Xbox Collection S 1TB: two-minute assessment
If you happen to’re at the moment debating whether or not to select up the Xbox Collection S 1TB or the unique Xbox Collection S mannequin, then the selection is obvious.
If you happen to can afford that further $50 / £50 / AU$50 for the 1TB version, then it’s completely the model to go for and simply the finest gaming console for the worth. You get greater than double the usable storage capability (greater than 800GB out of the field) for a fraction of the price of any of the finest Xbox Collection X onerous drives and SSDs, lastly addressing what was simply the largest shortcoming of the launch mannequin for many patrons.
A succesful current-generation machine for simply $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549 is nothing to sneeze at and, whereas the efficiency is unquestionably behind the fully-fledged Xbox Collection X or PlayStation 5, it’s nonetheless going to be greater than sufficient for most individuals. Titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator and Lifeless Island 2 look completely beautiful on a 1080p or 1440p show, although these with a 4K TV are more likely to note the decreased decision and decrease visible settings.
The dearth of a disc drive helps the console preserve such a staggeringly small measurement, however does prohibit your entry to bodily releases. Nonetheless, an Xbox Recreation Move subscription will assist save a bit of money if you wish to pattern a few of the finest Xbox Collection X video games for much less. Though no extra titles are on the horizon, Xbox’s backwards compatibility efforts are nonetheless leagues above these on PlayStation, making this technique an effective way to expertise older video games.
I’ve been loving going again to some actual Xbox 360 gems like Alice: Insanity Returns and Far Cry 2, an expertise that’s nonetheless simply inconceivable to copy on the far costlier PS5. Older video games will be completely breathtaking too, with some boasting enhanced resolutions and body charges that assist them look higher than ever.
Some may lament the dearth of fascinating exclusives, however in the case of sheer bang to your buck worth the Xbox Collection S 1TB is one of the best of one of the best.
Xbox Collection S 1TB: Value and availability
- $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549
- $50 / £50 / AU£$50 greater than launch mannequin
- Completely killer worth
The Xbox Collection S 1TB is unbelievable worth total. For simply $50 / £50 / AU£$50 greater than the launch mannequin, you’re getting greater than double the usable space for storing. It additionally works out considerably cheaper than shopping for the older console and upgrading the storage by way of a Seagate Xbox Storage Enlargement Card or WD Black C50 growth card, which is available in at roughly $80 / £85 / AU$140 for simply 512GB.
This makes it by far the most suitable choice for those who’re looking for an Xbox Collection S as, realistically, the cheaper mannequin is not going to supply sufficient storage for anybody bar informal gamers searching for a low-cost option to play one or two common video games like Fortnite, EA Sports activities FC 25, or Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 6.
At its $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549 worth level, the Xbox Collection S 1TB nonetheless is available in considerably cheaper than any of its main opponents at retail. If you wish to get into current-generation gaming on a finances, then that is the best way to go.
Xbox Collection S 1TB: Specs
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Row 0 – Cell 1 |
| Value | 349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549 |
| Dimensions | 2.6in x 5.9in x 10.8in / 6.5cm x 15.1cm x 27.5cm |
| Weight | 4.25lbs (1.9kg) |
| Capability | 1TB SSD (800GB of usable storage) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6, ethernet |
| CPU | Customized Zen 2 CPU |
| GPU | Customized RDNA 2 GPU |
| RAM | 10GB |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 8 GB at 224 GB/s, 2 GB at 56 GB/s |
| Ports | 3 x USB-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x energy, 1 x ethernet, 1 x storage growth |
Xbox Collection S 1TB: Design and options
- Compact measurement is ideal for a desk
- Slick black or white coloration choices
- No scarcity of ports, however lacks disc drive
The Xbox Collection S actually must be seen to be believed, as photographs don’t actually do its compact measurement justice. It’s considerably smaller than the Xbox Collection X and the unique Xbox One, making it perfect for those who’re quick on area and need a console that gained’t battle to suit in your desk or media middle.
The console will be oriented each horizontally and vertically, which makes it straightforward to include into a variety of setups too. I’ve fairly a small workspace however nonetheless discovered that it might simply squeeze subsequent to my current monitor, or on the ground proper subsequent to a PS5.
The entrance of the console is relatively plain, with a easy illuminated energy button (within the form of the Xbox emblem), a small controller pairing button, and a USB port for any wired equipment. The Xbox Collection S 1TB will be present in each black and white colorways, although the latter solely grew to become accessible this 12 months and appears to have since grow to be the dominant mannequin. I examined the black mannequin and actually appreciated its slick all-black look, although the white mannequin, which has a number of contrasting black parts, undoubtedly has its personal allure.
In its horizontal orientation, the highest of the console is dominated by a big air flow grille. The underside is then utterly clean, bar a small air flow grille and a few tiny textual content that claims each “Xbox” and “whats up from Seattle” – a cute reference to the situation of Microsoft’s campus. On the again of the console are its predominant ports. This contains an ethernet port, two USB ports, a HDMI output, a storage growth port, and a two-pronged connector for the console’s energy lead.
It’s an important design total, however the disc reader is a notable omission. This can be a digital-only console, which is likely to be a dealbreaker for some. In case you have a large assortment of bodily Xbox video games, maybe Xbox One releases, then that is one thing to remember earlier than you improve.
Within the field, you get the console, an HDMI cable, the ability lead, and an Xbox Wi-fi Controller in both Carbon Black or Robotic White relying in your selection of console colorway plus two AA batteries to make use of with it.
Even 4 years after its introduction, the fashionable Xbox Wi-fi Controller stays a unbelievable easy-to-use gamepad, with a snug form and good construct high quality that I discover typically signifies that they final considerably longer than your common DualSense Wi-fi Controller for PS5.
