The HDMI output has been upgraded from 1.4a to 2.0. The HDMI 1.4 standard is technically capable of supporting 4K, but only at 30Hz. Films and TV shows shown at 30Hz will look choppy as hell and may give you a headache. HDMI 2.0 means the Xbox One S can output proper 4K at 60Hz. The console shows off the advantages of 4K: remarkable clarity, minute details and lifelike textures. I could make out the consistency of the motor oil Charlize Theron smears across her face as war paint. As for power, the pad works on AA batteries. They last a good while, so I don’t mind them. Some people prefer the Sony PS4 controller’s built-in battery approach. It may be more environmentally friendly, but the battery has proved to be poor and I’m forever having to plug it in. I wish Microsoft would ship controllers with its “Play and Charge” kits – it would be a good compromise.

As the name implies, this console is essentially the Slim redesign for the Xbox One, made necessary by the further demands of cheaper manufacturing costs and more portability. Although it's not necessary, having a 4K TV wouldn't hurt as One S upscale the image to 4K. But the true 4K console of the previous Xbox One generation is the Xbox One X. Xbox One S Types Review summary: Tester praises the Xbox One S for hitting the sweetspot between power and price point. Benefits include the more compact design, 4K and HDR streaming, and HDR gaming. However the tester notes that an adaptor is required for Kinect and that 4K gaming is restricted to upscaling. UHD Blu-rays represent the pinnacle of home-cinema picture quality, and this console can wield them as well as a dedicated player. The Panasonic does look better, with more subtle processing. The finer details look sharper and the colours are more neutral, but there isn’t a huge difference considering the price gap. That said, it's important to note that Microsoft won't be making games specifically for the Xbox One S. Sure, some games will have additional HDR capabilities on Microsoft's latest console, but the developers at 343 won't make the game in the Halo franchise an Xbox One S exclusive by any means.

So the games don’t perform noticeably better, and options are limited on HDR gaming. This means your gaming experience on the Xbox One S will be virtually indistinguishable from that on the Xbox One – except for ultra high-definition video output.

At this point I know the fold out lied to me, but it’s too late, I’m invested. I press on, angry, miserable, and wishing for a swift death. Games on Demand, Music on Demand, Video on Demand, Exclusive Game Demos, Exclusive Discounts, Free Games, Online Multiplayer, Matchmaking, Credit Recharge via Coupon Code, Group Chats This has been upgraded with a 1TB SSD and during the process the console has been cleaned internally and new thermal paste has been applied. The controller has been tweaked, too. It feels halfway between the basic Xbox One pad and the super-expensive Xbox One Elite Controller. It retains the ergonomic shape of the previous model, but the rear now benefits from a more grippy texture. Apparently, exchangeable colour covers are an option too. The final feature worth mentioning here is Cortana, a feature that works similarly to Siri on iOS, tvOS and OSX, or Google Assistant on Android devices. Cortana can field commands like "Invite my friend Dave to a party" or "Pull up my achievements." Using Cortana is a more intuitive way of controlling and navigating Xbox One, and is a major step forward from the previous Kinect-only voice commands.Game Pass monthly subscription required; continues until cancelled. Game selection varies over time. Learn more at www.xbox.com/game-pass. I ended up playing Sea Of Thieves with my friends three times. My daughter tried Minecraft, which she’s played on iPad and Mac successfully, only to end up in tears on the Xbox. The in game chat was cool, but dwarfed by the complexity and blatant disregard for the gamers experience at every turn of every interaction.

The only console designed to play the best games of the past, present, and future Play over 2,200 games including more than 200 exclusives and over 550 classics from Xbox 360 and Original Xbox. Imagine leaving hell... only to land in a funhouse of mirrors, clowns, and spinning rooms. Better is debatable. There are two physical buttons in place of the capacitive touch buttons for power and eject on the face of the console, and the sync and USB 3.0 ports have been brought from the side of the unit to the lower half of the front face. Our original review of the Xbox One S below details everything you need to know about Microsoft's upscaling console including its performance, design, and capabilities.Then I notice the progress bar... a dark green line camouflaged against a slightly darker green line... moving imperceptibly slow.