Xbox Series X Review – The Best Console EVER?

As a PC gamer, I’ve always defended the idea that there are plenty of reasons not to switch from PC to console gaming. However, when the next generation of consoles was announced, especially the Xbox Series X, even I was eagerly expectant.

After spending a few weeks with Microsoft’s new console, I was expecting it would do well to significantly change my mind. And it has. The Xbox Series X is everything it’s advertised to be and more.

Before we begin, it’s worth pointing out that the review won’t be covering the aspect of next-generation gaming graphics just yet. The list of games provided will be receiving its optimisations from today, over the next week or two as they become publicly available.

Xbox Series X Design and Build

With the upcoming battle of the console wars still a rumour at the time, Microsoft was the first to show its hand. They unveiled the design of the Xbox Series X to the world well before the expected release date.

The new design approach had many talking, with varying opinions on the end result.

When Microsoft first released the Xbox One, the earmarked entertainment system was designed to blend in with the surrounding devices you have alongside your TV. While it could be set upright, it was clear that the design was based on a horizontal layout. And so it was for each of the updated designs for the Xbox One series.

But that script has been well and truly thrown out the window. This time, the horizontal layout is a side requirement, with the Xbox Series X meant to stand upright, displayed proudly in your living or entertainment rooms.

The design is minimalistic, to say the least. Its matte black finish oozes elegance without any over the top frills. In fact, I believe if the design team could’ve gone with a fully wireless setup, we would’ve seen a solid, monolithic slab with no inputs.

The unit has squared edges, with the only curve being that of the ventilation system featuring a curvature as the holes line up to the outside. This is also the point where the monochrome colourway is broken. The vents feature a two-tone approach, with the top portion of the hole being an extension of the matte black finish, with the bottom half featuring the iconic Xbox green. As a result of this, it creates the effect of light being emitted from the inside, without that actually being the case.

The symmetry and clean design are extended to the dimensions. The Xbox Series X measures 151x151x301mm. It carries a height only fractionally higher than a standard ruler and has its sides about half of that. I’m amazed at how small it is, as well as bemused as to how tightly compact it must be to fit such a powerful system inside.

Xbox Series X Ports and Connectivity

In keeping with the minimalist approach, the Xbox Series X front has an almost clean design. There are only three interactive elements here. This includes the 4K UHD Blu-ray drive, a USB 3.2 port, as well as the power button.

The remaining physical inputs are all on the rear. There’s no port for the HDMI this time around, with the optical audio and IR port for remotes also receiving the boot.

Keeping things simple, the connectivity options include an additional two USB 3.2 ports, a gigabit Ethernet port, a storage expansion slot, the HDMI 2.1 port, as well as the power-in.

Setting it Up: Cool Runnings

When Microsoft started to seed the final products to reviewers, creators, YouTubers, techies and other well-known persons around the world, there was an immediate spike in reports about the overheating. And, to be fair, it wasn’t without merit.

Having received my review a few days before the embargo lifted on the unboxing reveals, after I had unboxed, I had placed the unit next to my TV in preparations for the review. Knowing full well that I wasn’t going to be doing much with the console prior to receiving content, I had just left it in its powered-off state. At this stage, it was nothing but an ornament. A good-looking one, mind you.

The temptation was too much to bear and after a full day, I gave in to the urge to power on the unit. After having connected all the cords, which is just the power cable and HDMI cable, I still didn’t turn it on.

Staring at the button for a few seconds, I made the plunge.

I wasn’t sure of what to expect by pressing the rounded button with the Xbox icon. But it was satisfying when I did. The depress of the button is great. It’s not too hard or soft and has a nice click to it when you’ve pressed and released it. And then comes the power on sound, directly from the console.

Upon first boot, I entered in all my credentials to be signed into the OS. Before setup was completed, however, there was a request to update, which I selected without a second thought. It was brisk. Within a few seconds, I was back and presented with the Xbox UI.

After fine-tuning all the settings, I decided to configure it using the quick start option. This means that the console powers down to save power, but is not completely off – like an advanced standby mode. This is known as the Instant-On feature.

