ReviewFinder Blu-ray Players

Xbox One S

TLDR: The Xbox One S is a versatile gaming console with strong upscaling capabilities, HDR support, high-resolution audio, a wide range of connectivity options, and the ability to play various disc formats and streaming services, making it a great investment for a high-quality gaming and media experience.
Ranking:  
Consumer sentiment:
In comparison:
Xbox One S rank #3 out of 42. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
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9.0
Great

The product receives great reviews on average (consumer score 9.0). This is slightly above the median blu-ray player score of 8.1.

About consumer score

Price:
The lowest price we found for Xbox One S is $399, available here. This is above the median blu-ray player price of $249.
  • Lowest price: $68
  • Median price: $249
  • Highest price: $4598.99
  • Xbox One S price: $399
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ReviewFinder: reviews, prices and alternatives summarized by a powerful AI engine.

Expert consensus

The Xbox One S is a versatile gaming console with strong upscaling capabilities, HDR support, high-resolution audio, a wide range of connectivity options, and the ability to play various disc formats and streaming services, making it a great investment for a high-quality gaming and media experience.

The Xbox One S is a versatile gaming console that offers a range of features to enhance the user experience. It has strong upscaling capabilities, producing a sharp picture with defined edges and little jaggedness when playing non-4K content. It also has HDR support, which widens the color gamut and provides brighter, more vibrant images with richer contrast.

The Xbox One S is a good option for those who want to enjoy high-resolution audio and surround sound while gaming or watching movies. It offers a wide range of connectivity options, including Ethernet, built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optical audio output, and HDMI in and out ports. The Xbox One S user interface has seen significant improvements since its launch, making it much easier to navigate than the original one.

The Xbox One S is capable of playing a variety of disc formats, including Ultra HD Blu-rays, 2D and 3D Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs. It also supports popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, as well as music streaming apps like Spotify and Pandora. The Xbox One S is a versatile entertainment system that offers a range of additional features to enhance the user experience, making it a great investment for anyone who wants a high-quality gaming and media experience.

Picture quality

The Xbox One S is praised for its upscaling capabilities, HDR support, and ability to handle motion and fast-paced scenes well, making it a great choice for those looking to enhance their viewing experience.

The Xbox One S is praised by experts for its upscaling capabilities, producing a super-sharp picture with defined edges and little jaggedness when playing non-4K content. It also has HDR support, which widens the color gamut and provides brighter, more vibrant images with richer contrast. When playing 4K content, the Xbox One S provides a beefy upgrade on video capabilities, but it only works on compatible TVs and content.

The Xbox One S handles motion and fast-paced scenes well, with good clarity and smoothness.

What do experts say about the upscaling performance of Xbox One S when playing non-4K content?

According to reviews on Trusted Reviews, the Xbox One S is a superb upscaler that does an excellent job of making 1080p content look good in 4K. The picture is super-sharp, with some nicely defined edges and little in the way of jagged edges. On the whole, however, the machine does an excellent job of making 1080p content look good in 4K. What Hi-Fi also notes that the Xbox One S upscales your current games collection to 4K resolution, which is neat, but remember your 4K TV is doing exactly the same thing for all your non-4K content too.
Based on 12 quotes from 7 sources [show quotes and sources]

What do experts say about the HDR support of Xbox One S in terms of color accuracy and contrast?

According to Expert Reviews, with HDR-enabled content, the color gamut becomes considerably wider than the standard sRGB palette, showing brilliant whites, blacker blacks, and a whole lot more color content in between. This translates into brighter, more vibrant images and a more detailed picture overall, as highlights are less prone to clipping around very bright objects like sun flares, for example, and darker scenes will have a much smoother shadow gradient. The Guardian also notes that HDR adds depth to colors and contrast, providing a richer image.
Based on 9 quotes from 6 sources [show quotes and sources]

What do experts say about the picture quality when playing 4K content on the Xbox One S?

According to reviews on Trusted Reviews, the Xbox One S is a superb upscaler with a super-sharp picture and little in the way of jagged edges. The machine does an excellent job of making 1080p content look good in 4K. The Xbox One S gets a fairly beefy upgrade on its video capabilities, with 4K resolution and HDR (high dynamic range, which is basically enhanced contrast and color). However, keep in mind that those features only work on compatible TVs and 4K functionality only works with a small but growing list of compatible video content. On the whole, if you care a lot about the picture quality on the TV or movies you watch, you might want to start considering the upgrade.
Based on 13 quotes from 10 sources [show quotes and sources]

How does the Xbox One S handle motion and fast-paced scenes in terms of clarity and smoothness?

According to a product review on TechHive, during the first viewing session, there were a few minor motion artifacts, but after two firmware updates, those seemed to disappear. Overall, the Xbox One S is considered a very good Ultra Blu-ray player by most people. Another product review on Trusted Reviews praises the Xbox One S's upscaling capabilities, stating that the picture is super-sharp with nicely defined edges and little in the way of jagged edges. So, it can be said that the Xbox One S handles motion and fast-paced scenes well with good clarity and smoothness.
Based on 12 quotes from 6 sources [show quotes and sources]

Audio quality

The Xbox One S has strong support for various audio codecs and can play high-resolution audio formats up to 7.1 channels and 96kHz/24-bit sampling rates/resolution, but lacks support for Dolby Atmos audio according to some reviews.

The Xbox One S has strong support for various audio codecs and can play high-resolution audio formats such as FLAC, Apple and Windows lossless, and WAV files up to 7.1 channels and 96kHz/24-bit sampling rates/resolution. It can output a seven-channel surround signal and supports Dolby True HD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS: X, and even Auro-3D without any problems. However, it lacks support for Dolby Atmos audio according to some reviews. The DAC quality of the Xbox One S is good, but it's worth noting that it's a digital transport and has no analog outputs.

