Xbox One X vs. Xbox One S: Tech spec showdown

By Richard Devine
last updated

What's different between Microsoft's 2016 Xbox One and the new Xbox One X, formerly known as "Project Scorpio?" Read on.

Xbox One X

Even though we knew the raw hardware specs of the Xbox One X going into E3 2017, the official reveal provided the whole picture. The Xbox One X isn't a new generation console, though. Instead, it's more of a premium model in the existing lineup. The new console will work with existing games and accessories, and all forthcoming games will work just fine on the Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X.

So what are the most significant difference from a tech-spec perspective? Let's break it all down.

Xbox One X vs. Xbox One S technical specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CategoryXbox One XXbox One S
Processoreight core CPU at 2.3GHzeight core custom AMD CPU at 1.75GHz
Storage1TB (more options could be announced)500GB, 1TB or 2TB launch edition
Memory12GB of GDDR5 RAM at 6.8GHz with 326 GB/s bandwidth8GB DDR3 RAM
GraphicsSix teraflop GPU at 1,172 MHz, 40 compute unitsCustom Radeon GPU with 1.23 teraflop
PortsHDMI-in; HDMI-out; one front-facing USB 3.0 ; two rear-facing USB 3.0; IR receiver/blaster; SPDIF digital audio; EthernetHDMI-in; HDMI-out; one front-facing USB 3.0 ; two rear-facing USB 3.0; IR receiver/blaster; SPDIF digital audio; Ethernet
Optical drive4K UHD Blu Ray4K UHD Blu Ray
Price$499From $249

So, what does that mean?

The Xbox One X is twice the price of the Xbox One S, and it's also smaller and 40 percent more powerful than any other console on the market today.

The hardware is a great deal more advanced, with the older AMD hardware in the Xbox One S replaced by newer, more efficient and powerful hardware from the same manufacturer. The CPU in the Xbox One X is made using a 16nm process and has a unique liquid cooling system that manages temperature on a system and component level.

Xbox One X is smaller and a WHOLE lot more powerful.

There are some similarities, too, including the 4K UHD Blu-ray player on both. The Xbox One S remains the best value 4K UHD Blu-ray player on the market today, undercutting most dedicated players. Both consoles have the same connectivity options, but importantly, the Xbox One X also has an internal power supply, too. (The days of the brick really are gone. Hallelujah.)

There are differences and similarities in the games, too. All Xbox One games will work on both consoles, but while the Xbox One S supports HDR, the Xbox One X adds 4K resolution and more detailed textures. Indeed, games that are "Xbox One X enhanced" truly will look more spectacular on the newer console. It's not just for 4K folks, either, as even at 1080p these same games will look better than ever before.

That said, there's a $250 price difference between the two. If playing Forza Motorsport 7 at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second (FPS) sounds exciting, the Xbox One X may be worth the added cost. But at half the price, the Xbox One S is now a tremendous entry point into the Xbox ecosystem.

