Xbox One S Review: A Cheap 4K Blu-ray Player That Plays Games
7/10 — Microsoft Xbox One S
Pros
- Much smaller and neater than the original Xbox One
- 4K Blu-ray drive and 4K streaming
- HDR support for games and video
- Very cheap second-hand
Cons
- Games are upscaled, not native 4K
- Slow hard drive and dated performance
- All-Digital Edition lacks the disc drive
- No longer supported by new releases
The Xbox One S, launched in August 2016, fixed the biggest complaints about the original Xbox One. It was smaller, it had an internal power supply, and it added 4K Blu-ray playback and HDR. It didn’t add any real gaming power, but it turned Microsoft’s console into a much more appealing box to have under the TV.
Design
The One S is around 40% smaller than the original Xbox One and swaps the old glossy, VCR-like look for a clean white finish. The external power brick is gone, and it can stand vertically (with a stand). It’s a much neater, more living-room-friendly console. The bundled controller also gained Bluetooth, so it works with PCs and phones.
Performance
Gaming performance is essentially the same as the original Xbox One, with a small boost in some games. Games run at up to 1080p and are upscaled to 4K on a 4K TV. HDR support makes a nice difference in games that support it. Like all Xbox One models, it uses a mechanical hard drive, so load times are slow by modern standards.
Media
The One S’s 4K Blu-ray drive was its big selling point and remains so. At second-hand prices, it’s one of the cheapest ways to get a 4K Blu-ray player, and it also handles 4K HDR streaming from the major apps. Note that the 2019 All-Digital Edition has no disc drive, so avoid that one if you want to play discs.
Buying one today
Xbox One S consoles are plentiful and cheap second-hand. That makes it a fine choice for a child’s bedroom, a spare TV or anyone who wants to play the Xbox One back catalogue on a budget. But it can’t play newer Series X|S-only games, and online features and new releases are increasingly leaving the Xbox One generation behind.
Verdict
The Xbox One S was the version of the Xbox One that should have launched in the first place. Today it’s a cheap, tidy way to play a large library of older games, and a bargain 4K Blu-ray player too. Just keep your expectations of its gaming power modest.
