Microsoft Xbox Series S 1TB (2020)

Major performance upgrade on Xbox One S ; Small and stylish design ; Next-gen SSD reduce loading times dramatically ; Incredible value considering the specs

500GB storage is far too small ; Lacks a disk drive ; No support for Wi-Fi 6

The Xbox Series S is the best next-gen console for anyone on a budget or without a high-end 4K TV, with the added performance power allowing for significantly better graphics than what’s possible with an Xbox One S. The stingy 364GB storage capacity is...

Stylish, compact design ; Very affordable price point ; Works great with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ; Can still play games at 1440p and up to 120fps ; Storage can be easily expanded ; Designed to play next-gen games

Digital only, no disc drive ; Only 364GB for games and apps out of the box ; Extra storage space doesn't come cheap ; Limited backwards compatibility

In many ways I am more enamoured with the Xbox Series S than its flagship bigger brother. It's stylish, affordable, easy to setup and taps into the very slick Xbox ecosystem seamlessly. It also works with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate absolutely brilliantly,...

Attractively priced ; Solid AV and gaming performance ; Responsive controls

Over-complicated AV set-up ; Doesn’t support native 4K gaming ; Small hard drive

The Xbox Series S isn’t perfect and won’t be for everyone, but it delivers a near next-gen gaming experience for a reasonable price

Small and affordable ; Can play all the same games as the Xbox Series X ; Blazing fast load times, thanks to SSD ; Strong backward compatibility, including accessories

Not as powerful as the Xbox Series X ; Half the storage space as the Xbox Series X ; No optical drive

A scaled-back version of the Series X, Microsoft's Xbox Series S carries a compelling $299 price, but it makes too many compromises to hit that wallet-friendly number.

Neat and small enough to hide away ; Offers ray-tracing and faster loading times ; Great value when coupled with Game Pass ; Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for media and gaming

512GB internal SSD storage is measly ; Maximum of 1440p output for gaming

The smallest and cheapest current-gen console on the market is also the most truncated - in resolution, a few features and, most notably, storage size. However, it's also an accessible option for those who aren't hardcore but still want a very capable...

Super affordable ; Compact, stylish chassis ; Blistering-fast load speeds ; Great performance

Lacks future 8K support ; Less power and storage than Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series S offers 4K gaming and lightning-fast load times in a small, compact chassis, but you miss out on some features in the name of affordability.

An affordable but legitimate next-gen upgrade ; Lightning fast performance ; Xbox Game Pass represents one hell of a deal

A lack of true next-gen launch titles ; 512GB SSD won’t go the distance ; Compromised visuals

The Xbox Series S delivers affordability without compromising too much on features, and with Game Pass it’s the best deal in gaming

Least expensive new Xbox since the Xbox 360 ; Easy app-based setup ; Wide-ranging ecosystem, from cloud gaming to Game Pass ; Media can stream at 4K

Game resolution tops out at 1440p ; Loses the optical audio output ; User interface remains cluttered

— Great value, convenient design, and a significant performance upgrade

What we didn’t like — Too little storage space

If you want to play next-gen games right away but your budget won’t any stretch further, then the Xbox Series S is a fantastic option. The catches are that you can’t play on full 4K resolution, and more importantly, your hard drive space is limited....