The Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X are Microsoft’s 4th-generation home video game consoles. They succeed the Xbox One S and Xbox One X, offering more power and enhanced performance. These are designed around Radeon RDNA 2 graphics architecture and AMD’s 8-core Zen 2 CPU. The new features in these consoles include in-built SSDs for faster access times, display resolutions up to 8K, and support for real-time ray tracing.

If you want to buy any of these consoles, you must know how they stack against each other. It will help you to make an informed decision. However, if you don’t want to spend on a new Xbox, you can play Xbox games on your Windows PC. All you need is an Xbox paid subscription, and you’re good to go. But what can you do if you use a Mac? Mac users can play Xbox games via Xbox Cloud Gaming Mac. Thanks to this feature, you can stream games online without downloading them.

For those who wish to purchase an Xbox, here’s a detailed comparison between Xbox Series S and Series X.

Overview of the Specifications

	Xbox Series S	Xbox Series X
Weight	4.25 lbs	9.8 lbs
Storage	512GB	1TB
GPU	AMD Custom RDNA 2 @ 1.565Ghz w/20 compute units	AMD Custom RDNA 2 @ 1.825Ghz w/52 compute units
Memory	10GB GDDR6	12GB GDDR6
CPU	8 core, AMD Custom Zen 2 CPU @ 3.6Ghz	8 core, AMD Custom Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8Ghz
Memory bandwidth	8GB (224GB/s) and 2GB (56GB/s)	8GB (336GB/s) and 10GB (560GB/s)
Communication	Ethernet and Wi-Fi	Ethernet and Wi-Fi
Memory bus	128-bit	320-bit
AV Output	HDMI 2.1 in/out, 4K, 1440p, 1080p and 720p	HDMI 2.1 in/out, 8K, 4K, 1440p, 1080p and 720p
Optical Drive	NA	4K UHD Blu-Ray
8K Support	No	Yes
4K Support	Yes	Yes
Controller	Updated Xbox 4th Generation Controller	Updated Xbox 4th Generation Controller

Detailed Comparison of the Two Consoles

• Hardware

Both consoles come with AMD technology, including custom Radeon RDNA 2 graphics architecture and the company’s 8-core Zen 2 CPU.

Between the Xbox Series S and X CPUs, speed differs because the consoles run at 3.6GHz and 3.8Ghz, respectively.

The most standout difference is when you look closely at the RDNA 2 graphics processors. The Series X features 56 compute units at 1.85GHz. On the other hand, the Series S features 20 compute units at 1.565 GHz. This means that Series X processes more data than Series S.

The Series X includes a 4K UHD Blu-Ray player, but the Series S is diskless, which is why the latter costs less than the former console.

Furthermore, the Series X comprises 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, and the Series S comprises 10GB of GDDR6 RAM.

Therefore, the impressive internal specifications of Series X are far superior to Series S.

• Backward and games compatibility

Whichever console you decide to buy, you will get the great lineup of games released by Microsoft for their fourth generation consoles.

However, Series X offers a one up over Series S by letting users optimize the games. In addition, since the console provides higher frame rates, you will get an immersive experience.

When downloading the game from the Xbox Store, Series X will download the optimized version without you having to lift a finger. In addition, the games that are optimized for this series will bear the Optimized for Series X badge.

As for backward compatibility, both Series S and X are at par.

Simply put, both consoles let gamers access the same libraries of backward-compatible games and play the same games. But Series X has the ability to optimize the games for a better gaming experience.

• Design

When it comes to design, both Series S and X feature minimalist designs. The Series X resembles a thin, tall gaming PC tower, and Series S is reminiscent of the Xbox One S design.

In Series X, there’s a single white Xbox logo on the front of the console. There’s even a small control pairing button, a vertical Blu-Ray drive, and a small eject button. You will also see a USB Type-A port.

In Series S, the console’s front features the same type of Xbox logo and USB Type-A port. There’s also a control pairing button, but it does not have a disc drive.

Overall, the Series S console is 60% smaller than the Series X console.

The Bottom Line

Both Xbox consoles are a great choice depending on your budget and specific gaming requirements. Therefore, go through the specifications and features to make an informed decision.

If you don’t want to invest in a new Xbox right away, you can play Xbox games on your Windows and Mac computers.