Customer Ratings & Reviews

Although this has half the storage and less graphical firepower then it’s big brother, this is still a great next gen experience at a compelling value. The core of this value proposition is Xbox Gamepass- for (at the time of this writing) about 15 bucks a month, you get access to a Neflix-like library of curated titles, many of which are Series X/S versions. Even as a guy who didn’t even bother with the last generation of Xbox consoles this is hard to pass up-couple that with next generation loading and quick resume with it’s M.2 solid state hard drive, enhanced visuals over Xbox One X, and 4K streaming with all the popular video apps; this console would make a fantastic compliment to a PS5 or a great value to someone who doesn’t own a 4K display or care about having the latest visual bells and whistles. Now if you don’t have a decent internet connection, I probably wouldn’t recommend this as all it’s content comes from online as it has no disc drive. Otherwise, I’d pull the trigger on this- it’s way easier to find then the PS5 or Series X at the moment.

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.

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.

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!

After playing on my Xbox Series S for a month now I can say I am happy with this little beast console ! This console can play new Xbox One and old Xbox 360 games if it's backwards compatible. The fast load times are amazing on current Xbox games and the increase frame rates are also very much welcomed. I redownloaded alot of past games just to try out how it stacks against my old Xbox One X there just no comparison to how stable it is plus most games are getting a X/S upgrade to take advantage of the new hardware. Then comes the downside to the Series S the internal hard drive only 346 GB is just way too small to build a library of games. You will constantly be deleting/reinstalling and good luck with updates. Sure you can fix this with buying a external hard drive but gotta sacrifice that fast load time or even the pricy $219 SSD just to maintain that fast load time for only 1 TB. If you can get past the small storage space then I would highly recommend you pick up a Xbox Series S to play your current games/older games at higher speeds or framerate but if your wanting bigger space and more graphical enhances of the new games coming down the line then get a Xbox Series X.

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.

First of all, Best Buy exceeded my expectations with their delivery service! The ordering process was smooth and hassle-free. I was pleasantly surprised when my order arrived earlier than expected, making the experience even better. The package was well-protected, and the item arrived in pristine condition. Kudos to Best Buy for providing such a reliable and efficient service! Now my gaming console :) The Xbox Series S is an incredible gaming console that offers amazing value for its price. It’s the perfect entry point into next-gen gaming for anyone looking for an affordable yet powerful option. Pros: 1. Compact Design: The sleek and lightweight design fits perfectly in any setup without taking up too much space. 2. Great Value: Despite being more affordable, it still delivers next-gen features like ray tracing, fast load times, and smooth gameplay. 3. Game Pass Integration: With Xbox Game Pass, you get access to a vast library of games, including new releases, at a budget-friendly cost. 4. Fast Performance: The custom SSD ensures lightning-fast load times, making gaming a seamless experience. 5. Quiet Operation: The console runs quietly, even during intensive gaming sessions. Cons: 1. Limited Storage: The 512GB SSD can fill up quickly, especially with larger game files, though there’s an option for expandable storage. 2. No Disc Drive: As a digital-only console, it’s not ideal for those who prefer physical copies of games. 3. Lower Resolution: It supports up to 1440p resolution rather than 4K, which might be a downside for gamers with high-end TVs. The Xbox Series S is perfect for casual gamers or anyone looking for an affordable way to enjoy the next generation of gaming. Combined with Best Buy’s exceptional delivery service, this purchase was a total win!

I have both a series S and an X. The series S gets used in the living room and it's definitely worth the money. I mean you can pay 200 dollars for an apple tv box and it doesn't play games. There is 4k video for your video apps, and up to 1440p 120hz if the game supports it. I'm a PC person when it comes to playing games but I still use a controller. The series S does cool things my PC doesn't like, quick resume, games load a little quicker, but there's a caveat older games have to be optimized. I played Yakuza kiwami on series X and it was still 30 fps. But if it's a s/x optimized title then it's pretty much the same game. The games look a little better on an X but that's okay because there's really not that big of a difference. This is a great option for the living room as a main media device. I recommend it, I also recommend game pass. There's only 512mb of storage. There's a couple options like store the games on an external hard drive and then install as needed, or buy a 200 dollar plus 1tb Xbox ssd. Storage hasn't been an issue, because most of the content is easily downloaded from your library, game pass, store, so it's like how many games can you play at once. If you're on the fence and are having trouble getting the device you really want this is a solid buy, you won't regret it. I hope I have helped you in your buying process. It's a great addition to your Media center.

I got this console solely to play starfield when it come out next month. I have a PS5 already and have always been a PS guy but… im not gonn lie. I haven’t touched my PS since getting this. The game pass has really kept me occupied and also the free copy of madden 24 that came with it is the icing on the cake. Im not saying I’m fully changed to an xbox guy now but… it’s definitely nice to have both consoles

Just picked it up today. Iam writing this review to help out people. Don’t be to worried about the storage. If you had an External hard drive. From your old console. It will work on this system. Your old games that are not x/s up grades will still play from the hard drive you have. Games that are up graded put on the internal hard drive. The console is very small but powerful. Super quiet. Iam coming for the Xbox one s. This new system downloads games super fast and loads way faster then the other. For people that play destiny load took forever. Not with this system. Iam playing on 1080p monitor. And games look so much better. Hope this helps people. Glad I upgraded to this system.

