XBOX One S is a new model of the 8th generation gaming platform from Microsoft, replacing the first version of . The game console went on sale on August 6, 2016.

The appearance of the XBOX One S was expected, the refinement and improvement of existing models is carried out by almost all manufacturers of game consoles. The prefix S in the new model means Slim, logically leading to the fact that the prefix has become thinner, and as a result, lighter. And this is true, the game console received reduced dimensions: 295 × 65 × 230 mm for XBOX One S versus 343x81x264 mm for XBOX One, and the weight of the new model decreased from 3.62 kg to 2.1 kg.

The XBOX One S also received other differences from the previous model.

  • The body of the XBOX One S has also undergone external changes. Marked glossy inserts have disappeared, the case has become completely matte, and its color is mostly white.

  • XBOX One S got a third USB port

  • Microsoft XBOX One S received a built-in power supply instead of an external one, quite large and recognized by users as inconvenient, as well as noisy and very hot

  • Significantly reduced power consumption during console operation

  • XBOX One S maximum hard drive size has been increased to 2TB

  • The console received support for playing video in Ultra HD format with a resolution of 4K (in the previous model, the resolution is 1080p)

  • New HDMI port with HDR support (HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology reproduces bright and dark scenes with much more colors)

  • The new model has the ability to play discs in Ultra HD Blue-Ray format
  • The XBOX One case is lined with matte plastic and does not have glossy easily soiled elements.
  • The Microsoft Xbox One S is capable of turning on other devices such as a TV, receiver, and cable or satellite box. When playing games and watching movies, the built-in IR transmitter will allow you to do everything faster and forget about remote controls. All this is implemented by Microsoft Cortana technology, the connection port of which has taken the former place of the Kinect 2.0 connection port.
  • In Microsoft XBOX One S, with the advent of the Microsoft Cortana port, the connector for Microsoft Kinect 2.0 has disappeared. Now, in order to connect Kinect, you will need Microsoft Kinect Adapter - an adapter with which you can connect Kinect to a regular USB connector
  • Microsoft XBOX One S finally got the ability to install in a vertical position, however, with the help of a special stand that can be purchased with the console
  • The Microsoft XBOX One S gamepad received Bluetooth technology, which not only doubled the radius of its reach of the set-top box, but also allows you to connect it to computers and mobile devices based on Windows 10 and older. This gives the gamepad a distinct advantage over the competition*
    The gamepad has received a sleeker and more streamlined design, as well as a textured surface that creates additional comfort during the game. Also Microsoft XBOX One Wireless Controller has finally found a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

Specifications XBOX One S

Model XBOX One S
Attachment type Stationary
Image in games Full HD
HDD 500GB; 1TB; 2TB
Main and GPU Main: AMD Jaguar 1.75 GHz (8 cores), x86-64 architecture

Graphics: 12 AMD Radeon units (1.4 teraflops, 914 MHz)

RAM 8192 MB DRAM + 32 MB ESRAM (68/219 Gb/s)
Input Output Hi-Speed ​​USB Connector × 3
Network connections Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth / Ethernet / Infrared
Video playback There is
Readable media Blu-ray; DVD; CD
AV output 2 x HDMI (supports HDR, UltraHD); S/PDIF (optical output)
Dimensions (WxHxD) 295×65×230 ​​mm
Weight 2.1 kg
Controller included yes, wireless
Accessories included headset, HDMI cable, network cable
Game media type blue-ray disc
Game Compatibility XBOX 360, XBOX One
Power Max. 120 W

We can definitely say that when a new XBOX One model - XBOX One S appeared on the market, the relevance of the previous version disappeared. The advantages of the novelty are on the face, and the updated complete gamepad has become more attractive and functional, thanks to expanded compatibility with other devices and the convenience of connecting via Bluetooth.

On the acquisition of the XBOX One S game console, our qualified specialists will be happy to advise you and assist you in choosing.

