TechRadar Verdict
There is certainly an appeal to the Xbox Series X Digital Edition, which combines the power of Microsoft’s flagship current-generation console with a convenient all-digital setup. That said, it’s disappointing that this all-digital console doesn’t offer any more storage than the base model, which would have been a worthy trade-off for the absent disc drive. Still, at $50 / £50 less than the original Xbox Series X, the Digital Edition could be worthwhile if you’re looking to save cash.
Full fat Xbox Series X power for less
Robot White colorway is aesthetically pleasing
Unintrusive, whisper-quiet performance
A great option for Xbox Game Pass
Only 800GB of usable storage
The 1TB Xbox Series S is arguably better value
Still priced quite highly despite the lack of a disc drive
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Xbox Series X Digital Edition: two-minute review
The Xbox Series X Digital Edition is one of the new additions toMicrosoft’s current-gen console family, ditching the disc drive entirely in order to offer thegaming consoleat a lower, potentially more compelling price point.
There’s certainly strong appeal to this; for folks who want Microsoft’s most powerful current-generation console without needing to pay the biggest bucks, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition is a compelling option as it comes in $50 / £50 cheaper than the flagshipXbox Series X. And if you’re not at all fussed about owning physical copies of thebest Xbox Series X games, then this all-digital console will be the one to go for.
It’s also an excellent choice if you like the appeal ofXbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s digital games-on-demand subscription service that lets you download hundreds of games at a monthly (or annual) fee. The less-powerfulXbox Series Sconsole is great for Game Pass, too, but with this Series X model, you’ll be getting full-fledged current-gen gaming experiences with no graphical compromises.
Moreover, it’s a slick bit of kit from an aesthetic standpoint. I actually prefer the Robot White color scheme of the Digital Edition over the Carbon Black of the disc-drive console (not to mention the rather gaudy Galaxy Black of the new 2TB model). Of course, the aesthetic difference has no bearing on overall performance. And on that note, you’re getting an identical experience compared to the disc-drive model - and just like it and the Xbox Series S, this new all-digital console is impressively quiet during play.
That being said, I think the Xbox Series X Digital Edition’s price tag still errs on the higher side, coming in at $449.99 / £429.99. While that does match the price of the PS5 Slim Digital Edition in the US, it’s £40 more expensive thanSony’s all-digital machine in the UK. On top of that, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition only comes with around 800GB of usable storage (roughly 200GB is claimed by theoperating system) compared to the PS5 Slim’s approximate 850GB. That’s also more or less the same as what is usable in the Xbox Series X disc-drive console.
That isn’t anything new for this console generation’s 1TB machines; all of them have had to reserve space for the essential software needed for them to function. Without some extra storage capacity, however, the value proposition of the Xbox Series X Digital Edition isn’t massively fantastic when compared to the disc-drive model or even the 1TB Xbox Series S. Granted, the latter is a less powerful system, but it is a much cheaper digital option ($349.99 / £299.99) with the same amount of storage.
You will also likely want to avoid the Digital Edition if you don’t have particularly good download speeds via your internet service provider. The lack of a disc drive here means you aren’t able to rely on physical media, and thus won’t be able to install games offline so are fully dependent on a strong internet connection.
In summary, then, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition is great for folks after optimal graphical capabilities from the current crop of Xbox consoles at a reduced price - especially if you don’t mind the absence of a disc drive or want to fully embraceXbox Game Pass. But if you feel you’d miss the option for physical games, it’s worth stumping up that extra $50 / £50 for the base console instead.
Xbox Series X Digital Edition: Price and availability
The Xbox Series X Digital Edition retails at $449.99 / £429.99. It’s available to buy from the official Xbox online store, as well as plenty of big box retailers likeAmazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Argos, and Currys.
Despite the lack of a disc drive, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition still finds itself towards the higher end of the Series X|S price spectrum. As mentioned above, the standard Xbox Series X costs $499.99 / £479.99 after a price hike in 2023. For further comparison, the 1TB version of the Xbox Series S comes in at $349.99 / £299.99, making the Xbox Series X Digital Edition the priciest discless option within the Series X|S ecosystem.
You are at the very least getting the full brunt of the Series X’s graphical chops here, so those wanting a cheaper option for that will find value here. But, if your main drive for owning a current-generation Xbox is to play a lot of games at a significantly lower price point, then that 1TB Xbox Series S model may be the one to go for here.