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Xbox Collection S 1TB: Efficiency
- Good for 1080p gaming
- Unbeatable efficiency for the worth
- Straightforward to note some imperfections
It’s merely inconceivable to fault the efficiency of the Xbox Collection S 1TB given its extra inexpensive price ticket. Efficiency is similar as the bottom mannequin, which signifies that it targets a 1440p decision with the flexibility to upscale to 4K on suitable shows. Each title that I examined seemed good on a 1080p show, although the variations between the Xbox Collection S and the extra highly effective Xbox Collection X do grow to be fairly obvious on a bigger 4K TV. The console may assist body charges of as much as 120 frames per second (fps), although realistically most trendy video games are going to fall nearer to the 60 fps mark.
The brilliant and vibrant world of Lifeless Island 2 maintained a strong 60 fps body price with no noticeable drops, even when experimenting with its spectacular gore results. It runs at 1080p, although, which did result in a barely blurry-looking image on my TV. In comparison with my playthrough on PS5, there have been additionally some cutbacks in the case of reflection and shadow high quality although this was solely actually noticeable when evaluating them aspect by aspect.
The variations had been extra obvious in my hours with Microsoft Flight Simulator, which nonetheless appears extremely spectacular however nowhere close to as photo-realistic as on a high-power PC if you view environments up shut. The body price was additionally fairly unstable, typically dropping into the low 20s in significantly built-up cities like Tokyo.
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The standard of decision, characters, and lighting in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, one other extremely demanding sport, additionally takes a success and may even battle to persistently preserve its 30 fps body price. It’s nonetheless completely playable, however did detract from the cinematic environment considerably.
Forza Motorsport affords two distinct visible modes, Efficiency and High quality, which goal 60 fps at 1080p and 30 fps at 1440p respectively. I selected to prioritize body charges and was happy by the smoothness of races on my monitor, which was undoubtedly helped by the good use of dynamic decision scaling. That is one other case the place bigger shows will endure, although, because the 1080p decision and lowered stage of total element might be considerably simpler to identify. I’d subsequently advocate sticking to smaller 1440p, and even 1080p, screens for one of the best expertise.
It’s simply unfair to deduct any factors for this, although, as you couldn’t obtain this sort of efficiency on a $300 PC. Even methods double or triple the worth would battle to copy it with out in depth settings tweaking and optimizations. If you happen to’re procuring on a good finances, there’s additionally fairly a robust likelihood that you do not personal a large 4K TV, which might cease you from getting essentially the most out of the upper resolutions and larger element of the PS5 or Xbox Collection X anyway.
The roughly 800GB of usable storage may also be greater than sufficient for the overwhelming majority of gamers, significantly these not forking out on the most recent releases. With an Xbox Recreation Move Final subscription, I discovered that it was greater than sufficient to maintain a number of live-service favorites resembling Fortnite and Name of Responsibility readily available always whereas nonetheless having room for a rotating choice of video games that I needed to strive.
Ought to I purchase the Xbox Collection S 1TB?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally think about…
If you happen to’re not totally on board with the Xbox Collection S 1TB, then think about these two sturdy options.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Xbox Collection S 1TB | Xbox Collection X Digital Version | Xbox Collection X |
| Value | $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549 | $449.99 / £429.99 / AU$699 | $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799 |
| Dimensions | 2.6in x 5.9in x 10.8in / 6.5cm x 15.1cm x 27.5cm | 5.9in x 5.9in x 11.9in / 15.1cm x 15.1cm x 30.1cm | 5.9in x 5.9in x 11.9in / 15.1cm x 15.1cm x 30.1cm |
| Weight | 4.25lbs (1.9kg) | 9.8lbs (4.5kg) | 9.8lbs (4.5kg) |
| Capability | 1TB (800GB of usable storage) | 1TB SSD | 1TB SSD (2TB Galaxy Black Version) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6, ethernet | WiFi 6, ethernet | WiFi 6, ethernet |
| CPU | Customized Zen 2 CPU | Customized Zen 2 CPU | Customized Zen 2 CPU |
| GPU | Customized RDNA 2 GPU | Customized RDNA 2 GPU | Customized RDNA 2 GPU |
| RAM | 10GB | 16GB | 16GB |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 8 GB at 224 GB/s, 2 GB at 56 GB/s | 10 GB at 560 GB/s, 6 GB at 336 GB/s | 10 GB at 560 GB/s, 6 GB at 336 GB/s |
| Ports | 3 x USB-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x energy, 1 x ethernet, 1 x storage growth | 3 x USB-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x energy, 1 x ethernet, 1 x storage growth | 3 x USB-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x energy, 1 x ethernet, 1 x storage growth |
How I reviewed the Xbox Collection S 1TB
I examined the Xbox Collection S 1TB over the course of two weeks, alternating between utilizing it with a Samsung 4K TV and a Lenovo 1080p monitor. All through my time with the console, I relied on the included Xbox Wi-fi Controller, along with a number of further peripherals resembling a Seagate Recreation Drive for Xbox exterior onerous drive and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 headset for audio.
I performed a variety of video games on the console, each from my private library and an Xbox Recreation Move Final subscription. A few of my favorites included Senua’s Saga: Hellblade, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Gears 5, Forza Motorsport, Name of Responsibility: Warzone, Lifeless Island 2, Fortnite, Cities Skylines Remastered, Forza Motorsport 7, Starfield, and Minecraft. I additionally tried loads of backwards suitable video games, resembling Alice: Insanity Returns, Mirror’s Edge, Skate 3, and Rumble Roses XX.
I continually in contrast my expertise to my hands-on testing of the unique 512GB Xbox Collection S, along with Xbox Collection X and PlayStation 5.
First reviewed October/November 2024.
