Xbox Series S Review | Trusted Reviews

Verdict

The Xbox Collection S is the most effective next-gen console for anybody on a funds or with no high-end 4K TV, with the added efficiency energy permitting for considerably higher graphics than what’s doable with an Xbox One S. Nonetheless, the stingy 364GB storage capability is inexcusable for a console missing a disk drive, making the costly storage growth a vital expense.

Key Specs

• Evaluate Worth: £249.99
• Gaming perf: As much as 1440p 120Hz
• DirectX Raytracing assist
• Video perf: Able to 8K
• 512GB Customized NVME SSD
• Dimensions: 275 x 151 x 65 mm
• Weight: 1.9 kg

Introduction

The Xbox Collection S is among the most inexpensive consoles that you may purchase. And in contrast to the PS4 and Xbox One, the Collection S is a part of the brand new technology, guaranteeing that it’ll share the very same sport library because the Collection X.

The Collection S lacks quite a few key options as its dearer sibling, together with a bodily disk drive and a 4K-capable efficiency. However in case you’re completely satisfied to stay with digital video games, and are but to improve to a 4K TV, this shouldn’t be a serious challenge. 

With entry to the Sport Move subscription service, which incorporates all the main Xbox exclusives from day one, the Collection S is a good funds choice for youngsters or a spare console for the bed room.

However how does it stack up towards the extra highly effective PS5 and Xbox Collection X? Right here’s my verdict. 

Xbox Collection S – Design and connectivity

• A small console aimed toward enjoying video games at a 1440p decision 
• Matches snugly into your leisure centre because of its dinky design 
• Digital solely console with a 512GB NVMe SSD 

The Xbox Collection S is staggeringly small, related in dimension to a hardback guide. Because of this discovering a house for it in your TV cupboard might be extremely simple – which, arguably, can’t be mentioned for both the PS5 or Xbox Collection X.  

There are 4 rubber nubs on its underside, and 4 extra on one in every of its sides, so you may seamlessly swap between horizontal and vertical standing positions. It’s just a little irksome that the glow-up Xbox brand on the facility button can’t twist round to accommodate a horizontal place, however it is a minor criticism. 

Microsoft has centered on practicality over styling, with the white cuboid field displaying a minimalist design. Round vent holes could be discovered on each the perimeters and high of the Xbox, whereas the Xbox brand has been etched into the top-right nook to offer some subtle aptitude. It’s a beautiful design, with Microsoft acknowledging that consoles ought to look fashionable however with out drawing undue consideration in your leisure setup. 

On the high of the field you’ll discover an enormous black circle, lined in dozens of tiny holes. This not solely differentiates the console from the Xbox One S, but additionally reminds people to not block the air vents from the place many of the sizzling air might be expelled.

On the entrance you’ll discover a single USB 3.1 port neighbouring a syncing button, which is used to attach Bluetooth peripherals. Flip the console round and there are extra ports on the rear, together with 1Gbps Ethernet, two USB 3.1, an HDMI 2.1 out and a storage growth slot. 

The latter supplies a approach to improve the interior storage of the console through bespoke Seagate SSD drives, which aren’t too dissimilar to the reminiscence playing cards of outdated. These might look like super-expensive storage growth options, however they’re considerably simpler to insert and take away in comparison with Sony’s strategy with the PS5. 

The largest connectivity omission is Wi-Fi 6, which permits for speedier and extra steady web connections with suitable routers. With the required {hardware}, the PS5 is technically in a position to obtain video games 30% sooner than the next-gen Xbox consoles. It’s an actual disgrace that the Collection S lacks this characteristic, particularly because it’s additionally with no disk drive and depends on digital downloads. 

Personally, I consider the Xbox Collection S is the best-looking console of the next-gen trio, remaining probably the most trustworthy to the traditional design. It seems to be suave, is sufficiently compact to slot in your TV cupboard comfortably, and options all of the ports required for a real next-gen expertise. What extra may you need?

Xbox Collection S Evaluate – Specs and know-how 

• Is the least highly effective next-gen gaming console, however nonetheless packs a punch 
• Makes use of the identical AMD Zen 2 CPU as Collection X and PS5 
• Targets a 1440p decision with 120fps at most

The Xbox Collection S isn’t as highly effective as both the PS5 or Xbox Collection X, however don’t let that idiot you into considering it’s a half-baked next-gen console. The graphical constancy of which the Collection S is succesful is excellent, packing high-end specs you’d usually solely discover in a £1,000-odd gaming PC. 

