Xbox Series X vs Series S: hardware differences

Updated Consoles, Guides

The two consoles use the same 8-core Zen 2 CPU design and have the same SSD throughput (2.4 GB/s raw, 4.8 GB/s compressed). The differences are in the GPU, memory, storage options, disc drive and target resolution.

Black Xbox Series X standing upright next to a black Xbox controllerSeries XWhite Xbox Series S standing upright with a white Xbox controller in frontSeries S
CPU8 cores @ 3.8 GHz (3.6 GHz with SMT), custom Zen 2[1,2]8 cores @ 3.8 GHz (3.6 GHz with SMT), custom Zen 2[3]
GPU12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz, custom RDNA 2[1,2]4 TFLOPS, 20 CUs @ 1.565 GHz, custom RDNA 2[3]
Memory16 GB GDDR6, 320-bit bus[1,2]10 GB GDDR6, 128-bit bus[3]
Memory bandwidth10 GB @ 560 GB/s, 6 GB @ 336 GB/s[2]8 GB @ 224 GB/s, 2 GB @ 56 GB/s[3]
SSD I/O throughput2.4 GB/s raw, 4.8 GB/s compressed (hardware decompression)[2]2.4 GB/s raw, 4.8 GB/s compressed (hardware decompression)[3]
Gaming resolutionNative 4K[2,4]1440p (can upscale to 4K)[3,4]
Performance targetUp to 120 FPS[2]Up to 120 FPS[3]
HDMI1× HDMI 2.1 (output only)[2,4]1× HDMI 2.1 (output only)[3]
USB3× USB 3.1 Gen 1 (two rear, one front)[2,5]3× USB 3.1 Gen 1 (two rear, one front)[3,5]
Wi-Fi802.11ac dual band (Wi-Fi 5; no Wi-Fi 6)[2,4]802.11ac dual band (Wi-Fi 5; no Wi-Fi 6)[3,4]
Power draw153 W[6]74 W[6]
Power draw: shutdown / sleep / navigation0.5 W / 13 W / 48 W[6]0.4 W / 10 W / 28 W[6]
Average power in the field (games / apps)122 W / 51 W[7]61 W / 31 W[7]
Dimensions15.1 × 15.1 × 30.1 cm[2]6.5 × 15.1 × 27.5 cm[3]

Highlighted rows differ between models.

Photos: Series X: Der. Bellemer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Series S: AsmodeanUnderscore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What only Series X has

  • Native 4K as the gaming target, and 4K at 120 Hz with an HDMI 2.1 TV and Ultra High Speed cable. Series S targets 1440p and upscales to 4K.
  • A disc drive, on the Carbon Black and 2 TB Galaxy Black models. Every Series S, and the Series X Digital Edition, is disc-free.
  • A 2 TB SSD option. Series S comes with 512 GB or 1 TB.

What’s the same

Both accept the same Storage Expansion Cards and USB drives. The rules for which games run from where are identical. Both have one HDMI 2.1 output, three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11ac Wi-Fi, without Wi-Fi 6. Microsoft says it made the CPU and I/O deliberately similar so developers can scale games across the two.

Size and power

Series S measures 6.5 × 15.1 × 27.5 cm and weighs 4.25 lb. Series X is a 15.1 × 15.1 × 30.1 cm tower weighing 9.8 lb with the disc drive. In Microsoft’s standardised test, Series S draws about half the power while gaming: 74 W against 153 W.

Full spec sheets: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S.

Sources

Last checked

  1. Xbox Series X: A Closer Look at the Technology Powering the Next Generation Xbox Wire (Microsoft) · Manufacturer documentation
  2. Xbox Series X Microsoft (Xbox) · Manufacturer product page
  3. Xbox Series S Microsoft (Xbox) · Manufacturer product page
  4. Xbox Series X|S FAQ Xbox Support · Official support
  5. Using the USB ports on your Xbox console Xbox Support · Official support
  6. About power options on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S Xbox Support · Official support
  7. Gaming Sustainability Global Platform Baselines Microsoft Learn · Manufacturer documentation

See also

Related

Devices