Microsoft's Xbox lineup can be confusing when you're trying to save money. The 2013 Xbox One still sells cheap on the used market, while the compact 2020 Xbox Series S is Microsoft's affordable entry into current-generation gaming. Both play a huge library of games, both support Xbox Game Pass, and both come from the same ecosystem. But the hardware gap is enormous. In this comparison, we look at specs, real-world performance, backward compatibility, pricing, and who each console actually suits in 2026, so you can pick the one that fits your budget and expectations.
Quick Answer: Choose the Xbox Series S if you want current-gen performance, 1440p gaming, faster load times, and long-term game support. Choose the Xbox One only if you need the cheapest possible entry into the Xbox library and don't mind playing older, last-gen versions of games.
Released in November 2020, the Microsoft Xbox Series S is the smallest and most affordable current-generation Xbox. It's a digital-only console (no disc drive) built around the same custom AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU architecture as the flagship Xbox Series X, just at lower graphics performance. Its 512GB NVMe SSD dramatically reduces load times and enables Quick Resume, letting you jump between multiple games instantly.
1.1 Technical Highlights
1.2 Editor Ratings
2. Xbox One: Product Information
The Microsoft Xbox One, launched in November 2013, was Microsoft's eighth-generation console. It's built on an AMD Jaguar 8-core CPU and integrated Radeon GPU, with 8 GB of DDR3 memory and a mechanical 500 GB HDD in the base model. It targets 1080p gaming at 30 fps in most titles and includes a Blu-ray disc drive—useful if you already own physical Xbox 360 or Xbox One discs.
2.1 Technical Highlights
2.2 Editor Ratings
3. Xbox Series S vs Xbox One Comparison Table
| Feature | Xbox Series S | Xbox One |
|---|---|---|
| Release Year | 2020 Winner | 2013 |
| GPU Power | 4 TFLOPS (RDNA 2) Winner | ~1.3 TFLOPS (GCN) |
| CPU | Zen 2 @ 3.6 GHz Winner | Jaguar @ 1.75 GHz |
| Storage | 512 GB NVMe SSD Winner | 500 GB HDD |
| Target Resolution | 1440p / up to 120 fps Winner | 1080p / 30 fps typical |
| Ray Tracing | Yes Winner | No |
| Disc Drive | None (digital only) | Blu-ray Winner |
| Quick Resume | Yes Winner | No |
| Game Pass Support | Yes (all tiers) | Yes (limited to older titles) |
| Typical Used Price | Mid-range | Budget Winner |
Compare both consoles across major retailers in one place. Compare the Xbox Series S on ShopFox and set a price-drop alert.
4. Real User Feedback: Xbox Series S
Across community forums, Reddit threads, and long-term owner reviews, the Xbox Series S is generally praised as the best-value current-gen console. Owners consistently highlight the near-silent operation, fast SSD load times, and Quick Resume as day-to-day features that fundamentally change the experience compared to older hardware. Game Pass Ultimate remains the most-cited reason for buying: hundreds of games at a monthly cost, including every first-party Microsoft release on day one.
4.1 Key Feedback Themes
The most common complaint is the 512 GB SSD—about 364 GB is actually usable after system files, and modern AAA games routinely eat 60-100 GB each. Buyers should budget for the official Seagate expansion card or a compatible external SSD for older Xbox One titles. Users also mention that some cross-gen games run at lower resolutions on Series S compared to Series X, though frame rates remain consistent. You can read verified community reviews on the Xbox Series S review page.
5. Real User Feedback: Xbox One
The original Xbox One has a long tail of owners who still use it as a secondary console, a bedroom media box, or an entry-level machine for younger family members. In 2026 feedback, users appreciate that the console still receives system updates, still connects to Xbox Live, and still supports Game Pass for older library titles. Physical media fans particularly value the Blu-ray drive—both for games and 1080p movie playback.
5.1 Key Feedback Themes
Complaints center on aging hardware. Load times on the mechanical HDD can stretch to a full minute in bigger open-world games. First-generation Xbox One units run notably louder than newer S/X revisions, and hard drive failure is a recurring maintenance issue. Owners also note that most 2024-onward Microsoft exclusives no longer target Xbox One at all, which caps the console's future library. Full owner feedback lives on the Xbox One review page.
Expert Opinion & How We Researched This
We did not perform first-hand lab testing for this comparison. Our analysis is based on Microsoft's published specifications, long-term expert reviews from established gaming publications, community feedback from Xbox owner forums and Reddit, and current retail listings aggregated on ShopFox. Where consoles differ in real-world performance (load times, frame rates, thermals), we referenced multiple independent sources rather than a single benchmark.
6. Pros & Cons Summary
6.1 Xbox Series S
- NVMe SSD with Quick Resume
- Ray tracing and up to 120 fps support
- Smallest current-gen console form factor
- Full Game Pass Ultimate compatibility
- No disc drive, digital only
- Lower target resolution than Series X
6.2 Xbox One
- Blu-ray drive for physical media
- Backward compatible with many Xbox 360 titles
- Widely available on the used market
- No new first-party games launching on it
- Loud fans on older revisions
- Limited to 1080p / 30 fps in most modern titles
7. Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends less on price alone and more on how long you plan to keep the console. If you're building a setup for the next three-plus years, the Xbox Series S is the only reasonable pick—new Microsoft-published games target Series S/X as the baseline, and Xbox One is increasingly being dropped from release plans. If you're buying a stopgap console for a spare room, a kid's first console, or purely to replay disc-based Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles, the older Xbox One can still make sense at the right used price.
You can also browse the full video game consoles category to compare prices, deals, and availability across retailers before you commit.
