How Much Is An Xbox X

Consoles Emitting Smoke Controversy

Not long after the Series X launched, various videos began appearing online of smoke emitting from the main fan on top of the console. Owners became concerned about the possible high failure rate of their new consoles. However, it was revealed by twitter user that the smoke was not due to hardware failure but rather vape smoke being blown through the back vents on the console causing the smoke to travel through the inside of the console and come out of the top fan.

Not long after the videos were debunked, the official Xbox Twitter account posted a tweet asking Xbox Series X owners to not blow vape smoke into their new consoles.

System Software And Features

Both consoles feature a similar user interface to the Xbox One, but there has been a 40% reduction in memory use to improve its speed. According to the UI development team, the Home section loads in about half the time as it did on the Xbox One. Other changes include adding rounded UI elements, a more-readable font for text elements, rearrangement of certain aligned features, and improvements to the sharing functions. These changes were brought to the Xbox One system software, the Windows’ Xbox application, and the Xbox mobile application around September 2020. Based on system previews, about 200 GB of space was reserved on the internal drive of the Xbox Series X for system files.

The console’s Quick Resume feature will allow users to suspend and resume more than one game at a time, and also resume suspended games after a reboot of the console.

Several video and streaming media services will be available through the system software on the consoles’ launch notably, it will be the first time that Apple TV+ will be available on Xbox consoles.

Microsoft plans to migrate the xCloud service from Xbox One S-based blade servers to Xbox Series X-based systems by 2021.

The Xbox Game Preview program, which allows games to be released through an early access model, continued into the Xbox Series X/S line with Spacebase Startopia in January 2021.

Electricity Consumption Of Xbox Series X

The next generation of consoles just like Series Xs are much more power-hungry than ever before and they will consume twice the energy on a standard 60 TV. The Xbox Series X draws 160 to 200+ Watts of electricity when you are playing it at the peak, which is much higher than their previous models and more than a regular 60-inch TV.

When it comes to the power consumption of Xbox Series X, it all depends on the type of mode in which you are. Therefore, you should pay attention to each mode, because the difference in consumption can vary a lot. Below we will present you the average values for each mode.

• Switched Off Mode: When your Xbox is turned off, there is a little power consumption between 0.1 to 0.3 watts per hour because of the LED lamp that is turned ON.
• Stand-by Mode: During this mode, the Xbox consumes between 4 to 6 watts per hour. In case that Xbox is doing some updates true internet, it can use up to 13-15 watts per hour.
• Menu Mode: In this mode, the console will consume between 70 to 80 watts per hour.
• Gaming Mode: This is the most used mode in Xbox Series X. The power that is used in this mode varies between 160 to 180 watts per hour. This also varies of the resolution and the graphics of the game that is played.

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Xbox Series X: Is It Worth Buying

In our Xbox Series X review, we had only positive things to say about the console. At least, for the most part. The console runs cool and quiet, it provides impressive visuals, and the collection of small improvements across the board really elevate the experience.

As of writing, the main issue with the Xbox Series X pertains to its exclusive lineup, which is a bit thin. Games like Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla are a good glimpse at what next-gen gaming will be like, but it won’t be until 2022 where we start to see games built natively for the new architecture, utilizing all of the console’s features. Most games available for Xbox Series X are effectively Xbox One X versions with extra options and features. In 2021, we were supposed to see The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 get native versions on Xbox Series X, but things like the pandemic and the chip shortage have delayed much of the work in this space.

Some games have received impressive enhancements, like Metro Exodus. We should also see more from Microsoft’s first-party studios, including Halo Infinite, Hellblade II, and many more. One of the first “big-name” franchises to go next-gen only will be the next Battlefield 2042, set to launch towards the end of 2021.

Xbox Series X Price Bundles And Deals

• Money-saving tips

Looking for the best Xbox Series X bundles or the lowest Xbox Series X price? We feel your pain. Getting hold of the next-generation console has been notoriously difficult over the last year due to high demand and production issues, so any Xbox Series X deals that appear are snapped up fast.

That’s why we’re busy tracking Xbox Series X bundles every day to get a read on where the console could appear next. Our team of bargain-hunters is always on the prowl for stock, so this page is regularly updated with the latest info on Xbox Series X deals as a result.

