Key Takeaways
- The All-Digital Xbox Series X is discless, so it’s cheaper than the standard version, costing $450.
- In fact, its main competitor is the PS5 Digital Edition, which has a similar price, library, and performance.
- Gaming PCs are expensive, but their power and versatility might make them worth it.
Microsoft just unveiled several new versions of the Xbox Series X and Series S as it looks to refresh its console lineup for the 2024 holiday season. Perhaps the most significant of these is the all-digital Series X, the only model with changes to the hardware rather than the aesthetic. While alternative colors may be appealing, they won’t appeal to people who weren’t planning on buying an Xbox.
So what’s different about the all-digital model, and is it still worth buying in 2024, when the current Xbox generation is already four years old? The answer can vary widely depending on your situation.
What is the all-digital Xbox Series X?
How is it different from the previous Series X?
“All-digital” is marketing shorthand for “discless,” and the console does away with the Blu-ray drive found on the regular Series X, meaning you can only play games downloaded or streamed via Microsoft. Similarly, movies and TV shows must be purchased, rented, or streamed using installed apps.
The upside, while obviously less flexibility, is the price: When it launches on October 15th, the console will cost $450, $50 less than the regular X. It’s not a huge amount, but the savings could be enough to buy a game or a second controller.
Otherwise, the All-Digital is virtually identical to its predecessor, with the exact same specs, including 1TB of internal storage and support for native 4K gameplay. It comes in a color called “Robot White” to distinguish it from the black used on other Series X variants.
The main threat to the Xbox Series X’s all-digital future is the PlayStation 5
The all-digital edition of the Xbox Series X is now the same price as the equivalent PS5
The main alternative to consider is the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. It’s priced exactly the same, which is probably something Microsoft is trying to lower the price on. You can’t go wrong with either console, the game libraries are similar and there’s not a huge difference in performance. The internal storage is now the same too, as Sony recently upgraded the base capacity to 1TB.
The PS5 may have an advantage in some areas, including exclusive games. While there are Xbox exclusives worth playing, so far the PS5 has performed well with titles like Spider-Man 2 and God of War: Ragnarok. This trend is likely to continue, but it should only influence your purchase decision if there are specific games you want to play.
Since the PS5 is a more popular system, it may be the better choice for online play, but that’s assuming: If most of your friends have Xbox, then you’re right, and many games support cross-platform multiplayer. If you mostly play single player or local multiplayer titles, this issue won’t be as much of an issue.
Microsoft’s trump card might be Xbox Game Pass. The service is generally considered to have a better catalog than PlayStation Plus, and if you pay for the Ultimate tier, you also get PC and cloud access. Considering many games currently retail for between $40 and $70, the subscription could actually save you money.
How does the all-digital Series X compare to the regular Series X?
Is it worth saving $50?
As mentioned above, the only real difference with All-Digital is the lack of a Blu-ray drive, which can be significant. Without a disc drive, you can’t buy used games or trade in anything at the store, making it a great way to save money on an expensive hobby. If you rely on downloads, the best thing you can do is wait for publishers to put their games on sale.
If you want maximum control over your ownership, the standard Series X is the way to go.
In other ways, you’re at their whims too. If a game gets removed from Microsoft’s store due to legal issues, that’s it. You may be able to play what you’ve already bought and downloaded, but you can’t download anything new. If you want maximum control over your ownership, the standard Series X is the way to go.
The same thinking applies to movie fans. While many movies can be purchased, rented, or streamed digitally, they can’t be bought second-hand or traded in, and movies very often change services or disappear completely. Lesser-known releases may not even make the transition from Blu-ray or DVD. Purists often stick with Blu-ray anyway, not just for the sake of control, but for the absolute best picture quality.
Gaming PCs might actually be more valuable to some gamers
Is it even worth buying the console in the first place?
Gaming PCs vary widely in terms of features and price, but they’re probably your best bet. They let you play games from any store, get work done when you need to, and upgrade as often as money and form factor will allow. If you’re buying a budget system and don’t need a new monitor or TV, you can get one for a starting price similar to the Series X. There’s also a PC version of GamePass, but you might not need it, as games are sometimes cheaper during Steam and Epic sales.
Since the Series X’s launch, specs have advanced, allowing for comparable pricing. The latest Xbox platforms date back to 2020, so even a cheap 2024 PC can compete on performance without sacrificing much flexibility. You’ll likely need to spend more to achieve decent 4K frame rates, but 1080p or 1440p will be plenty crisp.
One option worth considering is a handheld PC. Better models like the Steam Deck OLED cost as much or more than the Series X, but offer increased portability while still maintaining a console-like overlay interface. Connecting to a TV is also easy, as long as you can buy the right dock, HDMI cable, and wireless controller. Don’t expect native 4K output, though; you’ll probably be limited to 1080p except for a few games.
Should you buy the all-digital Xbox Series X?
There’s a lot to think about
If you’re looking at your current Xbox game library and want to try out some new games for the first time, the All-Digital Series X is a great overall choice. You’ll lose access to physical media, but many people prefer the convenience of downloading and streaming, so for the $50 savings you’ll save over the standard X, that might not be such a big drawback.
2024 may be the last year where it makes sense to buy a Series X for over $400.
Otherwise, the decision is complicated. If there are exclusive games you want, or most of your friends play online, the PS5 might make more sense. A gaming PC is like a Swiss Army knife, and it can outperform any console in terms of performance, but you have to be willing to pay for the privilege.
2024 may be the last year it makes sense to buy a Series X for over $400. Microsoft has already made it clear that it’s working on the next-gen Xbox, so retailers may start discounting it in 2025 to keep inventory moving, even if it doesn’t ship until 2026. We’ll have to wait and see, but know that the days of the Series X are coming to an end.
