The Xbox Series S is the smallest and cheapest console in the next-gen lineup, but don't let that fool you. It's a capable and attractive device that offers a lot of bang for your buck. Whether you're new to gaming or looking for a secondary console, the Xbox Series S has plenty to offer.
 Design
The first thing you'll notice about the Xbox Series S is how tiny it is. It's about 60% smaller than the Xbox Series X, and weighs only 4.25 pounds. It can fit easily in any entertainment center, or even in a backpack if you want to take it on the go. The console has a sleek white design, with a black circular vent on one side that resembles a speaker. The vent helps keep the console cool and quiet, as it runs almost silently even under heavy load.
 The Xbox Series S has a minimalist front panel, with only a power button, a USB port and an eject button. The eject button is somewhat redundant, as the console does not have a disc drive. This means you'll have to rely on digital downloads or streaming services for your games and media. The back panel has two more USB ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, an Ethernet port and a power port. There's also a storage expansion slot, where you can plug in a proprietary 1TB SSD card from Seagate to boost your storage capacity.
 Performance
The Xbox Series S is not as powerful as the Xbox Series X, but it still delivers impressive performance for its price and size. It uses the same AMD Zen 2 CPU as the Series X and the PS5, but with lower clock speeds (3.6GHz vs 3.8GHz). It also has a weaker GPU, with only 20 compute units and 4 teraflops of power, compared to 52 compute units and 12 teraflops on the Series X. The console also has less RAM (10GB vs 16GB) and less storage (512GB vs 1TB).
 However, these hardware differences are not very noticeable in most games, as the Xbox Series S targets a lower resolution of 1440p, rather than 4K. The console can still output 4K signals to compatible TVs, but it will upscale the image from a lower resolution. This means that some games may look slightly less sharp or detailed on a 4K display, but still very good overall. The console can also support ray tracing, which adds realistic lighting and reflections to games, as well as variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM), which improve the smoothness and responsiveness of games.
 The Xbox Series S can also run games at up to 120 frames per second (fps), which makes them feel more fluid and immersive. However, not all games support this feature, and some may require you to choose between higher resolution or higher frame rate. For example, Gears 5 can run at either 1440p/60fps or 1080p/120fps on the Series S. Some games may also have dynamic resolution scaling, which means they will adjust the resolution on the fly depending on the game's performance.
 One of the biggest advantages of the Xbox Series S is its fast load times, thanks to its custom NVMe SSD and the Xbox Velocity Architecture. This technology allows games to load data faster from the storage to the memory, reducing loading screens and improving game performance. For example, The Outer Worlds loads in about six seconds on the Series S, compared to over a minute on the Xbox One S. You can also use Quick Resume, which lets you switch between multiple games without losing your progress.
 Features
The Xbox Series S has many features that enhance your gaming experience. One of them is Smart Delivery, which ensures that you get the best version of a game for your console, without paying extra or downloading unnecessary data. For example, if you buy Assassin's Creed Valhalla for the Xbox One, you can play it on the Series S with improved graphics and performance at no additional cost.
 Another feature is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is a subscription service that gives you access to over 100 games for both console and PC, as well as cloud gaming on Android devices. You can also play online multiplayer games with Xbox Live Gold, which is included in Game Pass Ultimate. Some of the games available on Game Pass include Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Forza Horizon 4, Doom Eternal and many more.
 The Xbox Series S is also backwards compatible with thousands of games from previous generations of Xbox consoles. You can play most of your existing Xbox One games on the Series S, as well as some selected Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. Some of these games may also benefit from improved performance or graphics on the Series S, thanks to Auto HDR, which adds high dynamic range (HDR) to games that don't have it natively.
 The Xbox Series S is not only a gaming console, but also a media center. You can stream movies and shows from various apps, such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, YouTube and more. You can also use the console to play music, browse the web, chat with friends and more. However, you won't be able to play 4K Blu-rays or DVDs on the Series S, as it does not have a disc drive. You'll also need to download the apps from the Microsoft Store, as you can't use external storage devices to play media files.
 Game Library
The Xbox Series S has a vast and diverse game library, with something for everyone. You can play the latest and greatest games from Microsoft's own studios, such as Halo Infinite, Forza Motorsport, Fable and more. You can also enjoy third-party games from various publishers and developers, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, FIFA 21 and more. You can also discover indie games and hidden gems from smaller studios, such as Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Hades, Cuphead and more.
 The Xbox Series S also supports cross-play and cross-progression with other platforms, such as PC and mobile. This means you can play with or against your friends on different devices, and continue your game progress across them. For example, you can play Minecraft Dungeons on your Series S at home, then switch to your Android phone on the go, and resume where you left off.
 Should I buy the Xbox Series S?
The Xbox Series S is a great console for gamers who want to enjoy next-gen gaming without spending too much money or space. It's a powerful and versatile device that offers smooth performance, fast load times and a huge game library. It's also a great companion device for PC or mobile gamers who want to play some exclusive or optimized games on the console.
 However, the Xbox Series S is not for everyone. If you're looking for the best graphics and performance possible, you may want to consider the Xbox Series X or the PS5 instead. If you have a large collection of physical games or Blu-rays, you may miss the disc drive on the Series S. If you have a limited internet connection or data cap, you may struggle with downloading large games or updates on the Series S.
 Ultimately, the Xbox Series S is a console that offers a lot of value for its price and size, but also has some limitations and compromises. It's not the most future-proof or feature-rich console on the market, but it's still a very good one. Whether it's right for you depends on your gaming preferences and expectations.