Xbox Series X

One of the factors you may want to consider when picking between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S is the energy consumption of each hardware. You can check out this comparison guide to see how much these two Microsoft gaming consoles will consume.  

Quick Summary 

As expected, the Xbox Series S is more power efficient than the Xbox Series X when it comes to the energy saving mode, sleep mode, video streaming and game playing. 

If you are planning to use your console as mainly a streaming box and/or connect it to a 1080p TV, then the Series S is the better choice in terms of power consumption. 

With that said, the extra energy being used by the Xbox Series X should result in better looking games that run at higher resolutions and frame rates. So, if you are looking for the best graphics, then you should pick up the Series X instead. 

Xbox Series X vs. Xbox Series S energy consumption chart  

You can take a look at our comparison table for the power consumption between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. 

Energy Saving Power Off Mode 

The energy saving mode is when you fully shut down your Xbox Series console without unplugging its power cord from the power outlet. 

According to internal testing done by Microsoft using methods from the Game Console Voluntary Agreement, the Xbox Series X consumes 0.5 W, which is 0.1 W (or 25%) more than the Xbox Series S.  

Sleep Mode 

If you decided to put your console into Sleep Mode, then the lower power state will consume 13 W on the Series X, which is 0.3 W (or 30%) more than the Series S.  

Menu Navigation  

If you have your system fully powered on but are only in the system menu, then the Xbox Series X will consume 48 W, which is 20W (or 71.4%) more than the Xbox Series S.  

DVD Disc Playback 

When it comes to DVD playback, the X version of the gaming hardware takes up 48 W of energy consumption. Since the S version does not come with a disc drive, then it is not able to play DVDs. 

Blu-Ray Disc Playback 

For Blu-Ray disc playback, the Xbox Series X utilizes 50 W of power. As we stated above, the Xbox Series S has no disc drive, which means that it is not able to play Blu-Ray. 

Streaming HD Videos 

When using your game console to stream HD videos, the Series X will consume 47 W, which is 19 W (or 67.9%) more than the Series S.  

Streaming 4K Videos 

For 4K video streaming, the Xbox Series X uses 48 W, which is 17 W (or 54.8%) more than the Xbox Series S. 

Playing Games 

When it comes to actually playing games, the Series X can take up as much as 153 W, which is 79 W (or 106.8%) more than the Series S. 

Of course, the X version of the hardware uses the extra power to provide high resolution, better frame rates and other visual enhancements when compared to the S version.  

To see how you can directly compare the aforementioned energy saving and sleep modes on your Xbox Series system, you can check out this prior tutorial.  

Resource:

• https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/hardware-network/power/learn-about-power-modes

If you are hoping to get Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S digital games as gifts, then a recent firmware update for these consoles has made it easier to share your wish list with your loved ones so that they can easily purchase the product and send it directly to your account.  

To find out how you can share your wish list, you can take a look at this guide from Seeking Tech. 

1. To start off, make sure you update the firmware of your Series X or Series S if you haven’t done so already.  

In order to update manually, start by opening the Settings App and then going to System > Updates. The System > Updates menu should then show you if there is a new firmware to download and install. 

2. After making sure that your Xbox system is updated, you can then open the Store App. 

3. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you build up your wish list. 

In order to add a game to your wish list, you need to do the following: 

• Open the product page for the game inside of the Store App. 
• In the page, select the edition you want to get with the Choose Edition option if there are multiple versions of the same game available. 
• On the same product, page, you need to select the Add to Wish List option, which has the heart-shaped icon with plus sign.  
• Repeat this process over and over again to add more games to your wish list. 

4. Once you have built up your wish list, return to the front page of the Store App and the go all the way to the left to open the left column menu. 

5. From the left menu, select Lists. 

6. Afterwards, you need to select Wish List.  

7. In the Wish List menu, you need to select Settings. 

8. After getting to the List Settings screen, make sure that the Make This List Public option is turned on.

9. Afterwards, go back to the Wish List menu and then select the Share option. 

10. In the Choose People menu, you may see a list of your friends or family members. If you don’t, then you need to select the Find Someone option.  

