Skip to content

Mobile and web technologies

New technologies in everyday accessibility

  • Home
  • Mobile technologies
  • Web technologies
  • Contact
  • Home
  • 2022
  • August
  • 28
  • Which Xbox should you buy? The $300 Xbox Series S may be all you need

Which Xbox should you buy? The $300 Xbox Series S may be all you need

Posted on 28.08.2022By MobiletechNo Comments on Which Xbox should you buy? The $300 Xbox Series S may be all you need
Web technologies

Surprising virtually no one, Microsoft has announced that the upcoming Xbox Series S game console will cost $300 (£250, AU$499), and that the more-hyped Xbox Series X will be $500 (£450, AU$749). Now that we have a better idea of the specs and differences between each system, it certainly looks to me like the smaller, somewhat less capable little brother is the better deal of the two. 

The key thing for me has always been that the Xbox Series X and PS5 boxes, as seen in teaser material so far, are physically huge. Gigantic, really. Meanwhile, the evolution of many other tech devices goes the other way. Roku boxes became Roku sticks, which shrank down to just a bit of software built into other devices, like your TV. 

Phones get bigger, I suppose, but there was a time when we all competed to have the smallest phone possible (yes, that was pre-iPhone). Even now, folding phones are trying to build bigger screens into physically smaller devices so perhaps the small-footprint phone will make a comeback. Don’t ask me about 10-nanometer semiconductor manufacturing replacing 14-nanometer unless you want to be here for a while. 

So, what makes the Xbox Series X, which we still haven’t seen that much of, worth an extra $200? That platform can’t be radically different, after all — they need to play the same games, and in a reasonably similar way, like the Xbox One versus Xbox One X or PlayStation 4 compared to the PS4 Pro. 

Having covered every console launch since the Sega Dreamcast, I’d say storage capacity, for example 512GB versus 1TB or something similar — that’s worth $100. It’s not actually worth $100, just in the same way Apple marks up a MacBook by $100 for each bump in storage capacity. And the ability to output at 4K (or maybe 8K), versus 1080 or 1440 output. That’s another line item you could conceivably charge $100 for, especially if Series X can output most games at at least 4K/60 frames per second, which is something even the most powerful gaming PCs can’t always do. CPU and GPU power appear to be the same between the two versions. 

Read more: 3 great VPNs for Xbox in 2020

xbox-vs-ps5

The big-footprint consoles compared. 


Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

More importantly, the Series S (previously codenamed Lockhart) seems to lack an optical drive. That’s not a first in game consoles, but it’s still more the exception than the rule. There’s already going to be a “digital edition” of the PS5, which just means it lacks an optical drive, and you can already get the current Xbox One in a discless version called the Xbox One S. But the fact that new game consoles still include an optical drive by default is easily the most archaic thing about them. 

Remember, new laptops (or even desktop PCs) generally haven’t included an optical drive for many years. Standalone DVD and Blu-ray player sales are a rarity — just look how quickly the disc-based movie sections of your favorite big-box retail store have shrunk into irrelevance. 

Yes, there are still compelling arguments for physical media, even for games. The right of permanent ownership and ability to rehome discs to other people. The ability to skip long download times for games, which can run 20GB-50GB or more. But, the advantages pale in comparison to the expense and environmental impact of stamping game data onto a plastic disc, sticking in another plastic box, putting those on a truck and driving them into physical stores all over the country. Having an optical drive included as the default in 2020 shows just how deeply conservative the mainstream video game business is. (As if a steady lineup of new, but not exactly different, Madden, Halo, Assassin’s Creed and other franchise games couldn’t tell you that already.)

I’m well aware of the argument that many people live in areas lacking decent internet service, therefore require games on discs. But the same arguments were originally made about streaming video, which has become the norm, even though a 4K video stream can eat up 7GB-14GB per hour. Trust me, even in the heart of Brooklyn it can take many hours or overnight for some games to download. 

All this is just a stepping stone to moving the entire video game model to a server-side business, again like Netflix, where games live on central servers and are beamed to you in the form of live gameplay. Google Stadia, Microsoft xCloud and Nvidia’s GeForce Now are all second- or third-gen versions of this, which started as far back as a nearly forgotten service called OnLive in 2010. Those original versions didn’t really work, and the current ones are far from perfect, but make no mistake, games are going that way eventually. Temporarily licensed, rather than owned. Held remotely, rather than locally. It’s arguably not as consumer-friendly, but few media and tech evolutions are.  

And, need I add, those spinning optical drives are one of the few components with complex moving parts left in semiregular use. Both optical drives and spinning platter hard drives are the most common sources of hardware problems in game consoles. Remove the optical drives and switch to SSD storage and your console hardware will have a longer, more trouble-free life. 

I made a similar call way back in 2013, and let’s just say I was well ahead of the reality (or maybe just plain wrong). Back then, I wrote that the then-new PS4 and Xbox One were both “lumbering dinosaurs, throwbacks to an era when your technology hardware, software and processing power were all housed onsite, in one localized package … We’ve moved toward a far more connected way to access content, largely through cloud services that can stream both video and game content.” 

But I did make one other interesting call, predicting — again, back in 2013 — that “the PlayStation 5 and Xbox, uh, Two (?) are more likely to look like a Roku or Apple TV than a hulking squared-off gaming PC.” That may not be true of the physically imposing Xbox Series X or PS5 hardware — selling a big shiny thing in a big shiny box is still a key holiday season strategy — but the Xbox Series S is significantly smaller, barely larger in volume than a couple of game controllers. 

A smaller box, able to play the latest games in full HD or better resolution, designed for downloaded or eventually streaming games, and at a reasonable price that’s less than the cheapest Apple iPad? That’s why the Xbox One S may be all the game console you need.

Post navigation

❮ Previous Post: Xbox Series X launches Nov. 10 for $500
Next Post: Gear to make your work-from-home PC setup gaming-friendly ❯

You may also like

Web technologies
Where to preorder the new iPad and iPad Mini, including early discounts
19.07.2022
Web technologies
Apple breaks ties with 12 suppliers over concerns about ‘conflict minerals’ violations
29.06.2022
Web technologies
The three best things in the MacOS Monterey beta so far
25.07.2022
Web technologies
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 Looks Like the Premium Chromebook to Beat
12.06.2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fresh Records

  • OnePlus 11 Preview: can this bring the OnePlus glory days back?
  • Galaxy S23 Plus hands-on review
  • Galaxy S23 Plus vs Galaxy S22 Plus: Samsung’s hidden aces
  • Galaxy S23 Plus vs iPhone 14 Plus: Which one’s a plus and which one’s a minus?
  • Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy Z Flip 4: Go with the tried and tested flagship, or flip that trend switch on?

Fresh Comments

No comments to show.

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022

Headings

  • Mobile technologies
  • Web technologies

Copyright © 2023 Mobile and web technologies.

Theme: Oceanly News by ScriptsTown

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT