At E3 2017, Microsoft launched its latest and greatest video game console. The Xbox One X is the company's most powerful console to date, and the third console in the Xbox One line.

So what makes the Xbox One X better than its predecessors, the Xbox One S and the original Xbox One? What are the differences that matter?

Availability and Price

The Xbox One X with a 1 TB hard drive will launch on November 7, 2017 in the U.S. It will retail for $499. That's a clear $100 more than the most expensive Sony console, the PlayStation Pro (our review).

Meanwhile, the 1 TB Xbox One S with Gears of War 4 already retails on Amazon for $250. Side note: We reviewed the Xbox One Gears of War 4 Limited Edition console in detail.

The original Xbox One doesn't make much sense to buy any more. It's only really available as a refurbished product from Microsoft, and costs $210. You should instead pay another $40 and get the Xbox One S.

Hardware

Microsoft keeps talking about the Xbox One X being the most powerful video game console. What does that actually involve?

xbox one x hardware
  • Processor -- The Xbox One X has an octa-core custom-made AMD Jaguar processor clocked at 2.3 GHz. The One S and One had eight-core CPUs too, but clocked at a much lower 1.75 GHz.
  • RAM -- The One X has 12 GB GDDR5 RAM, far exceeding the 8 GB of DDR3 RAM on the One S and One.
  • GPU -- Microsoft hasn't revealed the exact chip, but just says that it has 6 teraflops of performance. The Xbox One S and One were around 1.4 teraflops by comparison.
  • Storage and Media -- The Xbox One X will launch with a 1 TB hard drive and a 4K + HDR Blu-Ray drive. The One S is available with the same Blu-Ray drive, but has storage options of 500 GB and 2 TB as well.
  • Size and Weight -- The Xbox One X is the same size as the Xbox One S, while the original Xbox One was much bulkier. The One X does weigh the most though. It weighs in at 8.4 pounds, compared to 6.4 pounds on the One S and 7.8 pounds on the One.
  • Ports and Connectivity -- All the Xbox consoles have the same ports and wireless connectivity options, so there isn't a major difference here.

Graphics

The biggest selling point of the Xbox One X is how your games will look. This is the only Microsoft console which supports 4K resolution gaming with HDR (High Dynamic Range). Of course, you'll need an HDR 4K TV to take advantage of this. And you'll also need games that support 4K HDR.

Meanwhile, the Xbox One S supported HDR in games, but not 4K resolution. The only place in which the One S supported 4K was when you watched movies or TV shows. Still, HDR makes a big difference, as you can see in this screenshot:

xbox one x standard vs hdr

Of course, the original Xbox One had no 4K or HDR support.

Games Catalog

Speaking of games that support 4K HDR, Microsoft says you'll only need to look for games with the Xbox One X Enhanced logo. Some games have already announced support for this, including:

  • Crackdown 3
  • Assassin's Creed: Origins
  • Halo Wars 2
  • State of Decay 2
  • Forza Motorsport 7
  • FIFA 18
  • Need for Speed: Payback

That said, the game catalog for all three Xbox One consoles remains the same. Every Xbox One game you buy can be played on the Xbox One X, Xbox One S, and Xbox One. But depending on the console, the game might look better on the One X or One S because of HDR and 4K support.

xbox one x enhanced logo

And yes, all Xbox One consoles support backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games. But as a new addition, they will also support games for the original Microsoft Xbox! That means you can play most Xbox and Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One now. Here's a full list of the backwards compatibility game library.

Movies and Entertainment

In our epic PlayStation 4 Slim vs. Xbox One S battle, it became quite clear that the Xbox One S is a better console if you care about movies and entertainment.

There isn't anything new to add with the Xbox One X, since it supports the same 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray standards. And both consoles run the same operating system, so there's no different there either.

Value for Money?

The Xbox One X hasn't been released yet, so it's unfair to give a verdict right now. But ask yourself this. When you take everything into account, is the Xbox One X worth twice the price of the Xbox One S?

xbox one x hero

Early reviews online say that $500 is a steep price that will only get interest from hardcore gamers. When you weigh all the pros and cons, the most distinguishable factor is 4K HDR gaming. Do you think that's worth paying an extra $200-250 for?

Will you be buying the Xbox One X when it launches in November? Or will you wait till the price drops a little? What do you think the ideal price would be? Tell us down in the comments!