Is the Xbox One Worth Buying in 2025? Only for Casual Gamers on a Tight Budget

In my expert opinion as an avid Xbox user and gaming tech enthusiast, the Xbox One is only still worth buying in 2024 for budget-conscious casual gamers who don‘t need the latest performance and plan to stick with 1080p gaming for a few more years. While the Xbox One can still provide a solid gaming experience and access to a huge library, most gamers will be better served by upgrading to the Xbox Series X/S for maximum future-proofing.

Let‘s take an in-depth look at the key factors to help you decide if purchasing an Xbox One console still makes sense for you heading into 2023.

Diving into the Xbox One Models and Specs

There are three main Xbox One models to choose from, each providing varying levels of performance and features:

Xbox One S

The Xbox One S debuted in 2016 as a slimmer redesign of the original Xbox One. It plays all Xbox One games and supports 4K video streaming plus HDR for enhanced color and contrast. With prices now as low as $120 used, the Xbox One S delivers good 1080p gaming at a budget price point.

• CPU: 8-core AMD Jaguar @ 1.75GHz
• GPU: AMD GCN @ 914 MHz w/2560 CUs
• RAM: 8GB DDR3
• Storage: 500GB to 2TB HDD
• Optical: 4K UHD Blu-Ray (some bundles)
• Max resolution: 1080p, 4K video

Xbox One X

Released in 2017, the Xbox One X represents the pinnacle of last-gen Xbox power. It features a faster processor and much improved GPU that can render games natively at 4K versus the 1080p limit of other Xbox One consoles. Expect to pay around $200 to $300 for a used Xbox One X in 2024.

• CPU: 8-core AMD Jaguar @ 2.3GHz
• GPU: AMD GCN @ 1172 MHz w/4096 CUs
• RAM: 12GB GDDR5
• Storage: 1TB HDD
• Optical: 4K UHD Blu-Ray
• Max resolution: Native 4K gaming

Xbox One (Launch model)

The original Xbox One first hit the market all the way back in 2013. The used market is really the only way to buy one of these 10-year-old systems in 2024. While dated, the Xbox One OG remains capable of running all Xbox One games. Expect to pay under $100 used if you can find one.

• CPU: 8-core AMD Jaguar @ 1.75GHz
• GPU: AMD GCN @ 853 MHz w/768 CUs
• RAM: 8GB DDR3
• Storage: 500GB HDD
• Optical: Blu-Ray
• Max resolution: 1080p

Xbox One Hardware Restrictions

While fine for casual gaming, the Xbox One‘s jaguar processor and dated graphics can‘t match the performance of modern consoles. Running above 1080p or 60fps is a major challenge requiring developers to cut visual quality. Long load times are also common complaints.

In terms of raw power, the ~1.3 TFLOP Xbox One S and ~6 TFLOP Xbox One X pale in comparison to the Xbox Series X‘s 12 TFLOP graphical capability enabling 4K at 60fps along with ray tracing.

Game Library and Backwards Compatibility

With over 1800 games released during its lifespan, the Xbox One has a strong game library. And it can play a wide array of Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles through backwards compatibility:

• 598 Xbox 360 games – Major titles like Red Dead Redemption and Mass Effect 2
• 39 Original Xbox games – Including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
• All Xbox One games – Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite and more

This gives Xbox One owners access to over 2600+ games spanning three generations of content. Xbox Game Pass also unlocks 100+ additional games for a monthly fee, making the Xbox One library even more expansive.

However, many top backwards compatible games have received FPS Boost and other upgrades only available on Xbox Series X/S. And going forward, new releases optimized for next-gen consoles may have performance issues on old Xbox One hardware.

Estimated Remaining Lifespan and Support

How much life does the Xbox One have left? Here are some projections on its expected remaining lifespan:

• New Xbox One consoles were discontinued in 2020 as Xbox Series X/S launched.
• 33.6 million Xbox One consoles have sold to date with sales declining every year since 2016.
• The Xbox One user base has started migrating to new consoles based on Xbox Live subscriptions.
• Industry analysts estimate the Xbox One has 2 to 4 years of support left.
• Microsoft themselves stated they plan to support the platform at least through 2022.

This data indicates the Xbox One likely has until 2023-2025 left until it is phased out completely. Microsoft will surely keep essential services like Xbox Live running on Xbox One for a couple more years. But gradual declines in developer support, performance issues running new games, and shifting community activity will slowly leave the Xbox One behind.

Used Xbox One Prices – Best Deals in 2024

The Xbox One is long discontinued, but you can still readily find used consoles:

Console	Average Used Price	My Best 2023 Deal Pick
Xbox One S	$120 – $200	Xbox One S 1TB bundle – $140
Xbox One X	$200 – $300	Xbox One X 1TB – $220
Original Xbox One	Under $100	Xbox One 500GB – $80

Buying an Xbox One bundle with games and accessories included gives you the most value. And within the next year, prices will likely come down even more as Xbox One consoles flood the secondhand market.

