Ever since the beginning of Microsoft's console gaming foray, Xbox consoles have typically veered on the bulky side. While that's not a bad thing per se, it does mean that design-wise Xbox consoles usually aimed for a workhorse/practical design aesthetic. The same can be said about the Xbox Series X for sure, with its brutish and tall figure and minimalistic styling. Whereas PlayStation is going with the whimsical and bombastic style, the Xbox Series X takes on a more practical and subdued look.
In terms of the size of the Xbox Series X, it's most certainly the beefiest gaming console in Xbox's recent history. Even the original Xbox doesn't quite compare to the Xbox Series X's height and width. Designs of the Xbox console have varied quite a bit between generations, ranging from the asymmetrical curves of the Xbox 360 to the symmetrical rectangle of the Xbox Series X. Here's how the towering Xbox Series X compares to its predecessors' sizes. Note: Images not to scale.
Original Xbox vs. Series X
Microsoft's original Xbox back in the day was very special. Xbox was the first American-made home gaming console released to the public since the Atari Jaguar in 1993. The original Xbox came out to steep competition in 2001, having to compete with the immensely successful PlayStation 2, along with the Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo GameCube. It was the console that kickstarted the iconic Halo franchise, selling just over 24 million units throughout the its lifespan. It was a thick black box emblazoned with a giant "X" and the iconic lime-green Xbox logo fitted into the top.
Although, thick may be underselling the size of the original Xbox. The original Xbox was quite wide, with a length of just over a foot (12.5 inches) long and four inches width. The Xbox takes up much more surface area compared to the Xbox Series X, which has both a shorter length and width. This will be a common theme between the rest of the comparisons, but in particular for the original Xbox, the Xbox Series X compensates with a much greater height in the standing position. Of course because of this, when the Xbox Series X is longer length-wise but shorter in width. The original Xbox's orientation only allowed the console to lay flat, so it's worth pointing out here.
Xbox 360 (& Slim) vs. Series X
The Xbox 360 was by far the most popular gaming console Microsoft has ever developed. While the entertainment industry overall was making the seismic shift between standard to high definition, the Xbox 360 was the perfect bridge for gaming fans. While the original Xbox introduced online gaming with Xbox Live, Xbox 360 helped shape the modern version of online gaming seen on both consoles today. Thanks to the further innovation of Xbox Live and the cheaper price point compared to the original PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 saw massive sales success. While Xbox 360 definitely had its own fair share of problems, the original Xbox's sales figures pale in comparison to the 360's over 70 million sold between its release in 2005 to 2013.
While the Xbox Series X is typically advertised in its standing position, the Xbox 360 was the first Microsoft console marketed that way as well. Both Xbox 360 and Xbox Series X are able to lay flat and stand up straight, though they have very different physical footprints. Xbox 360 does stand a bit taller than the Xbox Series X does by a few inches, but again the length and width are very different between them. Xbox 360 has long asymmetrical sides similar to the Xbox One, whereas the Xbox Series X is mostly symmetrical for length and width. Xbox 360 may have the Series X beat when it comes to narrow entertainment center spaces, as it can fit to the similar dimensions of a DVD player, but other than that the Series X doesn't stand as tall in comparison.
Xbox One/One S/One X vs. Series X
While Xbox One didn't exactly have the best start back in 2013, Xbox altogether has made great strides since then to win back some good faith from players. When the Xbox One was initially unveiled, it was branded as a powerhouse multi-media center moreso than a dedicated gaming system. For several reasons, gaming enthusiasts were turned off by this approach by Xbox and the commercial success of Xbox One reflects that. That being said, with the advent of Game Pass and ditching the Kinect peripheral entirely, Xbox has made a slight comeback this generation.
Xbox One has had quite the slimming down effect this past generation as a result of all the changes Microsoft has made. The original Xbox One was frankly gigantic and only usable in horizontal orientation, meaning it was bulky and could only fit into specific entertainment setups. Xbox One S and Xbox One X, among their slight graphical improvements, also made great changes to the form factor of the console. Compared to the Xbox One X, the Xbox Series X's mostly matches the Xbox One S/X's length for the most part. Even in horizontal orientation, the Xbox One variations are longer width-wise compared to Xbox Series X. Basically the only requirement for Xbox Series X will be that the console needs just a little more headroom compared to Xbox One.
In terms of any issues with Xbox Series X's size, it's likely going to factor into how players have their current consoles set up. For those who have their gaming consoles set up in horizontal orientation in tight-knit spaces, Xbox Series X will require some reorganization to fit into entertainment setups. While Xbox Series X does appear a bit beefy with its symmetrical design, the height isn't unreasonably high at just under a foot tall. That will likely be the only major problem players will face with setting up the new console.
Xbox Series X launches on holiday 2020.