By Aadit Jain (’23)

The Xbox Series X launched worldwide on November 10, 2020, marking the beginning of the next-generation consoles. With dimensions of 11.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches, the console has a new design that is much different from that of the Xbox One. Indeed, this new console does look rather simple, yet much larger, compared to previous consoles we have seen. Nevertheless, the console is made so you can easily set it both upright and horizontally. Keep in mind, though, that according to Tom’s Guide, the machine will take in cool air from the bottom and release it through the vent on the top, so placing it vertically will be better for the cooling system. The design is definitely a key component of this new console.  

One interesting aesthetic feature is located on the vent at the top of the console. The designers added a hint of green color around the holes of the vent, making it seem as though the console is lit up or glowing. It likely does not affect the performance, but it does look stylish.

The design, however, is not the only aspect of the console that is incredible: the Xbox Series X provides an amazing gaming experience and features advanced technology. In fact, the machine consists of a 3.8GHz 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and a 12 teraflop Custom RDNA 2 functioning as the GPU. It also supports 4K gaming as well as 8K gaming. To put it simply, the console is extremely powerful and makes for an awesome gaming experience. The load times are fast and the performance is amazing, although there have not been enough games released (as of right now) to truly judge the console’s capabilities. Over time, we will see how the performance of the Xbox Series X compares with the performance of its competitor, the PS5. 

The price of the Xbox Series X is currently at $499, similar to what was expected. However, another console, named the Xbox Series S, has also been recently launched, but for a price of $299. The Xbox Series S will not be as powerful as the Xbox Series X, but it still offers many technological advancements and features for a cheaper price. 

With the new Xbox consoles and the PS5 being released, we will see the beginning of a new generation of gaming. It will be interesting to compare the performances of the consoles and to see which one delivers a better gaming experience.