Xbox Series S vs X: Which One Should You Buy?

When choosing an Xbox, your TV matters more than the price tag. In the Xbox Series S vs Series X decision, the Series X suits a 4K TV or a disc collection, while the Series S fits a 1080p or 1440p screen. Both play the same games, though the Series X has about three times the GPU power (12 vs 4 TFLOPS) and twice the base storage. Prices rose by up to $150 in August 2026, and not every Series X has a disc drive, so the details are worth checking. This guide walks through them.

Quick Look

In the Xbox Series S vs X matchup, the Series X is the stronger console and the one for 4K TVs and disc owners. The Series S is the cheaper, smaller, disc-free way to play the same games at a lower resolution.

• Pick the Series X if you have a 4K display, own or plan to buy physical games, or want the most headroom for frame rate and ray tracing.
• Pick the Series S if you have a 1080p or 1440p screen, buy digitally, or want a second console for a bedroom or a kid.
• Neither is the “wrong” choice for game access. Both share Quick Resume, Smart Delivery, up to 120FPS support and DirectX Raytracing, per Xbox.com’s comparison page.

What Separates the Two Consoles?

The Xbox Series X and Series S share more than they differ on. Per Xbox.com, both have three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, HDMI 2.1 output, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 1Gbps Ethernet and Dolby Atmos support. The differences sit in a few rows.

Series S vs Series X: Where They Differ

Bars compare the two consoles where more is better

SpecSeries SSeries X GPU 20 CUs at 1.565 GHz, 4 TFLOPS 52 CUs at 1.825 GHz, about 12 TFLOPSAbout 3x the TFLOPS CPU 8-core Zen 2, 3.6 GHz (3.4 GHz with SMT) 8-core Zen 2, 3.8 GHz (3.66 GHz with SMT) Memory 10 GB GDDR6 16 GB GDDR6+6 GB Memory bandwidth 224 GB/s (fastest pool) 560 GB/s (fastest pool)2.5x Internal SSD 512 GB or 1 TB 1 TB or 2 TB Usable space (launch models) About 364 GB on 512 GB About 802 GB on 1 TBAbout +438 GB Target resolution 1440p Native 4K Disc drive None 4K UHD Blu-rayCarbon Black and Galaxy Black only Size 10.8 x 5.9 x 2.5 in 11.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 in Weight 4.25 lbLess than half the weight 9.8 lb

Same on both

• Three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports
• HDMI 2.1 output
• Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi
• 1Gbps Ethernet
• Dolby Atmos

The GPU Gap Is Bigger Than the Resolution Gap

So how much better is the Series X than the Series S? Native 4K needs about 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p. The Series X GPU, with 52 compute units against 20, has roughly three times the throughput. That leaves the Series X a surplus beyond simply drawing more pixels, and it’s the headroom that lets a game pair a higher resolution with a steadier frame rate or heavier ray tracing. The Series S can still output a 4K signal, upscaled from around 1440p, but the game renders fewer pixels underneath.

On the CPU side, the Xbox Series X specs are almost identical to the Series S. Both are 8-core Zen 2 parts, running at 3.6 GHz on the Series S and 3.8 GHz on the Series X. What matters sits in the graphics hardware and the memory.

Where the Series S Cuts Corners

Every game released for the Series X also runs on the Series S. Developers hit the smaller console’s lower budget by trimming the expensive stuff, and the cuts tend to land in the same places:

• Resolution. Series S versions commonly run at 1080p to 1440p, sometimes lower in 60FPS performance modes.
• Ray tracing. It’s often reduced or dropped entirely. Forza Motorsport, for example, has ray-traced reflections and ambient occlusion during races on the Series X that the Series S version doesn’t get.
• Graphics modes. Series X versions often offer a choice between a quality mode and a performance mode. Series S versions sometimes ship with one mode only.
• Texture and draw distance. The 10 GB memory pool forces lower texture quality and shorter draw distances in demanding games.

