What is Xbox One S? All your questions about Microsoft's new console answered
Everything you need to know to understand what in the heck is going on in the Xbox family.
What is Xbox One S? All about the latest Xbox console
Table of contents
How is the Xbox One S different from the Xbox One?
Why should I buy an Xbox One S, or upgrade from an Xbox One?
Xbox One S release date: when does the new Xbox come out?
Xbox One S price: how much does it cost?
Where can I buy an Xbox One S?
Which is the newest Xbox?
Which Xbox One to buy?
Xbox One, Xbox One S and Project Scorpio: Play Anywhere
Xbox One S is a hardware revision of the Xbox One. Announced alongside the more dramatic Project Scorpio, it is best thought of as similar to the “slim” hardware revisions we've seen in past console generations.
What makes it different from those past efforts is that it actually boasts a number of features and capabilities the original Xbox One does not support. That said, it is not a new console generation, and Microsoft does not intend to release games that are only playable on Xbox One S. Let's take a closer look.
How is the Xbox One S different from the Xbox One?
To date, the only key differentiator between Xbox One models has been the size of the hard drive and what it came bundled with – things like the Kinect camera, games or the Elite controller. The base console itself was largely the same. That all changes now.
Because it has the same basic innards as the Xbox One, the Xbox One S can play all Xbox One and forwards compatible Xbox 360 titles – but it is a new piece of hardware with expanded capabilities. The Xbox One S has more graphical capabilities than Xbox One for those developers who choose to take advantage of it moving forwards.
To be explicit: unlike the Xbox One, the Xbox One S supports HDR visuals for games (should developers choose to take advantage of it), has full 4K support for Blu-ray and all compatible media playback, and can upscale games to 4K output. That said, you won't see improvements in game performance, so don't expect all those 30 FPS games to suddenly run at 60 FPS.
Unlike the Xbox One, the Xbox One S supports HDR visuals for games (should developers choose to take advantage of it), has full 4K support for Blu-ray and all compatible media playback, and can upscale games to 4K output.
It also has a very different form factor. You can think of it as the Xbox One Slim: it's physically smaller (40%, according to Microsoft, and who are we to argue?) and doesn't have that great big power brick hanging off it.
Unlike the original Xbox One, the Xbox One S can be positioned vertically as well as horizontally; the vertical stand is bundled with the Launch 2TB Edition, or sold separately for $20. The Xbox One S has a physical power button instead of the touch sensitive control of the original Xbox One, and some of the Xbox One's back panel components have moved to the front face of the Xbox One S – the device pairing button and a single USB slot. It's also “robot white” rather than dark and brooding.
The Xbox One S control pad is different, too; it has new, more durable analog sticks and a textured grip. It will connect to your PC via Bluetooth, so you can use it for Microsoft's new Play Anywhere Windows 10 scheme or just general PC gaming.
The Xbox One S is not compatible with Kinect out of the box; you'll need to purchase an adapter. That said, it does come with a built-in IR blaster you can use to control your TV and other devices, something currently only possible with a Kinect.
Finally, the Xbox One S is available with a hard drive of up to 2TB in size, whereas the Xbox One only goes up to 1TB.
Why should I buy an Xbox One S, or upgrade from an Xbox One?
If you already own an Xbox One, there are several reasons why you might choose to upgrade to an Xbox One S. Perhaps you want a 2TB hard drive, or want to free up some space on your entertainment unit by going vertical (or just smaller). Maybe you have a 4K TV, or simply must have that shiny white colour scheme.
For the rest of us, the original Xbox One is still doing the job – and if you really fancy the new control pad, you can purchase it separately for $60.
Xbox One S release date: when does the new Xbox come out?
Xbox One S 2TB Launch Edition – August
Xbox One S 1TB – TBC
Xbox One S 500GB – TBC
Microsoft has not yet committed to an Xbox One S release date beyond “August”. We do know that the first batch of consoles released, the 2TB configuration, will be a limited run, and followed up by two other SKUs. These have not been dated at all.
Xbox One S price: how much does it cost?
Xbox One S 2TB Launch Edition: $399/€399/£349 (includes vertical stand)
Xbox One S 1TB: $349/€349/£299 (no release window)
Xbox One S 500GB $299€299/£249 (no release window)
Where can I buy an Xbox One S?
The Xbox One S is available for pre-order through most major video game retailers, including Amazon and GAME and GameStop.
Which is the newest Xbox?
As of publication in June 2016, the Xbox One is the newest Xbox console you can buy.
As of August 2016, the Xbox One S will be the newest Xbox console on the market.
Which Xbox One to buy?
Right now, a 1TB Xbox One will set you back $279/€279/£230 or less. If you haven't yet got an Xbox One of any kind, you might want to take advantage of this lower price and buy in with the entry level model.
If you can wait till August, you can pick up a limited edition Xbox One S with a 2TB hard drive for $399/€399/£349. Other configurations with smaller hard drives will also be available, but have not yet been dated.
As for the Xbox Scorpio, it won't release until the end of 2017 and is absolutely only for 4K capable displays. Unless you're certain you'll have the screen to live up to it, there's little point waiting that long when you could be playing on an Xbox One now or Xbox One S in August.
There's no need to worry about investing in potentially soon-to-be-obsolete games and accessories, either. All Xbox One software is and will be forwards-compatible with both Xbox One S and Xbox Scorpio. All Xbox One S software and peripheral hardware will be forward compatible with Xbox Scorpio.
Xbox One, Xbox One S and Project Scorpio: Play Anywhere
Xbox One S is only one of two new Xbox One consoles detailed at E3 2016, so you may be wondering what in the heck is going on. The key to understanding all this is Microsoft's “Play Anywhere” scheme: most first-party Microsoft titles are now Xbox One and Windows 10 exclusives. Whether you purchase a Play Anywhere game on PC or one of the three Xbox One consoles, you can access it from any of those pieces of hardware.
The idea is that Xbox Live becomes the platform, rather than the hardware.
The idea is that Xbox Live becomes the platform, rather than the hardware, and that Microsoft-branded gaming will be affordable on a whole range of budgets. Whether you have a low-end gaming PC, an Xbox One, an Xbox One S, an Xbox Scorpio or a top of the line super PC, you can play Gears of War 4, and play it cross-platform with everyone in the Xbox Live family (using the Xbox One S's new PC-friendly control pad, to boot). If you have more than one of these hardware setups, you can play on any of them, swapping seamlessly between them.
These smaller-step hardware increments mean hardcore gamers with a lot of cash can pony up for top of the line visuals without having to wait for a whole new generation of consoles, while those with less pocket money aren't left behind. Microsoft and its customers can take advantage of shiny new advances in tech like 4K and virtual reality without leaving its existing user base behind if they're not ready to invest in the necessary hardware.
It also means those of you with plenty of disposable income but no desire to get into the intricacies of PC gaming can have a comparable experience to high-end PC gamers even several years on from a console generation transition. No selecting and installing components, or worries about compatibility; just plug and play. Conversely, PC gaming on the Xbox Live platform is more like a walled garden than PC gamers will be used to.
