Should you buy an Xbox Series X or S on Black Friday? Here's everything to factor in

If you're debating whether you should buy an Xbox Series X or S on Black Friday, you've got more options than ever before. New versions of both consoles have now released, meaning it's not the simple choice it was before. At launch, it was an easy call of whether you wanted the extra storage space of a Series X, or you didn't have use of the more expensive console's disc drive. Now, there are caveats all over the place, and we're here to help walk you through them.

Even when you're making the most of Black Friday Xbox deals, purchasing an Xbox Series X or S is still a daunting financial commitment, so it's always worth reading up on what console does what so that you get what you need without overspending. Access to things like Game Pass, or just being able to play one of the many games that come under Microsoft's umbrella these days is where an Xbox console shines these days, even if the PS5 is outselling it. Both consoles will be able to give you that access, but if it's only Game Pass you're into, then you may not even need to buy a Series S or X this year. Cloud streaming can now be done on Fire TV sticks, Meta Quest headsets, and even some TVs, so you don't really need an Xbox console to play Xbox games.

Still, if you don't want to rely on other devices or a strong and stable internet connection, an old-school console is a handy device to flesh out your gaming setup with. There are still lots of reasons to spend the extra money and have dedicated hardware, and if you find yourself leaning into that, we're here to help.

Should I buy an Xbox Series X this Black Friday?

Undoubtedly, the Xbox Series X is the premium option if you want to have a truly next-gen console experience that lives up to the likes of the PS5. For Black Friday this year, you have three options to choose from. There's the classic Series X that comes in black, features a 1TB SSD, and a disc drive. Then, there's the Robot White all-digital Series X which has the same storage but omits the Blu-Ray drive. Finally, there's the Special Edition which comes in black with lovely green highlights, sports a 2TB drive, and a disc drive. All Series X consoles have 12 teraflops of graphical processing power and can output at true 4K.

The option to have a disc drive may be appealing if you already own some physical Xbox One games. You can still keep and use all of your game discs due to the superb backward compatibility that Xbox offers. This can be a big deal, especially if you've built up a big physical game library over the past generation.

If you are already an Xbox fan then the Series X is going to be the most tempting option, as it'll give you the objectively best ways to enjoy the games. The SSD is astoundingly quick in this console, and the Quick Resume feature is something PS5 can't even do despite its M.2 port. Modern games don't struggle to run on it either, which can occasionally be the case for the Series S.

Having said all that, the price could be a turn-off. At its standard retail position, the Xbox Series X price of $499 / £449 applies to the launch version and its new all-digital sibling. This is definitely a more demanding cost if you already own other gaming hardware like a PS5 or PC. That's especially true of the Special Edition Series X which launched recently and comes in at $599 / £549. If you're on a bit of a budget, maybe stick to the Series S, but if you want the best gaming power in an Xbox console, it's hard to turn down the Series X options - particularly if they're cheaper than the PS5 in bundles or Black Friday deals.

Buy an Xbox Series X on Black Friday if:

• You want the most powerful Xbox console
• You have a big physical Xbox game collection
• Your budget is healthy
• You want to buy physical games for the current generation
• You don't own other gaming platforms
• You want lots of storage space without buying an expansion card

Don't buy an Xbox Series X on Black Friday if:

• You're on a tighter budget
• You aren't fussed about 4K or the most powerful machine
• You aren't tied to physical games or need a disc drive
• You already own a PS5 or PC
• You're only interested in the occasional Game Pass game
• You always find yourself with a reliable internet connection

Should I buy an Xbox Series S this Black Friday?

If you're willing to forgo some of the premium console benefits of the Series X, there is always the more budget-friendly option. The Series S, often dubbed "the GamePass Machine", allows you access to hundreds of great games, not to mention all the exclusive, first-party games without breaking the bank - which is especially welcome if you've already splashed out on another gaming platform and want a secondary one.

The Series S now has its own options too. If you want the cheapest version, the launch edition comes in Robot white and has a 512GB SSD. The second model to arrive on the shelves was the all-black 1TB Series S, which does exactly what it says on the tin. Most recently, a 1TB model in Robot White was launched. 

The great thing about the Series S is that it's extremely deals-prone when events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday roll in. There will be plenty of bundles to be had this year, and we'll likely see the first major discounts on the new black 1TB Series S that launched earlier in 2023. 

In fairness, that model is a bit more expensive, and that might defeat the point of going for the budget option. 512GB is not an awful lot of storage space, but you can always use one of the best Xbox Series X hard external drives to give it a boost. Speaking of which, plenty of those will be on offer thanks to Black Friday external hard drive deals.

We've already seen some bundles for the Series S. Most of these lump in games like Diablo IV, Forza Horizon 5, or Starfield. There's also the guilded hunter bundle which gives you some free content in Fall Guys, Fortnite, and Rocket League. These are great if you're only interested in playing a few select games on the mini console, but some bundles also throw in a Game Pass voucher too.

Buy an Xbox Series S on Black Friday if:

• You have a more limited budget
• You're OK with all-digital gaming
• You're mainly interested in utilizing Game Pass
• You don't have any existing Xbox physical games
• You're not chasing the absolute best in power
• You're happy to add a storage solution externally if you go for a launch edition

Don't buy an Xbox Series S on Black Friday if:

• You want the most powerful Xbox console
• You need a disc drive for games or TV and movies
• You have a healthier budget and can splash out a bit more
• You're interested in physical games as well as Game Pass henceforth
• You need lots of storage

Will there be Xbox Series X|S bundles this Black Friday?

There are always some bundles you can look out for that will get you some additional freebies along with your console purchase. Whether it's a few months of Gamepass for free, or some specific titles and accessories, there are bound to be deals to make use of. Keeping track of prices and bundles can be tough. If you'd like to keep your finger on the pulse, stay tuned to our Black Friday deals page as we'll keep it up to date with the best offers we find.

Below, we've used our price comparison software to bring you the best prices in your region for the Xbox Series X|S consoles as well as controllers, vouchers, and essential accessories.

Then again, you could put more money into upgrading your PlayStation set-up instead. If you want buying advice for that, have a look at our Black Friday PS5 deals page, or our Black Friday PS5 and Xbox Series X TV deals page for something that'll make whatever console you have shine.