Xbox Series S specs: how powerful is Microsofts pint-sized console?

Date:
Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:43:43 +0000

Description:
The Xbox Series S is Microsofts more affordable console this generation, but its specs arent as weak as its price suggests.

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A look at the Xbox Series S specs might initially give the impression that
its not worth buying when compared to other consoles available this generation, such as its more powerful sibling, the Xbox Series X , as well as its competition in the form of the PS5 . However, when you consider the relatively lower price of the console, the Xbox Series Ss specs are a welcome surprise.

Weve previously considered whether or not the Xbox Series S is still worth buying in 2022 where we briefly touched on the consoles specs and how they stack up against other systems. Now, well go into a more comprehensive breakdown of the ins and outs of the pint-sized machine to help you
understand if its specs line up with what youre looking for.

Alongside the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S is one of the newest Xbox consoles you can buy, and as a result, its packing some seriously impressive specs that, while not quite as potent as its premium counterpart, is a good step above the Xbox One X and far outpaces the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch . The Xbox Series S could be viewed as a halfway house of sorts, then, featuring slightly pared down specs for its lower price. Xbox Series S specs at a glance CPU: AMD Custom Zen 2 CPU, 8x Cores @ 3.6GHz GPU: AMD Custom RDNA 2 GPU, 4 teraflops Memory: 10GB GDDR6 128 bit-wide bus Storage: 512GB Custom NVMe SSD Resolution: Up to 1440p Performance: Up to 120fps HDMI: HDMI 2.1 supported HDMI features: auto low-latency mode, VRR, AMD FreeSync Audio:
L-PCM 7.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Atmos Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x USB 3.1 Gen 1, Ethernet, Wireless 802.11ac dual band Dimensions: 6.5cm x 15.1cm x 27.5 cm Weight: 4.25 lbs (1.93kg) Xbox Series S CPU (Image credit: Microsoft)

The Xbox Series S features a custom version of AMDs Zen 2 CPU. The custom Zen 2 8-core CPU boasts a clock speed of 3.6GHz, and is comparable to CPUs in
AMDs Ryzen 3000 series, such as the Ryzen 7 3800X 8-core CPU . Thats a slight step down from the Xbox Series Xs 3.8GHz clock speed, which can result in slightly lower frame rates in comparable games. Xbox Series S GPU

Its the GPU where theres a more noticeable difference between the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. Microsoft has also opted for custom AMD architecture in both consoles, and the Xbox Series Ss custom RDNA 2 GPU features just 4 teraflops of power compared to the Xbox Series Xs more impressive 12.15 teraflops.

The Xbox Series S falls short in terms of graphical prowess not only to its counterpart, but also last generations Xbox One X, which was 4K ready and boasted 6 teraflops of power. By no means does the Xbox Series S
underperform, though. Its still capable of outputting a 1440p resolution at
up to 120Hz, but its a major reason why the Xbox Series S costs so little in comparison to the beefier consoles.

The Xbox Series S also has less RAM than the Xbox Series X - just 10GB compared to 16GB. This is another reason why 4K visuals arent really feasible on Microsofts more affordable machine. Less of the consoles faster RAM isnt available to developers , even less than the 4K capable Xbox One X. This is a big reason as to why 1440p is a more realistic target for the Xbox Series S. Xbox Series S storage (Image credit: Microsoft)

Xbox Series Ss custom PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is identical to Xbox Series X in all but storage space. While the Xbox Series X features an adequate 1TB of
storage space, the Xbox Series S does struggle a bit at just 512GB without expandable storage devices like the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card .

This means that space is going to get used up fast if you plan on installing and playing a decent amount of games, leaving the SSD feeling a little cramped. And if you subscribe to the stellar Xbox Game Pass service, youll likely find yourself deleting games semi-frequently to make space for new ones.

However, the Xbox Series Ss NVMe SSD picks up the slack when it comes to performance. The SSD is blazingly quick, and able to load content more
swiftly and efficiently than last generations hard disk drives, which are positively glacial by comparison. Expect most loading screens, even in big-budget AAA titles, to last mere seconds. Even initial load times after booting up a game rarely stray above half a minute, meaning the Xbox Series
Ss speed is a fantastic selling point. Xbox Series S resolution and performance (Image credit: Microsoft)

Most current-gen games on the Xbox Series S can be played at 1440p
resolution, with some particularly demanding games dropping to a still respectable 1080p, either by default or in a framerate-boosting Performance mode setting. There are some edge cases, though, such as with games like Ori and the Will of the Wisps or The Touryst, both of which can output a 4K resolution on Microsofts fairer priced machine.

In terms of performance, the Xbox Series S is remarkably slick. With a HDMI 2.1 cable, the Xbox Series S is capable of running supported titles at
120fps. Additionally, HDMI 2.1 grants variable refresh rate, an auto low latency mode to reduce input lag from wireless controllers and - thanks to
the in-built AMD components - FreeSync technology for a much smoother, consistent framerate, free of screen tearing.

The Xbox Series X is still a very capable console, then. Not only can the machine target 120fps, its also capable of ray tracing in applicable games, and as demonstrated by The Matrix Awakens tech demo , is somewhat future-proofed for Unreal Engine 5 games. Xbox Series S design

One of the best aspects of the Xbox Series S has to be its form factor. With dimensions of 6.5cm x 15.1cm x 27.5 cm, its a much, much slimmer unit than
the Xbox Series X and PS5. In fact, its the smallest Xbox ever made. This compact design is ideal if youre looking for a smaller console as part of
your home setup, or if you dont have that much space in general.

Similarly impressive is the Xbox Series Ss weight of 4.25lbs. Thats just
under 2kg, and means its less than half the weight of the bulky Xbox Series
X, which comes in at a whopping 9.8lbs (4.45kg).

Overall, the Xbox Series S features a brilliantly minimal design that complements its pared down specs when compared to the bigger fish. Aspects of the Xbox Series Ss design can very much be viewed as a tradeoff, then. Yes, youre not quite getting the 4K power of the Xbox Series X or PS5, but the silver lining there is a space-friendly unit thats still capable of next-gen features and wont break the bank. Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: which Xbox is right for you



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/xbox-series-s-specs-how-powerful-is-microsofts- pint-sized-console/


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