The next morning, I had gone to pick up the controller to use the console again and found the Xbox Series X was running quite warm. At the time it worried me a bit.

The next day, however, a new update arrived. This was a scheduled patch of the firmware. As stated by the Microsoft team, the update would be more in line with performances at launch. Given that the review would hinge more on the latest launch day firmware, it was a no brainer to update. While I had not picked up any of the bugs listed as part of the update, it made a significant difference in the standby mode.

Immediately after the update, the excess heat issue was gone. The firmware optimisation resolved the issues and while I could still notice the fan spinning on the inside during standby mode, the unit was cold to the touch. This was good news.

I did a few additional tests while the Xbox Series X was operating under load playing games and the likes, it ran almost nearly as cool as it did during standby. This is great. My concerns about the compact packaging and ventilation have been put to bed.

Xbox Series X UI

As an avid PC gamer, the limitation of the console OS was always a factor for me. The flexibility provided on Windows, Linux and MacOS would always surpass that of the singular-focused OS of the console. When I reviewed the Xbox One back in 2016, it was clear that Microsoft attempted to evolve the console into an entertainment system. Unfortunately, the team had to revert on the early promise and focus the majority of its efforts on gaming.

This time around, the launch isn’t preceded by this confusion. The focus has clearly shifted for the Xbox team, even more so in recent months. Gaming is at the forefront of the Xbox Series X experience and the OS has been designed to usher you in.

The UI is a no-frills presentation, which largely resembles that of the previous Xbox One UI. That said, the Xbox One UI itself has been updated to match that of the new Xbox Series X|S overhaul. The layout makes it easy to navigate, with many of the technical requirements hidden behind additional menus, which you don’t really need to see on the main menu.

The top row has recently played and opened games and apps, allowing you to jump straight back in whenever you pick up the controller again. The main menu tiles include My Games & Apps, Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Store. These have always been the most important tiles on the console and continues in that vein here.

The UI has also been geared towards the more social aspect, with new features in the People tab. This also includes the recent screengrabs, etc. – which you can share from your console directly and even picks up within the Xbox mobile app, allowing you to download it onto your smartphone and share from there instead.

As part of the Xbox Series X optimisation updates in the coming weeks and months, many games currently don’t support the Quick Resume feature. This new feature isn’t an isolated development by Microsoft but requires updates from the game development team. This optimisation is already available in certain titles, providing a great boot-up speed.

How it works is simple on paper. Once you start a game for the first time, you’ll go through the standard credits and introductions by the developers and all those associated. You’ll then encounter the first load screen before hitting the main menu.

Once you’re in the game, you’ll then be able to jump out at any time simply by hitting the Xbox button on the controller and selecting the option to return back home. You can then turn off the console, switch to another game or do anything else you wish to do. When you’re ready to jump back into the game, simply select it and you’re right back in from where you left off.

For some games, you will be entered into the pause menu, and hitting unpause will allow you to proceed as if you’ve never left. No more credit screens and main screen loading once a title receives the Quick Resume feature update.

Speaking of the load time, this too has been improved massively. With the high-speed, 1TB NVME SSD powering the internal storage, the support for decreased load times is massive. This works hand-in-hand with the Quick Resume as well, allowing you to spend much less time waiting around and a lot more time playing games.

Xbox Series X Wireless Controller

As mentioned in the unboxing coverage, the Xbox Series X wireless controller is very similar to that of the previous Xbox One controller. For the most part, the shape is near-identical to that of the previous unit. In fact, even if you go back to the Xbox 360, the similarities are still there. But there are some small updates to the new controller that makes big differences.

For starters, there is a textured finish on the back end of the grip, as well as on the triggers. This not only provides additional grip but also assists for longer gaming sessions where sweaty hands may be a factor. It feels great, too.

Another of the small changes on the controller is the new D-pad. It has now evolved into a more complex 8-way directional click. The edges of the four main directions are more pronounced. This makes the centre more hollowed out, providing a better resting position for the centre of your thumb. While it feels more solid overall, it’s also somewhat easier to press down, requiring a bit less effort than before. There’s also a lot less play, so it doesn’t move around as much within its housing, giving it a more premium feel.

