Xbox Sequence X vs Xbox Sequence S: What is the distinction?

• Microsoft Xbox Sequence X

  Editor’s Alternative

  The Sequence X has acres of energy to supply up, and is gorgeous and silent whilst you use it, though its simple bulk does make it a bit unwieldy. Nonetheless, that is Microsoft’s premier gaming machine proper now.

  Execs

  • Very good energy
  • Wonderful backwards compatibility
  • 4K gaming

• 

  Microsoft Xbox Sequence S

  Price range decide

  The Xbox Sequence S may be smaller and fewer highly effective, however as a finances possibility it is arduous to beat, and also you get entry to all the identical video games at decrease resolutions – an ideal deal that opens up this technology far more broadly.

  Execs

  • Nice worth
  • Tiny footprint
  • All the identical video games

By all accounts, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fastest-selling Xbox consoles of all time.

One is a brilliant highly effective video games machine, with PC-like specs, the opposite a extra reasonably priced various. So which must you save up for?

We have put collectively a useful information that will help you determine which next-gen Xbox might swimsuit you greatest.

Worth, specs and availability

A couple of years into their technology, each the Xbox Sequence S and Sequence X at the moment are broadly accessible and straightforward to seek out in inventory at a bunch of shops, one thing that took fairly some time to turn out to be the norm. We’re nonetheless fairly a method off any new consoles from Xbox, too, though a brand new model of the Sequence S in black does launch later in 2023, with double the storage at 1TB, which is an attention-grabbing change.

You can even buy both console on the Xbox All Entry month-to-month cost plan. It contains the console and Xbox Recreation Cross Final for a low month-to-month price. Check out all the details here.

• 	Microsoft Xbox Sequence S	Microsoft Xbox Sequence X
  Processing Energy	4 TFLOPS	12 TFLOPS
  Storage	512GB inside SSD	1TB inside SSD
  CPU	3.6GHz	3.8GHz
  Dimensions	275 x 150 x 64mm	301 x 151 x 151mm
  Weight	1.9kgs	4.5kgs
  RAM	10GB GDDR6	16GB GDDR6
  Display screen Decision	1440p	4K

Design

Maybe surprisingly, the 2 next-gen consoles from Xbox look nothing alike.

The Xbox Sequence X is a monolithic beast of a machine, greatest designed to face vertically – however can lay horizontally – and accessible in black solely with some inexperienced highlighted openings on a high grille.

The Sequence S, in the meantime, seems extra like the sooner Xbox One S – it even has an analogous grille on the highest (when horizontal). Xbox has determined to make that grille black and the console white, nonetheless, which makes it appear like a loudspeaker when it’s stood on its finish.

Processing and graphics

Each the Xbox Sequence X and Sequence S are powered by a customized AMD Zen 2 eight-core processor, however the Sequence X CPU runs at 3.8GHz per core (3.6GHz with multi-threading) and the Sequence S at 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with multi-threading).

They differ much more drastically within the graphics processing, with the Sequence X sporting 12 TFLOPS (52CUs at 1.825GHz) of RDNA 2 graphics energy. The Sequence S may have 4 TFLOPS (20CUs at 1.565GHz) of RDNA 2 graphics.

The quantity of RAM can also be totally different throughout machines. The flagship console has 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, whereas its stablemate has 10GB.

Ray tracing is supported by each, however whereas the Sequence X is ready to run video games at a 4K decision natively, the Sequence S is successfully locked at a most of 1440p for gaming. Each consoles will run video games at 60fps natively, though are able to as much as 120fps, often by dropping the decision.

Even with its lower-spec although, the Sequence S helps variable refresh charges (VRR) and shading, identical to its sibling.

Storage

By way of storage, each have an SSD for sooner load occasions and the remainder of the skills that solid-state drives (SSD) can provide. In addition they every help Xbox’s fast resume characteristic, which may pause as much as six video games or so at a time, permitting customers to immediately proceed the place they left off or swap between them.

The Sequence X comes with a 1TB inside SSD, plus USB 3.1 help.

As compared, the Sequence S has a smaller 512GB SSD to maintain prices down. That provides it the identical super-fast loading occasions and different options, however contemplate that many video games today are between 80-100GB in dimension so it’s going to fil up far more shortly.

Each consoles have an enlargement slot for an extra, proprietary drive – the Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Sequence X/S – which capabilities like the interior SSD, supporting all these next-gen options and fast resume.

Each consoles help exterior USB 3.0 drives (and above) – though they will not work with the sooner loading occasions of the interior/Storage Growth Card nor allow any Xbox Sequence X/S optimisations on video games. They’re greatest used, subsequently, to retailer Xbox One, Xbox 360 and unique Xbox video games.

You may have as much as three exterior arduous drives related directly.

Controller

• Each consoles: 1x AA-battery powered controller included
• Each consoles: Additionally appropriate with Xbox One controllers

A brand new Xbox Wi-fi Controller ships with the Xbox Sequence X and the one with the Sequence S is not any totally different – only a totally different color. You will discover out extra in regards to the new gamepad right here: Xbox Series X controller: All you need to know.

It’s also that can be purchased individually and works with legacy Xbox One consoles too.

All Xbox One controllers work with each new consoles too.

Video games and equipment

• Each consoles: Backwards appropriate with Xbox One, Xbox 360 and unique Xbox video games
• Each consoles: Additionally appropriate with all Xbox One equipment

Nigh-on all Xbox video games – be they Xbox One, unique Xbox or Xbox 360 – will work throughout all the household of consoles. The one exceptions can be people who require Kinect.

That features the Sequence X and Sequence S, with video games that includes enhanced graphics and different platform skills coming underneath the banner of “Optimised for Xbox Series X/S“.

Microsoft’s video games library subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, is offered for each Sequence S and X, with EA Play and Cloud Gaming additionally a part of Xbox Recreation Cross Final, making for a really compelling subscription service.

All Xbox One equipment and headsets will work on the brand new consoles.

House Leisure

• Each consoles: Variable Refresh Fee (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), HDR (excessive dynamic vary), Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Dolby Atmos
• Xbox Sequence X: 4K Extremely-HD Blu-ray drive
• Xbox Sequence S: No drive, digital-only

There isn’t a bodily disc drive on the Sequence S. The Sequence X (like the prevailing One X and One S) sports activities a 4K Extremely-HD Blu-ray drive for video games and film playback alike.

They each help HDR, Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Dolby Atmos, for video and video games. Nonetheless, Dolby Imaginative and prescient won’t work throughout 4K Blu-ray playback.

Which is greatest for you?

It makes full sense for Microsoft to have two consoles, at two value factors, very similar to it has achieved up to now. Nonetheless, having reviewed each – the Series X here, and the Series S here – our feeling is the X is the true next-gen powerhouse, with essentially the most storage, that can fireplace on all cylinders when it will get the possibility.

Microsoft Xbox Sequence X

The default alternative in case your finances stretches to it, the Sequence X will play video games at the most effective resolutions and with the smoothest efficiency.

The Sequence S, in the meantime, has its place and is a wonderful machine for the cash, however its decision drop and half the space for storing could possibly be a dealbreaker.

Microsoft Xbox Sequence S

A nonetheless excellent second possibility, the Sequence S is ideal for these with smaller budgets or who do not use a 4K TV, with decrease decision presentation for the very same video games.