Xbox Series S

The Series S is a fantastic little machine for the money Microsoft is asking for. It supports all new releases going forward in this upcoming generation of games (albeit with some minor graphical and performance cutbacks here and there), Xbox One titles, and select 360/OG xbox games via an incredible backwards compatibility program. You can rest assured that when you purchase this machine you'll have one of the most robust libraries of content available on any console bar none. You can also take advantage of Gamepass, a service that really is the closest you can get to the Netflix of games. With all that high praise, why did I give this a 4 star rating instead of 5? Here is where the concessions made in order to deliver a $300 box with built in ray tracing hardware, ... MoreThe Series S is a fantastic little machine for the money Microsoft is asking for. It supports all new releases going forward in this upcoming generation of games (albeit with some minor graphical and performance cutbacks here and there), Xbox One titles, and select 360/OG xbox games via an incredible backwards compatibility program. You can rest assured that when you purchase this machine you'll have one of the most robust libraries of content available on any console bar none. You can also take advantage of Gamepass, a service that really is the closest you can get to the Netflix of games. With all that high praise, why did I give this a 4 star rating instead of 5? Here is where the concessions made in order to deliver a $300 box with built in ray tracing hardware, supports for 120fps output, SSD storage, all while being smaller than the previous generation's slim model come into play. The Series S does not have a disc drive. If you have a physical collection of Xbox One titles you were hoping to carry into the next generation, this is not the box for you. This is an all digital machine through and through. High frame rates come at the cost of lower resolutions. The Series S supports 4k HDR video streaming as well as HDR gaming, but most games forego higher resolutions for stable 60 or even 30 fps experiences in most cases. 120fps is on the plastered on the outside of the retail box, but apart from select multiplayer titles and provided you have a TV that even supports the frame rate, you likely won't be doing much gaming at 120fps. This machine is best played, and perhaps designed to be played, on 1080p screens. Lastly we come to storage. The internal SSD does wonders for the user experience. Menus, boot ups, and loading for optimized games are suitably quick. Problem is despite the packaging stating the console comes with 500GB of storage, the operating system takes up a large chunk of that leaving you with little more than 300GB of useable storage. Microsoft sells SSD expansion cards to alleviate this some, but at the current eye watering price of $220 for and extra 1TB of SSD storage you may be asking yourself, "why not save the money I would spend on the console plus the memory and instead get the Series X for $500 or better yet the PS5 Digital Edition for $400?" That leads to the conclusion and the biggest selling point for the Series S by far, availability. Both Series X PS5s are expected to be hard to find products till at least 2023 due to the ongoing global chip supply shortage. If you want to play the newest releases, don't mind playing them at lower resolutions and frame rates, if having a fewer number of installed games isn't a huge inconvenience for you, then this could be the perfect console to buy right now and tide you over until availability for the more powerful machines gets better.

My boyfriend and I actually won this at his work Christmas party last year during a raffle drawing. We were super excited because we had a PS2 that we were using previously that no longer functioned for Netflix and other apps. But once we took it home and read about it we learned that it doesn't take physical disc's and the memory was only enough to hold 2 or 3 games that must be downloaded or played from the cloud. Unfortunately we needed to buy an expansion pack if we wanted more space, and the ones that are built into the hardrive were very expensive. Now there are other brands out there that you can buy for less money. Three plus side is, the graphics and new games are very high quality, and the speed is pretty good too. All in all this is a cheap Xbox that ... MoreMy boyfriend and I actually won this at his work Christmas party last year during a raffle drawing. We were super excited because we had a PS2 that we were using previously that no longer functioned for Netflix and other apps. But once we took it home and read about it we learned that it doesn't take physical disc's and the memory was only enough to hold 2 or 3 games that must be downloaded or played from the cloud. Unfortunately we needed to buy an expansion pack if we wanted more space, and the ones that are built into the hardrive were very expensive. Now there are other brands out there that you can buy for less money. Three plus side is, the graphics and new games are very high quality, and the speed is pretty good too. All in all this is a cheap Xbox that might be a better option for people who don't really game, and more want it for the apps.