On a 1080p TV or a smaller screen, most of this is hard to spot. On a big 4K set, it’s the difference you’re paying the Series X premium to avoid.

Memory and Storage Are the Quiet Compromises

Memory is the other big difference between Xbox Series S and X specs. The Series S has 10 GB of GDDR6 (8 GB at 224 GB/s, 2 GB at 56 GB/s), while the Series X has 16 GB (10 GB at 560 GB/s, 6 GB at 336 GB/s). Together with the smaller GPU, less memory and less bandwidth are why the Series S aims at 1440p rather than 4K.

Storage is the bigger day-to-day pain point. Both consoles use PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSDs with the same quoted throughput of 2.4 GB/s uncompressed and 4.8 GB/s compressed, so the gap comes down to space.

The system and Quick Resume take a big slice, leaving about 364 GB free on the 512 GB Series S and about 802 GB on the 1 TB Series X at launch. A single big shooter can eat a large share of the Series S’s free space, so on the 512 GB model you’ll be deleting and redownloading games regularly if you rotate through Game Pass.

How Storage Expansion Actually Works

You have two ways to add space, and they don’t do the same job.

Storage Expansion Card. It plugs into the dedicated port on the back of either console and, per Xbox Support, matches the internal SSD’s performance. Games installed on it run exactly as they do from internal storage, including titles Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. Seagate and SanDisk (formerly WD_Black) make official cards in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB sizes. Prices have climbed along with memory costs, and SanDisk’s newest 1TB card launched at $199.99 in August 2026, so budget around $200 for 1TB.

USB external drive. It’s far cheaper, but there’s a catch. Games Optimized for Xbox Series X|S can’t run from a USB drive. You can store them there and copy them back to internal storage when you want to play, which is much faster than redownloading. Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games can run directly from USB.

The rule of thumb: a USB drive is enough if you play a lot of older games or one new release at a time. Get a card once you want several current games installed and ready to launch.

The Disc Drive Question

The Series X plays 4K UHD Blu-ray movies and its own game discs, along with backward-compatible Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox discs. The Series S has no drive at all, and there’s no accessory that adds one. Disc-based games simply won’t work on it.

The Series X Digital Edition in Robot White also drops the drive. So the “disc or no disc” choice is separate from the “4K or 1440p” choice. Check which of those you’re paying for before you add to cart. If you buy used games, trade games in or borrow from friends, the disc drive pays for itself within a handful of titles.

What It Actually Costs

Microsoft raised Xbox console prices worldwide on August 1, 2026, citing rising memory and storage costs. In the US, that added $100 to the Series S 512GB and $150 to the 1TB models. Here’s the Xbox Series X vs S price picture, using Xbox.com’s estimated retail prices at the time of writing:

A few things fall out of that table. The Xbox Series S 1TB sits $150 below the Series X Digital Edition, and that $150 buys roughly three times the GPU throughput and 6 GB more memory, which makes it the best-value step in the range.

The 512GB Series S looks cheapest, but add a 1TB expansion card at around $200 and you pay more than the 1TB Series S costs, although you end up with more total storage. Microsoft is also discontinuing the 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition. At $799.99, it now costs the same as the 1TB Carbon Black model, but it’s already listed as out of stock on the Microsoft Store, so you’ll only find it as leftover stock at other retailers.

Retailers often run deals below these estimated prices, particularly on the Series S. A quick price check across stores is worth the minute it takes.

Game Pass and Your Old Games

The Series S makes the most sense paired with Game Pass, since you’re buying everything digitally anyway. Online multiplayer in paid games requires at least Game Pass Essential on either console, and the Premium and Ultimate tiers add larger libraries, with Ultimate getting most of Xbox’s first-party releases on day one. Over a two- or three-year stretch, the subscription can cost as much as the console, so factor it into your budget either way.

Both consoles handle your existing library the same way. They run nearly every Xbox One game, plus the hundreds of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games that Xbox One supports, and many of those look better thanks to Auto HDR and FPS Boost. Your Xbox One controllers, headsets and wheels work too. Kinect is the exception and doesn’t work on either console.

