play back 4K Blu-ray and stream 4K content, they won't be the consoles' native format. Both models will use existing Blu-ray disks to store games, and of more importance to gamers, neither console will support 4K games.
While format wars are largely a thing of the past -- there's only one 4K disc standard being proposed -- Microsoft has a long history with new disc formats. Back in 2005, Microsoft invested heavily in what turned out to be the loser of the "blue laser wars:" HD-DVD. While Microsoft did produce an HD-DVD solution for its console -- a $200 add-on drive for the Xbox 360 -- it wasn't enough to save the format.
Meanwhile the PS3 had native support for Blu-ray, the winner of the war, and remains one of the most popular Blu-ray disc players to this day.
Conclusion.
If you're looking to buy a 4K player, the Xbox One S is the currently cheapest and most feature-rich option. Of course, we expect cheaper 4K Blu-ray players to hit the market in 2017 and beyond, and maybe a price drop is in store for that Samsung player.
It remains to be seen if the new Xbox will have any effect on 4K Blu-ray sales, especially as most people will need a new TV -- and new discs -- to benefit from the format. But it can't hurt. And did we mention it plays games, too?
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Set up and install the Blu-ray and DVD player app on Xbox One.
To watch Blu-ray or DVD movies on your Xbox One, you first have to install the Blu-ray app. To install the app, choose one of the following options.
Install from Xbox Home.
Press the Xbox button to open the guide, select Home , and then scroll right and select Store . Select Search . Type Blu-ray in the search bar, press the Menu button on your controller, and then select Blu-ray Player app when it appears. Select Free or Install to download and install the Blu-ray Player app.
Install by inserting a disc.
Insert a Blu-ray or DVD disc into your Xbox One. Select the Blu-ray Disc app when it appears. On the Blu-ray player app details page, select Free or Install . Your disc should start playing automatically.
After the app is installed, you can watch Blu-ray or DVD movies by inserting the disc into your Xbox One and selecting Blu-ray player on the Home screen, or by finding it under My Games & apps.
Supported regions and formats for Blu-ray and DVD movies on Xbox One.
The Blu-ray player app allows you to enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies available in your region through your Xbox One console.
Note When you insert a disc for the first time, you’ll see a prompt to install the player app. For more information, see Set up and install the Blu-ray and DVD player app.
Supported regions and disc formats.
Each Xbox One console is manufactured for a specific Blu-ray and DVD region, following international standards. The Xbox One console can play Blu-ray discs and DVDs that are sold in the same region as the console. See the following tables for the countries in each disc region.
Some Blu-ray discs and DVDs are not region-encoded or are coded to all regions. Region-free Blu-ray discs and DVDs will play on any Xbox One console.
Note Game discs for the Xbox One console are not coded to regions.
Supported regions.
Blu-ray discs.
Find the region code represented as A, B, or C on the packaging, and verify that it matches your region.
Includes most North, Central, and South American and Southeast Asian countries and regions, plus Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, Macau, and Korea.
Includes most European, African, and Southwest Asian countries, plus Australia and New Zealand.
Includes the remaining Central and South Asian countries, as well as China and Russia.
Standard DVD discs.
Find the region code represented as a number between 1 and 8 on the packaging, and verify that it matches your region.
United States, Canada, Bermuda, U.S. territories.
Europe (except Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus), Middle East, Egypt, Japan, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Greenland.
Southeast Asia, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, Macau.
Mexico, Central and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania.
India, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Africa, Central and South Asia, North Korea.
People's Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR.
Special international venues, such as airplanes and cruise ships.
Supported formats.
Mastered Blu-Ray discs.
The Blu-ray player on the Xbox One console supports mastered Blu-ray discs.
3D Blu-Ray discs.
Xbox One supports 3D Blu-ray discs when played on 3D TVs.
Xbox One S vs PS4 Pro: Which console is better?
PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Which console should you get?
PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: We take a look at Sony and Microsoft’s current flagship consoles and see how the specs, features, games and more compare to see which machine is right for you.
