Xbox Series S Review: Small, Smart and No Longer a Bargain
7/10 — Xbox Series S
Pros
- Remarkably compact and quiet
- Fast SSD loading and Quick Resume
- Same CPU as the Series X, so games play the same
- Ideal partner for Game Pass
Cons
- 2026 price rise has wiped out its budget appeal
- Only around 364GB usable on the 512GB model
- No disc drive, so no pre-owned games
- Targets 1080p–1440p, not native 4K
The Xbox Series S was built to be the cheap way into the current generation: the same games as the Series X, at a lower resolution and a much lower price. For most of its life, that pitch worked brilliantly. In 2026 it’s less clear cut. After Microsoft’s August price rise, the 512GB model costs £429.99 (US$499.99) and the 1TB model £519.99 (US$599.99). That’s the same price as a digital PS5.
Design
This is the Series S’s best feature. It’s a small, white box, roughly 60% the size of the Series X, and it fits almost anywhere: under a TV, in a bedroom, or in a bag for a weekend away. It runs cool and very quiet, and the big black vent on the side is the only thing that gives away its gaming credentials.
Performance
Under the hood, the Series S shares the Series X’s eight-core Zen 2 CPU but pairs it with a much smaller 4-teraflop GPU and 10GB of memory. In practice, games typically run at somewhere between 1080p and 1440p, often at 60fps and sometimes 120fps, and then upscale to a 4K TV. On a 1080p screen, the difference from a Series X is small. On a big 4K TV, it’s noticeable, with softer images and fewer graphical bells and whistles in demanding games.
Because the CPU is so close to the Series X’s, game logic, frame rates and loading feel similar, and the NVMe SSD makes Quick Resume just as good here as on its big brother.
Storage
The weak spot. The 512GB model leaves only about 364GB for games, which might mean as few as three or four big modern releases. The 1TB model is much easier to live with, but costs £90 more. Expansion cards are expensive, and USB drives only run older Xbox One and Xbox 360 titles.
No disc drive
There’s no disc slot, so everything is digital. That means no pre-owned games, no borrowing from friends, and no 4K Blu-ray films. If you rely on Game Pass, that’s no great loss. If you like to buy games cheaply second-hand, it’s a real cost over the life of the console.
Verdict
The Xbox Series S is still a clever, likeable console: small, quiet and perfectly matched to Game Pass. It’s a great choice for a bedroom TV, a second console or a player who mostly plays on a 1080p screen. But at 2026 prices, it’s no longer the obvious budget bargain it once was, and if you can stretch to a console with a disc drive and native 4K, it’s worth weighing up the alternatives first. If you do buy one, get the 1TB model.
