No, Xbox One is Not Worth Buying in 2026 – Here‘s Why

If you‘re considering buying a used Xbox One console in 2024, I‘d advise against it in most cases. While the Xbox One had an impressive 7-year run, its hardware and performance simply can‘t keep up with modern gaming demands. You‘d be much better served by purchasing an Xbox Series S or X console instead, or waiting a year or two for future price drops.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll compare the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S across a variety of factors to help explain why you should avoid buying the last-gen Xbox console now unless you find an incredible deal.

Xbox One Hardware Is Severely Underpowered in 2024

The Xbox One lineup relies on outdated Jaguar CPU cores and weak 1.3TFlop GPUs that struggle to run modern games at 1080p/30fps, let alone higher resolutions or frame rates.

Meanwhile, the Xbox Series X boasts 12TFlop GPU power and the Series S clocks in at 4TFlops. That‘s a 3-9x graphics improvement! Both next-gen consoles utilize modern Zen 2 CPU cores that are much faster for gaming workloads.

Here‘s a spec comparison table:

And this massive hardware gap shows in graphical fidelity and performance – the Xbox One struggles to hit 1080p/30fps in many newer cross-platform games while the Series X handles 4K/60fps with ease.

According to Digital Foundry‘s analysis, the last-gen Xbox One‘s weak hardware "resulted in very low resolutions and very poor performance in a lot of titles…andgoing back now is pretty painful."

Xbox One vs Xbox Series X – Image source: PCMag

So in terms of raw power for beautiful, smooth gameplay – the Xbox One can‘t begin to keep up with the Series X/S.

Used Xbox One Prices Don‘t justify the Performance

Back in 2013, the Xbox One originally retailed for $499. In 2023, you can find used Xbox One S consoles selling for around $100-$150. That seems like a great bargain, right?

Well, considering that a brand new Xbox Series S retails for just $299 with vastly better performance, a used last-gen console isn‘t necessarily a steal.

Plus, Xbox One game prices haven‘t dropped much – you‘ll typically spend $15-$30 for older Xbox One titles. Or gain access to hundreds of games for just $10-$15 per month with an Xbox Game Pass subscription.

So you can either buy a used Xbox One for $100 and pay $30 per game. Or get a Series S for $299 and access 100+ games for $15/month. The Xbox One only saves you money upfront – in the long run, a Series S pays for itself with Game Pass access and free games like Fortnite.

Xbox One Sales Have Plummeted as Series X/S Take Over

The Xbox Series X/S consoles have sold over 15 million units globally since launching in late 2020. And Microsoft reported in January 2023 that Xbox Series X/S sales are growing faster than any previous Xbox generation.

It‘s clear that Xbox One sales are plummeting as more gamers transition to the Series X/S. Microsoft even stopped reporting Xbox One sales figures in early 2021 as adoption stalls.

Here‘s a chart of estimated Xbox console sales to date:

As this sales momentum carries into 2023, game developers will increasingly only optimize titles for Series X/S. Making the Xbox One‘s compatibility advantage less appealing.

According to the latest Steam Hardware Survey, only 2.37% of users still use an Xbox One, compared to 13.91% on Xbox Series X/S. So the vast majority of Xbox gamers have moved on already.

Nearly All Upcoming Xbox Exclusives Require Series X/S

Microsoft invests heavily in exclusive franchises like Halo, Forza, and Gears of War to drive Xbox console sales. These system-selling exclusives are the main reason longtime Xbox fans upgrade to new consoles.

Upcoming titles like Starfield, Redfall, Forza Motorsport, Avowed, and Fable will only release for Xbox Series X/S and Windows PCs.

The Xbox One will miss out on these next-gen exclusives entirely. And Halo Infinite received a highly stripped back last-gen version lacking the full experience. So purchasing an Xbox One means you won‘t be able to play many of Xbox‘s best upcoming games.

While the Xbox One has a massive library of great games already, buying into the platform now for the first time means you‘d be limited to just older games.

Xbox One Entering End-of-Life Soon

Microsoft ended production on all Xbox One consoles by late 2020 according to supply chain reports. The Xbox One S and Xbox One X listings have been removed from Microsoft‘s online store. And retailers are selling off remaining stock.

This signals that the Xbox One generation has unofficially entered its end-of-life phase. I estimate Microsoft will discontinue Xbox Live service and new game releases for Xbox One by 2025 based on the typical 7-10 year lifecycle.

So buying an Xbox One in 2024 likely means you‘d need to upgrade again in 2-3 years once Xbox One support diminishes. Shortening the useful lifespan of the console.

Xbox Series S Offers Enough for Most Gamers

The Xbox Series S retails for just $299 yet plays all the same next-gen games as the $499 Series X. The only limitation is a 1440p max resolution vs 4K on Series X.

But for casual gamers who don‘t own a 4K television, the Series S offers everything needed for modern gaming:

• Fantastic performance with 120fps support
• Super fast load times
• Ray tracing graphical capabilities
• Next-gen exclusive games

Digital Foundry concluded the Series S is "A next-generation gaming experience for just $299 – that‘s an incredible deal."

For parents buying their kid‘s first console, budget-focused shoppers, or those with 1080p TVs – the Xbox Series S is an obvious choice over any Xbox One model.

Recommendations – Skip Xbox One in 2024 Unless Extremely Cheap

Overall, while the Xbox One family of consoles provided many years of great gaming last decade, the outdated hardware simply doesn‘t hold up well heading into 2023 and beyond.

You‘d be better off choosing Xbox Series S or X for a modern gaming experience that will be supported for 5+ years to come. Or waiting for further Xbox Series X/S price drops down the road.

My recommendations:

• Buy Xbox Series S for $299 if upgrading from Xbox 360 or other old consoles
• Get a Series X for $499 if you care about 4K and physical discs
• Only consider a used Xbox One if found for under $100 in great condition
• Avoid paying over $150 for any Xbox One model in 2024

The Xbox One generation served its purpose. But outside of extreme budget or retro gaming, the Xbox Series X/S provide vastly better performance and value looking ahead to the rest of the decade.

Hopefully this detailed comparison has provided ample evidence showing why most gamers are better off avoiding the Xbox One family now and upgrading to Microsoft‘s latest consoles instead. Let me know if you have any other questions!