Xbox Series X Digital Edition: Specs
Xbox Series X Digital Edition: Design and features
The Xbox Series X Digital Edition maintains the striking cuboid design of the original model. In fact, if you’ve ever laid eyes on an original Xbox Series X, this new one is essentially that without the disc drive and in a slick Robot White color scheme. I’m quite a fan of this aesthetic change; not only does it distinguish the model from its Carbon Black counterpart, it’s also more in line with other all-digital models like the Xbox Series S (especially with the Carbon Black Xbox Series S being phased out and not available for purchase in Australia). I think it also looks quite nice contrasting against my black TV stand.
Everything else about the console is identical to the 2020 model. The lack of a disc drive means the front of the unit is without any indentations, save for the Xbox logo power button and a solitary USB port which are both in the same place. It’s also worth noting that Microsoft hasn’t opted to add any USB-C ports here like Sony has with the PS5 Slim Digital Edition. That certainly would’ve made connecting certain third-party controllers or headsets via wireless dongle much easier. Otherwise, the built-in vertical stand is also present, resting at the bottom of the console, with ventilation here as well as at the top of the unit.
The back side of the console is also the same as its disc-drive brethren. Ports for power, HDMI, ethernet cable, and a slot for storage expansion like theSeagate Xbox Storage Expansion Cardor theWD Black C50are here, as well as two more USB ports. There are also more ventilation holes back here, ensuring that the console runs cool and quiet throughout your play sessions.
The Xbox Series X Digital Edition is also the same in terms of dimensions and, according to the official Xbox website, weighs the same 9.8lbs (around 4.5kg) as the disc-drive model. However, this digital console should be ever so slightly lighter than that due to the absence of the disc drive. In the grand scheme of things, this doesn’t have any bearing on the overall bulkiness or form factor of the console; while certainly smarter and more compact than the unwieldy PS5 silhouette, you still won’t want to move your Xbox around too much given its size and weight.
Boxed contents for the console are very straightforward. As well as the console, you get a Robot WhiteXbox Wireless Controller- which I feel looks much nicer than the fairly bog-standard Carbon Black. The contrast of the black thumbsticks, d-pad, and face buttons pops out really nicely here on the Robot White controller. Otherwise, you’ve got a power lead and HDMI cable for hooking the console up to your TV.
Unfortunately, there’s no inclusion of an Xbox Game Pass subscription, which I think would’ve been a welcome addition given the console’s all-digital nature, and with it largely being aimed at folks who’re looking to buy into the current Xbox generation at a lower price point.
Once you boot up the console and have it all set up, you’ll be greeted with the usualWindows 11-based Xbox dashboard. There are no changes here from other current-generation Xbox units which is to be expected.
Xbox Series X Digital Edition: Performance
Thanks to teardown videos, we know that the Xbox Series X Digital Edition has slightly revised internal components, opting for a smaller motherboard, a different cooling system, and overall slightly lower wattage than the launch Series X. However, there are no notable shifts in performance here. The Digital Edition is not aPS5 Pro-style upgrade; you’re getting Xbox Series X performance albeit in all-digital form.
The Xbox Series X Digital Edition supports resolution up to4K, though you will find that most games compromise on framerate in order to achieve this target. As a result, many of the best Xbox Series X games offer performance mode options, allowing you to opt for higher framerates at the cost of image quality. On that front, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition can target framerates of up to 120fps.
There are even some games that offer performance modes targeting this. But do keep in mind that you’ll need a compatible gaming TV in order to make use of this. Just like the launch model, the Digital Edition also boosts performance for thebest Xbox One gamesby default, so you’ll be getting the very best out of those older games too.
The Xbox Series X Digital Edition also has support for high dynamic range (HDR) and variable refresh rate (VRR). The former leverages the tech of compatible TVs (typicallyOLEDand QLED models) to provide a much richer and crisper color palette. Meanwhile, VRR is able to smooth over games with rocky performance at 40fps or higher, creating a more stable play experience overall.
As with the base model, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition is phenomenally quiet during gaming. You’ll only ever hear the fans whirring on a fresh boot. I tested everything from lightweight indie games likeHollow KnightandVampire Survivorsall the way up to more demanding AAA releases likeLies of PandForza Horizon 4.Unless you’re really listening out for it (even then you’d practically have to press your ear up against the console itself), you won’t hear a peep from your console during gameplay, downloads,or installs.
The one thing in terms of overall performance that could be a dealbreaker for you is the amount of usable storage space available on the console. As mentioned, you’re getting around 800GB of usable space. It’s absolutely a 1TB SSD in the console, but roughly a fifth of that space has to be taken up by its operating system and essential software.
