Can I trade my Xbox Series S for an Xbox Series X?

Microsoft’s decision to name their latest console “Xbox Series S” and “Xbox Series X” is one that has tripped people up for years now. Even if you’re paying attention, it can be tough to remember which is which.

So what’s the difference between the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X? Which one is better? If you have one, is it worth trading up to the other?

It might be easiest to imagine that the “X” in “Series X” stands for “eXtra”. Both versions of the console run the same games and the same apps; the Series X just brings a bit more to the table for its additional price, and can run some games at a much higher resolution. Think of Series S as the base model, and Series X as the “high-end” version.

Here are the main upgrades you get with the Series X:

- More built-in storage: The Series X comes with up to 2TB of internal storage; the Series S caps out at 1TB.

- Optical Drive: The Series X offers an optical disc drive for reading physical games and Blu-ray Discs, while the Series S does not. The upside? Physical games can be resold when you’re done with them!

- More Performance: The Series X has more RAM (16GB vs 10GB) and a considerably more powerful GPU (12 teraflops vs 4 teraflops). This allows the Series X to run more games at a true 4K resolution. It’s important to note, however, that not all games run at 4K, even on the Series X. If there’s a certain game you’re considering upgrading for, make sure that specific game can actually run at 4K.

The downside? The Series X is bigger and costs more than the Series S.

Does either model support 8K?

As of November of 2024, neither the Series S nor the Series X officially support 8K output.

Can you trade a Series S for a Series X?

If you own an Xbox Series S and are looking to upgrade to the better performance of a Series X, Tiptop can help. We’ll give you an instant offer for your Series S, which you can immediately put toward the cost of a new Series X — or any other next-gen console or you can just sell your Xbox straight up at Tiptop.com