The Xbox One has improved so much on the software and functionality side in the past two years that it is almost unrecognisable. And now, it has hardware to match.
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Smaller, more refined and better integrated with cutting edge display technology, the brand new Xbox One S is certainly a much nicer machine than the bulky old Xbox One it replaces. But under the hood the machines are very similar, so whether or not it's worth your while to upgrade is a tough question.
All white and accented with circles and right angles, the new console appears to float over its black base and makes much more of an aesthetic impact than the hulking VCR-like original. It's 40 per cent smaller — which is a feat considering it also does away with the bulky external power supply — and so far mine has remained as silent and cool as its predecessor.
The included controller has also had a bit of a redesign, but the difference isn't as dramatic. Rather than stick with the completely smooth finish of the original Xbox One pad, the latest adds some texture to the underside for better grip. It's not quite the rubberised comfort of Microsoft's Elite controller, but it's an improvement over the old standard. The pad also adds Bluetooth functionality, so you can use it with your Windows 10 PC without a special dongle.
Current Xbox One owners might be disappointed (or relieved) to know that the One S itself doesn't really offer much over the original in terms of functionality. Both boxes run on the same Windows 10 operating system and both play all the same Xbox One and Xbox 360 games. If you, like most of us, are using a standard HD TV, you're unlikely to notice any difference between the two consoles save for having some extra free space in your entertainment unit with the smaller One S.
Where an upgrade starts to get tempting is when you consider the 4K, high dynamic range (HDR) capabilities that the S brings to the table.
HDR is a technology that allows blacker blacks and brighter whites and colours to exist on the screen at the same time, allowing for greater detail and a more natural image. To get the benefits of HDR (and they are, in my experience, much more noticeable than the benefits of 4K resolution), you need a compatible TV and media made specifically for the format, like a 4K HDR Blu-ray or the handful of HDR titles available on Netflix.
The Xbox One S can play 4K HDR Blu-ray discs (as well as, of course, HD and 4K discs), and it's one of the least expensive devices that can do so. When you consider that it's also an Xbox, that's a pretty good value. (Note the Xbox One S uses the HDR10 format. This is the industry standard but it's still worth double-checking your TV is compatible.)
The One S will also upscale your games, streaming content and other media to 4K, likely more competently than your TV does. While it won't play games natively in 4K (you'll have to wait for the more powerful 2017 Xbox code-named Scorpio for that), there are games coming that will make use of HDR, including Forza Horizon 3 and Gears of War 4. As with HDR films, such games will offer superior detail and colour but it will probably be a while before they become commonplace.
Both old and new consoles are compatible with the Kinect for voice commands and camera functionality, although it's clear the peripheral has fallen by the wayside as you need a bulky adapter to use one with the new S (existing Kinect owners can apply to get an adapter for free). If you choose not to use a Kinect, the One S has an IR blaster on the front of it to preserve functionality with remote controls.
Circling back to the question of whether the upgrade is worthwhile, I can confidently say that if you're in the market for your first Xbox One and you want to buy it brand new, the S is undoubtedly the best version. It looks nicer, is far easier to transport and will be ready for 4K and HDR when you are. The platform has improved by leaps and bounds since its uneven launch in 2013, there are heaps of great exclusive games already out for it and more on the way, so it's not a bad time to jump on board.
If you already have and Xbox One however, it's a bit tougher to recommend an upgrade. Unless you have a TV capable of 4K HDR and are looking for a player to go with it, you might want to wait and see if you're interested in next year's Scorpio to avoid upgrading twice in so many years.
The One S is available now with a 2TB hard drive for $549. Versions with smaller hard drives (1TB for $499 and 500GB for $399) are releasing on August 23. As with the original Xbox One, you can plug in an external hard drive to expand your storage capacity, provided it connects via USB 3.
