Is the Xbox Series S Still Worth Buying in 2025? A Friendly Overview

Hey friend! With the Xbox Series S hitting its two year anniversary, you may be wondering if Microsoft‘s budget next-gen console is still a good purchase in 2024. For gamers like us focused on value, the $299 Series S remains an extremely tempting option. Let‘s dive into what makes it stand out and why it should still be on your radar!

The Series S Delivers Cutting Edge Gaming for Just $299

While the powerful Xbox Series X costs $499 and runs games in 4K, the Series S targets smooth 1440p gaming at a far lower $299 price. That‘s an amazing entry point into next-gen! For comparison, the PS5 Digital Edition is $399.

For casual or budget-conscious gamers, saving over $100 upfront makes the Series S really appealing. We aren‘t left out of key next-gen features either…

You Still Get Super Fast Loading, 120+ FPS, and Ray Tracing

Despite lower resolution, the Series S includes the same advanced capabilities as the X:

• Lightning fast loading – Games load over 8X faster thanks to the SSD and new system architecture. Fast travel becomes near-instant!

• 120+ FPS support – With a compatible display, gameplay frame rates can hit 120fps for incredibly smooth visuals in action-packed titles like Halo Infinite multiplayer.

• Ray tracing – Sophisticated lighting that was only possible on high-end PCs comes to the S for enhanced realism and immersion.

These features create a massive leap from the Xbox One generation in terms of responsiveness, visuals and performance.

Designed for 1440p Gaming to Hit That $299 Price Point

To offer next-gen power at such an affordable price, Microsoft did have to make some technical compromises with the S.

With a less powerful GPU and 10GB of RAM (vs 16GB on the X), the Series S targets 1440p resolution rather than 4K.

But don‘t think that‘s a bad thing! On a compatible 1440p screen, games look fantastic with buttery smooth framerates. Here‘s how 1440p/120fps compares to 4K/60fps:

• Incredibly fluid motion that feels much more responsive in action games
• Arguably sharper image quality with higher pixel density
• Easier to consistently hit 120+ FPS for the Series S hardware

I‘d take the silky performance of 1440p/120fps over 4K/60fps any day!

Limits of the Lower Specs

Obviously, being a budget model, the Series S can‘t quite keep up with the Series X or high-end PCs:

• 4K gaming is off the table for now due to the GPU and RAM limitations
• As games get more demanding, 1440p/60fps may get harder to sustain down the road
• Ray tracing will need to be used sparingly to maintain performance

So while the S delivers excellent 1440p gaming today, its long term potential for keeping up with the latest games is untested. But Microsoft designed it as an affordable next-gen entry point, not a 4K powerhouse.

Going All-Digital Out of the Box

Another cost-cutting measure was axing the disc drive – the Xbox Series S is download only. Considering most gamers are going digital these days, I think that‘s an acceptable sacrifice.

We can save money buying digital game deals. The downside is losing disc flexibility and the ability to resell games. My game library will live on my external hard drive or the cloud now!

Onboard Storage Runs Small

With big games ballooning over 100GB these days, the 364GB usable storage on the Series S fills up quickly. Budgeting for the $219 1TB Seagate expansion card will probably be necessary.

Something to consider if you play a lot of games with massive file sizes. But again, designed with cost savings in mind. I can work with it!

Xbox Game Pass Is a Match Made in Heaven

Xbox Game Pass has become an essential companion to the all-digital Series S. For $9.99/month, you get unlimited access to over 100 games with more added all the time!

Rather than buying a bunch of games that consume your limited storage, you can play a rotating selection of titles spanning four generations of Xbox. Over 25 million gamers subscribe to Game Pass now – it‘s a phenomenal value.

The Series S gives us next-gen performance to experience Game Pass titles better than ever. I‘m set for years!

Backwards Compatibility Adds Generations of Games

This is one of my personal favorite things about Xbox – backwards compatibility is fantastic! The Series S can play thousands of games natively all the way back to the original Xbox.

Our existing libraries gain longer load times and improved visuals on the S. Talk about getting more from your money – our old games become new again!

A Major Upgrade from Xbox One for $299

Maybe the best thing about the Xbox Series S is how dramatically it improves upon its predecessor:

• CPU speed over 4X faster than even Xbox One X
• SSD load times up to 8X faster
• New architecture sustain 120+ FPS
• Ray tracing and new gaming features

It may not hit 4K, but the Series S delivers an experience miles beyond the last generation. And keeps us gaming affordably for years to come!

Well friend, that summarizes the impressive value and capabilities of the Xbox Series S today. Even in 2024, it‘s a next-gen star for budget-focused gamers. Thanks for reading – let me know if you have any other questions!