The updated Xbox One S is Microsoft's answer to the PlayStation 4 Slim. The novelty has also been reduced in size and repainted in white, the power supply has moved inside, and the price has dropped to $ 300 for a version with a 500 GB hard drive. 1 and 2 TB models are also offered, which, given the low speed of downloading games from the digital Xbox Store, is quite justified. The Xbox One S Wireless Controller has also been improved.

soap graphics

The main drawback of the original Xbox One - a graphics accelerator with a performance of only 1.4 TFlops - was inherited by the One S version. Most games on the Microsoft console run at a resolution of only 1280x720 pixels, which makes the picture look fuzzy and blurry.

Favorable special offers

However, for non-graphically demanding users, the Xbox One S can be a very good buy. So, for a set of a console plus two games (Forza Horizon 3 racing and FIFA 17 football simulator) they ask for only a little more than for the console itself. Both games are new and, given the multiplayer, they will be enough for several months of entertainment. True, for access to multiplayer, an additional monthly fee is charged.

Well, Microsoft came to its senses in time and significantly improved its positions. Conclusions - made, measures - taken, responsible - punished: the notorious Don Mattrick is now engaged in fun farms at Zynga, and the stern Phil Spencer rules the Xbox gaming division. Hardcore gamers can breathe a sigh of relief and consider buying an Xbox again as the new Xbox One S arrives on the market, bringing together all the improvements over the years. We talk about everything in a full review!

The new Xbox One S is noticeably different in design from its predecessor, and it's not even about the reduced size. Aesthetics and ergonomics come to the fore: the console looks beautiful and neat, and most importantly, it finally got rid of the huge external power supply that has been an eyesore since the Xbox 360! This bold innovation completely changed the perception: you look at a little white console, from which only HDMI and a standard power cable stick out, and you can’t believe your eyes. As if she not only became 40% more compact, but also got rid of unnecessary ballast.

There are no complaints about the quality of materials - white matte plastic (color name - Robot White) is pleasing to the eye and to the touch. In any case, it won't pick up micro-scratches as easily as the glossy black surfaces on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 cases of the first version. The assembly also inspires confidence: nothing creaks, no backlash, and in general, the body feels solid and weighty - 2.9 kg after all. Ventilation holes set an interesting topic: holes of different caliber adorn the snow-white device.

There is something from the Scandinavian design and other Bang & Olufsen in this. True, if the first Xbox One received a comic stigma of “VHS player” from caustic gamers, then the Xbox One S from the perspective from above turned out to be similar to ... a Soviet radio! As if a speaker is hiding in a round hole on top, and not a cooling fan.

By the way, according to our feelings, the noise level during the operation of the Xbox One S has become a little higher than before. Apparently, the fan of a smaller diameter and a different grille have an effect. But there are no problems with heating, despite the denser packing of the filling. If you look closely, you can see through the ventilation that the insides are cooled by a large aluminum radiator - and it does the job quite well. After a couple of hours of play, the temperature of the console does not cause concern at all, even if you install it vertically. Recall that the former Xbox One could only be used in a horizontal position.

Xbox One S lived up to expectations and left only one rhetorical question: why, well, why couldn’t the console be made like this from the very beginning? This is not just “the same Xbox One, only smaller”, as it might seem at first glance. This is a thorough work on the bugs, which eliminated the main ergonomic miscalculations and made the device much more pleasant to use. In terms of technical improvements, 4K and HDR support seems to be something familiar and ordinary these days - however, everything depends on the capabilities of your TV, and the experience will vary markedly. Anyway, the Xbox One S is ready for the near future, where even toasters can upscale the image to 4K.

The cons of the console remained the same: for example, we did not like the installation of games on the HDD for too long. The power of the set-top box's GPU is rather modest, which is why multi-platform projects often come out on the Xbox One with a lower resolution. Probably, the black version is still missing for the market balance, although the white console looks very nice. But all this is easy to put up with for the sake of good games - and this time you won't have to find a place for a hefty power supply or fiddle with the "mandatory" Kinect 2.0.