This Xbox series S is quite the little machine compared to its big brother Xbox series X. This little guy has a 500 GB hard drive that can hold all sorts of games on it. Did I mention it doesn't tale disks! I love this feature because it deletes the need for disks which break i feel like a lot of people will not like how it is just the digital version. For only $300, I think Microsoft outdid themselves for this one. All in all, I give this machine a 10/10 if you are into digital gaming and not having to use disks. You can still use all of the other features like the Xbox store and download apps save games. You may need to purchase an external hard drive if you're a big time gamers. As I am a leisure gamer and do it couple times a month.

This review is being written from a grandparents point of view not a teens point and not from an individual who actually plays on an Xbox other then the occasional (1 times in 5 years) user. I purchased the Xbox series s for my granddaughter for a Christmas present approximately 5 years ago. I honestly don’t know very much about x box and I also purchased a bunch of games for the Xbox for her. What I did not know was the Xbox series s was an all digital box. Would be great if you had good internet but we don’t. All games have to be done online:(. Which means everything else in my home on internet has to be off. That doesn’t work well here. All the games I purchased weren’t any good because there is absolutely no way to put the discs into the Xbox. Approximately 9 ... MoreThis review is being written from a grandparents point of view not a teens point and not from an individual who actually plays on an Xbox other then the occasional (1 times in 5 years) user. I purchased the Xbox series s for my granddaughter for a Christmas present approximately 5 years ago. I honestly don’t know very much about x box and I also purchased a bunch of games for the Xbox for her. What I did not know was the Xbox series s was an all digital box. Would be great if you had good internet but we don’t. All games have to be done online:(. Which means everything else in my home on internet has to be off. That doesn’t work well here. All the games I purchased weren’t any good because there is absolutely no way to put the discs into the Xbox. Approximately 9 months into owning it started to overheat. I contacted Xbox and support was excellent! They immediately replaced the Xbox which has been in the bag since it was received and removed from the box. I purchased her the cyberpunk Xbox special edition to replace the Xbox digital series s. She does love that one though! I keep the Xbox series s in Michigan for her to use(even though she hasn’t) and I keep the cyberpunk special edition Xbox in Florida that she uses all the time! My suggestion for everyone purchasing Xboxes is to do some research. If you want discs and offline use the Xbox series s isn’t the right purchase for you.

BEWARE!!!

I did not receive a new item. The Xbox package had previously been opened. The old seals were still on the box with new ones placed over them. The items were poorly packaged in the box, and both the console and extra controller box were damaged. I contacted the seller, and they were very nice at first. However, after I sent pictures, they stated there was nothing wrong. In their words, "It appears as though there is only light cosmetic damage to the external packaging." They ignored the fact that the product had been opened before. Was this a refurbished item or broken item that someone else returned? Who knows and they didn't care. I certainly wasn't going to try it out, just for it to not work or break after a month. I asked for an exchange, and they responded ... MoreI did not receive a new item. The Xbox package had previously been opened. The old seals were still on the box with new ones placed over them. The items were poorly packaged in the box, and both the console and extra controller box were damaged. I contacted the seller, and they were very nice at first. However, after I sent pictures, they stated there was nothing wrong. In their words, "It appears as though there is only light cosmetic damage to the external packaging." They ignored the fact that the product had been opened before. Was this a refurbished item or broken item that someone else returned? Who knows and they didn't care. I certainly wasn't going to try it out, just for it to not work or break after a month. I asked for an exchange, and they responded with a general email on returns including the statements, "Items must be returned complete - exactly as originally shipped with all manufacturer's items, packing slip, accessories, manuals and packaging intact. Items not returned in original condition will be refused." How can I return an item in original condition if that item wasn't sent to me in its original condition. My advice: pay a few extra dollars and get it straight from Microsoft. I wouldn't trust this seller.