To get things started, check out these retailer quick links below. If anyone’s going to get new stock soon, it’ll be one of them. As for more context on whenXbox Series X stock could turn up, our retailer breakdown below can help. No matter what, just make sure you’re buying from retailers you trust. Look out for scalpers and third-party sellers overcharging you for Microsoft’s new console.

If things don’t pick up soon, it might be because retailers are holding supply back for November’s Black Friday Xbox Series X deals and Cyber Monday Xbox Series X deals.

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Textured Grips And Thumbsticks

The old Xbox controllers had a smooth surface, which didnt feel great. After long gaming sessions, your hand tended to get a bit sweaty, too. A good-quality Xbox One X controller has textured grips that prevent it from slipping out of your hands. The thumbsticks also have a textured lip around the top so that your fingers remain in control at all times.

Faster Storage Delivers Much Shorter Load Times

All games and saves on an Xbox Series X or Series S are stored on a much newer and much faster type of storagecalled NVMethan the platter-based hard drive the Xbox One uses. This new storage helps provide some of the most obvious improvements to the overall user experience and games for this new console generation, with a night-and-day difference in console startup, game boot-ups, and in-game load times.

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What Does The Xbox Series X Look Like

The Xbox Series X is a large rectangular console that stands upright. For now, it’s only available in black. However, the all-digital Series S comes in white. Some people have jokingly compared it to a refrigerator, and Microsoft is even giving away a literal fridge that looks like an Xbox Series X through a recent contest. The Xbox Series X is quite large, but it isn’t nearly as massive as the PlayStation 5.

Faster Performance Higher Frame Rates

The Xbox Series X and Series S have dramatically more powerful CPUs than previous-generation consoles didin the neighborhood of four times as powerful as their predecessor in raw speed and the number of cores and threads, to say nothing of seven years worth of efficiency and other improvements. This means faster user interfaces and much faster load times,1 as well as more sophisticated character and game behaviors, and just more stuff on screen at any given moment.

But the biggest improvements are most apparent in frame rates, which should hit 60 frames per second much more often this generation than last. The more frames per second, the more often the controller and the game are communicating. So a new Series X or Series S should feel like it responds faster and more reliably to your inputs. And when games cant maintain consistent frame rates, support for variable refresh rates should help keep those games from feeling unresponsive. Recent examples here include Diablo 2: Resurrected and Psychonauts 2, both of which offer 60 FPS modes on Series X and S unavailable on the Xbox One. The upcoming Battlefield 2042, is supposed to run at 60 FPS, but never manages it on Xbox One or even the PlayStation 4. On the Series X and S, performance in the recent beta was consistently smooth.

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Xbox Rechargeable Battery: $24/19

One of the only real downsides to the Xbox Wireless Controller is it still uses AA batteries to power it rather than a rechargeable cell. Chemical batteries arent particularly elegant to use, not exactly great for the environment and can get quite expensive, as after a few lengthy game sessions theyll run out of juice. So to avoid that inconvenience youll need the Xbox Rechargeable Battery.

That means parting with $24/£19 if you want to have one controller with a rechargeable battery pack. Itll save you money in the long run, but its a little disappointing Microsoft didnt put a rechargeable battery pack in the new Xbox Wireless Controller by default.

When Will Xbox Series X Be Back In Stock

Because these consoles are so popular, we recommend moving fast when they come back in stock. If you dont, you could be waiting for the next Xbox Series X console restock. Now that Walmart is promoting its Walmart Plus membership, those with an account will have early sometimes exclusive access to deals. A membership is $12.95/month or $98 for the year.

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Xbox Series X Restock News: Where To Buy An Xbox Series X Console In 2022

Despite launching over 14 months ago, the Xbox Series X is still incredibly hard to find. That’s unheard of not only in the gaming world, but in the entire universe of consumer electronics high-profile devices like games consoles or new smartphones are often in short supply shorty after launch, but supply constraints are usually sorted out within weeks. This time it’s different.

COVID-19 has caused manufacturing delays, resulting in a global chip shortage affecting everything from smartphones and smartwatches to consoles and cars. Add in the sustained high demand from millions of people plunged into lockdowns or forced to self-isolate, and you’ve got a perfect storm for console shortages.

Sadly, these shortages will be here for a while yet. At the end of last year, Xbox’s Phil Spencer said the issues would be a problem “for months and months”. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Xbox stock drops are becoming more frequent, if not regular. And the lower-specced Xbox Series S is a lot easier to get hold of, so hope is not lost.

