Xbox One vs Xbox One S vs Xbox One X: Which one should you buy

The three Xbox consoles available in the market will have you spoilt for choice, but a quick breakdown of the specs and features available in each model will help you make a decision easier. Since being hit by all of the specifications at once can be a little confusing, a discussion about which of Microsoft’s consoles is right for you will be made at the end.

Xbox One

CPU: 1.75GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU

GPU: Integrated AMD graphics clocked at 853MHz with 1.31 teraflops of performance

RAM: 8GB DDR3

Storage: 500GB (5,400rpm) hard drive, supports external hard drive storage

Dimensions: 13.1x10.8x3.1 inches

Weight: 7.8 pounds

Color: Black

Optical Drive: Blu-ray/DVD

Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi A/B/G/N 2.4GHz, and 5GHz

Internet Subscription: Xbox Live required to play online

Ports: Power, HDMI in, HDMI out, 3x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, Kinect port, IR out

4K Support: No

HDR Support: No

Release Date: November 22, 2013

Release Price: $499.99

Current Price: $249.99

Xbox One S

CPU: 1.75GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU

GPU: Integrated AMD graphics clocked at 914MHz

RAM: 8GB DDR3

Storage: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB (5,400rpm) hard drive options, supports external hard drive storage

Dimensions: 11.6x8.9x2.5 inches

Weight: 6.4 pounds

Color: Black and white

Optical Drive: 4K/HDR Blu-ray drive

Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi A/B/G/N/AC 2.4GHz, and 5GHz

Internet Subscription: Xbox Live required to play online

Ports: Power, HDMI 2.0a in, HDMI 2.0a out, 3x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, IR out

4K Support: Yes (video)

HDR Support: Yes

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Release Price: $299.99 (500GB), $349.99 (1TB), $399.99 (2TB)

Current Price: $299.99 (500GB), $349.99 (1TB), $399.99 (2TB)

Xbox One X

CPU: 2.3GHz 8-core AMD custom CPU

GPU: Integrated AMD graphics with 6 teraflops of performance

RAM:12GB GDDR5

Storage: 1TB hard drive

Dimensions: 11.8x9.5x2.4 inches

Weight: 8.4 pounds

Color: Black

Optical Drive: 4K/HDR Blu-ray drive

Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac dual band 2.4GHz, and 5GHz

Internet Subscription: Xbox Live required to play online

Ports: Power, HDMI 2.0a in, HDMI 2.0a out, 3x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, IR out

4K Support: Yes

HDR Support: Yes

Release Date: November 7, 2017

Release Price: $500 / £449 / AU $649

Current Price: $500 / £449 / AU $649

Xbox One vs Xbox One S vs Xbox One X

Speaking strictly in terms of the features, the Xbox One S is superior to Xbox One in terms of processing capabilities. And the Xbox One X is superior in this aspect to both Xbox One and the Xbox One S. Both Xbox One S and Xbox One X support HDR, while the original Xbox One doesn't. All versions of Xbox have the same user interface and the same operating system.

Conclusion:

If you already have an Xbox One and wish to upgrade to a better gaming system, opting for an Xbox One S might not be a good idea as the performance boost is not that significant. But if you have a 4K TV and can afford it, buying an Xbox One X is a better investment to make in the long term. The Xbox One X is the most powerful console out there today and the sharper aesthetics and the seamless gameplay makes it the smarter choice.