This tiny field options the very same AMD Ryzen Zen 2 CPU because the Collection X, with eight cores operating at a peak 3.8GHz frequency. A kind of cores is devoted to the working system, which ensures you may flick via the homescreen and menu settings with none delays or stutters. 

Its GPU is the largest distinction between the Collection S and Collection X. Each consoles characteristic customized AMD RDNA 2 GPUs, however the former sees simply 4 TFLOPs of efficiency energy in comparison with the 12 TFLOPs discovered within the Collection X. It’s essential to keep away from getting caught up with teraflop numbers when judging the efficiency of any gadget, however it does emphasise the graphical gulf between these two Xbox consoles. 

Xbox Collection X targets a 4K efficiency at 60fps for AAA video games, with the body charge racing as much as a 120fps peak for much less demanding titles. In the meantime, the Xbox Collection S targets a 1440p decision and a most 120fps efficiency. That is nonetheless very a lot a noticeable bump up on 1080p gaming, though you’ll want a suitable show with HDMI 2.1 assist to learn from these visible enhancements. T

The larger challenge right here is the dearth of GPU headroom that builders should work with. We’ve already seen Satan Could Cry 5 lower ray tracing assist for the Collection S, and there could be additional compromises for different video games down the street when in comparison with the extra highly effective next-gen consoles. 

That mentioned, with the Xbox One S that includes only one.4 TFLOPs of grunt, the Collection S nonetheless provides a major efficiency leap on its predecessor. Optimised video games from the again catalogue corresponding to Gears 5 look remarkably higher, with the builders in a position to embrace extra superior shading methods. 

We’ll solely begin to see the true potential of the Collection S as soon as video games arrive which have been constructed from the bottom up for the next-gen {hardware}, with the likes of Hellblade 2, Halo Infinite and Starfield all promising examples for the longer term. 

The brand new RDNA 2 GPU structure additionally permits builders to make the most of quite a lot of next-gen options, with the standout being DirectX Raytracing. This know-how permits suitable video games to render hyper-realistic lighting, shadow and reflection results. That is very a lot a cutting-edge know-how, so to see it arrive on a £249 console is phenomenal. 

Nonetheless, since this tech usually causes a major efficiency penalty, it might be the case that builders might be hesitant to implement it. To this point, the one extremely notable Collection S video games confirmed to assist ray tracing embrace Watch Canines Legion, Forza Motorsport 8 and Halo Infinite. That’s a reasonably poor providing, however it’s going to possible enhance considerably over the subsequent yr or so. 

The Xbox Collection S additionally encompasses a Customized NVME SSD, which any PC gamer will inform you provides a considerable step up from HDD drives present in previous-generation consoles. Xbox claims this NVME SSD boasts a whopping 40x enchancment to the throughput of Xbox One, leading to considerably shorter load instances. The graphics increase could be the most enjoyable characteristic, however it’s the brand new SSD speeds that can in all probability have the largest affect for the next-gen consoles. 

The draw back right here is that NVME SSDs are costly, so Xbox has supplied solely 500GB of storage capability, which is extremely stingy. To make matter worse, solely 364GB is accessible for sport downloads, as the remainder is taken up by the system software program. Think about that the likes of Gears 5 and Doom Everlasting each demand over 50GB of cupboard space every, and you’ll see how this console goes to achieve max capability in a short time. 

Cloud sport saves a minimum of imply you gained’t should delete your progress whenever you uninstall a sport file, however the problem of redownloading a sport each time you wish to play it’s nonetheless very irritating. Expanding the storage is mainly important, driving up the price of the console significantly. 

Xbox Collection S Evaluate – Graphics and efficiency 

• Loading instances are unbelievable because of the NVMe SSD 
• Visuals and efficiency typically function at a decrease benchmark 
• HDR and Ray tracing are current in quite a lot of totally different video games

That’s sufficient of the jargon and teraflop numbers. How do video games really look on the Xbox Collection S? Sadly, Microsoft was solely in a position to present us with a handful of optimised video games forward of the evaluation embargo, together with Gears 5, Gears Techniques and Tetris Related. 

Gears 5 was comfortably the most effective instance of what the Collection S is able to, with clear visible enhancements in comparison with the Xbox One S. With the added GPU energy, The Coalition has been in a position to hike up the graphics to a better setting, so the Collection S matches the efficiency of a high-end PC.

With out getting too technical with terminology, The Coalition has carried out extra subtle methods to make in-game environments, lighting and character fashions seem extra real looking. As you may see within the photograph under, the improved lighting results end in higher distinction between brilliant gentle sources and shadowy corridors, serving to to create a much more immersive environment. 