Blown away by the compact size. It's a perfect device to pair with a gaming monitor. I set the Series S output to 1440p 120hz and am good to go. The load times are...What load times???? GamePass is a really great value now that EA Play is bundled in. Can't wait for more optimized for X|S games! Speaking of games, I only play a handful at a time so the 512 storage is plenty for me. If you like having more games at your disposal you're going to need to connect an external drive. The 1TB storage expansion cards are pricey at the moment. I'll have to take one point away for value. Other than that it's an impressive little system and will make a great gift this year.

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.

Nice “little” machine. Never really knew the actual size. Or took in to account how small it would be counsel has no disk drive has a solid-state hard drive The quick resume is quite nice for a game moment you open it up from the home screen boom you’re back in lickety-split. I really liked that I was able to completely set up the new Xbox with the Xbox app on my iPhone. I actually like the new Xbox controller OVER the series 2 Elite. Ultimately I want the series x. Whenever enough councils become available. But for right now are use the series S for those games that are enhanced for it and I’ll still use my Xbox one X for my 4K platform

A very awesome compact sized gaming console! It actually arrived at Best Buy a few day's earlier than what was expected. Quick resume works good on some games. Some games can load very fast but other's take a little longer. I don't play too many different games. I play a few arcade games and and 3 standard full sized games - Forza Horizon 4, Rainbow Six Siege and Phantasy Star Online 2 (PSO2). I don't have too much concern or need for a larger hard drive. The hard drive that this console comes with is more than good enough for me. I have had absolutely no issues with this awesome little console whatsoever. I also love the fact that this console is an all digital console. I like how games these days are all going digital. I no longer have any need for a blu-ray player either because all my movies are all digital as well. I like using the Vudu app for watching movies or tv shows. I really am considering getting me the Xbox X Series console one day but not anytime soon. My 4k tv doesn't have all the features that my S Series game console calls for but it will definitely do for now. The bottom line about the S Series console is, It's an awesome little console!

Good console I definitely recommend folks get it if they want something elite and that will launch fast paced games although if you are interested in games like COD and any Tom Clancy I would recommend yoi get the 1tb and even that won’t be enough. Then the controllers pretty good if your a starter gamer however the batteries die quickly so id recommend getting a rechargeable one or buying rechargeable batteries so as to save money versus buying a bunch of batteries

I really wanted to get the X series i tried so hard and this one was available so i grabbed it with no expectations. This little thing is powerful looks sweet and plays amazing. I have a 1440 monitor so this ended up being a great purchase. Only bad thing is how hard these new systems are to get and only being digital you can't buy games at the store anymore. Gamepass is amazing also and perfect for this machine

As a lifelong 35yr old Loyal PlayStation user, I purchased my first Xbox as a series S on 10/30/22. I couldn’t bring myself to buy another PS4 after my last one was stolen by my ex along with my dog when she left and ghosted me. I am a low key gamer and only really wanted the system to play NFSHP remastered as an OG and Halo. Besides being visually stunning and more than enough power for me, the CONTROLLER is far superior to anything I have ever used from PlayStation. I have put 2 years of solid use on it and the parts that would guarantee break several times over on a PlayStation controller have YET to break!

Even though, there's hype around the Series X and PS5 about the powerful internals. I enjoy having the Series S... I'm impressed of how small it is. And its more than capable of playing next generation games. As of now, I've been playing 2K21 Next Generation. If those who don't care about 4K gaming and don't have a ton of games they play on a regular, then I most certainly recommend the Series S.

If you habe game pass this is all you need. It can download about 6 to 7 games from gamepass at a time. The best budget console there is imo. Game pass has a way better selection of games than playstation. As well as day 1 releases like Starfield. And elder scrolls 6 when that comes out.

I was not expecting to like this console as much as I do. After receiving my PS5 on launch day, the last thing I ever thought I would need is another next-gen console. I will say that if I didn't have the PS5, I would have probably opted for a Series X, but in that I have high-performance gaming already with my PlayStation, this astoundingly compact console fills a real great space that the PS5 can't necessarily offer. My new house was built with frustratingly few cable jacks, and I still have traditional landline cable, so the ability to use this as a Spectrum receiver in my theater room is great. The load times are amazingly fast, and honestly the resolution downgrade from the true 4K Series X/PS5 is minimal, even on my 110" screen. The best part is the fact that I can seamlessly continue a game started on my Xbox One S downstairs and pick up right where I left off with my Series S upstairs. Also, Game Pass is far and away the best deal that exists in all of gaming - I was able to trade in 3 Xbox One games I had purchased because all of those titles were now available on Game Pass Ultimate. If you want a second console, if you don't care about a disc drive or the highest resolution, or if you want to save some money, this is an outstanding option.