Pros of Buying an Xbox One in 2024

Despite being last-gen devices, there are still some advantages to choosing an Xbox One console in 2024:

• Much cheaper used pricing at around $100-$300
• Access to a huge 3000+ game catalog spanning decades
• Easy to find at retailers vs. scarce Series X/S stock
• Solid entry-level 1080p performance in supported games
• Familiar Xbox dashboard and features
• Works with all Xbox One accessories like controllers
• Supports game sharing with new consoles
• Backwards compatible software will keep working
• Can hold you over for years until you upgrade

For casual players on tight budgets who don‘t need top performance, an Xbox One checks many boxes and can keep you entertained for a long time.

Downsides to Buying an Xbox One in 2024

However, there are considerable downsides to purchasing an Xbox One versus a Series X/S:

• Lacks full next-gen gaming capabilities – Lower resolution, FPS, loading times
• Bound to 1080p gameplay without quality drops
• Weaker performance will be more noticeable over time
• Not future proof for new releases 2-3 years out
• Resale value will diminish quickly
• Online community will shrink as people upgrade
• Won‘t support new features like FPS boost or DirectStorage
• Disc drive failures more likely on older models
• Accessories may not be cross-compatible with future consoles

While still very usable today, the aging Xbox One hardware will become more outdated each year.

Buy an Xbox Series X/S Instead for True Next-Gen Gaming

Given the Xbox One‘s limitations, most gamers will benefit from spending a bit more upfront for an Xbox Series X or Series S. Here‘s how Microsoft‘s latest consoles deliver a major upgrade:

Xbox Series X

The $500 Xbox Series X provides an enormous generational leap over the Xbox One with its cutting-edge AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU delivering up to 12 TFLOPS of power.

• Packed with 12GB of GDDR6 RAM
• 1TB custom NVMe SSD loads games ultra fast
• Supports up to 8K resolution and 120FPS
• Ray tracing and spatial audio provide immersive graphics
• Ultra low latency with HDMI 2.1 Variable Refresh Rate
• Hardware decompression accelerates I/O performance

Xbox Series S

The $300 Xbox Series S manages next-gen gaming at a slimmer size and budget price. Its modern AMD processor and custom 512GB SSD still crush an old Xbox One‘s performance.

• RDNA 2 graphics push 120FPS at 1440p resolution
• Support for spatial sound, variable refresh rate
• Ultra fast load times from NVMe SSD
• Uses machine learning to improve game visuals
• Smaller footprint perfect for tight spaces
• All-digital for full game downloads

Either next-gen model brings faster performance, visual upgrades like ray tracing, and advanced features lacking on Xbox One. And they‘ll play the latest games for years to come.

Key Xbox Alternatives Beyond PlayStation

While PlayStation consoles are the Xbox‘s chief competitor, here are some other options that serve different needs:

Nintendo Switch – Offers unique portable gaming and exclusive franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Smash Bros. More limited technologically, but great for family/casual gaming.

Steam Deck – Handheld PC from Valve supporting AAA games on the go. More versatility given full Windows environment but lower performance than Xbox.

Gaming PC – Building or buying a desktop gaming PC provides the most customization from performance to peripherals. More complex and expensive but rewarding for enthusiasts.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – Microsoft‘s Netflix-style game subscription service grants access to 100+ Xbox console and PC games for $15/month. Works across devices with cloud gaming.

Expert Tips for Getting the Most from an Xbox One

If you do decide to grab an Xbox One in 2024, here are my tips as an Xbox expert to maximize your experience:

• Shop used bundles on eBay for the best deals – aim for at least 1TB of storage
• Open it up carefully to clean out dust and replace thermal paste on the processor
• Invest in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for a huge library of games
• Pick up an Xbox One controller if you don‘t have one already
• Grab an Xbox gift card if buying digital games to save further
• Connect to a 1080p TV with HDR via HDMI for optimal visuals
• Use an external SSD to drastically speed up load times
• Turn on two-factor authentication for your Microsoft account to add security
• Set your Xbox as your account‘s home console for digital game sharing

The Bottom Line – Who Should Buy an Xbox One in 2024

Considering all factors, here is my verdict on whether purchasing an Xbox One console makes sense in 2024:

Only buy an Xbox One if:

• You are a casual gamer who doesn‘t demand cutting-edge performance
• You predominantly play older Xbox 360/Xbox titles
• You want to spend the absolute minimum to access Xbox games
• You only plan to use it for 1-3 more years before your next upgrade

Choose an Xbox Series X/S instead if:

• You care about getting the best fidelity and frame rates
• You want your console to feel fast and new for a long time
• You plan to play all the latest new releases
• You own a 4K or high refresh rate TV
• You can afford to invest extra in a major generational upgrade

In summary, while the Xbox One still works and offers great budget gaming value, most users will be better off with the power jump of an Xbox Series X/S for maximum longevity. But if you meet the above criteria, don‘t need peak performance, and find an Xbox One at a steal of a used price, it can still deliver many hours of enjoyment for cheap.

Let me know if you have any other questions about getting the right Xbox console in 2024 and beyond!