There had been rumors leading up to Microsoft’s E3 2016 press event that the company is going to unveil new Xbox hardware at the gaming convention, and that’s precisely what it has done. Meet Xbox One S, it’s the smallest Xbox the company has ever built, but it’s basically a normal Xbox One that has been shrunk considerably with a few improvements. Xbox One S is 40 percent smaller than the original Xbox One and it comes with a fresh coat of “robot white” paint. It’s the same console, just smaller.
Xbox fans will appreciate the Xbox One S for an entirely different reason: it does away with the external power brick. Yes, the Xbox One S has a built-in power supply even though it’s tiny compared to the original Xbox One.
Microsoft has also listened to its fans who wanted more than one way to display their favorite console. Courtesy of an optional stand, the Xbox One S can be placed either horizontally or vertically, much like the PlayStation 4.
It has some minor improvements as well which include the ability to watch Blu-ray movies and stream video in 4K UHD from content partners like Netflix and Amazon Video. Xbox One S also has support for HDR video and gaming.
To improve accessibility one of the three USB ports and the pairing button has been shifted to the front of the console alongside the new IR blaster. The dedicated Kinect port has been removed from the back, Kinect will be compatible with this console with an Xbox Kinect Adapter for USB.
Xbox One S comes with a newly designed wireless controller that has a textured grip for more comfort, improved signal performance with twice the range, Bluetooth support, and a new thumbstick design. The controller will be sold separately as well for $59.99.
As expected, a 2TB launch edition Xbox One S will be on offer as well. Xbox One S is available with 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage options for $299, $349, and $399 respectively. The 2TB launch edition will be available in limited quantity in select markets starting August, the 1TB and 500GB models will arrive thereafter. The new Xbox One vertical stand will cost $19.99.