As well as comparing the two consoles, we’ll also answer plenty of common questions thrown around:
PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S: Console Performance.
The difference in performance between PS4 Pro and Xbox One S is pretty major, with the former having significantly higher specs while the latter represents a relatively modest upgrade over its predecessor.
Xbox One S is essentially the same machine as the 2013 launch model in terms of internal specs. There are minor differences when it comes to performance, although you’re unlikely to notice any discernible changes. PS4 Pro has received minor CPU improvements that have allowed for better performance in some kinds. Project Cars, for example, sees a 38 percent increase in performance with the PS4 Pro Boost Mode enabled. Unfortunately, visual quality remains unchanged.
We’ve compiled all of the specs below:
However, the Xbox One S is still the best Xbox One on the market. That is, until the Xbox One X launches in just a few weeks.
The PS4 Pro is a different beast when compared to the Xbox One S. Its internal components are a big improvement over the original model, as you can see in the above spec list. The newly implemented Boost Mode also allows players to gain extra benefits such as higher framerates across significantly more games, even those lacking a PS4 Pro-specific patch.
PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – Dimensions.
The PS4 Pro is quite a bit wider than the Xbox One S, measuring in at 295 x 327 x 55mm where the One S is 229 x 292 x 63.5mm. It’s also longer, but ever so slightly thinner.
PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – Resolution and HDR gaming.
Both the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S support HDR (High Dynamic Range). For more on this colourful new feature you can check out our HDR article. The standard PS4 and PS4 Slim also now supports HDR thanks to a post-launch patch.
The core difference here isn’t HDR, but instead resolution: the PS4 Pro has the ability to output games at a resolution higher than Full HD. Since release we have seen certain titles render at a native 4K resolution while others settle for an upscaled alternative. Several developers are aiming for something “close to 4K resolution” with all future projects.
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Whatever the elevated resolution is then be upscaled to 4K. If you’re playing in Full HD, you’ll end up with smoother anti-aliasing, meaning the divisions between objects on screen will be much smoother than on the regular PS4. Many of the PS4 Pro supported titles use a 4K “checkerboard” rendering technique that subsequently improves textures and specular effects, making for a cleaner, crisper overall image without putting out a native 4K resolution.
Developers are also free to take advantage of the additional power of the Pro however they see fit. In the instance of the recent, excellent Nioh, players were given the choice whether to play the game with a higher resolution or framerate with multiple settings, much like PC players enjoy.
The Xbox One S only upscales games to 4K with no enhancements aside from HDR, as mentioned above.
PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – Boost Mode vs Ultra HD Blu-Ray.
Features-wise, the two are very similar, but there’s one key differentiator that gives the Xbox One S a massive boost, and that’s its Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Incredibly, despite owning the UHD Blu-ray standard, Sony has chosen not to include the technology in its flagship console.
4K streaming is supported on YouTube and Netflix for both consoles, with more services on the way.
When it first launched the PS4 Pro was only capable of improving visuals and performance on titles officially patched by developers. However, this all changed with the arrival of Boost Mode, a new feature introduced in the PS4’s 4.50 firmware update.
When activated from the settings menu, this feature will improve performance of all PS4 titles, regardless if they’ve been patched or not. Of course, the results are mixed.
We’ll discover more about this new feature as it emerges from beta testing in the near future, along with which games best benefit from the rewards of Boost Mode.
View now: PS4 Pro at Amazon.
PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – What games can I play on it?
Both the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S support all existing games, whether they be physical or digital. Those wishing to upgrade don’t need to worry about re-purchasing their entire library.
In terms of games with visual benefits, specific games have been upgraded for both systems to support HDR content, with PS4 Pro being the only one to benefit from higher resolutions at the time of writing. We’ve compiled some specific games for each system below, including some of the things you can expect.
Resident Evil 7 – Capcom’s latest survival horror masterpiece benefits hugely from HDR. The virtual reality experience is also enhanced by PS4 Pro with enhanced visuals on PlayStation VR.
