Our verdict
This Xbox suits a household that already likes Game Pass and is comfortable downloading every game. Microsoft lists 4K gaming at up to 120 frames a second, so supported games look sharper and move more smoothly on a TV that can show it. Its fast SSD (solid-state storage) cuts loading times, and Quick Resume lets you jump back into several games close to where you left off. The missing disc drive is more than cosmetic: you cannot buy used games, borrow from friends, receive physical gifts or play Blu-ray films. Storage is 1TB, but usable space is smaller than that. Compare the total cost of the console, Game Pass and any storage upgrade, not just the shelf price.
Buy it if
- You already value Game Pass and want a simple way to use it
- You also play on a Windows PC and want saves to follow you
- You are happy to buy every game digitally
Skip it if
- You collect, lend or resell games
- You want a 4K Blu-ray player as well
- Sony's exclusive games appeal to you more
How it would fit your home
Subscription gaming
Game Pass and cloud saves make trying a wide range of games easy, without paying full price for each.
An Xbox and PC household
Shared accounts, cloud saves and selected purchases work across both devices.
A physical game collection
Choose the disc-equipped Series X instead, which can play discs and Blu-ray films.
The details, in plain English
Game Pass
Game Pass is Xbox's main advantage: one monthly payment gives you a large library, and many Microsoft releases arrive on day one. You are renting access, not owning every game. Titles from other publishers rotate out over time, so finishing a game later can mean buying it separately. Add the subscription to your running costs when you compare this console with others.
Speed and performance
Microsoft lists 4K gaming at up to 120 frames a second, plus faster loading from the custom SSD. Quick Resume can reopen supported games near where you stopped. Support for 120 frames a second depends on both the game and your TV. The interface has many sections, but it gets easier once you pin your favourite games and apps to the home screen.
Digital ownership
Every game is tied to your account and Microsoft's store. You cannot lend, resell or shop around for a used disc. Fast broadband matters because modern downloads are large. Storage is 1TB, but usable space is smaller, and Microsoft's official expansion card can be an expensive later cost if you install many big games.
Sound and picture formats
Microsoft's page lists Dolby Atmos for spatial sound and Dolby Vision for HDR video. HDR, high dynamic range, lets bright and dark parts of a scene keep detail together. You need a compatible TV or soundbar to use either. If yours is older, you will still get a good picture, just without those extras.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- Quiet, fast console with a custom SSD for short load times
- Game Pass gives a large, rotating library, with many Microsoft games arriving on day one
- Quick Resume reopens several supported games close to where you stopped
- 4K gaming at up to 120 frames a second in supported games
- Saves sync to the cloud and work across Xbox, Windows PCs and supported devices
What to watch out for
- No disc drive: no used games, borrowed discs, physical gifts or Blu-ray films
- Game Pass is a running cost, and games from other publishers can leave the service
- Usable storage is smaller than the 1TB headline figure
- Fewer big exclusives than some PlayStation buyers expect
The PlayStation 5 has broader mainstream exclusive appeal, the Nintendo Switch 2 is portable, and the Steam Deck offers PC gaming. Xbox is strongest when Game Pass and cross-device saves match how your household plays.
Make the Microsoft Xbox Series X Digital Edition easier to live with
Add-ons that answer a drawback we named above. Check compatibility with your exact model before buying.
Solves: usable storage is smaller than the 1TB headline figure
Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S, 1TB Not yet reviewed by us
Adds Xbox expansion-card storage for the named space limitation or expansion cost consideration. Check that the cost still makes this console the sensible purchase.
Check first: This is the Xbox expansion-card system, not a generic USB SSD.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Microsoft Xbox Series X Digital Edition (this one) | The best console for anyone happy to pay for Game Pass and buy everything digitally, but it locks you out of discs for good | £619.99RRP · 1TB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Microsoft Xbox Series X 1TB | Worth considering as a powerful, quiet console with a disc drive and a large SSD, if you accept that games, subscriptions and storage add to the cost. | £669.99RRP · 1TB disc console, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Microsoft Xbox Series S 512GB | A low-cost way into current Xbox games if you are happy to buy digitally and add storage later, but not the one to pick if you want native 4K or discs. | £429.99RRP · 512GB digital console, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Sony PlayStation 5 Slim (Disc Edition) | The safest conventional console for most game-first households, especially if you want to buy, borrow or resell games on disc, though Sony says new games will be digital only from January 2028. | £569.99RRP · disc drive, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
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Where our findings come from
This research-based review combines Microsoft's performance and service information with independent hardware testing. We did not test the console ourselves. The value score treats the missing disc drive and dependence on subscriptions as long-term purchasing constraints.