The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S have landed, and we know you can't wait to find out all about the consoles.
We've already given you a detailed look at the larger of the two, with our Xbox Series X hands-on preview, but here we'll take you through everything you can expect to get in the box of both the Series X and the smaller Series S.
We've already unboxed the PS5 and got our first look at Sony’s next-gen hardware, so now it's Microsoft's time for the same treatment, and we can start to answer some key questions – like, for example, what comes inside the box?
- Xbox Series X: every you need to know about Microsoft's powerhouse
- Xbox Series S: everything we know about the slimmed-down console
- PS5 unboxing and preview: design, controller and playing Astro's Playroom
As it turns out, the answer is pretty simple: inside the box you get the console, a wireless controller, an HDMI cable that's HDMI 2.1-compliant, plus the power cord, batteries for the controller, and the user manual / warranty info.
The only difference between the Xbox Series X and Series S accessories is the color - the Xbox Series X Controller is black to match the console while the Series S Controller is white - but otherwise the contents are exactly the same.
- Buy Xbox Series X: all the latest stock info on the $499 console
- Buy Xbox Series S: all the latest stock info on the $299 console
Xboxes in boxes
While we can't talk too much about the Xbox Series S quite yet, we've already had extensive time with the Xbox Series X. In our hands-on preview of the console we call it "Microsoft's best console ever" thanks to its super-fast load times, surprisingly quiet fans, and incredible performance that we've previously only seen from gaming PCs.
The big differences between the Series X and Series S are that the former has a 1TB SSD built-in and comes with a disc tray while the latter is reduced to a smaller 512GB drive and doesn't come with a disc tray.
Thanks to big power differences inside the hardware itself, the Xbox Series S is only capable of 120 frames per second at 1440p, while the Xbox Series X can hit full 4K/120 and even 8K/60.
The good news? Both consoles are capable of playing Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos games and movies, and the two consoles share the same library of games that stretch back all the way to the original Xbox.
We'll be putting both consoles through their paces over the next few weeks and will have more to share about them as we roll towards their November 10 launch date.
We're also making our predictions for upcoming Xbox Series X deals, though any bundles might be off the table until more stock arrives.
- Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S: which Xbox will be right for you?
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