We’re well over a year into the ninth generation of consoles right now, but it’s the Xbox Series S is it worth it in 2022?
Today’s consumers have more choices than ever before when it comes to choosing a gaming system these days. THE PS5 and Xbox Series X demonstrate the power of 4K games to a monumentally impressive degree, while the Nintendo Switch continues to do its own thing with semi-regular, high-quality first and third-party exclusives.
Then there’s the relatively humble Xbox Series S, which can be summed up as an intermediate house between the power of the last generation Xbox One Xand some of the most advanced features on today’s consoles, including an ultra-fast SSD, 120Hz support and access to enhanced Xbox Series X/S titles.
But if you’re buying a new console, it’s potentially all too easy to dismiss the Xbox Series S as just an entry-level system – the Master System for the Mega Drive/Genesis, if you will. But that really couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, the Xbox Series S costs considerably less than a PS5, Xbox Series X, and even the Nintendo Switch OLEDbut it’s still a powerful and capable console that fully embraces a cost-effective philosophy.
So what are the pros and cons of the Xbox Series S? Why is it a valid alternative for its more powerful brother? And does it even matter if the console doesn’t have a disk drive? All of this and more will be answered below, so read on to see if the Xbox Series S is worth it today and if it’s the right console choice for you.
Xbox Series S is now available
If the Xbox Series S is still worth it in 2022, an important factor to consider is whether you can afford one. Like ongoing chip shortage greatly diminishing the PS5, Xbox Series X and video card for pc availability, how does the Xbox Series S fare as a console you can feasibly buy?
Fortunately, you have a much better chance of buying an Xbox Series S as opposed to the more expensive alternatives. At many major retailers, the Xbox Series S is in stock much more regularly, making it by far the easiest current-gen console to get your hands on. We’d even argue that it’s easier to find in the US than the Nintendo Switch OLED, these days.
If you’re tired of chasing stock upgrades for the Xbox Series X, then buying a Series S isn’t so much about cutting your losses as you’re getting access to all the Xbox bells and whistles in exchange for having a little lower specs.
Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X: A quick comparison
When looking at the Xbox Series S, without a doubt, the first thing that stands out is its relatively low price. At $299/£249 it’s by far the most affordable current-gen machine on the market – far cheaper than the Xbox Series X, PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition.
This should come as no surprise, however, at least after the initial inspection. After all, while the Series S has some pretty impressive specs, it’s not quite as powerful as the Series X. But not drastically, at least not in terms of the overall gaming experience it offers. Yes, the X Series has a processor capable of 12 teraflops as opposed to the S Series’ 4 teraflops, and the X is capable of running games in crisp 4K resolution, while the S Series tends to output at 1080p or 1440p (some titles may reach 4K like Ori and the Will of the Wisps, but it’s an outlier).
The S-Series SSD is also substantially smaller at 512GB compared to the 1TB SSD found in the X-Series. This is arguably the biggest downside to owning an S-Series, especially when you consider that the console is digital only – no drive. disk means physical copies cannot be played on the S Series, although even physical games require you to install the data on a hard drive these days.
However, both consoles share more similar features than you might think. Both can output a 120Hz refresh rate and feature a low latency auto mode that minimizes wireless controller input lag.
In addition, both have support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision for truly immersive sound and HDR picture quality. Variable refresh rate is also supported by both systems, which means moment-to-moment gameplay remains smooth on compatible smart TVs and 1440p resolution is also an option.
The Xbox Series S also includes many of the same quality-of-life features as its more powerful sibling. smart delivery is a great feature that, with applicable games, automatically detects the console you are playing on and downloads the most optimized version of that game to your system. There is no need to specifically choose a version that may be lower than your console.
Xbox Series S owners can enjoy the same library of backward compatible titles from all Xbox generations as well, some of which are available on Xbox Game Pass. And speaking of older generations, if you have old Xbox One accessories like controllers or headphones, they will still work on the Xbox Series S.
Another aspect to consider is its size, and this is one area where the Xbox Series S really has an edge over its bigger sibling. The Xbox Series S is Microsoft’s smallest console to date, so much so that it’s relatively easy to move around the house or take with you on a trip. And if space is an issue, or if you want something more discreet in your home theater setup, the Xbox Series S is a great choice for that.
The Xbox Series S may not have a premium price, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a premium contender. Not only is it powerful enough to become your primary console of choice, but it’s also a fantastic secondary console for if you already have a lot of games on your PS5, Switch, or PC. It’s also fundamentally on a next-gen console, as evidenced by the fact that it can run The Matrix Awakens: Unreal Engine 5 Experience.
A powerhouse of Game Pass
If there is any reason to opt for an Xbox Series S on other consoles, it would be to access the fantastic Xbox Game Pass subscription service at a lower cost of entry. While the basic Xbox Game Pass subscription costs a monthly fee of $9.99 / £7.99, this regularly updated catalog of games can be downloaded and played without limits.
The Xbox Series S has a reputation for being a Game Pass machine. As the console has no optical disc drive, you have to rely on digital purchases to get your game fix. But thanks to a service like Xbox Game Pass, many titles are immediately available to play at the cost of a monthly subscription.
Of course, such a vast collection of games will soon fill this 512GB SSD; so if you are planning to buy an Xbox Series S, we also recommend investing in an additional external SSD like the official one. Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card, which adds approximately 1 TB more to your console’s storage. The card can currently be purchased for much less than its original retail price, so it’s worth looking into if you want to download a lot of games with Xbox Game Pass.
Is the Xbox Series S worth it?
The Xbox Series S is still worth buying in 2022. Microsoft’s user-friendly console has many of the same quality features as the Series X, is much easier to buy in the first place, and is arguably the easiest entry point to access. the awesome Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription services.
But it’s worth noting that the S Series has its downsides. As mentioned earlier, the relatively small amount of storage on the SSD is unfortunate, especially considering the S-Series is a digital-only machine. That’s really the biggest issue with the console in our minds, with the less powerful processor (compared to the Series X) and 1440p resolution target for gaming being just minor drawbacks at best.
So if you’re in the market for a new console and can’t afford an Xbox Series X or are simply tired of waiting for stock to appear, don’t count the Xbox Series S. Lots of money and time, you’ll end up owning one of Microsoft’s best consoles until today.
