Xbox One S 500GB
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Xbox One S 500GB
A slimline revision of Microsoft’s eighth‑generation console, released as a smaller, more efficient alternative to the original Xbox One. Eventually swapped the original Xbox One for a 2016 slim model. Much nicer.
Bundled Item
Description
The Xbox One S 500GB reduces the bulk of the VCR launch model by about 40 percent, with a clean white casing and an internal power supply that eliminates the large external brick. Through its design language it reflects a change of direction and hopeful fortunes of the Xbox brand after the disastrous launch. Notably it entirely dropped the Kinect port, after the peripheral, initially mandatory, had become optional, was now not even natively supported. Internally the system had only the most minor of spec bumps and was not marketed as improving game performance.
The One S introduces support for playback of 4K Ultra HD video and HDR for both games and streaming media, though native gameplay resolution remains capped at 1080p. The 500GB hard drive provides storage for digital titles, updates, and downloadable content, with higher‑capacity models (1TB and 2TB) later becoming available. The revision also introduces refinements such as Bluetooth support in its updated controller, improved wireless range, and compatibility with a vertical stand. It retained full backward compatibility with Xbox One software and accessories, as well as support for select Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles through Microsoft’s emulation program.
At launch, the 500GB model was positioned as the entry‑level option, offering the lowest price point while still delivering the multimedia features that distinguished the One S from its predecessor. However, if you wanted the best performance like I did, you certainly bought this model, then paired it with a 1 or 2 TB SSD over USB. Games ran noticeably better on SSD storage, yet this generation missed this feature entirely.
Contemporary reception praised the smaller design, quieter operation, and inclusion of 4K video playback, in what would be a turnaround for the Xbox One. The storage capacity was noted as potentially limiting for those with large digital libraries and lacking large external storage or fast (Gigabit) Internet speeds. Retrospectively, the Xbox One S saw the a late but badly needed ‘fix’ to the Xbox One, while Sony had already launched the PS4 Pro. It filled the the year’s wait for more powerful Xbox One X, which would finally see a genuinely good console, superior to its rivals. The One S stands as a refinement and change of direction in Microsoft’s mid‑generation refresh.