Breaks easily.

Purchased one of these less than x1 year ago. The USB ports are already becoming damaged. For starters, there is only ONE on the front, instead of two. (Why?) Secondly, the ones in back seem to either be more cheaply made, or come apart much more easy, since you're constantly having to plug in, and re-plug in controllers, or any other kind of USB device. (I thought I had an issue w/ my Seagate drive, since it never seemed to connect. I switched ports and now it works just fine. Speaking of though, don't you dare even nudge or bump the cord, as it will come off, and cut your game halfway through.) Microsoft itself also is as of writing this, bumping up, yet again, the cost of their XBox Live services, to $20/month. They are treating having access to some crappy, 3rd ... MorePurchased one of these less than x1 year ago. The USB ports are already becoming damaged. For starters, there is only ONE on the front, instead of two. (Why?) Secondly, the ones in back seem to either be more cheaply made, or come apart much more easy, since you're constantly having to plug in, and re-plug in controllers, or any other kind of USB device. (I thought I had an issue w/ my Seagate drive, since it never seemed to connect. I switched ports and now it works just fine. Speaking of though, don't you dare even nudge or bump the cord, as it will come off, and cut your game halfway through.) Microsoft itself also is as of writing this, bumping up, yet again, the cost of their XBox Live services, to $20/month. They are treating having access to some crappy, 3rd party the same as if you had say, a streaming service, that gave you thousands of hours of viewing content. Absolultely wretched treatment by one of the world's largest companies, to continue to try to bleed customers like a stone. Would never recommend anyone purchase this, or any console from them, ever.

Extremely disappointed

Received Xbox bundle in very quick time but in bad condition. Very dirty box, torn, etc. Slipped off cover which had mold on it. As for the Xbox I’m on day 4 trying to set it up. Microsoft does not talk to you at all. They send you to a gamer expert who didn’t resolve my issue. After tons of searching I ended up downloading, extracting and copying files to a USB and connecting Xbox directly to Ethernet to get some action happening as wifi wouldn’t connect either. The reason for this is because box refused to update. Now I have that up and running but now you cannot claim the 3 month free ultimate gaming card. That is on the agenda tomorrow to search for an answer. Reason for all the delays is this is a birthday gift for my grandson so I can only do it when he’s at ... MoreReceived Xbox bundle in very quick time but in bad condition. Very dirty box, torn, etc. Slipped off cover which had mold on it. As for the Xbox I’m on day 4 trying to set it up. Microsoft does not talk to you at all. They send you to a gamer expert who didn’t resolve my issue. After tons of searching I ended up downloading, extracting and copying files to a USB and connecting Xbox directly to Ethernet to get some action happening as wifi wouldn’t connect either. The reason for this is because box refused to update. Now I have that up and running but now you cannot claim the 3 month free ultimate gaming card. That is on the agenda tomorrow to search for an answer. Reason for all the delays is this is a birthday gift for my grandson so I can only do it when he’s at school. I should not have to go through all this just to set up a gaming console. Mad about condition received and how Microsoft treats you

Great for gamers.

I can only go on family recommendations as this was bought as a Christmas gift for my grandson. It was top of his Christmas wish list. Another family member already has this x box and he agreed it would be perfect. Good points are its ease of use and how compact it is. Lots of my grandsons friends already have this and they love it. I would need to wait until Christmas to get his opinion. However I can recommend buying from John Lewis as the extended guarantee gives me extra piece of mind and was very impressed with speed of delivery. Plus as usual price compared very well with other retailers.

Great for the family.