Other tweaks to the design include deeper and slightly smaller analogue triggers. The deeper depression requirement means that there is more playroom. What this means is that developers will have more wiggle room for accuracy on the triggers in the increased length of the trigger path.

The only new physical inclusion on the Xbox Series X wireless controller is the dedicated share button. This is pretty self-explanatory and works very well.

Another inclusion on the controller is the Bluetooth option to connect to other devices, more specifically to your smartphone. This will be used to make it easier to enable features such as Remote Play without requiring an additional controller.

What’s really nice about the controller, which is a feature that comes across from the Xbox One, is the option to remap almost all buttons and triggers. If I’m honest, this isn’t something that would intrigue me given the default mappings for games. However, if you have specific preferences where the games don’t allow you to remap, it’s great that the feature is available.

There are other ports within the controller that also return. The 3.5mm auxiliary jack and a port on the bottom end, as well as a new Type-C port on the rear. This can be used to charge rechargeable batteries. It’s worth pointing out that the AA batteries included in the contents aren’t rechargeable, and shouldn’t be used as such.

With all the minor changes on the controller, it adds to the improvements overall. However, while this may be the case, there’s still some room for improvement. We’ve all heard about the updated haptic feedback and touchpads on the PlayStation 5 in recent weeks, and we’re left wondering why such additions haven’t been made on the Xbox Series.

Yes, Microsoft has decided to stick to the tried and tested, but at some point, they need to look at going beyond this. It may be too radical a move right now, but hopefully something on the cards in future updates within this generation.

The Entertainment Factor

I may have stated earlier that, unlike the Xbox One, the Xbox Series X was not designed to be an all-in-one entertainment system. This holds true, but it doesn’t mean that the console doesn’t offer any such features.

With 4K UHD Blu-ray optical drive, you’ll have the support to play all your movies, etc. that are available in this format. That said, it also supports the older DVD format.

The Xbox Series X is geared from the onset to be used as a 4K platform, so having a supporting TV or monitor will be essential for the full experience.

Exploring the UI support online shows a different experience depending on the region. Many reviewers from the North American regions have reported on a list of apps pre-loaded onto the Xbox Series X under a dedicated tile as part of the entertainment options. However, this isn’t the case for South Africa. Instead, users will be required to download all the apps required for streaming that are available in the region. This includes apps like YouTube, Netflix and the likes.

There are also a few other options away from streaming. This includes the option to load your OneDrive account to access your videos and photos in the cloud – if you have shared any. You can also have playback directly from your USB-enabled storage, whether it be a flash drive or portable hard drive. It also includes support for streaming via DLNA via the Media Player app. And then there’s a host of music streaming services that also have their own apps, which can be downloaded.

I’ve already discussed the removal of the HDMI-in, which is a clear sign that the unit was not designed to be the central entertainment system connecting to all your other devices. Instead, it’s a more streamlined experience. So, while there are options for entertainment it’s not the main focus of the Xbox Series X.

Should You Buy An Xbox Series X?

Microsoft unveiled the Xbox Series X console design very early. The design was met by mixed reactions from fans, experts and the general public. As a result of the unveiling, a few memes started floating around. None were more popular than the Xbox Series X fridge meme. Microsoft embraced the public trolling by creating a full-sized fridge in the shape of the Xbox Series X and presented it to a long-time fan, Snoop Dogg.

And this pretty much sums up the brand’s rigid mindset and attitude of telling the consumer what is best for them. The team has partnered with its fans to bring in a new era of gaming, switching focus from selling hardware to that of selling the experience.

It’s clear from all the efforts, both behind the scenes and from a marketing perspective, has paid off. I love the ecosystem, even as it extends to my gaming PC and now my smartphone. There’s just so much to enjoy about the Xbox Series X launch, even without touching on the internal hardware and gaming side.

I mentioned in the previous Xbox One review that there were sufficient changes to make me consider switching to the console over PC gaming. But Microsoft isn’t asking me to do so even with the launch of its new Xbox Series X console. And I appreciate that. I’m still able to game on either platform with different experiences to love.

