Is the Xbox Series S worth it in 2022?

Date:
Sun, 13 Feb 2022 13:00:46 +0000

Description:
In a generation dominated by powerhouses like the PS5 and the Xbox Series X, does the relatively modest Xbox Series S still have a place on the market?

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Were well over a year into the ninth generation of consoles at this point,
but is the Xbox Series S worth it in 2022?

Todays consumers arguably have more choice than ever before when it comes to picking a gaming system these days. The PS5 and Xbox Series X demonstrate the power of 4K gaming 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 theres the relatively humble Xbox Series S, which can be summarized as a halfway house between the power of last gens Xbox One X , and some of the higher-end features of todays consoles, including a lightning-fast SSD, 120Hz support and access to Xbox Series X/S enhanced titles.

But if youre out shopping for a brand new console, its potentially quite easy to dismiss the Xbox Series S as merely an entry-level system the Master System to the Mega Drive / Genesis, if you will. But that really couldnt be further from the truth. Yes, the Xbox Series S costs considerably less than a PS5, Xbox Series X, and even the Nintendo Switch OLED , but its nonetheless a powerful and capable console that fully embraces a bang-for-your-buck philosophy.

So what are the pros and cons of the Xbox Series S? Why is it a worthwhile alternative to its more powerful sibling? And does it even matter that the console lacks a disc drive? All this and more will be answered below, so keep reading to see if the Xbox Series S is worth it today and if its the right console choice for you. Xbox Series S is available now

If the Xbox Series S is indeed still worth it in 2022, then, an important factor to consider is if you can even actually buy one. With the ongoing chip shortages greatly diminishing PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC graphics card availability, how does the Xbox Series S fare in being a console you can feasibly buy?

Thankfully, youve got a much better chance at buying an Xbox Series S as opposed to its more expensive alternatives. Across many major retailers, the Xbox Series S is in stock far more regularly, making it by far the easiest current-gen console to actually get your hands on. Wed even argue its easier to find in the US than the Nintendo Switch OLED, currently.

If youre tired of chasing stock updates for the Xbox Series X, then, buying a Series S instead isnt so much as cutting your losses as it is getting access to all of Xboxs bells and whistles at the tradeoff of having slightly lower specs. Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X: a quick comparison (Image credit: Xbox)

When looking at the Xbox Series S, arguably the first thing thatll jump out
is its relatively low price tag. At $299 / 249, its by far the most
affordable current-gen machine on the market - much cheaper than the Xbox Series X, PS5, and the PS5 Digital Edition.

That should be no surprise, though, at least upon initial inspection. After all, while the Series S boasts some pretty impressive specs, it isnt quite as powerful as the Series X. But not drastically so, at least not in terms of
the overall gaming experience it provides. Yes, the Series X boasts a processor capable of 12 teraflops as opposed to the Series Ss 4 teraflops,
and the X is capable of running games at a crisp 4K resolution, while Series
S tends to output at 1080p or 1440p (some titles can hit 4K like Ori and the Will of the Wisps, but it's an outlier).

The Series Ss SSD is also substantially smaller at 512GB, compared to the 1TB SSD found in the Series X. Thats arguably the biggest downside to owning a Series S, especially when you factor in that the console is digital-only - no disc drive means physical copies cant be played on Series S, though even physical games require you to install the data onto a hard drive nowadays.

However, both consoles share more similar features than you might think. Both can output at a 120Hz refresh rate and feature an auto low-latency mode that minimizes wireless controller input lag.

Additionally, both boast support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision for truly immersive sound and HDR picture quality. Variable refresh rate is also supported by both systems, meaning that moment-to-moment gameplay remains smooth on compatible smart TVs, and 1440p resolution is also an option.
(Image credit: Microsoft Game Studios)

Xbox Series S also includes many of the same quality-of-life features as its more powerful sibling. Smart Delivery is an excellent feature that, with applicable games, automatically detects the console youre playing on, and downloads the most optimal version of that game to your system. No need to specifically choose a version that might be suboptimal for your console.

Xbox Series S owners can enjoy the same library of backward compatible titles from across all Xbox generations, too, some of which are even available on Xbox Game Pass . And speaking of older generations, if you have old Xbox One accessories like controllers or headsets, theyll still work on the Xbox
Series S.

One other aspect to consider is its size, and thats an area where the Xbox Series S actually has an advantage over its larger sibling. The Xbox Series S is Microsofts smallest console to date, so much so that its relatively easy
to move around the house, or to take with you on a trip . And if space is an issue, or you want something more discrete in your home cinema setup, the
Xbox Series S is a great option for that.

The Xbox Series S might not have a premium price tag, then, but that doesnt mean it isnt a prize contender. Not only is it powerful enough to become your main console of choice, but its also a fantastic secondary console to have if you already get plenty of gaming on PS5, Switch, or PC. Its also
fundamentally at a next-gen console, as proven by the fact it can run The Matrix Awakens: Unreal Engine 5 Experience . A Game Pass powerhouse (Image credit: Microsoft)

If theres any reason to opt for an Xbox Series S over other consoles, though, it would be to access the fantastic Xbox Game Pass subscription service at a lower cost of entry. While the base Xbox Game Pass subscription will cost you a monthly fee of $9.99 / 7.99, this regularly updated catalog of games can be downloaded and played with no limits.

The Xbox Series S has a reputation as being a Game Pass machine, then. As the console has no optical disc drive, you instead need to rely on digital purchases to get your gaming fix. But thanks to a service like Xbox Game
Pass, loads of titles are immediately available to play at the cost of one monthly sub.

Of course, such a vast collection of games will soon fill up that 512GB SSD, so if you are planning on buying an Xbox Series S, wed also recommend investing in an additional external SSD like the official Seagate Xbox
Storage Expansion Card , which adds roughly 1TB more to your consoles
storage. These days, the card can be bought for much less than its original eye-watering retail price, so its well worth looking into if youre looking to download plenty of games with Xbox Game Pass. Is the Xbox Series S worth it?

The Xbox Series S is absolutely still worth buying in 2022. Microsofts wallet-friendly console boasts many of the same quality features as the
Series X, is much easier to actually buy in the first place, and is arguably the easiest entry point to accessing the incredible Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription services.

But it is worth noting that the Series S isnt without its drawbacks. As mentioned earlier, the relatively small amount of storage on the SSD is lamentable, especially considering the Series S is a digital-only machine. Thats 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 are only slight drawbacks at best.

So if youre in the market for a new console, and either cant afford an Xbox Series X or are simply tired of waiting for stock to appear, dont count out the Xbox Series S. Not only will you save yourself a lot of money and time, youll end up owning one of Microsofts best consoles to date. Best Xbox Game Pass games: 30 games you absolutely need to play



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/is-the-xbox-series-s-worth-it-in-2022/


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