What Is the Difference Between Xbox One and Xbox One S?

Xbox One vs. Xbox One S: Xbox One was first announced in 2013. The updated version Xbox One S came in 2016. The biggest Xbox One vs. One S difference lies in the features offered by the two variants.
Xbox One vs. Xbox One S: What's The Difference?

Xbox One vs. Xbox One S: The all-in-one entertainment system formulated by Microsoft, Xbox One was first announced in 2013. The updated version Xbox One S came in 2016. The biggest Xbox One vs. One S difference lies in the features offered by the two variants. While Xbox One S supports High Dynamic Range (HDR), Xbox One doesn’t.

Understanding the definition of Xbox One vs. Xbox One S

What is Xbox One?

It is the third home video game console of the Xbox series, manufactured by Microsoft.

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What is Xbox One S?

It is an upgraded version of Xbox One that is developed by Microsoft.  

Considering the Pros and Cons

Pro of Xbox One

  • It offers a dedicated Kinect port.
  • It is cheaper than Xbox One S.  

Cons of Xbox One

  • It has been discontinued now.  
  • It has a plastic grip that is uncomfortable to handle.  
  • It does not support High Dynamic Range (HDR).

 Pros of Xbox One S

  • It has a compact design for a better user experience.
  • It has improved grip for easier handling.  
  • The resolution for video is up to 4K.
  • It supports HDR quality.  

Cons of Xbox One S

  • It is more expensive than Xbox One.
  • It does not have a dedicated Kinect port like Xbox One.

Looking at the similarities between Xbox One vs. Xbox One S graphics

  • Both offer up to 1TB drive space.
  • Both versions offer digital assistance via Microsoft’s Cortana.
  • They are equipped with Windows 10 based Xbox One operating systems.
  • They feature three USB ports for connectivity.

Understanding the difference between Xbox One and Xbox One S

To emphasize the difference, Xbox One and One S are presented in a tabular form:

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BasisXbox oneXbox one S
PriceIt is available for $200.It is available for $300.
ResolutionIt offers resolution up to 1080p.It offers video resolution up to 4K.
DimensionsIts dimensions are 13.1 × 10.8 × 3.1 inches.Its dimensions are 11.6 × 8.9 × 2.5 inches.
HDR support  It does not support HDR.It supports HDR.
Kinect PortIt features a dedicated Kinect port.It does not feature a dedicated Kinect port.

Key Differences

  • Price: Xbox One is available under $200, whereas Xbox One S has a price of up to $300.  
  • Xbox 1 vs. Xbox 1S Size: There is a difference between Xbox 1 and Xbox 1S, with Xbox One S being smaller than Xbox One. The upgrade is slim and sleek.  
  • Xbox One doesn’t offer HDR support, while Xbox One S provides that.   
  • Xbox One vs. Xbox One S Specs: Xbox One’s specs have a blue-ray filter up to 1080p only, but Xbox One S has a far better quality of blu-ray feature up to 4K.
  • Xbox One vs. Xbox One S vs. Xbox One X: Xbox One is the basic version, Xbox One S is a slightly updated version of Xbox One, and Xbox One X is a far more upgraded version of Xbox One.
  • Xbox One X is recommendable over Xbox One S if you want the most powerful consoles.
  • Where Xbox One is great for gaming, Xbox One S also offers live streaming of Netflix, Amazon, etc.  
  • Xbox One S has a comfortable grip on handling. It can be held for a longer time.
  • Xbox One comes with 500GB and 1TB drive, whereas Xbox One S offers up to 1TB drive. The 2TB drive Xbox One S has been discontinued.
  • Xbox One S says no to Kinect port and yes to Cortana.
  • For the Kinect support, it features an adapter.
  • Talking about Xbox One vs. One S USB ports, both have them.
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What’s the difference between Xbox One and Xbox One S?

The difference between Xbox One S and Xbox One is that the former is the upgrade version of the latter that features more cool benefits. 4K Blu-ray player and HDR support are some additions in Xbox One S.

Which is better: Xbox One or One S?

Original Xbox One vs. Xbox One S: Xbox One S is a slightly improved version of the original Xbox One. As an upgrade, Xbox One S is better.

Is it worth buying an Xbox One S?

If you are an owner of Xbox One, then Xbox One S is not for you, as this doesn’t have as many updated features to replace your Xbox One. Else, getting your hands on an Xbox One S is a better choice.

Can Xbox One games play on Xbox One S?

You can play all the games of Xbox One on Xbox One S with zero issues.

What does the S in Xbox One S stand for?

The S in the Xbox One S refers to Sleek as the manufacturer made the design sleeker than the predecessor Xbox One.

Is Xbox One S being discontinued?

No, Xbox One S is not being discontinued. This has become the standard Xbox One console as the Xbox One has been discontinued.  

Does Xbox One S have WiFi?

Yes, Xbox One S has a WiFi chip. Apart from this, all the products of the Xbox One series have proper WiFi chips.

Does Xbox One S support Bluetooth?

Yes, Xbox One S features Bluetooth 4.0 with a controller.  

How many games does Xbox One S have?

Xbox One S has over 1,300 games.

Are the Xbox One S controllers different?

Yes, when comparing Xbox One vs. Xbox One S controller, Xbox One S has a few different controllers than Xbox One.

What to buy, Xbox One, or Xbox One S?

For gaming purposes, both offer a wide variety of games. Xbox One S provides a better user experience with its quality updates, but it also has a higher price tag. If the price is not a concern for you, Xbox One S will be the best suitable. Else, Xbox One can serve the inner gamer in you.

Comparison Chart

Xbox One vs. Xbox One S: Xbox One was first announced in 2013. The updated version Xbox One S came in 2016. The biggest Xbox One vs. One S difference lies in the features offered by the two variants.

Comparison Video

Xbox One S vs. Xbox One (Worth the Buy?)
Alex Stantor
Alex Stantor

Alex Stantor is a Sorbonne University (Paris, France) graduate in Philosophy and Data Analysis. Currently, he is an Author and Researcher at Difference 101, he writes articles/blog posts on topics such as "thinking differently" and "the importance of difference". Alex is a passionate advocate of diversity in the workplace and in companies, and diversity and inclusion in corporate communications. He currently lives in Brooklyn.

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