The Last Guardian – Having launched with support for 4K and 1080p performance modes, Team Ico’s latest effort is a sight to behold. HDR is also supported on the standard PS4.
The Last of Us Remastered – Naughty Dog’s modern classic is a great showpiece for HDR. It also supports 4K at 60fps, which is nothing to sniff at.
Hitman – HDR support is absent, although both performance and textures are boosted on PS4 Pro.
Rise of the Tomb Raider – One of the shining examples of PS4 Pro upgrades. Crystal Dynamics has implemented visual improvements in both 4K and 1080p for Pro owners.
Battlefield 1 – The framerate across epic multiplayer battles receives a huge boost thanks to PS4 Pro, helped further by additional terrain detail on each map.
Gears of War 4 – Acting as the pioneering example of HDR on Xbox One S, Gears of War 4 was the first of a few select titles to support the feature.
Forza Horizon 3 – Heralded as one of 2016’s best racers, Horizon 3 looks even better with a healthy dose of HDR on Xbox One S.
Final Fantasy 15 – It turns out HDR is just what Noctis and friends needed, adding an extra helping of colour to the JRPG’s gorgeous open world.
ReCore – It may have felt somewhat unfinished and underwhelming, but ReCore was a gorgeous sight to behold at times. The sandy environments are made even better with HDR enabled.
We’ll be updating this list as new titles are added, so be sure to check back.
PS4 Pro vs Xbox One S – Conclusion.
The Xbox One S and PS4 Pro are two very different consoles. It’s clear Microsoft has focused on delivering 4K video content, while Sony has tried its best to produce a more powerful console designed with gaming in mind. The upcoming Boost Mode feature is bound to sway a lot of consumers looking for a genuine difference between the Pro and original PS4.
Which of these consoles is best for you can differ depending on your love for fancy visuals, top notch games or 4K video content. If you haven’t found yourself wishing for higher framerates and crisper visuals on your current console than upgrading might not be the right choice, especially if you’re yet to invest in a 4K display.
You could also wait for the Xbox One X, which is just a few weeks away from launch, but costs more than both consoles.
Which console will you be buying? Let us know in the comments below.
Xbox One S: 4K, Ultra HD Blu-ray and HDR examined in more detail.
We've reviewed the Xbox One S and concluded that this is a great update to the console, making it an attractive option for anyone who hasn't committed yet and wants to join the Xbox family but also as a great media device for those wanting to embrace 4K.
We're delving a little deeper into what it will do in the Ultra HD space and here we'll guide you through the ins and outs and pros and cons of choosing the Xbox One S as your Ultra HD media player of choice.
Xbox One S: TV settings are key.
Let's start at the beginning. The screen you connect your Xbox One S to is going to have a major impact on your experience. Ultra HD, or 4K, is currently in the realms of things not being plug and play, so there's some fiddling around to do.
We connected the Xbox One S to two main televisions. Firstly the Samsung KS9500, which is Samsung's top tier curved direct-lit LED TV, at 65-inches. Secondly the LG OLED C6, which is LG's latest curved OLED display at 55-inches. Both offer Ultra HD resolutions, both offer HDR and both can be considered excellent televisions.
In both cases, the Xbox One S accepted that these TVs would support Ultra HD resolutions, but at the first pass, said they wouldn't support everything in other situations.
Head into settings > display & sound > video output and you'll find a range of options. The most useful is checking compatibility, in the "advanced video settings", you'll find a breakdown of what the One S thinks your TV will do, under the "4K TV details" option.
This will tell you what your display can do, and if the Xbox is reporting something different to what you believe, you might have to tweak your settings. The biggest problem here is different standards of display.
The LED Samsung offers 10-bit display, the OLED LG a 12-bit display and telling the Xbox what it's connected to solves some of these problems and there's a drop-down box to accommodate those alternatives. There's also the option for an 8-bit display, which will be older 4K TVs without HDR. If you have a 2014 or 2015 4K TV, you might need this option.
If things aren't working, check you're on the right bit depth for your display and try restarting both the TV and the Xbox and check again. In both cases we moved from little support to full support after a settings tweak.
