Discounts on the best gaming consoles happen periodically throughout the year. Still, being popular holiday purchases, there is hope for greater savings on Black Friday. The Xbox Series S is one of the most attainable gaming systems, supporting the same titles as the pricier Xbox Series X. Although the Series S doesn’t natively render gameplay in 4K, it’s an excellent match for the expansive Xbox Game Pass library. The Series S is being sold for $50 off at several retailers, but is it as strong a value now as when it debuted in 2020?
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There are many reasons why a buyer would choose the Xbox Series S over the Series X, PS5, or PS5 Pro. Of course, the simplest explanation is budget. Gamers hoping to upgrade to a more powerful console for a reduced price are consistently disappointed. Without sales, Microsoft and Sony’s flagship systems aren’t notably less expensive than when they were first released. In the case of the PS5 Slim Digital, it’s actually selling at $50 more than the discontinued chunkier digital version. Even worse, the PS5 Pro’s shockingly high price surprised many gamers interested in the powerful console.
Sadly for consumers, the cost of even older components used in consoles is stubbornly high. Also, Microsoft relies on profits from subscription services and digital game sales rather than gaming systems. Consequently, losing more money selling discounted consoles is not an attractive proposition. That tempers expectations for fantastic Black Friday Series S buying opportunities.
Xbox Series S
$250 $300 Save $50
Released alongside the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S is Microsoft’s budget option for the ninth console generation. Designed exclusively for digital gaming, the Series S can run the same games as the Series X, albeit at a potentially lower resolution and frame rate.
- Brand
- Microsoft
- Operating System
- Proprietary (Windows-based)
- Storage
- 512 GB
- VR Support
- No
- Resolution
- 720p – 4K UHD
- App Store
- Microsoft Store
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11ac
- Ports
- AC, Ethernet, USB x3, Storage Expansion, HDMI
- HDR Support
- Yes
- Original Release Date
- November 10, 2020
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $299
- Weight
- 4.25 LBS
- Dimensions
- 151 x 65 x 275 mm
- Processor
- Custom AMD 8-core Zen 2 3.6 GHz
Black Friday prices on the Series S aren’t historically low. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean the console isn’t worth considering. Critics tend to focus on what the Series S can’t do, but in reality, it shares many of the best Series X features. These capabilities include Quick Resume, where gamers can switch between titles without losing progress. However, the Series S’s unique advantages are just as noteworthy, especially its compact design and quiet cooling. Microsoft’s budget console also excels as a streaming device, with 4K movie playback that rivals the Series X.
If the Xbox Series S has one drawback, it’s storage capacity. Since the console lacks an optical drive, gamers can quickly fill up its 512 GB SSD. Microsoft recently launched a Robot White Series S with a 1 TB drive to address that issue. Unfortunately, there are no sales on any 1 TB Series S to speak of, leaving a storage expansion card as the other option. Manufacturers like Seagate and WD are responding to the demand with decent offers on supported storage.
1080p and 1440p monitors remain popular, evidence that not every gamer has joined the 4K revolution. The age of the Series S shows in recent releases like STALKER 2, but it runs the vast majority of games acceptably. Even upcoming demanding titles like Grand Theft Auto VI may work on the Xbox Series S adequately. As still the best buy for consoles, Black Friday Series S sales will continue to draw attention from the masses.
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