So should you buy one? Hell, yeah.

It remains to be seen what the impact is of the Rand-Dollar exchange rate over the past four years since the release of the Xbox One. With pricing nearly doubling on the Xbox Series X to R11,999, there’s a lot to consider. The recent pre-orders and hype in the build-up to the release would have me believe that there’s still a significant market for it within the borders of South Africa.

Many early predictions had the view that the next-generation Xbox console wouldn’t be the evolution over the predecessor that many would want. In some instances, that does ring true. However, with the major overhauls to the hardware, the Quick Resume and massively decreased load times, the AI-enhanced upscaling (to be discussed in upcoming reviews), definitely puts those early predictions to bed. There are a lot of great new additions and tweaks to make the Xbox Series X deserving of the “next-generation” moniker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Top 10 Xbox Series X Features

A short while back, I wrote a fairly comprehensive review of the newly released Xbox Series X. At the time of review, however, there were many features that weren’t yet available. These would only be ready with the official launch day on 10 November 2020.

Having spent the last week working through quite a number of these features, I’ve taken the liberty of listing just a few standouts that brings the entire Xbox experience together. These are in no particular order of rank, all of which are great.

Quick Resume

This one is fairly self-explanatory. The Quick Resume feature allows gamers to jump in and out of sessions with ease. It’s one of the more welcome features added to the next-generation consoles. Essentially, it puts the game into a paused state, which allows you to pick up right where you left off. No traversing menus or having to sit through the pre-title credits.

Xbox Series X. Resuming Quickly. pic.twitter.com/7XmXLaykhC

— Jez ? (@JezCorden) October 8, 2020

In theory, this is how it should work, and for most games it does. Games that were released prior to the launch and not optimised for Xbox Series X originally, also receive a mini update to add this feature. As a result, some games will offer a different experience for Quick Resume. Some games, when you jump back in, are left on the pause screen, while others allow you to pick up where you left off, exactly as is.

It is worth noting that sometimes when you’ve left the console off for an extended period, pulled it out at the plug, or have too many apps in Quick Resume state, the experience may vary. Either way, the NVMe m.2 SSD makes loading a breeze.

Entertainment

There are a few features that lie within the Entertainment space on the Xbox Series X. Each of them plays its own role in creating a more immersive experience, whether during gaming or watching movies.

Dolby Vision

With its 4K and HDR support listed very early on, many fans we eager to see real-world examples of this. Just before launch, Microsoft unveiled that it would be deploying Dolby Vision support, allowing for better HDR 10 support. This creates deeper contrasts and more accurate colours. What’s great about the support for Dolby Vision, means that it is much broader in use and easily available to developers and content creators. Compared to Sony’s approach with its propriety

The experience isn’t always native. At launch, there are a number of games that offer the support, which includes Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Ori and the Will of the Wisps (one of my favourite titles on the console) and Gear 5, amongst a few others. Each of these games has a distinct richness about its aesthetics, beyond the graphics elements. Games that support this feature going forward are bound for some excellent visuals.

For apps such as Netflix, you will have to ensure that you’re on the highest subscription tier to support 4K and HDR. Without it, you won’t have access to this feature. Additionally, it’s also worth noting that your TV or monitor also has to support these features.

Spatial Audio

There’s no point having brilliant graphics and visuals if you’re unable to enjoy the breathtaking sound. Thankfully, the Xbox Series X offers you just that. The console supports both DTS and Dolby Atmos to make the sound experience just as great as the visuals.

The default setting on the device is the use of Windows Sonic. However, if you wish to enhance your experience with Dolby Atmos and DTS headphone: X sound it is still possible. There is, however, one caveat. You’ll have to purchase the rights within the Xbox store to enable it.

The Windows Sonic drivers work just fine. That said, if you’ve invested in a great sound system or pair of headphones, then enhancing the sound experience is a must. The games themselves also need to support this feature, but there are a number of titles that already do.