Xbox One S: Tweak your HDMI settings.
On 4K TVs you'll find individual settings for each HDMI. Although watching 4K works directly on many TVs, to get the full benefits of HDR, you'll have to dive deeper and ensure the HDMI UHD Color setting is switched on. (This setting has different names on different TVs from different manufacturers - HDMI UHD Color is Samsung, LG uses HDMI Ultra HD Deep Colour, for example.)
Fail to turn that on and you will find that your fancy Ultra HD Blu-rays will look a little flat, as there's no HDR coming through - and that makes a big difference, if not the biggest difference, to Ultra HD Blu-ray viewing.
Also, find the info button on your remote and press it, as this will usually tell you want the TV is showing you - for Samsung you'll get an indicator of HDR, the resolution and the frame rate (24fps, for example). LG is a little poor in this regard, but many other TVs, like Panasonic, will have a button to show you what's playing at that moment. Both test TVs, however, give a big notification when an HDR signal is being received.
Xbox One S: Ultra HD Blu-ray experience.
One of the most attractive things about the Xbox One S is the Ultra HD Blu-ray player. It's the cheapest player on the market at the moment, with the 500GB costing £249, compared to the next cheapest, Samsung's K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player at £350.
On the Xbox One S you get the full Ultra HD and HDR experience. The visuals from those top-spec TVs are stunning. Sure the top spec Panasonic UHD Blu-ray player might just edge things out in terms of absolute picture quality, but as so much is governed by the performance of the TV it's attached to, we think most will find themselves entranced by the richness and detail that Ultra HD Blu-ray offers from the Xbox One S.
There's a downside on the audio front with no support for Dolby Atmos, but if that matters to you, you probably fall into the camp of those who should buy a dedicated Ultra HD Blu-ray player anyway.
The biggest downside in reality is control and noise. Firstly, you'll want to buy the Xbox One Media Remote, because using a gaming controller is too clunky for regular movie watching. It's only £15 and worth the upgrade.
Secondly noise. The Xbox One S is a comparatively noisy player. The fan noise, disc whirring noises and the rest of the buzzing and chirping that goes with it makes it a lesser experience than either of the dedicated Ultra HD Blu-ray players currently available.
That's something of a shame, because the Xbox One S is a beautiful looking thing, more interesting than other players, but to keep it from distracting you in quiet movie scenes, you'll probably need to hide it in a cupboard.
Xbox One S: Blu-ray playback.
With Ultra HD Blu-ray being a new format, it's unlikely that you have many or any in your collection. Fortunately, regular Blu-ray playback is good. It's much the same experience as with Ultra HD Blu-ray (noise, control, etc) - and very much like Blu-ray playback on the Xbox One.
There's something else to note though. The Xbox One S output drops from 2160p to 1080p when you insert a regular Blu-ray disc. That fits the native resolution of the Blu-ray, so the Xbox then isn't "upscaling", it's feeding that 1080p content to the TV and the TV is then making the pictures fit the display.
The same applies to DVD, if you're still watching those too, but that's the right way to do it. You can't force the Xbox to output a 2160p image from these lower-res discs, so the TV is then doing any video processing it can to clean up the image.
Ultra HD streaming: Netflix considerations.
Aside from being an Ultra HD Blu-ray player - and the cheapest way to currently access those amazing optical discs - streaming is where most of the 4K action is. Netflix and Amazon Instant Video have been pushing 4K Ultra HD and HDR content harder than anyone else and are the main source of next-gen content for many.
To access Netflix's content you'll have to upgrade your subscription to the 4K package (that's £8.99/$12 a month), but it's definitely worth it, as the resolution bump from Netflix makes a big difference, especially on TVs that are slightly too large for the room they're in.
The Xbox One S offers Ultra HD and HDR, although there's only a few programmes offering HDR at the moment - Marco Polo being the notable example, but with more being added all the time. The UHD and HDR effect from Netflix doesn't have anything like the impact that Ultra HD Blu-ray does, but it's still excellent to watch.
