Even if you’re a dedicated Microsoft gamer, nobody would blame you if you aren’t quite sure of the differences between all the different models of Xboxes. There are three different eight-generation Xboxes, and they’re substantially different from one another, so if you’re considering buying one, it’s important to make sure you know which model will best fit your needs.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make an informed buying decision, from hardware specs to pricing to media features. We’ll also tackle some of the most frequently asked questions about the One S and the One X and make some recommendations on which to buy based on your preferences. Let’s get to it! But first, maybe you’d like to know what are our top picks when it comes to some of the most amazing games on Xbox Pass.
Xbox One S and One X Hardware Specifications
Gone are the old days when an Xbox 360 was just an Xbox 360. Sure, there are still great Xbox 360 games to play in 2020 but times have changed. Nowadays, in the eighth generation of consoles, Microsoft offers the regular Xbox One, the One S, and the One X. For the most part, it’s accurate to think of them as standard, premium, and ultra-premium models, respectively—but even though the One X is the most powerful (and most expensive) one, it may not be the best one for you.
Have a look at the core specs for each version.
Xbox One X | Xbox One S | |
---|---|---|
CPU | 2.3GHz, 8-core | 1.75GHz, 8-core |
GPU | 1.172GHz | 914MHz |
RAM | 12GB DDR5, 326 GB/s | 8GB DDR3, 68 GB/s |
Video Hardware | 4K UHD Blu-ray player | 4K UHD Blu-ray player |
Video Resolution | True 4K (3840 x 2160) | True 4K (3840 x 2160) |
Game Resolution | Game-dependent, supports up to true 4K (3840 x 2160) | 1920 x 1080 (upscales to simulate 4K, but isn’t true 4K) |
HDR | Yes | Yes |
Audio | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos |
Inputs/Outputs | USB 3.0 x3, HDMI 2.0 x1 | USB 3.0 x3, HDMI 2.0 x1 |
HDD Options | 1TB or 2TB | 500GB, 1TB, or 2TB |
Power source | Integrated | Integrated |
MSRP | $499 and up | $299 (regular) or $249 (all-digital) |
Which Xbox One is Best for You?
You’ve undoubtedly noticed the significant price difference—the X costs a full 40% more than the S, so before you shell out that much extra cash, make sure you need to.
Xbox One S Buying Guide
If you’re looking to get out the door for as little money as possible, the $249 all-digital version of the S is a pretty attractive option. It doesn’t have a disc drive, so it can’t play disc-based games or movies, but if that doesn’t matter to you, you can save $50 right there. The regular and all-digital versions of the S are otherwise identical.
Of course, it’s worth thinking about the extent to which you actually own the digital games you purchase. (Spoiler alert: you don’t.) We’re certainly not suggesting that Microsoft would ever lock you out of your digital game library just to be jerks, but what happens when they eventually stop supporting those games?
Maintaining server banks full of Xbox One game files isn’t cheap, especially once the company moves on to more advanced consoles in the future.
One thing’s for sure: Microsoft won’t spend ever-increasing amounts of money to keep those digital Xbox One games available to you until the end of time, so make sure you’re okay with the prospect of eventually losing access to all of your games before you go full digital. It may be ten or twenty years from now, but it will happen someday.
All that being said, the all-digital version of the console could also be an excellent choice for people who do more watching than gaming. Half of Netflix’s 150 million subscribers use the service primarily on game consoles, so Netflix support for Xboxes isn’t going away anytime soon. The Xbox One also has apps for Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and several other music services, and with a little bit of tech know-how, you can set up your console as a local media server in short order.
Still, the Xbox One S isn’t primarily a multimedia device, though it does fill that role admirably. It’s a gaming console first and foremost, and even though the X is the clear winner for the diehard maximum performance crowd, many gamers won’t even notice any significant difference between the two consoles.
You should know, though, that while the One S can output true 4K video, it can’t actually make your games 4K. Any Xbox One game that you put into a One S will play in 1920 x 1080 and be upscaled to simulate 4K, but will not actually play in 3840 x 2160 resolution. To be clear, the upscaling does look way better than standard HD, but it’s still noticeably less sharp than real 4K.