On left: Xbox One S. On proper: Xbox Collection S

Steel objects, such because the room vents and pipes stretched out throughout the wall, now seem extra reflective. On the One S, these objects appear like they’re manufactured from plastic. 

Improved textures will even assist so as to add extra photo-realism, each for character fashions and numerous objects that make up your environment. That is proven with the rubble on the left-hand aspect within the images under. 

On left: Xbox One S. On proper: Xbox Collection S

The additional GPU grunt additionally permits builders to enhance the element of far-away objects, serving to a mountain panorama or distant characters seem extra pronounced, for instance.

There are numerous different enhancements to get enthusiastic about, too, with the images under exhibiting the Collection S to be able to displaying extra vivid colors and finer element. 

On left: Xbox One S. On proper: Xbox Collection S

Though not clear within the images, the 1440p decision additionally makes pictures sharper, making the much less pixelated 1080p model on One S seem fuzzy by comparability. Nonetheless, until you could have a Quad HD gaming monitor or a 4K TV you’ll possible be restricted to Full HD visuals and so gained’t profit from this improve. 

The added energy of the Collection S additionally means that you can play Gears 5 at 60fps, which is a noticeable enchancment on the 30fps Xbox One S efficiency. This improve ensures easy movement when aiming your gun or charging into battle. The Coalition has enabled as much as 120fps for the multiplayer for even smoother visuals, though you’ll want a reasonably costly TV with HDMI 2.1 assist (or a gaming monitor) to see the distinction past 60fps. 

You’ll discover vital efficiency enhancements for racing video games on this regard too, with fluid movement when drifting round a decent nook at lightning speeds. Extra slow-paced video games corresponding to Sea of Thieves and Minecraft gained’t see a lot of a profit from the variable refresh charge assist, however it’s nonetheless good to have the choice. 

Gears 5 seems to be fantastic now, and but that is actually simply an optimised replace slightly than an entire remake. You possibly can anticipate video games which can be designed particularly for the subsequent technology of consoles to look even higher, though it’s going to sadly take time for such titles to be launched. With the delay of Halo Infinite, Xbox’s first-party launch lineup pales compared to the PS5’s video games corresponding to Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls.

That mentioned, Microsoft has finished a stellar job of guaranteeing its complete again catalogue of video games (excluding people who require Kinect) throughout Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One all work on the Collection S. Sure video games which have been optimised for Collection S and X (corresponding to Gears 5) provide the best visible enhancements, however different titles that lack the next-gen updates have nonetheless seemingly benefited too. Colors appeared extra vivid in Doom Everlasting, for instance, giving extra justice to the vitality plasma beams that barbeque the onslaught of demons. 

The vast majority of video games I’ve examined profit from the ultra-speedy NVME SSD, too, with loading instances plummeting to such an extent that I’ve now hardly obtained time to unlock my smartphone earlier than the Collection S hundreds into huge open-world video games. 

I measured what number of seconds it took for the Collection S to load up numerous video games from the principle menu, after which in contrast the outcomes to the Collection X, One X and One S consoles. Drive speeds could be affected by many variables, corresponding to the quantity of knowledge being saved, so though it’s possible you’ll not see these actual figures with your individual consoles, they nonetheless present an excellent thought of how these consoles examine. 

The Collection S completely trounced the Xbox One S in our checks, taking lower than 15 seconds to load Gears 5, Doom Everlasting and The Witcher 3. Even Last Fantasy XV took solely 17 seconds to load; it took a prolonged 1 minutes and 23 seconds to do the identical on the Xbox One S. These speedy SSD speeds don’t solely make respawns extra seamless, but additionally enable builders to create extra densely detailed environments for future video games. 

Our checks point out that the Collection X was marginally sooner than the cheaper Collection S Xbox when loading video games, however often solely by a few seconds. As soon as once more, this emphasises the purpose that the Collection S is providing a correct next-gen expertise, minus the 4K efficiency for gaming. 

Regardless of packing a lot energy, the Xbox Collection S remained silent all through testing, whether or not I used to be gunning down aliens in Gears 5 or increase my backyard in Viva Pinata. I’ve observed that the highest air vent generates a variety of sizzling air when enjoying extraneous video games. That is hardly a difficulty, with all high-end gaming {hardware} producing warmth as of late. However, you’ll want to make sure the vent has loads of airflow to forestall points additional down the road. 

