Is Xbox Series S A “Next-Gen” Console

When Microsoft officially announced the budget-friendly Xbox Series S, one thing fans immediately noticed, other than small size of the console, was the amount of storage it has. While the $299 price tag looked appealing, the Xbox Series S only has a 512GB hard drive with 364GB of usable space compared to the Xbox Series X’s 1T hard drive and 802GB of useable space. Players can purchase a 1T expansion card for $219.99, but the price of the expansion card and the Series S would then exceed the price of the Xbox Series X, making it more of an investment than just outright buying the Xbox Series X. However, despite the Xbox Series S being the little brother of the Xbox Series X, the tiny console shouldn’t be completely ignored. The Series S still has technical capabilities that make it a next-gen console just like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

Despite the Xbox Series S’ lack of native 4K resolution opposed to the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, there is something the Series S does support that not even the PS5 has. The PS5 does not support 1440p resolution, but the Series S does. 1440p resolution is seen as a sweet spot between 1080p and 4K resolution. The Xbox Series S is built to target 1440p while having the ability to upscale to 4K. One downside of the Series S’ native 1440p resolution, however, is that optimized games may run at a lower framerate when compared to the Xbox Series X or PS5.

While there are differences between the Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft lists several things that the two consoles share. These shared qualities include being made with the same Xbox Velocity Architecture technology, and features such as quick resume, ray tracing, variable rate shading, spatial sound, smart delivery, and gaming at up to 120FPS. Both consoles are also able to play games from every previous generation console, including the original Xbox, both have access to Xbox Game Pass, and both can use Xbox One controllers and accessories. In comparison, the PS5 doesn’t allow players to play with PS4 DualShock controllers.

Why Xbox Series S Is So Much Cheaper

It is reasonable for players to question if the Xbox Series S is really a “next-gen” console or not, given the console’s limitations, price, and lack of storage. The PS4 and Xbox One both originally come with 500GB hard drives, which is only 12GB less than the Xbox Series S. For players who care about storage and maximum performance, the Xbox Series S doesn’t necessarily deliver. However, players who may not care that much about graphics could see better value in the Series S. Players who prefer digital downloads over physical disks may also value the Xbox Series S more, since the Xbox Series S doesn’t have a disk drive.

Microsoft does combat the limited storage of the Xbox Series S by having smaller game files for the Series S compared to the Xbox Series X. While this may not erase the limitations within storage, it does allow players to download more games. The addition of optimized games available on Xbox Game Pass may also enhance the overall gaming experience.

The Xbox Series S may be compact, but it packs a punch that the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 aren’t capable of. Players can still enjoy big next-gen features like speedy load times, ray tracing, and quick resume without breaking the bank. The Xbox Series S feels like a taste of what the next generation of consoles are capable of. Avid console gamers who seek peak performance on the best graphics imaginable are likely to get the Xbox Series X to get the full next-gen experience, whereas more casual players who want a taste of next-gen may be more enticed by the Xbox Series S. No matter what console a player chooses, they should be like Nintendo and celebrate the beginning of a new era.

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