Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S
The Series X targets native 4K with three times the GPU power. The Series S is smaller, digital-only and still the cheapest way into current Xbox games, but it now costs $499.99.
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Quick answer
Choose Xbox Series X ($749.99) if you have a 4K TV, you want physical discs (disc model) or you want the most headroom for future games. Choose Xbox Series S ($499.99) if you play on a 1080p or 1440p screen, you only buy digital games or you want the cheapest current Xbox.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Check Xbox Series X price (opens in a new tab)Check Xbox Series S price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | $749.99 digital; $799.99 disc | $499.99 (512GB); $599.99 (1TB) |
| GPU | 12 teraflops, 52 compute units | 4 teraflops, 20 compute units |
| Target resolution | 4K | Up to 1440p in most games (4K upscaling, not native) |
| Frame rate | Up to 120 fps | Up to 120 fps |
| Memory | 16GB (10GB at 560GB/s + 6GB at 336GB/s) | 10GB (8GB at 224GB/s + 2GB at 56GB/s) |
Get the Series X ($749.99 digital, $799.99 with a disc drive) if you have a 4K TV and want the best image quality. Get the Series S ($499.99) if you play on a 1080p or 1440p screen, only buy digital games, or want the lowest price. Microsoft says it remains the lowest-cost way for console players to enjoy this year’s biggest games.
Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: side-by-side
| Series X | Series S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | $749.99 digital; $799.99 disc | $499.99 (512GB); $599.99 (1TB) |
| GPU | 12 teraflops, 52 compute units | 4 teraflops, 20 compute units |
| Target resolution | 4K | Up to 1440p in most games (4K upscaling, not native) |
| Frame rate | Up to 120 fps | Up to 120 fps |
| Memory | 16GB (10GB at 560GB/s + 6GB at 336GB/s) | 10GB (8GB at 224GB/s + 2GB at 56GB/s) |
| CPU | AMD Zen 2 (higher clock) | AMD Zen 2 |
| Disc drive | Disc model only | No (digital only) |
| Size | Larger | About 60% smaller (Engadget) |
How much do they cost?
Xbox Series X plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Series X Digital (1TB) | $749.99 | Was $599.99 |
| Series X with disc drive (1TB) | $799.99 | Was $649.99 |
Xbox Series S plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Series S (512GB) | $499.99 | Was $399.99 |
| Series S (1TB) | $599.99 | Was $449.99 |
What are the pros and cons?
Xbox Series X: pros
- Native 4K target
- Three times the GPU power
- More, faster memory
- Disc drive option
Xbox Series X: cons
- $749.99 and up
- Large box
- Price rose $150 in August 2026
Xbox Series S: pros
- $250 cheaper
- About 60% smaller
- Same games and 120 fps support
Xbox Series S: cons
- No native 4K
- Digital only
- 512GB base storage
Which should you choose: Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S?
The Series X is the better console for a 4K TV. Engadget[3] explains that its GPU is three times as powerful, with far more memory bandwidth. The Series S runs the same games at lower resolution for $250 less. Microsoft says it remains the lowest-cost way for console players to enjoy this year’s biggest hits, and Engadget notes it’s tied with the Switch 2 as the cheapest modern console.
Choose Xbox Series X if…
- You have a 4K TV
- You want physical discs (disc model)
- You want the most headroom for future games
Choose Xbox Series S if…
- You play on a 1080p or 1440p screen
- You only buy digital games
- You want the cheapest current Xbox
Both got more expensive in 2026
Microsoft announced on Xbox Wire that from August 1, 2026, US prices would rise by $100 for 512GB models and $150 for 1TB models, and that the 2TB Series X would be discontinued. Pure Xbox’s breakdown puts the Series S at $499.99 (512GB) and $599.99 (1TB), and the Series X at $749.99 (Digital) and $799.99 (disc). Microsoft also says refurbished consoles are up to $100 off at the Microsoft Store.
Power and resolution
Both use an AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 graphics, Engadget[3] says. But the Series X GPU has 52 compute units and 12 teraflops, compared with 20 compute units and 4 teraflops on the Series S. The X targets 4K, while the S runs most games at up to 1440p and upscales to 4K. The X also has 16GB of memory with much more bandwidth, compared with 10GB on the S.
What about the next Xbox?
Engadget[3] reports that alpha developer kits for Microsoft’s next console, Project Helix, are due in 2027. Either current console will keep running the Xbox library until then.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Xbox Series S play 4K?
Does the Xbox Series S have a disc drive?
How much is the Xbox Series S now?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Related
The Best Gaming Consoles in 2026
Every major console got more expensive in 2026. Wirecutter’s picks are the PlayStation 5 (now $649.99), the Xbox Series X ($799.99) and, if you want to play on the go, the Nintendo Switch 2 ($499.99). The Switch Lite ($229) is the cheapest way into current games.
comparisonPS5 vs Xbox Series X
After 2026’s price increases, the disc PS5 is $150 cheaper than the Xbox Series X. Pick the PS5 for PlayStation’s first-party games and the DualSense controller, or the Xbox for Game Pass and the best backward compatibility.
comparisonPS5 Pro vs PS5
The PS5 Pro adds stronger ray tracing, PSSR upscaling, Wi-Fi 7 and 2TB of storage, but only in games that support it. It has no disc drive, and in October 2026 it was hard to find at list price.
comparisonPS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X
Both consoles got much more expensive in 2026. The PS5 Pro is the more powerful machine, with a 16.7-teraflop GPU, PSSR upscaling and 2TB of storage, but no disc drive. The Series X costs $100 less with a disc drive and has the best backward compatibility.