4K UHD Blu-ray drive

With the next generation of consoles, it was always going to include the support of the latest digital entertainment options. Whether it be via streaming apps, or using the Blu-ray drive, with support for 4K playback. To use the optical drive for playing media, you’ll need to download the Blu-ray app. On the Xbox Series X review unit, the app wasn’t included by default. Once done, the app works fairly straightforward, allowing you to enjoy your 4K content.

Smart Delivery

This feature actually presented itself prior to the official release date of the Xbox Series X. Xbox Smart Delivery allows console owners to preload games prior to the launch date or even if you’re gaming disc is still on its way to your post box.

The Smart Delivery feature also allows you to have access to games on multiple platforms. This means that you can download the game on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and even your PC. Each of the titles will have its own optimisations per platform. Not needing to purchase two or three different versions of the same game is great for fans who often switch between their consoles and PCs. Saved data is also carried across via your signed-in Xbox profile.

Sharing

I briefly touched on this feature in the initial review. As we become more social, our consoles also need to adapt. The Xbox team is very aware of this, allowing for quick shares while you’re playing a game.

Simply click on the dedicated Share button on the Xbox Series X wireless controller and it will save to the cloud. You’ll then see a notification appear on the screen to confirm the screenshot taken. A few seconds later, the screenshot will be available to download via the Xbox smartphone app. This allows you to then save and upload it to your favourite social media platforms.

Xbox App

Speaking of the Xbox app, it was updated prior to the launch of the Xbox Series X. It offers a more streamlined view of everything regarding your Xbox experience. The app has a number of new features added to it as well, in addition to downloading your shared content.

It offers a central point to experience. Users can manage their installed games and storage. If you’re in need of additional storage space, you can take to the app to delete installed games. Once done, you can even select a game you wish to start downloading. All of this can be done remotely so that when you get home later that day, you can pick things up as required.

The app also features a remote-control option. In the event, your controller’s batteries need charging but you still wish to continue using the app, you can open the app and proceed with each. Simply connect via the app.

Xbox Remote Play

One of the standout features on the upgraded Xbox app is the Xbox Remote Play feature. The Remote Play support is an extension of the app, which opens up a portal to the console. Once connected, the Xbox Series X’s screen will appear on your smartphone (or tablet) for you to view.

The Remote Play feature requires a compatible controller to be used on your smartphone. Once connected, you can traverse the menus or jump back into one of the games. This feature requires the Xbox Series X to be on or on standby mode, allowing you to connect to it.

The games run on your Xbox as per normal, the only difference is that the display is duplicated and streamed over the Internet. This frees up your TV to be used by someone else in the house.

A neat trick I tested was that I could connect my smartphone to a monitor and then run the Xbox Remote Play feature. This means that you’re able to view on a bigger screen without needing to reconnect your console.

Xbox Family Settings

If you’re going to be using the Xbox Series X for more than just gaming and you have kids around the house, it may be worth looking at the Xbox Family Settings app.

The Family Settings app allows users to control quite a bit here. Whether you need to block certain content for younger viewers, or even block access during specific times of the day, you can set it up using the app. In addition, you can even limit the amount of screen time your kids spend on the console.

One of the key features of the app is its ability to block who kids communicate with online. Parents can vet who has added a friend and connect with. Whenever a friend request is received, it will be sent to the app first before allowing the invite to proceed.

Backwards-Compatibility

A question that plagued console fans’ nightmares for months when it became known in 2019 that the new consoles were on their way in 2020. Microsoft put the rumours and discussions to bed fairly early on, announcing that it would support the backwards compatibility of its previous-generation games.

At launch, Microsoft announced that over 1,000 game titles were backwards-compatible. This is quite an extensive and impressive list. While it won’t cover all games, many gamers would be hard-pressed to find any of their favourite titles not on it.

In addition to offering backwards compatibility, there were also reasonable performance bumps for many titles. These include faster load times, less frame rate drops and just overall better stability.

Some titles, however, go that extra bit further, offering optimised performance updates for the Xbox Series X. This means they will include support for features such as HDR and even 4K upscaling. This is no doubt music to everyone’s ears.

