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8.3




Xbox Series X
































Like


Supports up to 8K resolution and up to 120Hz refresh rate, in theory

Easy app-based setup

Wide-ranging ecosystem, from cloud gaming to Game Pass






Don't Like


Some games can force you to choose between resolution, frame rate and ray tracing

Loses the optical audio output

Limited exclusive next-gen games at launch

User interface remains cluttered










Read more: 


[url=/tech/gaming/sony-ps5-review-exclusive-games-power-playstation-5-sky-high-space-age-console/]PS5 review: Sony built a space-age game console for your next-gen dreams

Best TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X, Series S with 4K, 120fps input and VRR

Xbox Series S review: The console making next-gen gaming more affordable


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The lineup: Xbox Series S, PS5, Xbox Series X. 

Dan Ackerman/CNET



The $500 question: Should you buy an Xbox Series X?

Like the PS5, the Xbox Series X is a big investment, yet in minutes and we expect all new consoles will be hard to find this holiday season. That said, if the lifecycle of game consoles remains in the seven- to eight-year range, it's also an incredible value in the long run. Microsoft and Sony asking for $500 every seven years feels a lot more reasonable than certain phone-makers suggesting you drop $1,000 or more on a slightly newer phone every 12-24 months. 

And if you don't feel like $500 is the right number for you, I'm pleased to say I had an excellent experience with the less expensive [url=]Series S model as well. Besides being much smaller and, in my opinion, having a better aesthetic design, the Series S keeps most of the best features for a much more reasonable $300. 

The Series S can stream media at 4K in HDR. It has half the SSD capacity and doesn't do native 4K game output, instead topping out at 1440p. But that lower resolution means it can still handle the ray-tracing and other new game eye candy, despite a less powerful GPU. I played the same handful of games on both the Series X and Series S, via a 65-inch LG OLED, and found very little practical difference in the experience. The Series S also lacks the optical drive, but I'm a well-known optical drive skeptic, preferring to skip complex mechanical parts that spin around and are more likely to break down. 

Now, I can't promise that future games won't eventually split off into Series X and Series S versions, with different visual features for each -- but if you're a casual gamer, have a smaller TV or just want to spend less, I'm very comfortable recommending the Series S. As a long-time PC gamer who likes to play everything at the highest resolution and detail settings, I'll be opting for the Series X myself. 

First published Nov. 5