Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11No official evidence shows that Xbox Series X inherently gets lower ping than Xbox Series S. Microsoft lists the same dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and 1Gbps Ethernet on both consoles. Series X has more graphics and resolution headroom, but that is different from network latency; a game’s performance depends on its own implementation and mode.
Do Series X and Series S have the same networking hardware?
Microsoft’s current console comparison lists dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and 1Gbps Ethernet for both Xbox Series X and Series S. The Microsoft Store also lists 10/100/1000 Ethernet for Series S, consistent with gigabit support. Xbox’s console comparison and the Series S product page describe the listed connectivity.
Those specifications do not establish that the consoles will have identical real-world connections in every home. Wi-Fi conditions, router and internet service, network congestion, distance to the game server, and the game’s networking all affect the experience. But the official specifications provide no basis for choosing Series X solely because you expect it to reduce ping.
Does Series X perform better during multiplayer games?
Series X has more graphics and resolution headroom, so a particular game may offer it higher resolution, a steadier frame rate, or different visual settings. That can affect how the game looks and feels, but it does not prove a faster internet connection or lower latency. Results vary by title and mode; check the specific game rather than assuming every Series X version performs better.
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#1 Best Overall
- FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL XBOX — Experience next-generation performance with 12 teraflops of processing power, delivering smoother gameplay, richer worlds, and faster responsiveness than any previous XBOX.
- TRUE 4K GAMING UP TO 120 FPS — Enjoy breathtaking visuals with true 4K resolution, HDR, and frame rates up to 120 FPS, plus hardware-accelerated ray tracing for a heightened level of realism.
- 1TB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 1TB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
- QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
- FOUR GENERATIONS OF GAMES — Play thousands of games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX, with many titles enhanced for better visuals and performance on XBOX Series X.
Microsoft lists support for up to 120 FPS on both consoles. “Up to” describes a capability, not a promise that every multiplayer game reaches 120 FPS on either model. The game must support a high-frame-rate mode, and the display must support the relevant output. See Microsoft’s Series X|S comparison and the Series S product details.
What a game-specific example can—and cannot—tell you
In its 2020 launch announcement, Xbox Wire said Gears 5’s Series X|S Versus multiplayer mode supported 120 frames per second, while separately describing 4K HDR visuals for Series X. That is a dated example of one game’s offering, not evidence that all multiplayer games run at 120 FPS on both consoles or that Series X has lower ping. Read the Xbox Wire announcement for that launch-era detail.
Rank #2
- What's in the box: Xbox Series X console, 1 Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black, Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, Power cord.
- Equipped with AMD's Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures, DirectX ray tracing delivers true-to-life lighting, shadows and accurate reflections to create dynamic, living worlds.
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6 w/320 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 10 GB @ 560 GB/s, 6 GB @ 336 GB/s; Internal Storage: 1TB Custom NVME SSD
- Gaming Resolution: True 4K; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; High Dynamic Range: Up to 8K HDR; Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
- Bundled with HDMI_Cable
Which console should you choose for online play?
| What matters to you | Series X | Series S |
|---|---|---|
| Listed network connections | Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and 1Gbps Ethernet | Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and 1Gbps Ethernet |
| Frame-rate capability | Up to 120 FPS, when supported by the game and display | Up to 120 FPS, when supported by the game and display |
| Graphics and resolution | More graphics and resolution headroom; actual modes vary by game | May use lower resolution or different settings; actual modes vary by game |
| Disc games | Some Series X configurations include a disc drive | Digital-only |
Choose Series X if its higher resolution or graphics options matter for the games you play and the display you own. Choose Series S if its price and compact digital format fit better, after checking how your main multiplayer games run on it. Microsoft’s developer certification requirements call for titles targeting a console generation to support the full console family, but that does not mean every title has identical performance modes across models; see the Xbox certification requirements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can Ethernet improve multiplayer performance?
Both consoles have Ethernet ports, so you can try a wired connection with either. Ethernet may provide a more consistent connection than Wi-Fi in some home setups, but it is not a guaranteed ping fix: the route to the game server and other network conditions still matter. A cable is therefore a connection choice, not a Series X advantage.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- What's in the box: Xbox Series S 512GB console, 1 Wireless Controller, High Speed HDMI cable.
- CPU: 8X Cores @ 3.6 GHz (3.4 GHz w/SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU; GPU: 4 TFLOPS, 20 CUs @1.565 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU; SOC Die Size: 197.05 mm2.
- Memory: 10GB GDDR6 128 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 8GB @ 224 GB/s, 2GB @ 56 GB/s.; Internal Storage: 512GB Custom NVME SSD
- Gaming Resolution: 1440p; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
Rank #3
- BEST VALUE IN GAMING — Experience next-gen speed and performance in the smallest XBOX ever. The XBOX Series S delivers powerful all-digital gameplay in a sleek, compact design.
- UP TO 120 FPS GAMEPLAY — Enjoy smooth, responsive gaming with frame rates up to 120 FPS, powered by XBOX Velocity Architecture, a custom NVMe SSD, and DirectX Raytracing for a heightened level of realism.
- 512GB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 512GB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
- QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
- FOUR GENERATIONS OF DIGITAL GAMES — Play thousands of digital games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX with backward compatibility. Many titles are enhanced for better visuals and performance. Smart Delivery ensures you always get the best version for your console.
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