Image: MicrosoftWhat it gets right
- Strong, quiet high-detail console performance
- Game Pass provides a broad rotating library
- Quick Resume makes returning to several games fast
- Cloud saves and Xbox-computer integration are excellent
The compromises
- No disc games or high-detail Blu-ray playback
- Game Pass is an ongoing cost and games can leave the service
- Usable storage is smaller than the headline figure
- Fewer major exclusives than some PlayStation buyers expect
Buy it—or leave it?
- You already value Game Pass
- You also play on Windows computer
- You are comfortable buying every game digitally
- You collect, lend or resell games
- You need a high-detail Blu-ray player
- Sony's exclusive games appeal more
What it is actually like
Open any section for the detail behind our verdict.
01Game Pass
The subscription is Xbox's central advantage: one payment opens a large library and many Microsoft releases arrive on day one. It is renting access rather than owning every game. Titles from other publishers rotate out, so finishing a game later can require a separate purchase.
02Performance and use
Games load quickly, the console is remarkably quiet and Quick Resume can reopen supported titles close to where they stopped. The interface contains many sections but becomes easier once favourite games and apps are pinned.
03Digital ownership
Every game is tied to the account and Microsoft store. There is no borrowing, resale or shopping around for a used disc. Fast broadband is important because modern downloads are large, and an expansion card can become an expensive future requirement.
Price and value
At around £449.99, the digital model must remain meaningfully cheaper than the disc Series X. Add the likely cost of Game Pass and any storage expansion before comparing it with a PlayStation 5 bundle.
Price last checked 17 August 2026This price check is more than two weeks old. Use the retailer link for the latest price; this review is temporarily excluded from the buying finder until the price is refreshed.
Who will notice the difference?
Subscription-led gaming
Game Pass and cloud saves make trying a broad range of games straightforward.
Xbox and computer household
Shared accounts, saves and selected purchases work particularly well.
Physical game collection
Choose the disc-equipped Series X instead.
What else should you consider?
£449.99 · PlayStation 5 has the broader mainstream exclusive appeal, Nintendo Switch 2 is portable and Steam Deck deep-black screen provides computer flexibility. Xbox is strongest when Game Pass and cross-device continuity match the household's habits.
Our review process
We based this verdict on Microsoft's performance and service information with independent hardware testing. The value score explicitly treats the missing disc drive and subscription dependence as long-term purchasing constraints.
Read our editorial standards