Honestly, the Series S isn't really my thing.The purchase came mainly for my partner and our kids, who see great use out of it. It offers a good price > performance ratio and will likely keep many people happy, though as I'm more of an enthusiast with the hobby, had I been purchasing for myself, I'd have gone with a Series X or a PS5 as I already have a more than capable enough for my needs PC for gaming.Given my partner and kids don't particularly care for tinkering with graphical options, framerate / performance or resolution, they get a lot out of this purchase. It has a modern look and small form factor, which means it fits nicely within our entertainment centre. If yours isn't too open, I'd consider sticking it on the surface / top of your TV stand to ... MoreHonestly, the Series S isn't really my thing.The purchase came mainly for my partner and our kids, who see great use out of it. It offers a good price > performance ratio and will likely keep many people happy, though as I'm more of an enthusiast with the hobby, had I been purchasing for myself, I'd have gone with a Series X or a PS5 as I already have a more than capable enough for my needs PC for gaming.Given my partner and kids don't particularly care for tinkering with graphical options, framerate / performance or resolution, they get a lot out of this purchase. It has a modern look and small form factor, which means it fits nicely within our entertainment centre. If yours isn't too open, I'd consider sticking it on the surface / top of your TV stand to retain good airflow and disperse heat more efficiently.I think the two main killers for me with this one despite mainly being on PC and why I wouldn't purchase it for myself, is the lack of an optical drive for one, which I feel was one of consoles greatest strengths, the ability to purchase digitally or physically was a big boon that I feel consumers lose with this model.That, and the paltry 512GB of space which, actually comes down to around 370GB or so after UI and OS is accounted for, just isn't good enough. This is a system that'll sell itself on being a cheap entry point into Game Pass yet so many games these days average at around 50 - 60GB + and some in Microsoft's first-party portfolio are in the 100GB range. I know these consoles are sold at a loss, but the lack of extra space and the fact that a 1TB compatible SSD will set you back another £200? I'd say just go for the Series X if you're more than casual / light gamer. You'll retain the option to purchase physical games and have more than enough storage for the price of entry.All in all, it's a good casual system at a great price point that'll work out quite well I imagine for teens, children and people within your family that game lightly. For those more invested in the hobby, I'd say wait for or try to find a Series X instead should you be in a position to afford it as the benefits, which aren't only an optical drive and storage space, we're talking a big performance bump here, offset the cast massively.

Xbox Series S Console

I got this system for my kids. I was worried bc it wasn’t the newest version. But when we opened it up it was amazing! Definitely 5 stars. Super easy setup and install. It only takes a few moments to upgrade to the newest version and didn’t use a lot of storage to do so. Was able to set up a Microsoft account in just minutes, then was worried about “buying games” but it comes with a first month for 1 dollar for the ultimate game pass which has a ton of games on it. And after that promo month it’s only 14.99 a month. Which was way less than I expected. I was able to login to my Apple Music and then I found out you could not only watch movies on the Xbox but also RENT OR BUY them! Got it for an amazing price, and the controller will even code to one person which is ... MoreI got this system for my kids. I was worried bc it wasn’t the newest version. But when we opened it up it was amazing! Definitely 5 stars. Super easy setup and install. It only takes a few moments to upgrade to the newest version and didn’t use a lot of storage to do so. Was able to set up a Microsoft account in just minutes, then was worried about “buying games” but it comes with a first month for 1 dollar for the ultimate game pass which has a ton of games on it. And after that promo month it’s only 14.99 a month. Which was way less than I expected. I was able to login to my Apple Music and then I found out you could not only watch movies on the Xbox but also RENT OR BUY them! Got it for an amazing price, and the controller will even code to one person which is super cool instead of having to enter my pin and password every time. I definitely recommend buying this. And would buy another one tomorrow if needed! So glad I went with this one. Cost effective and great quality not to mention the console itself is super thin and easy for storage! AND the games are designed to fit each member of the house. Anywhere from originals like sonic and pac man to kid friendly like paw patrol and super pets. Plus has COD and Halo and so much more! Would recommend to a friend. Also has super fast upload and download speeds and that’s running off my internet that has multiple other devices hooked to the same router!