The Xbox Series S vs Xbox One S discussion is worth considering if you’re looking for your next console, and although the Xbox One S is a bit older compared to the Series S, there’s a lot to think about in today’s digital world. So, if you’re exploring budget console offerings from Microsoft, it’s worth considering every option.
When comparing Xbox Series S vs Xbox One S, one console is much more powerful than the other. However, the other still highlights a few integrated features to make it worthwhile, including a much cheaper price. It’s worth knowing the ins and outs of each console before you buy to ensure you’re making the best decision.
However, the Xbox One S is a generation behind the Xbox Series S, which will limit your gaming experience due to the inability to play some of the best games on the Xbox Series X, but there are still several reasons why it might appear in your setup. The Series S gets high praise, but it can also be a little out of your budget.
We’ve narrowed down everything you need to know about the Xbox Series S vs. Xbox One S to make your job a whole lot easier, including the differences in specs, price, and overall performance. But, if you’re looking for something completely next-gen, it might be worth highlighting our guide on Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S.
Xbox Series S vs. Xbox One S.
Xbox Series S vs Xbox One S: Price and release date
The Xbox Series S and Xbox One S both tend to sell at identical price points. But since the Xbox One S is older, you’ll likely find it heavily discounted during sale periods as retailers try to get rid of old inventory. The Xbox Series S retails for $299 / £249 / AU$499 and is the cheapest new generation console available when stacked against its more powerful Xbox Series X counterpart.
The Xbox One S has been out for some time, debuting in 2016 alongside the Xbox One X. Its price has held steady at $299 / £249 / AU$499, but can often be found for much cheaper . However, since Microsoft ended production of Xbox One consoles back in 2020, the Xbox One S is no longer widely stocked other than at used retailers.
However, there is a possibility that Series S prices could go up. Between the Oculus Quest 2 and PS5 price hikes, console manufacturers have been raising prices recently, citing high inflation globally. Microsoft hasn’t mentioned either case if it will increase the price of its consoles, but it hasn’t ruled out the possibility.
Xbox Series S vs. Xbox One S: Specs
The price may be similar between Xbox Series S and Xbox One S, but the specifications of both consoles differ greatly. Overall, the Xbox Series S wins big, as you can see in the spec breakdown below. The one area where the Xbox One S excels is raw storage. When it launched, the Xbox One S was available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB varieties. However, these were solid state drives, so not quite as fast as the 512GB NVMe hard drive from the Xbox Series S.
- CPU: Eight cores 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT) Custom AMD 7nm
- GPU: 4 teraflops at 1,550 GHz
- RAM: 10 GB GDDR6
- frame rate: up to 120fps
- Precision: 1440p with 4K upscaling
- Visual: There is no drive
- storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD
The Xbox Series S may be small, but there’s a lot of power inside. The console targets 1440p resolution instead of native 4K (although some titles can be output in full 4K), and is capable of gaming at 120 frames per second. Although its GPU is much less powerful than the Xbox Series X, it features an almost identical CPU and 10GB of GDDR6 RAM. That’s down from the Xbox Series X’s 16GB, but it’s much more than the Xbox One S, which has only 8GB of GDDR3.
One important thing to note is that there is no disc drive on the Xbox Series S, and you’ll only have 512GB of storage to play with. Unlike the One S, though, it comes with a blazing-fast NVMe SSD instead of an agonizingly slow mechanical hard drive, and it can be expanded with a 1TB storage expansion card from Seagate. And while it’s an expensive add-on card, the Seagate card will give you peace of mind when it comes to storage. Additionally, it is discounted at many online retailers with surprising frequency.
The Xbox One S may look similar, but it’s technologically inferior to the Xbox Series S. It’s a great option if you want to play Xbox exclusives that you missed like Gears 5 or Forza Horizon 4, or simply want to give Xbox Game Pass a whirl, but if If you’re looking for a more future-proof console, you’ll want the Xbox Series S.
One way you can bridge this hardware gap is through Xbox Cloud Gaming, which is available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Providing a strong internet connection, this provides a way to play new generation exclusive games through your Xbox One, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, along with upcoming games like Starfield and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.
