After the release of Microsoft's new Xbox Series X, the company surprised audiences with a second next-gen console: the Xbox Series S. Similarly to Nintendo's release of the Switch Lite last year, Microsoft decided to follow up its new console with a smaller version at a more affordable price point. Just as with the smaller Switch, the Xbox Series S has some differences from its sister console.
Perhaps the most obvious change is the absence of a disc drive (which isn't necessarily a bad thing with Xbox games available for digital download as well as through the Xbox Game Pass). However, this is far from the only noteworthy thing about this new little system. Inside and out, the new Series S has quite a few surprises, some of which are exciting and a few that are not quite what they seem.
10 Backwards Compatibility
While this may seem like a no-brainer, it's actually a head-scratcher when fans consider the absence of a disc tray. However, some players have been doing away with discs for awhile now, opting in for the option to download the game directly onto their console's hard drive, and the new Xbox Series S embraces this.
The Xbox Game Pass gives players options to access titles from older consoles in the Xbox line, which covers some, but the Series S also gives players the option to plug in their external HDDs and play any Xbox games they already own. Even with no disc tray, old titles are here to stay.
9 Resolution Limits
One of the drawbacks to the Series S, as opposed to the X, is the limitation on screen resolution. In an age of 4k consoles, the Series S falls short, capping out at 1440p resolution, which will certainly push certain visual-oriented fans towards the Series X (as seen in this comparison image from Techspot).
However, for those fans who have TVs that don't support 4k or for those fans who don't care, this isn't so much of a drawback as a slightly annoying detail. The Series S still boasts support for up to 60 FPS, so while there might be some limitations on the screen, the titles will certainly run smoothly.
8 Dolby Atmos & Vision Support
The new Xbox Series S, just like its sister console, will be the first console to support both Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision HDR. Dolby Atmos support is available from launch, giving fans that unique 3D surround sound, while Dolby Vision support is expected for 2021 (comparison image via Engadget).
This is more of a case of potential than current capability, but the promise of having support for both makes the Series S an attractive option for a console, and soon it could very well boast a fully immersive experience.
7 RAM To Run
Being a smaller console means performing with a little less strength, and the Series S doesn't avoid this. Rather than Series X's 16 GB of GDDR6 RAM, the Series S has a RAM of 10 GB. While this may appear to be a significant difference, the Series S is still very well equipped for what it's meant to deliver.
Running at a lower resolution, it doesn't require as much RAM to begin with, which means there shouldn't be any real difference between the two consoles running the same game. The only difference will be 4K.
6 The Big Dark Circle
This isn't hidden it at all; it's in plain sight and it's the hardest thing to miss on the new console. It's on the top and it looks just like a boombox speaker. Except it's not! In fact, it's a fan. More exciting than that, it's the fan that Xbox fans have waited for.
Gone are the headaches from the constant whine of the machine! The new Series S is a quiet Xbox. It features fans on all sides of the box, with the main fan keeping an impressive current throughout the machine, allowing it to run coolly and silently. Far from a speaker, it silences the noise rather than creating it.
5 Link To Voice Assistant
Just like with the Xbox One, Microsoft brought compatibility with a Voice Assistant to the Series S, allowing players to connect their Alexa or Google Assistant. For the fans who never tire of keeping Alexa on the clock, the connectivity to the Xbox should allow for even more hands-free control in their house.
With just their voice, players can turn their Xbox on or off, launch titles, capture game footage, invite their friends to parties, and much more. Even when a player is busy grabbing snacks, they can be in total control of their console.
4 Smart Delivery
With the release of every new console comes the group of players that just got certain games on their now-old-gen consoles right before the release. This can sometimes be a reason not to upgrade. However, Microsoft found a way to work around this with a new system called Smart Delivery. This allows players who bought a copy of a game --for instance, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla-- for Xbox One to use that same game on the next-gen consoles when they get released.
Simply put, Xbox will let players download the optimized version of a game they've already purchased. Even if it was purchased for Xbox One, players will be able to play the Xbox Series X/S version of that game (if it's released on that console). Microsoft will make sure fans have the correct downloadable version of that game. If fans are on the fence about upgrading, here's one less reason to be against it.
3 Rubber Feet
Also not quite so hidden (but pretty small!) are the little rubber feet on the small left side of the white console. What the little feet encourage is something that Xbox players have been doing for years: storing their Xboxes vertically.
The Series S allows for the same use and the design of the airflow facilitates it as well, with the main fan being exposed when placed either horizontally or vertically. As if the Series S wasn't compact enough, the ability to position it vertically gives players the option to fit the console in even the narrowest spots.
2 Storage
The other drawback to the Series S is its storage space. It advertises a 512 GB SSD, but when all is said and done, its usable storage comes out to about 364 GB. As AAA titles become larger and larger, 364 GB isn't very much. Cyberpunk 2077 is planned for ~70 GB, while Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will come out to around an astonishing 190 GB.
There is a fix, however, and it's an external hard drive sized at 1 TB and sold by Seagate for $220, which fits into its own spot in the back of the console. A steep price for storage, but space is limited without it.
1 Xbox All Access Program
To make a more compact version of a console is to be able to offer it at a lower price point. The Switch Lite follows the same idea. Microsoft decided to take it further, however, by offering a package to players called the Xbox All Access Program, which gives the player the new Xbox Series S console and 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
The best part is that it's laid out in a monthly payment program at $25 per month, to make the price more manageable for fans. In difficult times such as these, this price point offers flexibility to those in a tight spot so they don't have to miss out on the next generation of gaming.