Microsoft Xbox Series X (1 TB) review

Full review

The Series X is Microsoft's flagship home console and the one to choose if you want a powerful machine that plays an enormous back catalogue. Microsoft lists true 4K gaming with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, HDR up to 8K and a performance target of up to 120 frames per second, which needs both a supported game and a suitable display.

Storage is 1 TB on the standard Carbon Black model, with a 2 TB Galaxy Black special edition also listed. The console accepts Microsoft's Storage Expansion Cards, which are sold separately, and external USB 3.1 hard drives for storing games you are not playing. The Carbon Black includes a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive, while a 1 TB All-Digital Robot White version has no disc drive.

Backward compatibility is the standout. Microsoft says thousands of Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games are supported, so a lot of older games remain playable. The console is not bundled with a subscription: Game Pass is sold separately in Essential, Premium and Ultimate tiers, with day-one releases only in Ultimate.

The box is large, at 15.1 by 15.1 by 30.1 cm and about 4.4 kg for the disc model, so check your shelf. It suits households that already invest in Xbox or want Game Pass.