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The reason the Xbox Series S is so much cheaper than the Series X

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The reason the Xbox Series S is so much cheaper than the Series X

Both consoles have become more expensive since launch, but the Series S is still relatively affordable.

A console nearly six years into its lifecycle would typically have seen a price drop by this point, but that's not the case for the latest Xbox line. On the contrary, the Xbox Series X and S have seen a price increase in recent months. It's not the only system to see these hikes, either. The PlayStation 5's price went up twice within a year and the Nintendo Switch 2 got a heftier price tag in 2026, largely thanks to the ongoing RAMaggedon crisis driving up component prices.

Despite the price hikes, the Series S maintains a price edge over the Series X, starting at $500. That's a stark difference from the Series X's cheapest $750 model, and means the Series S is tied with the Switch 2 for the most affordable modern console. But why is the Series S so much cheaper than the Series X? It all comes down to hardware.

The most obvious difference between these two is that the Series S is a digital-only device that lacks a disc drive. Though there is a model of the Series X that also lacks a disc drive (which knocks $50 off its price), the hardware of the Series X otherwise remains the same. This lock-in to a solely digital landscape is one of the most defining features between the two, which contributes somewhat to its cheaper price tag.

Under the hood, the Series S is also a less impressive piece of hardware then the Series X.


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