One nice trick to get around the control issues of Netflix on the Xbox is to use the built in DIAL feature. No one talks about this, but it's a casting protocol, like Google cast, that will let you control playback with your phone. Simply open the app, hit the cast button and select the Xbox. As long as you've signed into the Netflix app, it will play your content. Simple.
Netflix's app is universal, so you have the same experience whether you use the Xbox, your TV or another media device. There's only one difference however, that's cornered by an LG exclusive. LG offers support for Dolby Vision - another standard of HDR - and using LG's native app means Marco Polo is then delivered in Dolby Vision and looks even more dramatic (aided by the wonderful OLED panel, of course).
As most smart TVs offer Netflix as an app (it's arguably the most important app to offer), there's perhaps no need to have your Xbox on as well – it may just be easier to use the TV app, save power and save noise.
There's another advantage that comes back to that info button - on a TV like Samsung or a Panasonic - hit that in the Netflix app and it will show you the quality you're streaming at.
Xbox One S: Amazon Instant Video.
Amazon has a lot of UHD content, but it's been less focused in how this is offered to customers than Netflix perhaps has. Firstly, you don't need a separate subscription, you just need that Amazon Prime subscription and that will open the gates to Amazon's offering.
One the Xbox One S, however the app currently doesn't offer the UHD content you'll find elsewhere. For example, switch over to Samsung's native app and you'll find sections for 4K movies and TV Shows, as well as individual programmes stating they are Ultra HD.
Fire those up and you'll spot the difference. That mean that, in its current form, the Xbox One S loses out, as it's not offering this content, although it's probably only a software update away.
Again, the same argument stand as with Netflix: if you have the app on your TV, do you need to be using the Xbox for the same thing?
Xbox One S: HDMI pass-through.
One of the appealing things about the Xbox One is using it to control everything. It can control your TV, connected devices, sound system and so on. The integration of set-top boxes means that the OneGuide can serve up a menu of TV programming you might want to watch.
Cable, satellite or other set-top boxes took advantage of HDMI pass-through. HDMI pass-though, however, doesn't support 4K sources. We tried connecting the Samsung K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player and although the image plays through the TV, it's not Ultra HD Blu-ray quality with stunning HDR.
While you wouldn’t need to connect a Blu-ray player, if you had thoughts of hooking up a Sky Q box or Ultra HD BT YouView box, you'll lose the UHD parts.
The Xbox still outputs a 2160p signal to the TV, but we suspect it's been downscaled to 1080p and then upscaled, rather than natively preserved.
We questioned Xbox about this and received the following statement: "Xbox One S does not currently support 4K pass-through via HDMI-in. We will continue to explore making the changes needed for the hardware to support pass-through as 4K broadcasts become more widespread."
Xbox One S: Should I buy it as a 4K media player?
Drawing all this to a conclusion. The Xbox One S has its positives: it's the cheapest Ultra HD Blu-ray player on the market right now, it offers a range of 4K streaming services and will support HDR gaming in the future (when titles are released). Additionally, with the 3.5mm headphone socket on the new controller, you can play/watch/stream quietly and enjoy yourself in the middle of the night without disturbing others.
Offering all the Xbox One features in a better-looking package, makes it a great choice for all-round entertainment especially if you choose the 500GB version thanks to the price, with the following caveats:
The Ultra HD Blu-ray player market is likely to change drastically in the next 6 months. Wait for IFA 2016 to see if anyone announces a player there: LG, Sony and Philips don't yet have a player, and a cheaper model may appear very soon, and may offer streaming apps too. If you're a casual gamer but more serious TV watcher, then the Xbox One S is a good choice: aside from those apps mentioned, there's services from UK TV channels, Now TV, Waiki TV and plenty more. If you don't have any provision for 4K streaming through your smart TV, the Xbox One S fills that gap for Netflix, but but other 4K streaming is currently limited. There are few gaming changes aside from HDR support (with no games available yet). If you're a serious gamer, wait for the next-gen Xbox - Project Scorpio - to launch later in 2017.
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