11. Inside the Find Someone menu, you can search for the Gamertags of your friends or family members. 

If you have any social media accounts linked to your Xbox account, then you may see a list of acquaintances from this screen as well.  

12. Once you choose a person to send your wish list to, select the Done option.  

You can repeat this process again to send your wish list to a different person.  

13. Once your friend or family member got your wish list, they need to select the Buy as Gift option on the product page of the game. After the purchase, the game should be gifted over to your Xbox account.

If you are interested in buying a digital game on your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, but are willing to wait for a deal, then trying to keep up with any pricing changes can be a little bit troublesome. Thanks to a recent console update, however, you should have a much easier time up staying updated when a specific game has gone on sale on the Xbox store.  

To see how you can set up deal notifications on specific games, you can follow the steps from this tutorial at Seeking Tech. 

1. To start off, make sure you update your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S if you haven’t done so already; otherwise, you may not be able to track when a digital game goes on sale.  

To see if there is a new firmware to download and install, open the Settings menu of your Xbox and then go to System > Updates. The System – Updates menu will then show whether or not the console needs to be updated.  

2. Once you make sure that you have the latest firmware install, open the Settings menu again and then select Preferences from the options available on the left column.  

3. On the right side of the same screen, you then need to select Notifications.  

4. Inside of the Preferences – Notifications menu, you need to select Xbox Notifications. 

5. After getting to the Preferences – Xbox Notifications menu, make sure that the Allow Notifications setting enabled. 

6. In the same screen, scroll all the way to the right and then make sure that the Store setting is set to On. 

7. Now you need to open the Store App. 

8. In the Store, search for the game that you want to keep track of when it comes to future deals, discounts and sales. 

9. On the product page of the game, you can select the Choose Edition option to select which version of the software you are interested in purchasing if there are multiple options available. 

10. Afterwards, you need to select the Add to Wish List option, which has the heart icon with plus sign. 

You can repeat these previous three steps over again to continue adding more games to your wish list. 

11. To check your wish list, return to the front page of the Store App and then navigate over to the left column menu. In this menu, you need to select Lists and then Wish List. 

12. In the Wish List section of the Store App, select Settings and then make sure that the Send Me Notifications setting is turned on in the List Settings menu.

13. In order to check your notifications, which may include deal alerts for the digital games you saved on your wish list, open the guide menu by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.  

On the first tab of the guide menu, scroll all the way down and to the left to select the Notification option, which should have the bell icon. 

In the Notification section of the guide menu, you should see alerts about any deals, discounts and sales involving the games on your wish list.

Thanks to a new firmware update, you will now be able to compare the energy and sleep modes directly from your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S. In order to do so, you can the step-by-step tutorial from Seeking Tech. 

1. As we stated above, the ability to compare the two power options were only added through a recent software update for these gaming consoles.  

To see if there is a new firmware available to download and install, you can try doing the following: 

• Power on your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S and then make sure that it is connected to the Internet. 
• On the home screen, you then need to head over to Settings. If you can’t find Settings, then you can press the Xbox logo button on your controller to bring up the guide menu. In this menu, press the RB button several times to head over to the Profile & System tab, where you can then select Settings.  
• Inside the Settings menu, the first thing you need to do is select System from the left column. 
• On the right side of the same screen, you then need to select Updates.  
• If you see the Update Console option available, then you need to select it from the System – Updates menu.  
• Finally, select the Start Update option from the Let’s Update menu. 

2. With your game system updated, you need to go back to the front page of the Settings menu. 

3. From Settings, you need to first select General on the left column. 

4. Now on the right side of the same screen, you then need to go to Power Options. 

5. Once you get to the Power Options menu, you will see the Shutdown (Energy Saving) and Sleep cards. These cards explain the differences between the two power modes. 

If you highlight the Sleep card, then you will see the estimated power consumption difference in the “Current power use while off” section located on on the top right side of the screen.  

6. In the same menu, you will be able to switch from one power mode to another.  

You should see the words Active at the bottom of the card for the power option that is currently being used. 

In order to switch, simply select the other mode.