# Microsoft Xbox Series S: specs and price

**Price (US):** $299 at en.wikipedia.org (US launch MSRP (November 2020), 512 GB; raised to $399.99 in 2025 due to tariffs), as of 2026-06-27. A sourced, dated price of record — other retailers (incl. Amazon) may be lower. Among the 18 game consoles we track it is the cheapest; category median $649.
**Brand:** Microsoft
**Released:** 2020-11
**Deskmark:** Bronze Deskmark — pay-blind category standing 62/100, #11 of 18 in class (independent, computed from sourced data, never for sale).
**Price tracked since:** June 2026

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price (US) | $299 |
| Brand | Microsoft |
| Released | 2020-11 |
| CPU | Custom AMD Zen 2 8-core @ 3.6 GHz |
| GPU (TFLOPS) | 4.006 |
| RAM (GB) | 10 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 |
| Max resolution | 1440p |
| Max (fps) | 120 |
| Optical drive | No |

## Where it stands

At $299, the Microsoft Xbox Series S is the cheapest of the 17 game consoles we track, where the median is $599. On the spec sheet, its GPU of 4.006 TFLOPS is below the median of the 13, its RAM of 10 GB is below the median of the 18, and its storage of 512 GB is at the median of the 15. By release date, it is the oldest of the 17 we date.

## What reviewers say

All three whitelisted testers (Engadget, Tom's Guide, TechRadar) hands-on tested the disc-less 512GB Series S and agree it is the cheapest, most compact and quietest route into next-gen gaming, with fast SSD load times and Quick Resume. All three flag storage that fills fast, a 1440p (not native 4K) target, and the missing disc drive; two of the three also knock the controller's disposable AA batteries. No RTINGS or Digital Foundry coverage captured. (Based on 3 reviews, 3 lab-tested, 2020-11-05–2023-06-07.)

Praised: Compact, quiet, attractive design that fits anywhere; Cheapest entry into next-gen gaming; strong value with Game Pass; Fast SSD load times and Quick Resume make it feel genuinely next-gen.
Flagged: 512GB SSD (362-364GB usable) fills up fast; pricey Seagate expansion needed; No disc drive — physical libraries unusable, all-digital only; Targets 1440p not native 4K; some titles visibly downgraded; Controller still runs on disposable AA batteries.
Disagreement: Testers split on how much the resolution compromise matters: Tom's Guide found the visual gap vs Series X 'very subtle' even on a 4K OLED and was pleasantly surprised, while Engadget was blunter that 'some titles look worse' and that a next-gen device that can't do 4K 'simply can't cut it.'
Sources: Engadget (2020-11-05, engadget.com), Tom's Guide (2023-02-22, tomsguide.com), TechRadar (2023-06-07, techradar.com)

## Frequently asked questions

**What do reviewers say about the Microsoft Xbox Series S?**

All three whitelisted testers (Engadget, Tom's Guide, TechRadar) hands-on tested the disc-less 512GB Series S and agree it is the cheapest, most compact and quietest route into next-gen gaming, with fast SSD load times and Quick Resume. All three flag storage that fills fast, a 1440p (not native 4K) target, and the missing disc drive; two of the three also knock the controller's disposable AA batteries. No RTINGS or Digital Foundry coverage captured. Praised: Compact, quiet, attractive design that fits anywhere; Cheapest entry into next-gen gaming; strong value with Game Pass; Fast SSD load times and Quick Resume make it feel genuinely next-gen. Flagged: 512GB SSD (362-364GB usable) fills up fast; pricey Seagate expansion needed; No disc drive — physical libraries unusable, all-digital only; Targets 1440p not native 4K; some titles visibly downgraded; Controller still runs on disposable AA batteries. (From 3 tester reviews, 3 lab-tested.)

**How much does the Microsoft Xbox Series S cost?**

The Microsoft Xbox Series S has a US price of $299 (US launch MSRP (November 2020), 512 GB; raised to $399.99 in 2025 due to tariffs), as of 2026-06-15.

**How does the Microsoft Xbox Series S compare on price?**

At $299, the Microsoft Xbox Series S is the cheapest of the 17 game consoles we track, where the median is $599.

**When was the Microsoft Xbox Series S released?**

The Microsoft Xbox Series S was released 2020-11.

**What are the Microsoft Xbox Series S's key specs?**

Microsoft Xbox Series S (Microsoft): cpu Custom AMD Zen 2 8-core @ 3.6 GHz, gpu tflops 4.006, ram gb 10, storage gb 512, max resolution 1440p. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_Series_X_and_Series_S (en.wikipedia.org, accessed 2026-06-15)
Corroboration: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/consoles/xbox-series-s (accessed 2026-06-15)
Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/product/game-consoles/microsoft-xbox-series-s/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, the Microsoft Xbox Series S price of record was $299 as of 2026-06-15 — https://frontdeskreview.com/product/game-consoles/microsoft-xbox-series-s/
License: CC BY 4.0. Price history: https://frontdeskreview.com/data/price-history.jsonl