Microsoft Xbox Series S 1TB (2020)

Small and affordable ; Can play all the same games as the Xbox Series X ; Blazing fast load times, thanks to SSD ; Strong backward compatibility, including accessories

Not as powerful as the Xbox Series X ; Half the storage space as the Xbox Series X ; No optical drive

A scaled-back version of the Series X, Microsoft's Xbox Series S carries a compelling $299 price, but it makes too many compromises to hit that wallet-friendly number.

Super affordable ; Compact, stylish chassis ; Blistering-fast load speeds ; Great performance

Lacks future 8K support ; Less power and storage than Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series S offers 4K gaming and lightning-fast load times in a small, compact chassis, but you miss out on some features in the name of affordability.

Compact size

If you already own an Xbox One S or Xbox One X and don’t mind the performance and size, you can probably wait to upgrade. The Series S runs very similar software, very similar games, and has an almost identical controller to those older options. Later...

Fantastic game selection ; Smooth performance ; Sleek, quiet design ; Relatively inexpensive

Not very future-proof ; Graphics and storage limitations

The Xbox Series S is too niche to recommend to everyone. If you have a high-end 4K TV, you’re arguably better off with the Xbox Series X — particularly since with lower specs, the Series S may be less equipped to handle next-gen titles as they become...

Exceptional value ; Instant resume is a game changer ; Game Pass is fantastic

Lacking a must-have exclusive

If you're looking for a cheap way to get into the current gaming generation, there is no finer choice than the Xbox Series S. It's cheap, small, runs quiet, and offers you access to all the same games and services as the Xbox Series X, including Xbox...

Sleek, compact design ; Offered at a low price while still containing many of the next-gen features offered by the Series X ; Game Pass and backwards compatibility offer a vast library of games

No 4K support ; Lack of next-gen games at launch ; Expanding storage is costly

No matter how you slice it, the Series S offers a stellar value in terms of features, games catalogue and price, and it's easy to recommend to almost anyone

Major performance upgrade on Xbox One S ; Small and stylish design ; Next-gen SSD reduce loading times dramatically ; Incredible value considering the specs

500GB storage is far too small ; Lacks a disk drive ; No support for Wi-Fi 6

The Xbox Series S is the best next-gen console for anyone on a budget or without a high-end 4K TV, with the added performance power allowing for significantly better graphics than what’s possible with an Xbox One S. The stingy 364GB storage capacity is...

Stylish, compact design ; Very affordable price point ; Works great with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ; Can still play games at 1440p and up to 120fps ; Storage can be easily expanded ; Designed to play next-gen games

Digital only, no disc drive ; Only 364GB for games and apps out of the box ; Extra storage space doesn't come cheap ; Limited backwards compatibility

In many ways I am more enamoured with the Xbox Series S than its flagship bigger brother. It's stylish, affordable, easy to setup and taps into the very slick Xbox ecosystem seamlessly. It also works with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate absolutely brilliantly,...

Attractively priced ; Solid AV and gaming performance ; Responsive controls

Over-complicated AV set-up ; Doesn’t support native 4K gaming ; Small hard drive

The Xbox Series S isn’t perfect and won’t be for everyone, but it delivers a near next-gen gaming experience for a reasonable price