To improve your chances of bagging an Xbox Series X or S, bookmark this page and keep checking back. We’ll do our best to get you sorted in the coming weeks and months…

Formal Announcement And Release

The Xbox was officially unveiled to the public by Gates and guest professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at CES 2001 in Las Vegas on January 3, 2001. Microsoft announced Xbox’s release dates and prices at E3 2001 in May. Most Xbox launch titles were unveiled at E3, most notably Halo and Dead or Alive 3.

The unit’s release in November 2001 was partially hampered by the impact of the on travel, as Microsoft could not travel to the Guadalajara facility to help test units. They were able to arrange to ship the units locally instead of testing at Microsoft facilities to have them ready for launch.

The system was officially launched at midnight on November 15, 2001, three days before the subsequent launch of the Nintendo GameCube. A special event was held on the prior night as part of the grand opening of the flagship store of Toys ‘R’ Us at Times Square in New York City, in which 1,000 systems were shipped to the store to kick off sales. Bill Gates was present at the event, personally selling the very first Xbox console and greeting people in line and playing games with them at the numerous display units present.

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Xbox Series X Is Less Economical With Demanding Games

The Xbox Series X and PS5 draw between 160-200 watts of electricity while they are in use. This is higher than the previous generation, which varies depending on what type of game you are playing. With less graphically intensive games, it can be as low as 80 watts while more intense graphics will increase up to 200+watts. Newer video games that are much better graphically will consume even more than 200+ watts of power out of the Xbox.

The Xbox Series S Is The Best

Ill be honest a big reason why I bought the Xbox Series S is because I simply love the way it looks. Whereas the blocky, tower-shaped Xbox Series X and the ridiculously gargantuan sci-fi behemoth that is the PS5 both command a decent amount of space, the Series S is an adorable little white rectangle that kind of looks like a large Bluetooth speaker. Its about half of the weight of both higher-end consoles, and a fraction of the size. This tiny box is just nice to look at especially sitting next to the matching white Switch OLED in my entertainment center.

But the Series S sleek design isnt just pretty its also practical. Moving the console from my living room to my PC area whenever I streamed on Twitch was a breeze, and far less of a hassle than lugging my PS5 from room to room. And if I ever find myself going on a long trip where Ill want a console handy, the Series S is the only system small enough to fit in my backpack.

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How Much Would It Cost To Buy Or Build A Pc That Matches The Xbox Series Xs Performance

Its hard to make a one-to-one comparison. In theory, you could build something close to the Xbox Series X for a bit more than a $1,000: that would be a last-generation Nvidia GPU, one NVMe SSD, 16 GB RAM, a mid-range power supply unit, and a mid-range CPU. But you wouldnt get the benefits a console has over PC, like developers optimizing their games for console specifications and Microsofts own proprietary wizardry, like its Velocity architecture, which allows for Quick Resume. Which is a jargony way of saying that some games designed for Xbox will make more out of less power than their PC counterparts.

Floating Ping Pong Balls

The original image of a ping pong ball floating above an Xbox Series X.

On November 11, one day after the consoles launch, Reddit user SnowFlakesMilkHoney uploaded an image of a ping pong ball being held up above their Xbox Series X by the air being emitted from their console as they were playing Forza Horizon 4. The image quickly gained traction, gaining almost a hundred thousand upvotes. Similar videos began to surface online of other people managing to get a ping pong ball to float above their console. The original image was shared across a multitude of discussion boards and was even covered by video game news outlets such as IGN and Gamespot.

These videos were quickly debunked, with many other videos being uploaded in the following days of the original post of people testing their console fans out for themselves. Disappointingly, it was found that the Xbox Series X’s fans were unable to suspend anything at all. A variety of objects were tested including feathers and pieces of paper while different games were running on the console, with all failing to leave the surface of the top of the console.

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Which Xbox Should You Buy

We’ll have to see both systems ourselves and put them through their paces to really know which is the better value. Based on the specs and features, the Xbox Series X seems superior across the board, with much more processing power and the ability to render at 4K, along with double the storage and an optical drive for physical media. It’s much bigger and more expensive, however, so if budget and space are concerns for you, the Xbox Series S looks to be a respectable system with plenty of power in its own right, though the lack of a disc drive is a distinct weakness.

We’ll update this story as we learn more about the new systems, so make sure to check back. And if you already know which one you want, head over to our story on how to pre-order the new Xbox.

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