Accessorise

With backwards-combability such a big component of the Xbox Series X, the team take things one step further by allowing for previously purchased accessories to be used on the Xbox Series X as well.

While many users will opt to purchase new controllers, there are a host of accessories that may have been purchased previously they won’t be so eager to get rid of. This option is great for those who have invested heavily on any accessories over the years.

Any officially licenced Xbox One accessory is able to connect to the Xbox Series X, whether wirelessly or wired via USB. Some devices may require a firmware update.

Easily Expandable Storage

The Xbox Series X launched with a 1TB internal NVMe SSD. The superfast storage enabled quite a few new features that weren’t available before. It also boosted loading times quite significantly. However, with just over 800GB of usable storage capacity remaining for games, it will no doubt quickly run out somewhere between 10 and 15 game installs.

Xbox announced its partnership with Seagate to produce a 1TB expansion card for the Xbox Series X and S. While this is great, it’s not the most affordable option. Thankfully, the console also supports any external storage you have available. This isn’t new to the Xbox platform, but its added support for NVMe external storage makes all the difference. Simply plug in your drive, allow it to be formatted to the correct file format and you’re good to go.

The Round-Up

Coming from the PC gaming community, I wasn’t going to be sold on computational power and hardware specifications. This should be a given for a newly launched console. And it is. But what really impressed me about the Xbox Series X was its set of features to enhance your experience.

This enhancement isn’t just limited to newly released titles, but with backwards-combability, upscaling and enhancement, the experience has heightened even for your most prized titles. This makes it a truly fan-based ecosystem, driven by what we want most.

Xbox Series X Unboxing

After many months of speculation, rumours, expert predications and every other article in between, the time of the next-generation console are upon us. The Xbox Series X landed on our doorstep just the other day. While most of us enjoy the anticipation of any delivery when the call comes in at the gate, this one was special. Here’s some of our experience unboxing the Xbox Series X.

As is the norm for mail delivered packages, you’re presented with a plain brown, cardboard box. Unassuming to say the least. You wouldn’t hazard a guess as to its contents.

As you can imagine, I was eager to cut open the taping and get a glimpse of what lies beneath. Once the taping has been removed, the box opens upwards. Immediately you’re presented with all the branding, logos and likes. That said, it’s quite sleek and minimalist. The insides of the box, too, extends the branding, present prints resembling the vents atop the Xbox Series X.

The outer box falls away quite neatly and easily as you’re presented with the actual box. As with the outer packaging, the inner also opens upward. In amongst the Styrofoam padding, the Xbox Series X is housed in the middle, wrapped in paper, with the words “Power Your Dreams” printed on the outer cardboard wrapping.

Peeling away the wrapping and you’re finally able to get your hands on the console. The rectangular prism frame, or Cuboid for its scientific term, has a very squared finish. The console measures 151x151x301mm in dimensions. It also weighs 4.45KG, which takes you by surprise as you lift it out from its housing.

In the back end of the box, the rest of the contents are packed away neatly in its own box. In terms of the full contents of the box, you’re presented with five hardware components.

The list includes:

• Xbox Series X
• Xbox wireless controller
• HDMI cable
• AC power cable
• Two AA batteries

As with the previous generation, Xbox One, the Xbox Series X can be placed both horizontally and vertically. The console offers two different approaches to achieve this.

To display it vertically, there’s a round, base with rubberised edges. When presented horizontally, there are four rubber feet.

In terms of the wireless controller, there has been many debates among fans as to whether Microsoft had made any changes to the design. It may be subtle and not appreciated from the images, but there are plenty of tweaks on the surface.

There is a new D-pad, textured grip and triggers and even a dedicated share button. In terms of shape, at a glance, Microsoft has continued with the much-loved design.

Throughout all the elements of the unboxing, the black and green theme is strong. While there is some white thrown into the mix, this is left almost exclusively for the text.

The Xbox Series X box makes the unboxing experience both easy and minimalistic while keeping it fun at the same time. It’s not often you’re left with glee simply by means of unpackaging contents.

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Microsoft provided a review unit to Fortress of Solitude for the purposes of this review.