Choose Xbox Series S If…
You want a genuinely current-gen console at the lowest possible new price, care about fast load times and Quick Resume, plan to subscribe to Game Pass, and are comfortable buying games digitally. It's the smarter long-term investment for 2026 and beyond.
View Series S PriceChoose Xbox One If…
You want the absolute cheapest way into the Xbox library, own a stack of Xbox One or Xbox 360 discs, need a Blu-ray player, or are buying a casual secondary console. Accept that new AAA releases will increasingly skip this hardware.
View Xbox One Price8. Purchase Timing & Market Cycle Advice
Xbox console pricing follows fairly predictable annual cycles. The Xbox Series S consistently sees its deepest discounts around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and mid-year events like Amazon Prime Day. Bundles that include Game Pass Ultimate trial months or a free game tend to appear in the run-up to major first-party releases. If you can wait a few weeks, you'll almost always find a better deal than paying MSRP.
The Xbox One is a used-market product now. Prices fluctuate widely by seller, region, and included accessories, so it's worth watching listings over a couple of weeks rather than buying the first unit you see. Refurbished units from major retailers with a warranty are usually a safer bet than random marketplace listings. Check the Series S price history or set a price alert on Shopfox to catch drops automatically.
Never overpay again. Check active coupons and cashback before buying either Xbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Xbox Series S actually more powerful than the Xbox One X?
Yes, though it depends on the metric. In raw GPU teraflops, the Xbox One X (6 TFLOPS, GCN architecture) is slightly higher than the Series S (4 TFLOPS, RDNA 2). But the Series S uses a newer architecture that is dramatically more efficient per teraflop, has a much faster CPU, ray-tracing hardware, and an NVMe SSD. In practice, Series S runs current-gen games and features that the One X cannot, making it the more capable console overall.
Can the Xbox Series S play Xbox One discs?
No. The Xbox Series S is a digital-only console with no disc drive, so it cannot read any Xbox One, Xbox 360, or original Xbox discs. If your library is mostly physical media, you'll either need to keep an Xbox One, buy digital versions of your games, or step up to the Xbox Series X, which does include a disc drive. Many older physical games have digital counterparts on Game Pass or the Microsoft Store.
Will my Xbox One controller work on Xbox Series S?
Yes. Xbox One wireless controllers (including Elite Series 1 and 2) are fully compatible with the Xbox Series S and Series X. You can also use headsets, racing wheels, fight sticks, and most other Xbox One accessories. The new Series controllers add a Share button and use USB-C instead of micro-USB, but functionality is otherwise very similar, so upgrading peripherals isn't required.
Is 512 GB enough storage on the Xbox Series S?
For most players, no. After the system reserves space, you have roughly 364 GB usable. Modern AAA games often occupy 60-100 GB each, meaning you can only keep three to five big titles installed at once. If you play many current-gen games, plan to buy either the official Seagate expansion card for Series X|S games, or a standard external USB SSD for storing (and playing) older Xbox One and backward-compatible titles.
Does Xbox Game Pass work the same on both consoles?
Both consoles support Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate, but the Series S gets the full current-gen catalog including day-one first-party releases. The Xbox One receives a shrinking subset—primarily older and backward-compatible titles—because Microsoft's newer games increasingly target only Series S/X hardware. If Game Pass is your main reason to buy, the Series S offers substantially more value over time.
Should I buy a used Xbox One instead of a new Series S?
Only if your budget is very tight and your goal is casual play or a secondary console. A used Xbox One is cheap but comes with aging mechanical hardware, potential HDD failure, and no path to new first-party titles. A new Series S costs more upfront but includes a warranty, current-gen performance, and years of future software support—usually the better long-term value unless you're spending under half the Series S price.
Can the Xbox Series S output 4K?
Yes, but with caveats. The Series S targets 1440p gaming and upscales to 4K for video playback (Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, etc.). Games themselves generally render at 1080p or 1440p rather than native 4K—that's reserved for the Xbox Series X. On a 4K TV, the console will still deliver a sharp image thanks to upscaling, but if native 4K gaming is a priority, choose the Series X instead of the Series S.
How long will the Xbox One keep getting supported?
Microsoft has not published a hard end-of-life date, and the Xbox One still receives system updates and Xbox Live support in 2026. However, new first-party games have largely stopped being developed for it, and third-party publishers are increasingly dropping Xbox One versions from their release plans. Expect online services to continue for several more years, but treat the Xbox One as a legacy console for playing existing libraries, not future releases.
Is the Xbox Series S good for competitive online gaming?
Yes. Many popular multiplayer titles—Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, Rocket League—support 120 fps modes on the Series S, giving it a significant competitive edge over the 60 fps ceiling of the Xbox One. Combined with fast SSD load times and a solid Wi-Fi/Ethernet stack, the Series S is a capable competitive console, especially if paired with a 120 Hz TV or monitor.
Conclusion
The Xbox Series S vs Xbox One comparison isn't really a fight between two equals—it's a decision between a current-generation console and a legacy one that still happens to work. The Series S wins on nearly every technical metric: faster CPU, modern GPU with ray tracing, NVMe SSD, Quick Resume, higher target frame rates, and long-term software support. The Xbox One's remaining strengths are price, its Blu-ray drive, and access to older physical libraries.
For almost every buyer in 2026, the Xbox Series S is the correct choice. It's affordable, small, quiet, and pairs perfectly with Xbox Game Pass for genuine value. The Xbox One is only worth buying as an ultra-budget stopgap, a secondary bedroom console, or if you're specifically preserving a disc collection. Whichever you pick, use ShopFox to compare prices across retailers, watch for deals, and stack coupons or cashback before checking out.