| “ | Next-gen performance in the smallest Xbox ever | ” |
The Xbox Series S is a digital-only video game console that was released on November 10, 2020, simultaneously with the Xbox Series X[1]. After almost a year of rumors and leaks, the console was officially announced on September 7, 2020, with pre-orders starting on September 22, 2020[2] [3].
The Xbox Series S was initially released in a 512GB Robot White model for $299 or $25 a month with Xbox All Access[4]. On June 11, 2023, a 1TB Carbon Black variant of the console was announced during 2023 Xbox Games Showcase, with a starting price of $349 and a release date of September 1, 2023.[5]
The Xbox Series S includes slightly lower specifications when compared to the Xbox Series X. Games target a 1440p resolution at 60 FPS, with some games supporting up to 120fps.
The Xbox Series S is the second Xbox console to be digital-only, with the first being the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. This means that the console is not capable of playing any physical media, with games only being available to download digitally.
Design[]
The Xbox Series S has a slightly similar design to that of the Xbox One S .The console is almost 60% smaller than the Xbox Series X[6]. A large black cooling fan is positioned on the side of the console (when placed vertically).
The face of the console has only the power on button, the controller sync button and one USB port.
Not long after the design of the console was shown, various memes began circulating across the internet, comparing the console's design to various electrical appliances just like what happened with the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 after their designs were unveiled[7].
| “ | Didn’t know if we should Say Anything but FYI the S doesn’t stand for Speaker. | ” |
—@Xbox on Twitter | ||
Many people began to notice the that the large black cooling fan made the console resemble a sound speaker. Xbox joined in on the fun by clarifying that the S in Xbox Series S does not stand for speaker.[8]
Key features[]
Prior to the consoles official unveiling, a 90 second video for the console was leaked on Twitter, revealing much more information on the console than what was initially revealed[9]. The leaked video was officially released on the Xbox YouTube channel the following day, revealing details such as the specs and storage available on the console. Key features can be found below.
- All Digital
- 60% smaller than Xbox Series X
- 1440p at up to 120fps
- DirectX Ray Tracing
- Variable Rate Shading
- Variable Refresh Rate
- Ultra-Low Latency
- Custom 512GB SSD
- 4K Streaming Media Playback
- 4K Upscaling for Games
Specifications[]
Full specifications were officially unveiled for the Xbox Series S on September 9, 2020, two days after the console was officially unveiled[10]. A deeper dive into the consoles hardware and other specifications were shown in an eight minute video on YouTube which can be found in the gallery below.
| CPU | 8-Core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.6GHz
3.4GHz w/ SMT Enabled |
| GPU | AMD RDNA 2 GPU 20 CUs @ 1.565GHz |
| GPU Power | 4 TFLOPS |
| System on a Chip (SoC) | Custom 7nm Enhanced SoC |
| RAM | 10GB GDDR6 RAM 8GB @ 224GB/s |
| Performance Target | 1440p @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe Gen 4 NVME SSD
2.4GB/sec uncompressed 4.8GB/sec compressed |
| Expandable Storage | 1 TB Expansion Card(matches internal storage exactly) |
| Disc Drive | Digital Only |
| Display Out | HDMI 2.1 |
Trivia[]
- The Xbox Series S is the smallest Xbox ever.
- Like the Xbox One S, Xbox One X and Xbox Series X, the Series S also contains a small Master Chief icon inside the console.
- The Xbox Series S is the second all digital Xbox console, with the first being the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition.
- TIME Magazine voted and acknowledged the Xbox Series S as one of the Best Inventions of 2020[11].
Videos[]
Gallery[]
See also[]
Reference list[]
- ↑ Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S release date and price finally revealed. windowscentral.com. Retrieved 09-08-2020
- ↑ Xbox Series X And S Preorder Info: Where To Preorder, Price, And More. gamespot.com. Retrieved 09-12-2020
- ↑ Microsoft confirms $299 Xbox Series S console. theverge.com. Retrieved 09-08-2020
- ↑ Everything We Know About Xbox All Access For Xbox Series X And S. gamespot.com. Retrieved 09-08-2020
- ↑ Back in Black, Xbox Series S is Now Available with a 1TB SSD. news.xbox.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023
- ↑ Xbox Series S trailer leaks: 60% smaller than Series X, 512GB SSD, 1440p. mspoweruser.com. Retrieved 09-08-2020
- ↑ The Xbox Series S memes are here. eurogamer.net. Retrieved 09-08-2020
- ↑ Didn’t know if we should Say Anything but FYI the S doesn’t stand for Speaker. @Xbox on Twitter. Retrieved 09-08-2020
- ↑ Microsoft Announces Xbox Series S At $299: Leaked Trailer Reveals Specs. tomshardware.com. Retrieved 09-08-2020
- ↑ Introducing Xbox Series S, Delivering Next-Gen Performance in Our Smallest Xbox Ever, Available November 10 at $299. news.xbox.com. Retrieved 09-10-2020
- ↑ THE BEST INVENTIONS OF 2020 - A Big Upgrade For Gamers. time.com. Retrieved 02-01-22
| Xbox Gen 9 | |
| Consoles | Xbox Series X (Bundles) (Variants) • Xbox Series S (Bundles) (Variants) • Brooklin • Ellewood |
|---|---|
| Accessories | Xbox Wireless Controller (Variants) • Sebile • Seagate Storage Expansion Card • Console Wraps • Xbox Play & Charge Kit • Xbox Series X Launch Team controller |
| Games | All Games • Optimized for Series X • Available on Game Pass |
| Features | Quick Resume • Smart Delivery • Dynamic Latency Input • Xbox Velocity Architecture • FPS Boost • Dynamic Backgrounds |
| Software | New Xbox Experience (2020) |
| Services | Xbox Live • Xbox Live Gold • Xbox Game Pass • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate • Xbox All Access |
| Events | Xbox 20/20 • Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2021 • Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022 |
| Refrigerators | Xbox Series X Fridge • Xbox Mini Fridge • ZOA Xbox Series X Mini Fridge |
| Consoles and other devices | |
| Development kits | Xbox Alpha Tower I • Xbox Alpha Tower II • Xbox Development Kit • Xbox 360 Development Kit • Xbox One Development Kit |
|---|---|
| Sixth generation | Xbox • Bundles |
| Seventh generation | Xbox 360 • Xbox 360 S • Xbox 360 E • Bundles |
| Eighth generation | Xbox One • Xbox One S • Xbox One X • Xbox One S All-Digital Edition • Bundles |
| Ninth generation | Xbox Series X • Xbox Series S • Brooklin • Ellewood |
| Cancelled | Xbox Prototype • Unreleased Limited Edition Halo Xbox • Xbox Watch |