Here are the Xbox One S specs you need to know:
- CPU: Jaguar octa-core processor with a speed of 1.75 GHz
- GPU: 1.23 teraflops at 914MHz
- RAM: 8GB GDDR3
- frame rate: up to 60fps
- Precision: 1080p
- Visual: High definition 4K Blu-Ray drive
- storage: Hard disk 1 terabyte
The Xbox One S has only one real advantage over Microsoft’s newer model: the 4K HD Blu-Ray drive. If you’re looking for a cheap 4K Blu-Ray player that also allows you to stream Netflix and play games, the One S is a great option.
You can prove that the Xbox One S has more storage than the Xbox Series S, but the One S still uses a hard drive instead of an SSD. This means that it has more capacity at the expense of speed. In every other department, the Xbox Series S comprehensively outperforms the Xbox One S in terms of technical power and cutting-edge design.
The Xbox One S is a great entry-level system. It’s small, quiet and affordable. Yes, it will not be able to offer the highest quality games, but if that is not a concern, then the purchase is still worth it. With a similar price point to the Series S right now, we’d recommend picking up Microsoft’s latest next-gen console if you have the option.
Xbox Series S vs Xbox One S: Games
Even if you don’t pick up the Xbox Series S, you’ll be able to play almost every new game on Microsoft’s older console. Now, anyway. It won’t run as well or look quite as good, but you won’t have to upgrade to experience the major titles coming to Xbox Series X/S. However, between Fable, Starfield, Redfall, Perfect Dark, and Avowed, there’s a growing list of new generation exclusives coming.
The Xbox One S is the console to choose if the idea of downloading a game makes your head spin, though it’s the only console of the two that has a disc drive. You can expect most games to target 30 to 60fps on the Xbox One S and 60 to 120fps on the Xbox Series X. Xbox One S games are also likely to target 900p to 1080p resolution, while the Xbox Series S will target Output 1080p to 1440p, which can be upgraded to 4K.
One area where the Xbox Series S benefits greatly is in terms of load times. With an ultra-fast SSD, games will load faster on the Xbox One S, so if you hate waiting for your games to start, or simply want to upgrade your existing experience, the Series S is the way to go.
It’s guaranteed that future games will eventually leave the Xbox One S behind, and we’re already seeing next-gen exclusives, like Microsoft Flight Simulator and The Medium. Developers will increasingly rely on the power of the newer system as the years go by, and the install base of new Xbox consoles grows.
Xbox Series S vs. Xbox One S: The Verdict
With comparable price points and similarly stylish designs, the Xbox Series S and Xbox One S could easily be mistaken at a glance. Dip a little deeper, however, and the power gap between Microsoft’s two cheap consoles becomes quite apparent.
The Xbox One S is quickly becoming an outdated system, unable to provide next-gen bells and whistles like ray tracing and fast load times. Still, it’s a tempting value proposition, especially if you can find any good Xbox One S Deals..
However, the Xbox Series S is the console of choice for those looking to experience the next generation of gaming at a great price. It’s digital only, of course, so you’ll be at the mercy of your internet connection when it comes to downloading games. If that’s an issue, the Xbox Series X might be the next best option.
Is Xbox One S or Xbox Series S better?
Between the two, the Xbox Series S undoubtedly comes out on top. It beats its last-gen counterpart with improved specs like 1440p output, 120Hz support, and a lightning-fast 512GB NVMe SSD.
You don’t need to be split between the two either. We only recommend buying the Xbox One S if you find it at a particularly good discount, and you’re not too concerned about game performance. But since the Xbox Series S is still relatively affordable, and appears in online sales frequently, definitely keep Microsoft’s current device on your radar.
Is the Xbox One S still worth it in 2022?
Unless you’re on a very strict budget, it’s hard to recommend the Xbox One S in 2022 when you can buy the Xbox Series S for a relatively affordable price. You may be able to find pre-owned Xbox One S for cheap. But since Microsoft discontinued the last generation of the console two years ago, the Xbox Series S is easy to find and much better available.