Xbox Collection S – Person Expertise 

• Person interface stays the identical, but is quicker and smoother than ever 
• Capturing screenshots and movies is now rather more intuitive 
• Straightforward to inform which video games are enhanced for the brand new console 

Microsoft hasn’t made many alterations to the Xbox’s person interface. The extra highly effective CPU has a minimum of made darting between the web Xbox Retailer and system settings a extra seamless expertise – however, in any other case, all the things might be very acquainted for individuals who’ve beforehand owned an Xbox One S or X. 

Video games, apps and the Xbox Video games Move library every have their very own assigned row, so it’s extremely simple to find what you’re in search of. Your Xbox sport library may also be filtered between generations, so you may simply find your Xbox 360 video games amidst your big assortment of Xbox One titles. 

These titles that provide optimisation assist for Collection S and X are clearly indicated, with video games corresponding to Gears 5 and Gears Techniques displaying the S/X image.

Among the finest new options for the Collection S is Fast Resume. The subsequent-gen SSD drive permits the console to retailer as much as six video games on a cache concurrently, permitting you to open them up from a suspended state and returning you to precisely the place you left off. This avoids the necessity for loading up menus each time you swap between numerous video games, permitting me to attend simply 7 seconds to ditch Doom Everlasting and begin enjoying Gears 5. 

I’m additionally impressed at how simple it’s to switch your entire video games and save knowledge to the Collection S. Xbox robotically saves your entire saved knowledge to the cloud, so so long as you could have an web connection, the console ought to load up all of your save information with out challenge. Each digital sport you beforehand bought on the Xbox One S/X ought to pop up in your sport assortment, too, merely requiring a obtain to put in it in your Collection S. 

Whereas gaming is clearly the main focus, the Xbox Collection S additionally has a string of video playback apps to make it a unbelievable multimedia gadget. Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video are all included, and whereas there are some noticeable omissions for UK-based viewers corresponding to Now TV, Sky Go and BritBox, I’m assured they’ll arrive on the platform at a later date. 

The Xbox Collection S is able to as much as 8K resolutions for video streaming apps. Whereas each main app at present lacks assist for this video high quality, it’s nonetheless very welcome that this mini field is future-proofed for the foreseeable. For now, the Collection S can deal with 4K content material with aplomb. As well as, assist for HDR, Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Dolby Atmos be certain that the Collection S is greater than able to being the main focus level of your property cinema setup. 

Sadly, the dearth of disk drive means the Collection S gained’t be capable of play your assortment of Extremely HD Blu-ray discs. If that’s a vital requirement you then’re higher off choosing the PS5 or Xbox Collection X as an alternative. I reckon the big majority might be content material with streaming apps, although. 

You should purchase the Xbox Collection S if…

You desire a companion to the PS5: Should you’ve already bought a next-gen console within the type of Sony’s PS5, the Xbox Collection S is an ideal companion piece. Xbox Sport Move will assist you to entry all the huge exclusives as soon as they arrive and nonetheless take pleasure in a stable gaming expertise with little compromise.

You don’t thoughts lesser graphics and efficiency: The Xbox Collection S isn’t as highly effective as its next-gen companions, that a lot is a reality. Nonetheless, in case you’re pleased with 1440p efficiency and decrease graphical constancy usually, the Xbox Collection S stays a really alluring choice certainly.

You desire a smaller console: I’m actually shocked by how dinky the Xbox Collection S is, and the way Microsoft managed to suit such energy right into a tiny field. It’s superior, and might simply be slipped right into a backpack or beneath your desk with ease. This can be a far cry from the opposite two consoles, which require their very own main house to even function.

You shouldn’t purchase the Xbox Collection S if…

You need huge exclusives proper now: Halo Infinite has been delayed, and Microsoft’s unique slate past Grasp Chief’s subsequent journey is extremely gentle proper now. This image will change, however these wished immediate satisfaction from next-gen gaming may not discover it right here.

You’re anxious a couple of lack of reminiscence: As soon as you place apart house required for the system itself, the quantity of SSD house on the Xbox Collection S is abymsal, and can solely have sufficient room for a handful of main video games. You will want to buy a proprietary storage resolution from Seagate to develop it, which prices over £200.

You need gaming at 4K: This isn’t a 4K machine, concentrating on 1440p as its most decision. So, in case you want to view trendy video games at their greatest you’ll both wish to spend money on the PS5, Xbox Collection X or perhaps a PC. Collection S can nonetheless compete within the discipline of efficiency, largely due to decrease decision and graphical choices.