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Door staff@engadget.com (Deven McClure) - 11 Oct 2026
If you're set on getting an Xbox console, which Series is right for you depends on your gaming style. If you aren't someone who has a collection of physical games, or largely plan to play via Game Pass, the Series S's lack of disc drive probably won't bother you. If you prefer to take advantage of disc-based game sales or just hold a game in your hands, the Series X is the way to go.
The Series S is the more compact choice, not just from the space saved by skipping physical games, but because it's about 60 percent smaller than a Series X. It's much easier to slot a Series S into an entertainment center than its larger sibling.
Game resolution and performance will be lower with a Series S, but depending on the games you play and your tolerances, it might not be a big enough difference to matter. If you don't need to see 4K resolution all the time (the S does support 4K upscaling, just not 4K natively), or play many games that aren't graphically intensive, the Series S might be good enough, especially since it can achieve 120 fps in compatible titles. However, if you're a performance purist who wants the very best, you'll want the Series X.
Alternatively, it's worth waiting until Microsoft's Project Helix family of devices comes out if you'd rather not get a console so many years into its lifecycle. These will almost certainly be more expensive than a Series X or S, and we don't know how big the technical advancements will be between this generation and the next. Microsoft plans to start sending alpha Project Helix hardware to developers in 2027, which likely means at least another year after that before we see the final product released. But if you're willing to be patient, consider saving your money for cutting-edge technology.
The Series S is the more compact choice, not just from the space saved by skipping physical games, but because it's about 60 percent smaller than a Series X. It's much easier to slot a Series S into an entertainment center than its larger sibling.
Game resolution and performance will be lower with a Series S, but depending on the games you play and your tolerances, it might not be a big enough difference to matter. If you don't need to see 4K resolution all the time (the S does support 4K upscaling, just not 4K natively), or play many games that aren't graphically intensive, the Series S might be good enough, especially since it can achieve 120 fps in compatible titles. However, if you're a performance purist who wants the very best, you'll want the Series X.
Alternatively, it's worth waiting until Microsoft's Project Helix family of devices comes out if you'd rather not get a console so many years into its lifecycle. These will almost certainly be more expensive than a Series X or S, and we don't know how big the technical advancements will be between this generation and the next. Microsoft plans to start sending alpha Project Helix hardware to developers in 2027, which likely means at least another year after that before we see the final product released. But if you're willing to be patient, consider saving your money for cutting-edge technology.