The verdict is very simple: if you are buying a console from Microsoft, then you should choose the Xbox One S! If you already have an Xbox One, then it might make sense to upgrade and get some nice newfangled features. Leave the first version to collectors and residents of spacious American homes, we have a much more enjoyable way to play the main exclusives of the Gears of War and Forza Horizon level.

After a long wait, the Xbox One S has finally entered the market. So far only the top 2TB version of the One S is currently available for $400. 500 GB and 1 TB models will also be released soon, which will cost $300 and $350, respectively.

New Xbox One S Console - Overview

Many expected and hoped for more from the latest generation of consoles, with built-in Ultra HD 4K, High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, and a general aesthetic makeover.

What is it, the new Xbox One S?

The recently confirmed Scorpio project is slated for launch in 2017 and is the answer to the question of whether you're really ready to embrace the latest-and-greatest of technology. Below, we'll take a look at how Microsoft's latest console competes with its predecessor, the Xbox One, in terms of specs. After all, comparing them side by side will sway your opinion in one way or another.

Characteristics
Appearance
Minimum price $250 (500 GB) with games $300 (500 GB) with games
Maximum version 1 TB 2 TB
Permission Up to 1080p Up to 4K
dimensions 17 x 14 x 5 inches 16.9 x 11.5 x 4.5 inches
HDR support No Yes
Blu-ray support Yes - up to 1080p Yes - up to 4K
Cortana support Yes Yes
operating system Windows 10 Windows 10
Kinect compatible Yes Yes (with adapter)
Bluetooth controller No Yes
Integrated power supply No Yes
USB 3.0 ports 3 3
Dedicated Kinect port Yes No

Blu-ray, HDR, and new streaming options

Xbox One S supports 4K video streaming from a number of specialized services. The console also has built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. At $300, the Xbox One S is a relatively inexpensive console compared to some of its competitors on the market, making it a good buy for people who currently own a 4K TV. The previous generation of Xbox One consoles, although they can read Blu-Ray discs, cannot handle UHD Blu-Ray like the Xbox One S.

Xbox One S Compatibility

Xbox One S supports all the games you loved to play on previous versions of One, and vice versa. It's also possible to play high-end older games that came out up to 4K on the console (it doesn't affect resolutions - it just scales).

Outcome

To update or not to update? The Xbox One S is without a doubt one of the best ultra-high definition Blu-ray players on the market at this price point. Combined with general gaming upgrades, the new Xbox One S console is a great choice for those looking for a decent Ultra HD Blu-ray player, as well as for those buying their first Xbox.

For current Xbox owners, there's little incentive to upgrade and take the leap to something much more promising with the launch of Project Scorpio in 2017, a 4K virtual reality game.

New Xbox One S console - video trailer

Now we'll talk about the Xbox One S. The two most important new features compared to the regular Xbox One are the UHD disc player and HDR (High Dynamic Range) support in games. The console supports streaming/HDR, but games are limited to 1080p HD (+HDR).

The device is not as powerful as the PS4 Pro, but has other advantages and is sold at a lower price, making it a direct competitor to the PS4 Slim. The Xbox One has lagged behind the PS4 in sales since both consoles launched. How good this console is, we will find out right now.

First Impressions

The power supply is now built-in, unlike the younger brother. Console in white. One half of the box is smooth plastic, the other half is textured (with a built-in fan on top), a black drive. The Xbox One S looks incredibly cool. It looks like an attractive, but still serious gaming console, unlike, for example, the Nvidia Shield, which looks like a gaming console conceived in a teenager's dream.

The ports are located on the rear panel. The console still has an In port for cable or satellite inputs. In addition, there is HDMI Out (2.0a with HDCP 2.2), USB ports, IR (infrared) output, optical audio, and a LAN port. And, of course, the power port. No dedicated Kinect port. Kinect is no longer a key component of the Microsoft Xbox strategy.

