Xbox Series X delivers 4K gaming at 120fps with 12 TFLOPS of processing power, while Xbox Series S targets 1440p gaming at 120fps with 10 TFLOPS, making the Series X the premium choice for high-end performance and the Series S the budget-friendly alternative for casual players.
Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Xbox Series X if you own a 4K TV, want the maximum graphical fidelity, value physical media support, and plan extended gaming sessions with demanding AAA titles. Choose Xbox Series S if you game on 1080p-1440p displays, prioritize affordability, have limited storage space concerns with Game Pass integration, or play primarily indie and lighter titles.
Premium next-gen console with 12 TFLOPS GPU, 1TB storage, and 4K gaming capabilities.
Budget-friendly next-gen console with 10 TFLOPS GPU, 512GB storage, and 1440p gaming focus.
Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S with 256 attributes.
Standard Console Launch Price (MSRP 2026)
Average Game Load Time (Major AAA Titles)
Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S.
Can Xbox Series S play all the same games as Series X?
Yes, all Xbox Series X/S games work on both consoles through Smart Delivery, but Series S versions may have reduced resolution (1440p vs 4K), lower frame rates (30-60fps vs 60-120fps), or reduced graphical settings. Both support ray tracing and play Game Pass titles identically in terms of library access.
Is the 512GB storage on Series S really a problem?
Yes, practically speaking. Modern AAA games consume 100-150GB each, so Series S holds 3-5 large titles before filling up. Expansion requires a $150-200 external 2TB SSD, adding 40-50% to console cost. Series X's 1TB helps but also fills quickly, making external storage important for both.
Which console should I buy if I have a 1440p TV?
Xbox Series S is the optimal choice for 1440p displays. Series X is designed for 4K TVs and wastes its performance advantage on lower-resolution screens. Series S delivers silky-smooth 60-120fps gameplay at native 1440p for half the price, making it a perfect match.
Does Xbox Series S struggle with current-gen games in 2026?
Series S remains competitive for most 2026 games at 1440p, but increasingly faces trade-offs. Demanding titles like Starfield run at 30fps on Series S versus 60fps on Series X. Game Pass day-one titles are optimized for both, but expect Series S to lag 6-12 months behind as developers optimize for Series X and PC.
Can I use external USB storage with Series X/S?
Partially. External USB drives store backward-compatible Xbox One/360 games but cannot store Series X/S optimized titles. Only Seagate's proprietary 2TB/1TB SSD expansion ($150-200) plays Series X/S games directly, making it the only practical expansion option for the current generation.