Should You Wait for the Next Xbox?

Microsoft has confirmed it is working with AMD on its next generation of hardware, but there’s no release date or price. If you want to play now, waiting means sitting out the current library for an unknown stretch, and next-gen hardware is unlikely to launch cheaper than today’s consoles given where memory prices are heading. Both Series consoles should keep getting new releases for years.

Who Should Buy Which

4K TVs and disc owners

Choose the Series X If

• Your TV is 4K and you’d notice the difference between native 4K and an upscaled 1440p image.
• You buy discs, trade games in, or want a 4K Blu-ray player under the TV.
• You want the console with the most headroom as games get heavier.
• You keep a big library installed, since 1 TB internal storage goes a lot further than 512 GB.

Cheaper, smaller, disc-free

Choose the Series S If

• Your screen is 1080p or 1440p, including a 1440p gaming monitor, where the Series X’s extra pixels have nowhere to land.
• You buy everything digitally and play through Game Pass or the Microsoft Store.
• The console is going in a bedroom, dorm or secondary room. At 4.25 lb against 9.8 lb, it’s easy to move, and it can sit vertically or horizontally.
• Price is the priority and you accept either 512 GB of storage or the cost of an expansion card.

Quick tip

Check your TV’s resolution and HDMI ports before paying for the Series X’s headroom. Native 4K is where its extra GPU power shows, and an HDMI 2.1 port adds 120Hz modes and variable refresh rate on top.

Common Mistakes When Choosing

1. Buying the Series X for a 1080p TV. You get the bigger box and the bigger bill without the sharper picture. Spend the difference on a better display or on games.
2. Assuming every Series X has a disc drive. The Series X Digital Edition doesn’t, so a buyer expecting to play discs on it will be disappointed. Look for “4K UHD Blu-ray” on the listing.
3. Ignoring storage on the 512GB Series S. Around 364 GB of usable space fills fast with modern games. Price in an expansion card or buy the 1TB model.
4. Counting on a USB drive to run new games. USB storage holds Optimized for Xbox Series X|S games, but they have to move back to internal storage or an expansion card before you can play them.

FAQs About Choosing Between Series S and Series X

Still weighing it up? These are the questions we see most often from people choosing between the two consoles, from disc support and storage to this year’s price rise.

Can the Series S Play Every Game the Series X Can?

Yes. Any game released for the Series X also runs on the Series S. The difference is how it runs, with lower resolution and, in some titles, reduced ray tracing or fewer graphics modes.

Can I Add a Disc Drive to the Series S?

No. The Series S is all-digital, and there’s no external drive or accessory that lets it play discs. If you want discs, the route is a Series X with the 4K UHD Blu-ray drive.

Is 512 GB Enough on the Series S?

For two or three games you play over and over, yes. With about 364 GB usable, anyone rotating through Game Pass will be deleting and redownloading often. In that case, the 1TB model or an expansion card is worth it.

Can I Play Series X|S Games From a USB Drive?

No. Games Optimized for Xbox Series X|S must run from internal storage or a Storage Expansion Card. A USB drive can store them, and it can run Xbox One and older games directly.

Did Xbox Prices Go Up in 2026?

Yes. Microsoft raised console prices on August 1, 2026, adding $100 to the Series S 512GB and $150 to the 1TB models in the US. The Series S now starts at $499.99 and the Series X at $749.99 for the Digital Edition, per Xbox.com.

Pick by Your Screen First

So, is Xbox Series X or S better? Look at your TV before the price tag. If it’s a 4K set you plan to keep, the Xbox Series X is the console that makes use of it, and the Digital Edition at $749.99 is the sensible variant if you never touch discs. If it isn’t, the 1TB Xbox Series S at $599.99 gives you the same games and nearly all the same features, with the storage to match. The 512GB model stays an option as long as you accept an expansion card in your near future.

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