# Why Xbox Series S costs half the Series X

> The cheaper Xbox Series S cuts corners on storage, processing power and resolution to undercut the Series X by $250, but both consoles have gotten pricier since launch.
- Title: Why Xbox Series S costs half the Series X · Engadget
- Summary: The cheaper Xbox Series S cuts corners on storage, processing power and resolution to undercut the Series X by $250, but both consoles have gotten pricier…
- Keywords: xbox series s, xbox series x, microsoft, gaming consoles, hardware comparison, pricing, technology, Xbox, Series, costs, half, Engadget
- Source: Engadget — https://engadget.com/2281248/xbox-series-s-cheaper-than-x-reason
- Author: Deven McClure
- Published: 2026-10-11T23:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: xbox series s, xbox series x, microsoft, gaming consoles, hardware comparison, pricing, technology
## Both Xbox consoles got pricier
The Xbox Series X and S have seen price increases in recent months, breaking the typical pattern of price drops for aging consoles. The PlayStation five and Nintendo Switch two also raised prices.
## Series S now costs five hundred dollars
The Xbox Series S starts at five hundred dollars, making it tied with the Nintendo Switch two as the most affordable modern console. The Series X's cheapest model costs seven hundred fifty dollars.
## No disc drive saves money
The Series S is digital-only and lacks a disc drive, a key difference from the Series X. The Series X has a disc-drive model that costs fifty dollars more than its digital-only version.
## Storage gap widens the price
The Series S base model offers five hundred twelve gigabytes of storage, with a one terabyte model for one hundred dollars more. The Series X comes with one terabyte of space as standard.
## Processing power differs sharply
The Series X boasts twelve teraflops of processing power and targets four K resolution, while the Series S has only four teraflops and reaches up to fourteen forty p in most games.
## RAM and GPU specs favour Series X
The Series X has sixteen gigabytes of RAM with complex memory speeds, while the Series S has ten gigabytes.
## Series S is sixty percent smaller
The Series S is about sixty percent smaller than the Series X, making it easier to fit into entertainment centres. Size savings come partly from skipping the physical disc drive entirely.
## Project Helix coming in twenty twenty seven
Microsoft plans to start sending alpha Project Helix hardware to developers in twenty twenty seven, likely meaning at least another year before final release.These devices will almost certainly cost more than Series X or S.
## Key takeaway

Xbox Series S starts at five hundred dollars versus Series X at seven hundred fifty dollars because it lacks a disc drive, has less storage and processing power, and targets lower resolution gaming.