Microsoft has made some changes to the internal hardware, but the Xbox One S isn't much faster than the Xbox One, and I think it's important to highlight this since Sony made the PS4 Pro more than twice as fast as the standard PS4.

Specifications:

CPU: 1.75GHz AMD “Jaguar” 8 cores

GPU: 1.4 teraflops, AMD Radeon 12 compute units

Memory: 8GB DDR3 RAM

Storage size: 500GB, 1TB or 2TB

For comparison, the old Xbox One could increase graphics performance by 1.31 teraflops, so there is no significant difference here. PS4 has 1.84 teraflops and the new PS4 Pro has 4.2 teraflops. In other words, games will work pretty much the same as they do on Xbox One, except that Xbox One S supports (High Dynamic Range). One detail that is very important to highlight here is that every single game needs a patch to support HDR.

Blu-ray, TV apps

In order to enjoy the UHD Blu-ray experience on Xbox One S, you first need to download the "Blu-ray App" from the Microsoft Store. The software can be constantly updated, so new features may be added soon. In a few years, the game console may even turn into streaming games, which have already appeared in services such as PlayStation Now and Geforce Now.

Ultra HD Blu-ray is one of the unique features of the Xbox One S. Over the past year, we've watched several UHD Blu-ray discs on a variety of different TVs, from mid-range to high-end. I won't go into details, but I will say that for the HDR component of a UHD Blu-ray, you need either a FALD (Full Array Local Dimming) LCD TV or a good OLED TV.

All UHD Blu-ray players must provide the same picture quality. All in all, I think the Xbox One S is a very decent UHD Blu-ray player that will move forward through software updates. Another thing I want to point out is the HDMI control of the Xbox One S. If you have a TV then the console can turn it on and off. The console includes a range of apps including Netflix, Amazon Video, HBO Now, YouTube, Hulu, Vudu, Xbox Movies, FandangoNow, and more.

I want to talk about the user interface on the Xbox One. Microsoft at the end of 2015 made significant changes to the user interface. I find the interface a bit confusing and a little too slow at times, especially considering how powerful the gaming console is.

At the top, you see the Home, Community, OneGuide, and Store tabs, but because you navigate using the up, down, left, right commands, you often lose sight of where you are. All of a sudden, you end up in a store when you try to open the shortcuts on the right side. I think it looks too messy.

I'd also like to point out that the Xbox suffers from the same "illogical hierarchical" problem that Google's Android TV has. However, Apple's tvOS feels intuitive and easy to use, even if you're using it for the first time.

The Netflix app on Xbox One S plays both 4K and HDR, unlike the PS4 Pro.

I could comment on every single app, including Hulu, Amazon, HBO Now, and the built-in media player app, but I won't, and I'll say that the Xbox One S suffers from some of the same problems as the PS4 Pro: slow app loading , limited application memory / multitasking, high power consumption.

games inHDR

Not all games are available in HDR. The first HDR game was Forza Horizon 3. I've always been a big fan of racing games. From the very beginning, you can see how Forza Horizon 3 uses the deeper colors of the HDR10 standard. While TVs today can't reproduce the full Rec.2020 color space, maxing out at DCI-P3 will give you hitherto unattainable colors like a pure red Ferrari or a strong orange Lamborghini.

Some of the tracks will take you in and out of the forest. As you drive through the landscape, you'll notice how rich the colors look and how colorful the sun is as it breaks through the treetops. You will notice how varied and realistic the landscape can look like in high dynamic range and a wider color gamut.

You can turn HDR on and off from the video settings menu on your console. The SDR version in the game looks a bit dull, lacking in intensity and ultimately realism. It's also less detailed, especially in the dark and bright parts of the image, despite the console not rendering at a higher resolution than the standard Xbox One. Bright skies just don't feel right in SDR.