With Black Friday deals now spread out over multiple days if not weeks, it has become more difficult to track the many seasonal discounts. Still, some products tend to get more attention than others, including popular gaming consoles like the Xbox Series S. Microsoft’s Game Pass gives more gamers access to the latest titles, and Xbox gaming systems remain a key contributor tothis generation’s console gamingfrenzy.
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The Xbox Series S holds a unique place among consoles since it’s a bridge between older systems and the more powerful Xbox Series X and PS5. While the Xbox Series S is a budget-oriented machine, it includes many next-generation features, making it an excellent value even at normal prices. The Xbox Series S doesn’t have the raw horsepower of more premium consoles, but it manages to satisfy the needs of most gamers nonetheless. When rare discounts appear on the console, the deals are simply too tempting for buyers to ignore. However, the question is how inexpensive can the Series S get and will there be better deals after Black Friday?
Is Black Friday the Best Time to Buy an Xbox Series S?
Black Friday may not be the only popular retail event anymore, but other sales have disappointed as far as Xbox Series S discounts. Fortunately, that doesn’t appear to be the case this holiday season, with several noteworthy deals worth paying attention to. Keep in mind that while in the past, Black Friday sales were over in a flash,early Black Friday console salesare now a regular occurrence. Buyers can already score savings on the Xbox Series S in various configurations, with more deals sure to appear in the weeks to come.
Once a gamer has decided on the affordable but still powerful Xbox Series S, the next question is whether to bundle or not to bundle. Often, discounts on just the console itself are hard to come by, with buyers forced to purchase packages with games or other extras to save some money. While a bundle might be tempting since its contents usually cost less than buying the addons individually, these deals may only appeal to certain buyers.
Black Friday gamers will be happy to know that, for the first time in a long while, the 512 GB version of the Xbox Series S by itself is significantly discounted. At major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, gamers can finally score one of thebest budget consolesat one of its lowest prices yet. In its trademark Robot White color, this Xbox Series S deal includes just the essentials like anXbox Core controller.
Xbox Series S
Released alongside the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S is Microsoft’s budget option for the ninth console generation. Designed exclusively for digital gaming, the Series S can run the same games as the Series X, albeit at a potentially lower resolution and frame rate.
The standard Xbox Series S doesn’t ship with any additional games or controllers, but for the same price, gamers can also pick up theXbox Series S 512GB All-Digital Starter Bundle. This option is a no-brainer for single and multiplayer gamers since the bundle includes three months free of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The subscription unlocks full versions of thebest Xbox Game Pass titles, likeStarfieldandGrand Theft Auto V,so most buyers will make full use of their membership.
Xbox Series S Bundle with Controller and Game Pass
This Xbox Series S Bundle includes not only Microsoft’s affordable and powerful console but also an extra controller and a 3-month subscription to Game Pass. Gamers can experience blistering gaming action at up to 120 fps and have 512 GB of storage to download the latest Microsoft exclusives and popular third-party games.
Since friends and family often gather together for holiday celebrations, an extra controller can always come in handy. For the normal asking price of the Xbox Series S console alone, buyers can purchase this bundle with an additional controller and a three-month Game Pass Ultimate membership.
Those are the best Xbox Series S Black Friday deals right now, but GameRant will certainly keep readers aware of any other sales that appear. Even as it stands, Black Friday looks like a great time to purchase the console, since bundles and non-bundles are being sold for some of the lowest prices seen this year.
What Else to Know Before Buying an Xbox Series S?
Many buyers are undoubtedly already aware of what the Xbox Series S brings to gamers, but it’s always worth comparing the console to its competitors. The Series S is the lower-cost alternative to the Series X with one of the major differences being that the S is limited to a 1440p resolution. Still, the Series S is no slouch with its performance, since it includes the same ray-tracing graphics reserved for themost powerful graphics cards. Also, some games on the console can push 120 fps for the most responsive gameplay possible, which is appreciated by competitive esports pros.
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A gaming experience with the Xbox Series S will also depend on what TV or monitor it’s attached to. Unlike the Xbox Series X, the S can’t output a 4K signal, making it a better match for older TVs andhigh refresh rate 1440p gaming monitors. Even if a buyer already owns a 4K TV, most displays effectively upscale lower-resolution video to 4K to the point where the Series X loses some of its advantages. Another attractive quality of the Series S is its compact profile, making it far more portable than the Series X or even the new PS5 Slim.
With both the Xbox Series S and X, storage is also a concern, since so many gamers are downloading digital versions of titles, rather than buying discs. No version for the Series S ships with an optical drive, but there are two varieties with 512 GB or 1 TB of hard drive space. Unfortunately, Black Friday deals are scarcer on the black 1 TB Series S, but gamers have the option to add additional storage withexpansion drives from Western Digitaland Seagate.
Xbox Series X – Diablo IV Bundle
The Xbox Series X is arguably the most powerful console gamers can buy in 2024, and it comes as part of multiple bundles, including Diablo 4. With a built-in multi-volt supply, 1TB of SSD storage, and arguably one of the best stock controllers in the market, it is a gift worth giving to most gamers, but it might appeal to Diablo fans more than others.
If a buyer decides to spend the extra money on a Series X, there are also plenty of deals on Microsoft’s flagship console for Black Friday. GameRant is tracking discounts on Series X which include some enticing bundles withDiablo IVandMadden 24at Target and other retailers.