Richard Devine
Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine

58 Comments
  • Sounds great. I'll start saveing now. Got a few months to come up with alot of money!
  • I was hoping they would release it the same day but I will get it anyway.
  • Wish the original Xbox One was added, forgotten the specs.
  • Ok, is it a mistake that keeps getting made over and over again, or am I wrong?
    The 12GBs of GDDR5 "RAM", isn't actually RAM, but Video Card Memory, and it's not the same as system memory (actual RAM). So why is it compared to the 8GBs od DDR3 RAM in the One S?
    They KINDA serve the same purpose, but it's not the same.
  • the "GDDR5" or "DDR3" only tells you something about the speed. The "RAM" tells you it is used as main system memory. Since both are used as main system memory, sharing the memory between de GPU and and CPU on the SoC in both systems, yes you can compare them.
  • Consoles are using APUs. RAM is shared between. GDDR is just optimized for video.
  • False! The GDDR5 RAM in the X is used as unified RAM (system, graphics, sound, etc). It isn't "video card memory" as you put it.
  • I think the confusion comes from the fact that historically GDDR has been used on video cards.
  • for $500 it should ship with the Elite controller
  • I was actually expecting an updated elite controller for this console, included or as an accessory, missed a trick there.
  • my question is... did they upgrade to SATA III for the internal storage or will it still be faster to use an external drive with USB 3.0?
  • That's the real question. I'm glad someone else had that on their mind.
  • That's the reason I went with the base 500 GB model. You'd be better to allocate those funds for a larger external drive if it means better performance and capacity.
  • My thoughts exactly.
  • Unless the console is using an SSD, an HDD can't even come close to saturating SATA II. The main issue is the console being equipped with poor performing HDDs.
  • Are you seriously expecting a 1TB SSD in a $499 gaming console? You must be forgetting that there are other (more important) components inside...
  • What are you blabbing about?  I'm addressing the concern about SATA II vs SATA III and the crappy HDDs the Xbox One uses.
  • Then why does an external drive with SATA III increase loading times so much when using a 7200RPM drive? I used a SATA II 7200RPM and it wasn't nearly as fast.
  • Simple, all drives aren't created equal. :)
  • Xbox daily just said they put a 50% faster drive in it.
  • Very good question! Just a guess, but: why not brag about it in specs? Since it is not touted as "ultra fast storage" or what else marketing bragging term they would use, suppose it is not different between systems?
  • Are you really going to start with the "formerly Scorpio" from now on
  • People are weird and don't always keep up with name changes. I am sure they had the data around search terms on their website and people keep searching for Scorpio for some stupid reason...  Including the word in the article gets it into the search results...?
  • HDMI in is not 4k. Important.
  • Is this confirmed? This is a really silly limitation if true...
  • Yes, look on the Microsoft Store.
    1.4b in and 2.0b out.
  • HDMI 1.4a is can do 4K @ 24Hz,25Hz, 30Hz. HDMI 1.4b adds 1080p 3D @ 60Hz (120Hz total)
  • Yes but you know it's not the same thing.
    That's not UHD 4k 60, HDR and HDCP2.0
  • its not future proof, but there are barely any sources worth passing through the Xbox One X that would deliver those signals that can't also be replaced by the Xbox One X itself
  • Well, there are UHD TV cards that you might want to connect a PC to that port.
    Or even a UHD TV box to use the Xbox guide.
    That's really what the point of it in the first place.
    Otherwise why even have it?
  • That's the reason why they no longer talk about it. Its usefulness has diminished significantly since they nerfed it with every update. I understand the PC aspect, but then you can't even do PIP with the TV passthrough anymore. Its not there. You'd be better served running that directly to your TV which may allow you to do PIP with the PC and XBOX in its own implementation. The UHD TV's that have that weird breakout box you'd still wouldnt be running that cable through the Xbox, the Xbox would plug into the UHD TV box. whats your origin source of content in the scenario you described?
  • Satellite STB as a source.
    It's not critical as i connect everything to a receiver.
    I just wonder what they expect this port to be used for.
  • Any more silly than releasing a first-party flagship smartphone with "dual-SIM" capability where only one of the SIM slots can operate at 3G/4G at a time, the other being limited to 2G even though 2G was on the way out in many parts of the world when the phone was released?
  • What! No USB C? It is doomed! DOA! No futureproofing! .....oh, sorry. This rant only applies to other Microsoft hardware.
  • Nice.
  • Why do you need a mobile connection to a full size device
  • Hello!! Guess you haven't been keeping up with the trends. Future proofing is dead. The key word now is "refresh". Laptops, tablets, and yes, XBox One all do "refreshes" now. So there will probably be an Xbox One X.2 with USB-C later on. Probably announced after Xmas.
  • Wow, this app wrote my post in triplicate.
  • Hi 🙋
  • Looking at the Specs, there's not that much difference for twice the money, and it was just announced the Xbox One X "WILL NOT SUPPORT BLUETOOTH." Wait 6 months the price will drip to $349, 6 months later $299, its the Microsoft way. I was excited, but not any more.
  • Thank you! First person who had said something about it not being with it for the slight spec bump. I was thinking it during the conference. Also, I truly think that Microsoft will sorely miss with the X if they do not launch it with mouse and keyboard support and full Windows 10, capable of running Windows programs. Otherwise, there is no reason for people not to buy a similarly-specced gaming PC that can do everything.
  • No average console gamer is interested in a mouse, keyboard or full Windows for programs. They want games and maybe entertainment streaming. That's pretty much it and it fulfils that. If they did they'd buy a gaming pc which would be double the price for those gaming specs
  • I also don't see the "average console gamer" upgrading to this, because they would already have a console. My point is that there (IMO) isn't enough to justify shelling another $500 as an average gamer. So I'm trying to further justify the price. Plus including full Windows, or at least mouse and keyboard support, would better tie it in with the rest of the One Core strategy
  • Actually I intentionally skipped buying a S version when I upgraded to a XB1 from 360 because I knew this was coming. So not every console gamer already owns the current versions.
  • If this is only a refresh, how long do we wait for the next generation?
  • They already stated that this is not for the average console gamer. It's for the enthusiast console gamer who would like higher-end specs.
  • They don't care really... The fans and people like me that skipped the S will get the X... The one that want an XB today but not shell out $500 will get the S.... In a few years the X will be at $249 the S will be retired and and a ZboxOne 😊 will be out for $500 for the people ready to upgrade again... Kind of like the phone industry or even the PC video card market... Most people don't get a 1080 ti at launch....
  • Like me, I skipped the S because I don't have a 4K TV, however by Christmas, I will.
  • Bluetooth is included according to the Xbox website.
  • They have since started that that was an error and Bluetooth is not supported.
  • Just curious... What would the Bluetooth be used for on a console? They use different wireless protocols for the controllers (even though they do support BT). Genuinely asking.
  • The new Xbox controllers actually use bluetooth to expand their range. So what that means is that the distance you'll be able to use your controller with the One X is smaller than with the One S. You're back to original Xbox One range for the controller.
  • Ahhh, good to know. Thanks for the clarification!
  • Noooooooo! That range is horrible! It's ridiculous that I have a controller that wants to cut out randomly depending on battery strength less than 10 feet away.
  • 2.1 and 10k...
    HDMI will be succeeded by YTS1.0 for 16k
    YTS - you talking sh....
  • Any info what exactly HDMI need to get 4k@60fps? Basically HDMI always going with console...interesting his specifications
  • Xbox One S its 1.4 Tflops not 1.23...even the Xbox One (non S) its 1.3 Tflops AFAIK
  • "Showdown?" They're different classes of console. This is like having a "showdown" between a BMW 3 Series and a 5 Series. The comparison doesn't make sense; the 2 really don't compete at all.