How Much Is An Xbox One
The original Xbox One released on November 22, 2013 for $499. Since then, there have been several Xbox One price drops, eventually settling on an Xbox One price of $299 at electronics retailers before being discontinued. This Xbox One price drop certainly made the console more appealing and led to massive spikes in sales, but the Xbox One can be had for substantially less on Swappa. Current Xbox One prices start at just $115, which is less than a quarter of what youd have to pay for a brand-new Xbox Series X.
The Xbox One received two mid-cycle console refreshes: Xbox One S and Xbox One X. The Xbox One S launched on August 2, 2016 for $299 and replaced the original console. The Xbox One X came out a year later on November 7, 2017 for $499 and served as a higher-end, 4K-capable alternative for gamers looking for the best visuals and frame rates.
Naturally, you can get these consoles for considerably less when you shop on Swappa Gaming. The Xbox One S currently starts at just $145 and the Xbox One X price is just $190 on Swappa. This means that you can buy TWO 4K-ready Xbox One X consoles one for you, and one to give as the perfect gift for a fellow gamer and still have money left over to pick up plenty of games and accessories.
$299 MSRP | $499 MSRP |
Xbox Series X Review: Backwards Compatibility
In the run-up to the release of the Xbox Series X, backwards compatibility was touted a lot by Microsoft, as well as keen Xbox gamers. Such was the hype, I had steeled myself for disappointment. But I neednt have worried as backwards compatibility on the Xbox Series X is superb.
Simply put, getting an Xbox game from any generation to run on the Xbox Series X is just a case of getting the disc and popping it into the console. If the game is backwards compatible, and many should be, then itll begin an installation process. If you have access to Xbox Game Pass, then you can simply download any game thats listed on the service that dates back as far as the original Xbox.
These games wont immediately be able to put the graphical horsepower of the Series X to use, if ever. But the fact they can be installed directly to the consoles SSD means theyll load up in seconds. And any games that used to run badly on older hardware, should at least be a little smoothed out.
There are limits in that a game locked at 30 frames per second wont suddenly run at 60 fps or more unless it gets optimized. I found that to be the case with Red Dead Redemption, which runs at 4K/30 fps on the Series X, much like it did on the One X. Throwing Assassin’s Creed 2 in the Series X results in a game that loads a lot faster and feels smoother than it ever did on the Xbox 360.
You Should Buy The Xbox One X If
- You want plenty of power, but without a next-gen upgrade: Microsoft remains committed to all platforms under the Xbox banner for the forseeable future, meaning Xbox One X owners will be able to immerse themselves in the latest games without worry. This will come with visual and performance compromises, but those who dont mind such a hit will adore this console.
- Xbox Game Pass looks appealing to you: One of the biggest draws of Microsofts gaming side right now is Xbox Game Pass. All of its major exclusives arrive on the service at launch with no extra cost involved, meaning you can play an endless array of blockbusters and indie gems with a single monthly investment. Its only growing more ambitious, so why not dive in.
- You want to experience 4K games and films: Fitted with a 4K blu-ray player, the Xbox One X is capable of playing 4K films while also depicting a number of fantastic games at a much higher resolution. It wont reach the ambition of its next-gen siblings, but its pretty damn close.
Don’t Miss: How To Use Xbox Controller On Switch
Skip: Games Moving To Pc
Another move from Microsoft that I really appreciate is that many of their console exclusive games will be made available on Windows 10. What this means is that another aspect of video gaming is now possible for those who have massive towers in their homes. Unfortunately, this all but alienates the need for the Xbox One X .
Think about it: a powerful PC has just about the same specs as an Xbox One X, but has the capability to play thousands of more games that aren’t available on the Xbox. Those who own said PCs also have the option to customize their setup however they want, which isn’t much of an option when owning a console. Basically, if you have a gaming PC, there isn’t much here for you.
Is The Xbox Series S Worth It

The Xbox Series S is absolutely still worth buying in 2022. Microsofts wallet-friendly console boasts many of the same quality features as the Series X, is much easier to actually buy in the first place, and is arguably the easiest entry point to accessing the incredible Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription services.
But it is worth noting that the Series S isnt without its drawbacks. As mentioned earlier, the relatively small amount of storage on the SSD is lamentable, especially considering the Series S is a digital-only machine. Thats really the biggest issue with the console in our minds, with the less powerful processor and 1440p resolution target for gaming are only slight drawbacks at best.
So if youre in the market for a new console, and either cant afford an Xbox Series X or are simply tired of waiting for stock to appear, dont count out the Xbox Series S. Not only will you save yourself a lot of money and time, youll end up owning one of Microsofts best consoles to date.
