Microsoft - Xbox Series S 512 GB All-Digital (Disc-Free Gaming) - Holiday Console - White

This thing is great! I never expected it to perform as well as it does. I sold my expensive pc and decided to downgrade as I needed some cash at the time. I still had my 1440p monitor from my pc that I kept. and it’s perfect as the series s targets 1440p resolution. For 300 you get relatively the same experience as a series x with some compromises. Admittedly I would have gone with the series x had they been in stock. However I am not disappointed with my purchase in the least. If you are waiting for the series x you may be missing out on a great deal. We will see about the performance to come in the next few years or so. Hopefully this console won’t suffer in the performance department. It’s super quiet and you can feel the heat out of the black vent. They tuned the fan to run just fast enough. The Xbox itself remains cool though. And I haven’t had any issues with thermal throttling or overheating. You just gotta keep the vents clear. Some people think this console is for casual gamers. And it can be. I put 22 hours into Elden Ring over the last two days and this hasn’t skipped a beat. There is pop in in the textures but that’s an issue that plagues all consoles and pc when it comes to that game. Over all I think it’s a 10/10 for the price along with gamepass. I may upgrade when the next lineup of consoles come out that are more powerful. But that would only be because I want to rather than having a real reason to be honest.

The Series S has been my best investment in a console, coming from the Xbox one (2014) I was able to see a HUGE graphical and processing power difference. Games load insanely fast, the frame rate is smooth and never feels choppy like the last gen console. I play a lot of games like Modern Warfare, Battelfield 2042, GTA V, and Forza Motorsport. Having played all of them on the original Xbox One it’s actually quite nice to see these games through a new scope of color (HDR) and sound (Dolby), I feel more immersed into the scenes and appreciate the detail Microsoft put into making the Series S capable of making games enjoyable at a budget that I’m sure anyone can agree is worth the money. Also the small size makes it so easy to put anywhere in my house or put in my bag to take with me to a friend’s/family’s house and easily connect with just two cords. I love how quiet the console actually is, my old one sounded more like a jet engine whenever I turn it on or run triple A games, but this Series S reminds me more of a Tesla with its efficiency and zero noise running just about anything. I have no complaints with this console at all other than that the storage space could’ve been slightly improved, but I bought a external SSD which solved my storage issue, I have about 40 games which need a lot of space. But for the average person it has enough space for around 5-6 large games, but honestly with how fast games download you probably wouldn’t care if you had to delete one and download another in under 15 minutes haha. But yes I give the Series S a 9.6/10 in my personal opinion, if it wasn’t for the storage it would’ve been a perfect 10, but other than that I love it! Hope this helps anyone who wants to switch over to next gen if you haven’t already or planning on buying for someone else!

I was originally looking to get a PS5 but of course they were out of stock. I felt like this was more in my price range anyway, and I wasn't particular on which console brand I use (coming from Switch). I love the size. I feel like they probably really took into consideration how often people bring their consoles to their friends, family members, and general travel. It takes up such little space on my desk, and I love that I can have it standing. I did buy a less expensive external storage which only works with 360 games. I just couldn't justify the Seagate because I don't game enough to need it. The controller isn't as cool as the PS5 (which I now have) but it's cheaper, still good, and you have the Design Lab on Xbox's site. Keep in mind that you only get something like 350 GB of space because the 512 GB doesn't count the actual system, so you fill-up the remaining quickly if you want a lot of games. It's never overheated. I mostly play Fortnite (and got the Fortnite version) but have never felt like I was overusing it even after all day play. While the PS5 has a cool design, it's HUGE compared to this, and I really just like the design of the Xbox Series S more. I don't have disks though so I really get the benefit of a smaller console. Xbox Game Pass is also better to me than Playstation Plus. I feel like you have to pay more with Playstation because while you get live with the $10 subscription and 3 free games a month, you don't get access to their catalog until you pay more. And their catalog isn't as great imo. With Xbox, if you don't need live and cloud gaming, it's only $10/mo for their catalog and discounts. If you do want live and cloud it's $5 more. I compared the two and just felt like Game Pass was more suited to my needs than PS Plus. If you don't need to use disks, don't need a lot of space or don't mind buying more, want a sleek and small design, don't want to break the bank, want a console that's easy to travel with, and don't want to wait months and months for it to finally be in stock I would definitely go with the Series S!

The Microsoft Xbox Series S is a fantastic addition to my gaming world, especially for those who prefer a disc-free gaming experience. The console's compact design and sleek white color make it a visually appealing addition to any entertainment setup. One of the standout features of the Xbox Series S is its all-digital nature, which means you can download and play games directly from the Microsoft Store without the need for physical discs. This not only saves space but also offers convenience as you can quickly access your gaming library with just a few clicks. The 512 GB of storage is adequate for storing several games, but if you're an avid gamer with a large collection, you might want to consider external storage options to expand the capacity. The console's performance is impressive, delivering smooth gameplay and faster loading times compared to previous Xbox models. The Xbox Series S supports up to 1440p resolution, providing crisp and clear visuals for most modern displays. While it might not match the graphical prowess of its big brother, the Xbox Series X, it still delivers a great gaming experience. The controller that comes with the console is the familiar Xbox Wireless Controller, which is comfortable to hold and responsive during gameplay. Additionally, the Xbox Series S is backward compatible, allowing you to play a vast library of Xbox One, Xbox 360, and even some original Xbox games, which adds tremendous value to the overall gaming experience. One of the major advantages of this console is its competitive pricing. As a budget-friendly option, the Xbox Series S offers excellent value for gamers who don't necessarily require 4K gaming but still want to enjoy the latest titles with impressive performance. In conclusion, the Microsoft Xbox Series S 512 GB All-Digital - Holiday Console - White is a compelling choice for gamers seeking an affordable and disc-free gaming solution. With its smooth performance, vast library of games, and backward compatibility, it's a great addition to your gaming setup. Whether you're a casual gamer or a more seasoned player, the Xbox Series S delivers on its promise of an enjoyable gaming experience.

