After being teased earlier this year, Microsoft’s 2024 Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles are finally up for preorder. The striking Xbox Series X Galaxy Black Edition is the star (pun intended) of the show, with a design that spices up the muted monolith and will appeal to many, including those who spend hours in Starfield, Dead Space and No Man’s Sky.
The darker new Xbox is joined by two all-white, digital-only counterparts that look to blend in perfectly with your home lineup. And since they’re all available for preorder right now, let’s break down the differences between them.
This new Xbox Series X is more visually interesting than the original model with its star-studded design, and it packs twice as much storage.
The most affordable Xbox with 4K gaming yet, this digital-only model is available in minimalist Robot White.
If you love the classic black-and-white Xbox Series S, you can finally get it with 1TB of storage, doubling the original's slightly limiting capacity.
Meet the new Xbox Series X Galaxy Black Special Edition
The $600 Xbox Series X Galaxy Black Edition doesn’t just stand out with the flecks of white and green that decorate its front and side panels — it also packs 2TB of storage, a first for this generation of Xboxes. Gamers who hate to tidy the titles they’ve installed to free up space may know that this is the first 2TB Xbox since the Xbox One S. But this larger drive is a massive step up from the one in the past, as its scorching-fast speeds shred the load times we were all tired of sitting through. It’ll also decrease the likelihood you’ll need to spring for a pricey storage expansion card down the line.
The Galaxy Black Edition Xbox also includes a matching controller that’s black on the top and green on the bottom, with a directional pad that features the white-and-green flecked design seen on the console. It also sports a neat and discreet green base.
Microsoft’s other new Xbox Series X flips the script
But what if you’re post-optical media, and don’t need a modern Xbox with a disc drive? I can’t blame you, especially as Game Pass is still a compelling offer. Microsoft clearly sees its all-digital Xbox models as the future, as this year’s new models include the first discless, digital-only Xbox Series X. Grab this $450 Xbox if you want the most affordable way to get the same 4K gaming you get on the previous Xbox Series X models. This Robot White Series X — which also marks a new colorway for Microsoft’s higher-end Xbox — comes with 1TB of storage for fitting all those games.
The original Xbox Series S finally gets a storage upgrade
If $450 is still too much for your bottom line, you might consider the new Robot White version of the all-digital Xbox Series S. This $350 Xbox packs 1TB of storage just like the Carbon Black Xbox Series S I’ve got in my bedroom, and that two-tone black and white design that made the original 512GB Xbox Series S (currently $299) such a looker. While it doesn’t offer 4K gameplay (instead topping out at 1440p), it still offers smooth gameplay at up to 120 frames per second, complete with super-fast load times that will have you gaming in mere moments.