Recommended Reading: How To Turn Off Content Restrictions On Xbox One
Xbox One X Vs Xbox Series S Specs
As mentioned earlier, the Xbox One X and Xbox Series S comes from two different console generations. The former is the high-end Xbox console of the current generation, while the latter is the low-end next-generation Xbox console. In terms of CPU power, the Xbox Series S and the Xbox One X are similarly powerful. The Series S sports an 8-Core AMD Zen 2 CPU at 3.6 GHz. In comparison, the Xbox One X also features an 8-Core Custom AMD but only at 2.3 GHz. Storage wise the Xbox One X features a 1TB HDD, while the Series One S has a 512 GB expandable SSD. It is worth noting that while the Series One S will hold fewer games than the Xbox One X out of the box, the SSD means that the new-generation console will load games much faster than the Xbox One X despite its lower storage capacity.
Although the Series S wins slightly in terms of power and performance, the same cannot be said with its GPU power. Given that the Series S is marketed to be a low-end console, Microsoft did not really push its graphical capabilities, given that they are targeting the Series S to those who are not planning to run the console using a 4K TV or monitor. As revealed by Microsoft, the Xbox Series S will have 4 teraflops of GPU Power, which pales in comparison to its high-end counterpart with 12.15 teraflops.
Is The Xbox One Still Worth It
Earlier this week, the next-generation video game consoles officially hit store shelves or more accurately, they were released and sold out instantly. But even if you couldnt get your hands on an Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or PlayStation 5 or you simply dont want to spend half a grand to play the same games its still a great time to be a gamer.
Although the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 offer a generational leap in terms of processing power and I/O speed, their extremely limited game libraries mean that youre stuck playing the same previous-generation titles while paying over three times as much! Keep reading as we take a closer look at the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X to see how they stack up now that the next generation has arrived.
Also Check: Gta 5 Online Xbox One Mods
Xbox One X Specs And Technology
- In terms of raw power, it eclipses the Xbox One S and PS4 Pro
- Can also output HDR and increased performance on the majority of games
- Storage size is 1TB as standard, but can be upgraded with external drives
Yes, I know you want to find out how this console plays and what the games look like. But in order to understand what the One X is capable of, we need to understand whats under the bonnet. Ill keep it brief, I promise. But if you must skip ahead, head to page two of this review where Ill dive headlong into graphics analysis.
There are a fair few elements that contribute to the One Xs improved performance and graphical prowess. The first is simple, and thats fidelity. Previous Xbox consoles have produced Full HD images, with the Xbox One S using a technique called upscaling to output 4K Ultra HD resolution.
The One X is different. Instead, it produces Ultra HD images from the off. This means the graphics hardware has to work four times as hard to produce each frame something it has to do up to 60 times every second to keep up with a TV. The expected result? A much, much sharper image that makes proper use of all those pixels in your fancy 4K TV.
Some games will even support wide colour gamut HDR, which means youll see more and brighter colours than ever before. Some games on the Xbox One S already supported this, but in conjunction with Ultra HD and the other graphical enhancements, it should look more spectacular here than ever before.
Choosing The Right Xbox: Series X Or Series S
-
Weve added new information on user interface and usability improvements, the new Xbox Wireless Headset, and other additions to the platform.
A new generation of video game consoles has been out for more than a year, though stock shortages continue. The Xbox One is no more, replaced by a pair of new Xbox consoles. The $500 Xbox Series X and the $300 Xbox Series S are both based on a similar foundation, and both will play all of the same games for years to come. But each model targets a different level of speed and graphics performance, and with that in mind, were here to help you figure out which one you should buyor, if you need to buy one at all.
Youre going to hear a lot about 4K if youre shopping for video games or a TV. It represents the next big step in high-definition video, with 3840×2160 pixelsfour times the resolution of 1080p.
Our pick
Get the Series X if youll use it with a 4K TV , want the absolute best in graphics like raytraced lighting effects, or if you want a disc drive for games and movies.
Buying Options
May be out of stock
Recommended Reading: Connect Phone To Xbox 360 Bluetooth
So Should I Buy An Xbox One X If I Don’t Have A 4k Tv Then
If youre perfectly happy with your 1080p TV, then the X remains kind of a hard sell. The console still retails for around $400/£400, making it around twice the price of Xbox One S. If youre going to make the upgrade, you need to really value supersampling and slight framerate improvements.