In view of the shortage of PS5s, I decided to buy an Xbox Series S, because it was cheaper than its big brother and because it was the only thing available without having to pay double or triple its normal price (thanks scalpers!). I've never been a fan of Microsoft consoles, so I have no reference point, but this console has been a pleasant surprise, it works very well, it's fast, the Quick Access feature is fantastic. The negative points that I find are the lack of games and the small storage it has. I know that there are games that are optimized for the XbSS but are games that I have previously played on PS4 or PC, there are still no exclusives for this console. It may not be as powerful as its big brother, but the Xbox Series S is a good, reasonably priced console. Oh! Almost forgot it... the size of this thing is excellent, horizontal or vertical, it fits anywhere.

A great console that unfortunately signals the death of an era. The console works as advertised, 60 frames or more at 1440p for any games that have been updated with such support. This console is in very few ways inferior to the Series X. It has no disc drive and less internal SSD space, but in the era of digital games external drives are so easy to come by and cheap too. Considering most TVs can't even support the power of the Series X, the Series S is the console to buy unless you already own a huge TV, or one that is over 4K. With the X you will be able to generate 4K content, or 60+ frames with a lower resolution. The S is optimal for most people I would argue, because likely if you own a 4K TV you probably don't have one that is high end with a fast refresh rate. But if your TV is huge you will see a definite lost of clarity in the picture. Overall this console is a lot easier to get a hold of and it's a true next gen experience little different from the Series X. With each update to the OS the previous Xbox One editions get slower and become forcibly more obsolete. Quick resume and the more enhanced always-on are amazing features that bring you to gaming faster than ever. And the sheer amount of frames in comp multiplayer games like Rocket League and R6S are a huge advantage. The Series S is a good place to start if you don't know whether or not you want to upgrade your home entertainment suite and whether or not a better console will actually have effect at all on your current home entertainment suite. And it is also the right console to buy if you're on a budget. Right noe there aren't too many games and next gen experiences but considering that these consoles are being given priority to their previous gen brethren, which are being slowly left behind as we speak, if you game at all then an upgrade is what you need.

The Series S is an incredible and unbelievably compact machine for the price you pay; there isn’t anything out there that can be had in the console realm or in the PC building realm for $299 that offers this level of performance. I personally think you should pick one up if you hit a few of the following points: •Don’t have a 4K TV (or currently only have a 1080p display/TV) •Put your entertainment space at a premium •Don’t have physical games •Plan on expanding storage (I utilize an old external Seagate 1TB HDD) or swapping a few games out at a time digitally •Don’t need the biggest and baddest machine out there •Want to save $200 but still want to access next-gen titles The only reason I returned mine was because I had purchased it thinking my Series X was stolen/lost from a different retailer drop (it was a month delayed with no updated tracking so I started to give up hope). To be honest, if my Series X never showed up I would be perfectly content with the Series S for a long time. I still only utilize a 1080p 60hz display and plan to upgrade to a 1440p higher refresh rate monitor in the future. My rational for the X over the S was just overall future-proofing, as I’m coming from the PC world and hopping back into the console world so I want to get the most powerful unit for my return. Again, the S is perfectly capable for so many people; sadly I think it is underestimated and definitely undervalued in overall perception for how much you get for retail price.

I’ll start by saying that up until purchasing this console, I’ve owned everything but an Xbox. There’s been N64, GameBoy Advance, GameCube, PS2, Wii, PS2, PS3, and PS4. Never an Xbox. For the longest time having grown up on the influence of console wars, I’ve always ignorantly thought PS was the better console and Xbox has nothing to offer. I’ve played the 360 a few times and had no experience with the XB1. Coming from the PS4 it’s the smoothest and most satisfying console I’ve played. Transitions between games are seamless including the Quick Resume feature which essentially allows you to have multiple games open just by switching between them. The selection is always mocked because of PS’ well known exclusives, although Xbox has great ones of their own. Some including Gears of War, Halo, Forza, Sea of Thieves, and now their exclusivity deal with Bethesda to launch their future titles on Microsoft platforms. Aside from the games, as I previously stated the transitions are seamless thanks to the SSD (be prepared to buy storage expansion). The UI is extremely convenient once you get used to it, Game Pass is great value for what you’re paying, the performance can hang with the Series X (especially if you don’t have an HDR/4K capable TV), the recording/streaming quality is an upgrade along with the speed that it saves your clips at being very quick (again coming from a PS4). All in all, I’ve only owned this console for one day and I can see myself using it for a thousand more. Highly recommend if you’re looking to try out an Xbox or if you’re looking to upgrade from a One/One S, it could also just serve as portable gaming for anyone who travels frequently.