In an unprecedented move for a console launch, two options are available when it comes to new-generation Xbox systems: The powerful and fully equipped Xbox Series X, and the more affordable but somewhat limited Xbox Series S. I've already delivered my review of the Series X, but what does the Series S offer? Well, it's a cute and compact console that'll play previous and next-gen Xbox games, and do so for a relatively cheap entry price of $300 USD.

It's a sleek system that comes with many of the same great features of the beefier Series X, but it comes with some notable compromises that you'll need to consider if you're interested in this itty-bitty Xbox. And it's not just about the visuals; its limited internal storage space, the nuances to how backwards compatible games look and run, and the lack of a disc drive will influence whether or not this console's for you--the importance of those things depends on your own needs but, either way, the Xbox Series S packs a punch.

The Little Console That Could

Let's first talk about in-game performance. The RDNA 2 GPU and Zen 2 CPU from AMD that are built into the Series S are scaled-down versions of what's in the Series X--it's all part of the same technical architecture. Microsoft's aim for the Series S is to hit 1440p resolution instead of full 4K, which is still ambitious, all things considered. When playing optimized games on the smaller console, it's impressive to see just how good they perform while flexing graphical enhancements.