The reality is that you’re not gaining any more storage space by going all-digital; on versions of the console with a disc drive, physical games still need to be installed in order to be played. And even though it’s a cheaper console relative, that’s not by much. I would of course recommend investing in one of thebest Xbox Series X hard drives and SSDs, but the $50 / £50 price drop in comparison to the base Series X console does not offset the high cost of those internal storage cards from Seagate or WD Black.
You can of course opt for a cheaper external storage solution, but it’s worth noting that these will not be able to run Xbox Series X|S games or enhanced titles; you’ll strictly be limited to storing them here until you transfer them to the console’s main SSD.
If the Xbox Series X Digital Edition was slightly cheaper or offered a true 1TB after the essential installs, then I would feel much more comfortable recommending it. In summary, I feel that Microsoft could have done more especially with the console still costing well above $400 / £400.
On a better note, it’s worth noting that console setup is extremely simple and, if you have an existing Microsoft account, you can carry over your entire game library, save files (including cloud saves), subscriptions, and payment details if you’ve owned Xbox consoles prior. You don’t even need to have any previous consoles switched on simultaneously for this, and the whole process can be done via the Xbox app on your iOS or Android phone.
Should I buy the Xbox Series X Digital Edition?
Buy it if…
You plan on getting Xbox Game Pass to play your gamesThe Xbox Series X Digital Edition is clearly tailor-made for Xbox’s game subscription service. The cheaper price of the console does somewhat offset the cost of your first couple of months with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, making the console a great choice for playing hundreds of games at a relatively lower monthly or annual fee.
You simply want an Xbox Series X for lessNot too fussed about the lack of a disc drive? The Xbox Series X Digital Edition, in this case, offers the best value for money by matching the original model on specs at $50 / £50 less.
You want full-fat Xbox Series X performance in digital formThis all-digital option does not compromise on graphical capability unlike the Xbox Series S. If you truly have no use for a disc drive then this is the option to go for.
Don’t buy it if…
You want the option for physical gamesUnlike the PS5 Slim Digital Edition, there’s no way to add a disc drive to your Xbox Series X Digital Edition after the fact. If you’d prefer to at least have the option to go physical, stick with the regular model.
You require plenty of storage for a large existing digital gaming library800GB of usable storage is not a lot and is at odds with the focus on only being able to download games through Xbox Game Pass. You could invest in an internal storage card, but at that point, you’re paying close to the price of the 2TB Galaxy Black Xbox Series X which retails at $599.99 / £549.99. Cheaper USB external SSDs are another option, but these will only be able to store your games - not run them.
Your internet connection isn’t greatIf you find you have lackluster download speeds, I’d suggest purchasing or sticking with the original Xbox Series X instead, so that you can at least install games via a physical, offline option. With a digital-only console, you’ll need decent speeds in order to download games in a reasonable amount of time, which can be a struggle for those larger 100GB+ titles.
Also consider…
The Xbox Series X Digital Edition isn’t your only option when it comes to current-generation Xbox consoles. You may also want to consider the following options.
Xbox Series XThe standard Xbox Series X model comes in a Carbon Black color scheme and matches the Digital Edition on specs. It’s $50 / £50 more expensive, but it does feature a built-in disc drive that would be better suited to players who prefer or rely on physical media.
For more information, check out our fullXbox Series X review.
Xbox Series S (1TB)The 1TB variant of the Xbox Series S is exceptional value for money, coming in at $100 / £130 less than its Xbox Series X digital counterpart. That is largely because it’s the less powerful console, but it does share 120fps support, as well as support for HDR and VRR. It’s also a much smaller and lighter unit which will fit better if your gaming setup doesn’t have much real estate.
For more information, check out our fullXbox Series S review(note that this is for the 512GB original model, but specs and performance are identical otherwise).
How I reviewed the Xbox Series X Digital Edition
I tested the Xbox Series X Digital Edition over a period of a week and a half, pairing it with the included Robot White Xbox Wireless Controller and myLG CX OLED TV, which let me make use of features like 4K/120fps support as well as HDR and variable refresh rate.
I tested a variety of games from my existing Xbox library, including AAA hits likeForza Horizon 4,Sea of Thieves, andElden Ringalongside indie favorites likeHollow KnightandVampire Survivors.I also played backwards compatible titles includingRidge Racer 6, Sonic Unleashed, andCrimson Skies.
Overall, I found performance to be in step with the original Xbox Series X when comparing the two models directly, with no noticeable downgrades or improvements. Rest assured that if you’re opting for the Digital Edition, you’ll be getting a true Xbox Series X experience at a lower price point.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed October 2024.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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