This article is part of a directory: Complete guide to the Xbox Series X
Table of contents
  • Xbox Series X square
    Microsoft Xbox Series X

    Microsoft's newest powerhouse is a mighty tower, and can run games beautifully. It's big, and pricey, but worth it.

  • Xbox One X square
    Microsoft Xbox One X

    An elder statesman in the lineup, the One X is now harder to recommend, but you can certainly find it a lot cheaper.

Microsoft has discontinued the Xbox One X, replacing it with the Xbox Series X, which brings up to 4K and 120fps gaming and next-gen power.

But what you'll likely want to know is whether, if you already own an Xbox One X, it's worth upgrading. And, if you do manage to find one of the outgoing consoles listed on the cheap, what are the main differences?

We compare the specs and features of them both to help you make up your mind.

Price, specs and availability

Because the Xbox One X is no longer being actively produced by Microsoft, you'll actually now struggle to find a new one on the market - it's widely sold as used, though. This means pinning its price down is a little tough, but broadly, it'll generally be listed for around half the price of a newer Xbox Series X.

That's a pretty big difference, but you'll also want to check out their respective specs as laid out below - so you can figure out which offers the best options for you before we dive into more detailed comparisons.


  • Microsoft Xbox Series XMicrosoft Xbox One X
    4K CapabilityYes
    Processing Power12 TFLOPS6 TFLOPS
    Storage1TB internal SSD (expandable1TB HDD
    CPUCustom Zen 2 8X Cores @ 3.8 GHz2.3GHz
    ConnectivityWi-Fi and EthernetHDR
    Dimensions301 x 151 x 151mm300 x 240 x 60mm, 3.81kgs
    RAM16GB GDDR612GB GDDR5

Design

The design of the Xbox Series X is quite a departure from the norm. It is designed as a standing unit, although it can be laid down on its side too. However, it is considerably larger than the Xbox One X so you will need a bigger space in a TV stand.

One of the reasons for its larger size and aesthetic is heat dissipation. The grille at the top allows for internal heat to dissipate, which is important as the processing chips inside will get extremely hot and if there are not sufficient cooling measures employed, you'll find the internal fan will have to work harder - resulting in a very noisy machine and, worse still, one that is prone to crashing.

Xbox Series X in pictures: Our first look at the flagship Xbox photo 14
Pocket-lint

The same is true of the Xbox One X, which can run noisy at times for the exact same reason, but its internal hardware is easier to keep cool as it is lesser specced, so has a slimmer, more conventional profile.

Graphics

Graphics hardware is, naturally, different in the two machines. The Xbox Series X represents a significant upgrade. It sports a custom GPU with 12 teraflops of power and 52 compute units running at 1.825GHz. That's basically the most powerful graphics processing chip in any console to date - even more powerful than the one in PS5.

In comparison, the Xbox One X has a similar custom GPU but with 6 teraflops of power, 40 compute units and running at 1.172GHz.

Microsoft says the Series X is twice as powerful as the One X in terms of graphical prowess.

Xbox One Just Became The Best Console On The Planet For This Simple Reason image 1
Pocket-lint

In simple terms, it can run games natively in 4K 60fps (so long as the game in question is properly optimised), whereas the One X can only run a handful of titles in the full 4K natively. And often, you have to choose between 60fps or 4K, not both. Some games will also run at 120fps on the Xbox Series X - it has that much potential.

It is also worth noting that games for the Xbox Series X can utilise real-time ray-tracing technology, to make in-game lighting more realistic. The Xbox One X does not support that feature.

CPU and memory differences

Like the GPU, the main processor sees a major jump between the two consoles. The Xbox Series X comes with a custom eight-core AMD processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, running at up to 3.8GHz per core.

The Xbox One X, on the other hand, also has a custom eight-core AMD processor, but it runs at a maximum of 2.3GHz per core. This, says Xbox, means the Series X is four times faster, more efficient and more powerful.

On top of that, the next-gen machine comes with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, while the One X has 12GB of GDDR5 RAM.

Storage comparison

Another big leap comes in the storage solutions used in the new console.

The Xbox Series X uses SSD (solid state drive) storage, which is much faster for read/write transfers than traditional hard drive tech. It contains a 1TB SSD which provides a couple of major benefits. Not only do games load faster, but you can also pause a game, start up another, and go back to the original paused title speedily (in some cases).

Xbox One X review image 6
Pocket-lint

The Xbox One X, on the other hand, comes with a 1TB HDD, which is still capable and reasonably speedy for normal use. There is basically nothing wrong with it whatsoever. However, in comparison, loading times both at the start and in a game are much slower.

Both consoles are able to be expanded through USB 3.0 (3.1 on the Series X) external drives (to store and play Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games). In addition, the Series X also comes with a dedicated, proprietary drive port on the rear for users to plug in an optional extra 1TB SSD unit that can house extra Xbox Series X titles.

Controllers

A new version of the Xbox Wireless Controller comes with the Xbox Series X. It looks similar but has a "share" button and a D-Pad design that looks more like the one on the Elite 2 Pro controller.

We have no problems whatsoever with the older Xbox controller though - it's one of the best ever released - and the best news is that you can use it on the Series X too.

Xbox Series X launch on track but games might be slower out of the blocks image 1
Xbox

Games and accessories

All Xbox One games and accessories are compatible with the Xbox Series X. And many Xbox Series X accessories, including the new wireless controller, are backwards compatible with Xbox One too.

Xbox is committed to releasing games for all Xbox consoles (from One up) for several years going forward. And, as a bonus, some of the games are instantly upgraded when installed on a Series X.

Elden Ring is finally getting the DLC it's been crying out for photo 1
From Software

That might mean enhanced graphics and better loading times. Think of it much like the Xbox One X in comparison to the One S - many current games have enhanced graphics when played on the One X.

Xbox's Game Pass Ultimate subscription service works on the Series X as it does on the Xbox One.

Home entertainment capabilities

Both consoles sport a 4K Blu-ray drive and support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. All other streaming apps and entertainment services are similar across both.

One thing that might make a difference though is that the Xbox One X has an HDMI 2.0 output, while the Xbox Series X comes with an HDMI 2.1 equivalent. This means the One X cannot go above 4K HDR 60fps in video output terms, while the Series X is capable of up to 8K 120fps. That could be important if you plan to purchase an 8K TV anytime soon.

Xbox Series X vs Xbox One X: Which is best for you?

Ultimately, the main decision to make is whether you want to invest (heavily) in the future of gaming or you're happy to settle for the best the last generation has to offer.

The Xbox Series X is an extremely powerful, exciting console, and given it's been out a couple of years now, we think it's the smarter pick for now.

Xbox Series X square
Microsoft Xbox Series X

The latest top-range Xbox is a brilliant bit of gaming muscle, although it's a chunky one to fit into your setup.

That said, if your budget is tighter you can still have a terrific time with the Xbox One X, and Game Pass is just as prolific on the older hardware, with countless titles to explore.

Xbox One X square
Microsoft Xbox One X

This older hardware still holds up pretty nicely if you can find it on the cheap.