While smoother images and better performance is certainly welcome and can make certain games a good deal more enjoyable to play on the X at 1080p compared to the S, is that really worth $200/£200 to you? If youve got the money lying around, then go for it Xbox One X is a superbly designed piece of kit. Short on cash? Then rest safe in the knowledge the S is still a fine console for gaming on a 1080p TV.
Xbox Series X Vs Xbox One X: Which Is Best For You
Ultimately, the main decision to make is whether you want to invest in the future of gaming or you’re happy to settle for the best the last generation has to offer.
The Xbox Series X is an extremely powerful, exciting new console. But we also have a massive sweet spot for the Xbox One X still. The latter is an amazing machine for the current price and if you can find one for sale, it could be a better option for a tighter budget.
squirrel_widget_158169
You May Like: Gta 5 Mods Xbox One Story Mode
What We Know So Far
Where the PlayStation consoles arent likely to drift away from their naming sequence, Xbox has taken a different path. Before the Game Awards of 2019, the upcoming Xbox console was known under the Xbox Project Scarlett codename. Although Project Scarlett does sound pretty cool, Microsoft decided to go with Xbox Series X for the name. So, since last year, weve known the name of the upcoming console.
Even more importantly, we also know the approximate release date the 2020 holiday season. This was to be expected, as the PS 5 release is in that ballpark. We know that the controller will be redesigned to be more accessible. Also expected are 1 TB SSD Seagate upgrades, which is very important, considering the ever-increasing size of modern games.
Aesthetics-wise, the Series X will feature a blockier look, similar to a small gaming PC. But gamers dont tend to care for the aesthetic aspect of a console. Theyre much more interested in whats under the hood. In this respect, Microsoft has spilled the beans regarding the specs that the Series X will feature and theyre quite something.
Xbox Series X Vs Pc: Price

Of course, theres one area where an Xbox Series X still has a major advantage over a PC, and thats price. My colleague Adam Ismail and I discussed this at length inan article on the next-gen consoles, but custom-built gaming PCs are always going to be more expensive than mass-produced consoles. While we dont know how much an Xbox Series X will cost, $500 seems like a reasonable assumption. You can build an extremely bare-bones gaming PC for that price, but it almost definitely wont match the power of a CPU, GPU or SSD on the Xbox Series X. Mass production makes expensive parts cheaper theres no getting around basic economics.
Out of curiosity, I went on Newegg and tried to create a PC with Xbox Series X specs. Even with the cheapest parts I could find, my total was almost $1,500 and thats not counting a case or a copy of Windows 10. Its easy to say that a gaming PC can do whatever an Xbox Series X can, and more. But its hard to justify doubling or perhaps even tripling what youd spend on an Xbox Series X just to play the same games with slightly better graphics and frame rates.
Also Check: Xbox One Standing Up
You Already Have An Xbox One S
If you have an Xbox One S already, is it worth upgrading? The One S plays 4K video and Blu-ray as well as supporting HDR gaming. It’s also only just over a year old so there’s no chance you’ve had it for a particularly long time.
The One X is certainly more of an upgrade if you’re still on the original model Xbox One, but it’s something to think about if you’re on a One S. Especially if you don’t have a 4K TV.
Xbox One X Price: How Much Is It
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Yeah… we thought we would start with the bad news first. The Xbox One X is expensive. There are no two ways round it. Most retailers will ship the console for around £449, which is a heavy investment for a gaming box.
This price stings a little bit more when you understand that its direct competitor, the PS4 Pro, can be bought for around £349.
And this is before we even bring into the mix.
The Stadia will supposedly be able to instantly stream any games you might want in 4K 60FPS, without any downloads or installations, across every device, be that PC, TV or your phone, and is rumoured to be more powerful than both the One X and the PS4 Pro combined.
If that is the case, then the Xbox One X looks to be middling at best when you consider its price.
But the Stadia is a long way away, and we may not even see the claims Google has made come to fruition, meaning that, right now, the Xbox One X is still your best bet for 4K gaming.
Or it will be until we see the latest generation of consoles from Microsoft and PS4, perhaps as early as E3 this year?
Read Also: Microsoft Xbox Forgot Password
Upgrading To Xbox Series X
When you take everything into account, from specs to VR capability, it all boils down to whether youre a fan of Xbox as a console or not. Xbox Series X is definitely going to be a powerhouse of a console and bring numerous updates to the table, compared to Xbox One X. So yes, its definitely worth the upgrade.
Will you get an Xbox Series X console when its released? Do you prefer Xbox over PlayStation? Why? Why not? Let us know in the comments section below and feel free to ask any questions about the upcoming Xbox console.