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Today we’re considering the Xbox Series S vs Xbox One S to see which budget-friendly Microsoft console makes more sense for you.
The Xbox Series S is an impressively small and affordable gaming console, that still packs a powerful punch. While it may not be capable of native 4K like the Xbox Series X, it has some impressive upscaling abilities as well as excellent QDH performance, providing you have a 1440p monitor or TV.
The Xbox One S is a full generation behind the Series S, coming out all the back in 2016. Despite this, it has managed to keep pace remarkably well, and today many of the latest games coming out can still be played on it, albeit with inferior performance. Its older release has made it more affordable and it does hold a few key advantages over its next-gen competition.
So which one should you go for? To make your decision as easy as possible we’ve got a detailed description of each device in the key sections of specs, features and value for money. This should give you a full overview of what you can expect from each and allow you to know which one you want to go for. Let’s get into it.
Xbox Series S vs Xbox One S – Specs
| Specs | Xbox Series S | Xbox One S |
| CPU | Eight-core 3.6GHz | Eight-core 1.75GHz |
| GPU | 4 teraflops at 1.550GHz | 1.23 teraflops at 914MHz |
| RAM | 10GB GDDR6 | 8GB DDR3 |
| Maximum framerate | 120fps | 60fps |
| Resolution | 1440p with 4K upscaling | 1080p |
| Storage | 512GB | 1TB |
| Storage type | SSD | HDD |
As you’d expect the next generation Xbox Series S easily outperforms the old Xbox One S and the specs reflect this. Everything from the CPU to the GPU to the RAM has been updated, improved and optimised.
If we look at memory, for example, we see that not only does the Series S have more RAM but it is also GDDR6, while the Xbox Ons S is using GDDR3 memory. This actually makes a huge difference. GDDR 6 brings with it a transfer rate of 112 to 128GB/s, while for GDDR3 that rate is just 19.9GB/s.
The specs also reveal how these hardware improvements translate to performance. The Xbox Series S is capable of higher frame rates at higher resolutions, 1400p at 120 fps to be precise, versus 60 fps at 1080p for the Xbox One S. The Series S also has 4K upscaling abilities in certain titles.
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One area where the Xbox One S wins out is storage, with up to 1Tb of internal storage versus 512GB on the Series S. This means less space for games, which is even more of an issue for the Series S as it also doesn’t have a disk tray, meaning it relies entirely on internal storage to launch titles from.
It’s not as simple as saying that this means the Xbox One S has better storage however because it uses a far slower storage technology – HDD versus the SSD of the Xbox Series S. This means it has massively reduced load times.
Xbox Series S vs Xbox One S – Features
There is one other advantage the Xbox One S holds over the Xbox Series S: it comes with a 4K HD Blu-Ray drive. Not only does the Series S lack this Blu-Ray compatibility, it actually doesn’t have a physical disk drive at all, relying entirely on cloud gaming.
The downside of this comes if you have a very poor or slow internet connection, as it may take you a while to download and get playing the games you want to play. It also means that if you have an extensive Blu-Ray collection the Xbox One S could make more sense to you.
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Both consoles have access to Xbox Cloud gaming, allowing you to download a vast collection of games. This library also allows the Xbox One S to access many next-gen releases, albeit at a lower quality than they can be played on the Xbox Series S or X.
Both consoles also feature crossplay, meaning that, if you want to play with friends on a Playtstaion or PC gaming set-up, this does not have to be a factor in your decision.
Xbox Series S vs Xbox One S – Value for money
Microsoft ceased production on the Xbox One in 2020, meaning that you are relying on refurbished and second-hand retailers to get your hands on one. While the Xbox Series S is still available brand new from Best Buy, it too is more commonly found refurbished.
Also despite the superior performance and more recent release of the Xbox Series S, we have found that it tends to go for the same kind of price as the Xbox One S, around $270-$300. That said you can find the One S much cheaper if you go fully second-hand, on sites like eBay. the downside of this is that you won’t be covered by a warranty on your purchase.
Overall if you are seeing the Xbox Series S and Xbox One S for the same price, there is no doubt that the Xbox Series S offers more value for money, thanks to its far superior gaming performance.
You can check the price of both below.
Xbox Series S
CPU
3.60 GHz, 8 cores
RAM
16GB
Storage
512 gigabytes
Storage Type
SSD
Frame Rate
120 FPS
Xbox One S (Renewed)
CPU
1.75 GHz Custom 8-core
RAM
8GB
Internal storage
1TB
Storage type
HDD
Frame rate
60 FPS
Which one should you go for
While there are merits to both consoles, there is a clear winner here and it is the Xbox Series S.
If you have an interest in gaming, it is worth going for the Xbox Series S. It is still a budget-friendly option, compared to the Xbox Series X and it means you will be able to play the latest exciting games being released, on up-to-date technology. This allows for shorter load times, superior graphics and faster frame rates. It is also future-proofed, meaning you can stay up to date with modern games for longer.
There a few reasons why the Xbox One S might make more sense for you, however.
If you’re looking for a nostalgic gaming experience, have a very bad internet connection or extensive Blu-Ray collection the Xbox One could be the device you should go for. For now, you can still play most of the newest releases as well as the classics, it can also be found for cheaper if you look hard enough.
Frequently asked questions
Is Warzone 2 on Xbox One S?
Yes, Warzone 2 can be played on the Xbox One S. What’s more, thanks to cross-platform play, you can enter lobbies with players on the next generation of consoles too.
Is Xbox One S slower than Xbox One?
No, the Xbox One S is a faster and more powerful version of the Xbox One.
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