If that difference is important to you, you might want to save a little more cash and spring for the One X. Bottom line: the Xbox One S is a fantastic console for casual and moderate gamers, budget-conscious gamers, and anyone who streams music and video more often than they play games. If any of that sounds like you, the One S might be your best bet.
Xbox One X Buying Guide
The significantly more expensive Xbox One X can do everything that the One S can do, and more. The question is, how much more, and do you need it? First of all, the One X has significantly more powerful hardware than the One S does. Its GPU is roughly equivalent to an NVIDIA 1070 Ti for desktops, which in the PC gaming world is a solid medium-tier GPU.
The One X also has 4GB more RAM than the One S does, but we’re also talking about DDR5 vs. DDR3 RAM, so in practice, the One X effectively has about twice as much memory. You’re also getting a more powerful gaming CPU when you shell out for a One X, but compared to the GPU and RAM, it’s not a huge upgrade over the One S.
Finally—and weirdly—the One X actually has a (potentially) smaller hard drive than its little brother does. All One X units ship with a 1TB hard drive, but the One S offers 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB options. If you’re not opposed to aftermarket hard drives, there are plenty of those to choose from, but if you only want to use official Microsoft hardware, you’re stuck with the 1TB drive for the One X model.
In most cases, people who choose the One X over the One S do so because they want true 4K gaming, but not so fast—not all games even offer that option. To play games in 4K, you’ll need an Xbox One X (the One S won’t cut it), a 4K-ready TV, and an Xbox One X Enhanced (i.e. 4K-capable) game. Microsoft maintains a list of Enhanced games, and if the game you want to play in 4K isn’t on it, you’re out of luck.
At the end of the day, if the ability to play some of the most amazing Xbox games in 4K isn’t worth an extra $200–$250 to you, the Xbox One S is probably the better choice.
What About the Original Xbox One?
You can still find original Xbox Ones here and there. Used ones are almost always easier to come by. New and refurbished units do exist, but for what they usually cost (around $200), why wouldn’t you spend just a little more for a brand new Xbox One S? At least in comparison to the One S, the original Xbox One’s hardware is already dated, so it won’t run games as smoothly as its newer siblings can.
It’s also worth noting that original Xbox Ones have older HDMI 1.4 ports, which technically support 4K video signals, but only up to 30 frames per second. If you find a killer deal on an original Xbox One and don’t care about 4K content, that might be the way to go, but in most cases we’d recommend picking up one of the newer versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unsurprisingly, Google is abuzz 24/7 with questions about the various models of the Xbox One. The differences between them aren’t always clear, partly because Microsoft hasn’t done a great job of making them so. We honed in on five of the most common questions gamers are Googling and answered them for you here.
Which Xbox is best?
There are three Xbox One models, and which one is best for you depends on your needs. The original Xbox One usually has the smallest price tag, but lacks some of the hardware and features of the two newer models. The One S is (in our view) the best general-purpose gaming console and multimedia device, whereas the One X will appeal most strongly to hardcore gamers who want their games to look as pretty as possible.
Is Xbox One X discontinued?
Certain Xbox One X bundles and collector’s editions have been discontinued, but the console itself is alive and well, and new bundles are coming out all the time.
Do I need an Xbox One X?
Whether you need an Xbox One X (as opposed to the One S or original models) depends largely on how much you care about gaming in 4K or with the highest possible frame rates. If maximum performance and prettiness are important to you, the One X is worth the extra cash.
Is Xbox One X worth it without a 4K TV?
Probably not. The One X’s biggest selling point is its ability to play some games in 4K, but without a 4K TV, you’ll only see the highest resolution that your TV supports. In most cases, we’d recommend the One S or the original Xbox One if you don’t have a 4K TV.
Do you need a 4K TV for Xbox One S?
You need a 4K TV to take full advantage of the One S’s 4K video (not gaming) capabilities, but if you’re content to stick with regular HD until 4K tech becomes more affordable, the One S still makes a great all-around gaming and media console.
Conclusion
The eighth generation of consoles has been a confusing one. It can be pretty hard to tell which model of any given console is best for you without doing hours of research. We’ve done our best to distill the most salient information into succinct data points to help make your buying decision easier. Also, you might be interested in knowing differences between Xbox One X and PS4 Pro.