The Xbox One S also upscales 720p and 1080p, but it may not produce 4K UHD quality.

What high-resolution audio formats are supported by Xbox One S?

According to a product review on TechHive, the Xbox One S can play FLAC, Apple and Windows lossless. MP3, WMA, and Apple M4V, as well as WAV files up to 7.1 channels and 96kHz/24-bit sampling rates/resolution.
Based on 7 quotes from 4 sources [show quotes and sources]

What do experts say about the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) quality of Xbox One S?

The Xbox One S is a digital transport and has no analog outputs, according to AVForums. However, according to the same review, there were reports of the audio sounding "thin," but this is due to the fact that it's a digital transport. When it comes to higher-end audio options, such as Dolby Atmos, the Xbox One S does an excellent job, according to the same review. Therefore, it seems that the DAC quality of the Xbox One S is good.
Based on 3 quotes from 2 sources [show quotes and sources]

Does the Xbox One S have the ability to output multi-channel audio, such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X?

According to reviews on AVForums, TechHive, and Trusted Reviews, the Xbox One S does support Dolby True HD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS: X, and even Auro-3D without any problems. However, the Xbox One S lacks support for Dolby Atmos audio as noted in reviews on CNET and gamingexpert.net. It's worth noting that the Xbox One S doesn't handle the higher-end audio options out there such as Dolby Atmos, and the most you'll get out of the console is a seven-channel surround signal.
Based on 7 quotes from 5 sources [show quotes and sources]

How does the Xbox One S handle audio processing and upscaling for non-high-resolution audio formats?

According to reviews on TechHive, the Xbox One S has strong support for audio codecs and can play various audio formats, including FLAC, Apple and Windows lossless, MP3, WMA, and Apple M4V, as well as WAV files up to 7.1 channels and 96kHz/24-bit sampling rates/resolution. It can output a seven-channel surround signal but doesn't handle higher-end audio options such as Dolby Atmos. The Xbox One S also upscales 720p and 1080p, but it may not produce 4K UHD quality.
Based on 6 quotes from 3 sources [show quotes and sources]

Connectivity

The Xbox One S offers a range of connectivity options, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optical audio output, HDMI in and out ports, and USB 3.0 ports, making it a reliable and versatile choice for gamers and media enthusiasts.

The Xbox One S has a variety of connectivity options, including an Ethernet port, built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi adapter, Bluetooth connectivity, optical audio output, and HDMI in and out ports. It also has multiple USB 3.0 ports for additional connectivity. Experts agree that the Xbox One S provides reliable internet connectivity options for online gaming and streaming, and its Bluetooth capabilities allow for better range and compatibility with other devices without the need for dongles.

What wired connectivity options does Xbox One S have?

The Xbox One S has an Ethernet port for wired internet connectivity, as well as an optical audio output, and HDMI in and out ports. It also has three USB 3.0 ports, with one located at the front and two located at the back. According to Trusted Reviews, it has two USB ports, IR out, optical audio out and Ethernet on the rear side. According to AVForums, it has two USB 3.0 ports, an optical digital output, an IR out and an Ethernet port on the rear side. According to gamingexpert.net, it has two USB ports, an Ethernet port, and an optical audio output.
Based on 13 quotes from 11 sources [show quotes and sources]

What are the Wi-Fi capabilities of Xbox One S?

According to product reviews on AVForums and TopTenReviews, Xbox One S has a built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi adapter, which means it can connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks. It also has Bluetooth connectivity.
Based on 5 quotes from 5 sources [show quotes and sources]

What do experts say about the Ethernet capabilities of Xbox One S?

According to product reviews on gamingexpert.net, Trusted Reviews, Digital Trends, AVForums, and TechHive, the Xbox One S comes equipped with an Ethernet port and onboard 802.11ac Wi-Fi adapter, providing reliable internet connectivity options for online gaming and streaming.
Based on 5 quotes from 5 sources [show quotes and sources]

Does the Xbox One S support Bluetooth connectivity, and if so, what do experts say about its Bluetooth capabilities?

Yes, the Xbox One S does support Bluetooth connectivity. According to reviews on CNET, TechHive, and PCWorld, the Xbox One S controller can connect wirelessly to your PC via Bluetooth. The controller's Bluetooth connectivity allows for better range and compatibility with other devices without the need for dongles. Additionally, The Verge notes that the Xbox One S controller's Bluetooth support makes it easier to pair the controller directly to a PC without needing an adapter.
Based on 6 quotes from 5 sources [show quotes and sources]

User interface

The Xbox One S user interface has improved since its launch, with easy navigation for common features, but some less common features are still hidden away, and there have been reports of stuttering and freezing when moving between tabs.

The Xbox One S user interface has seen significant improvements since its launch, making it much easier to navigate than the original one. Common features such as games and apps are easy to find, but some less common features are still hidden away in odd places. The Blu-ray player is fairly easy to use, with navigation and enter controls provided by the joystick and A button.

The Display menu offers options to select different resolutions from 720p to 4K UHD and also select 8-, 10- or 12-bit and the color space. However, some reviewers have reported stuttering and freezing when moving between tabs. While the user interface may take some getting used to, once you become familiar with it, you should be able to move around quickly.

How intuitive is the user interface of the Xbox One S?

According to product reviews on TopTenReviews, TechHive, and The Verge, the user interface of the Xbox One S has seen significant improvements since its launch, but it still has some room for improvement. The current interface is much easier to navigate than the original one, and common features such as games and apps are easy to find. However, some of the less common features are still hidden away in odd places, and some reviewers have reported stuttering and freezing when moving between tabs. Overall, the interface may take some getting used to, but once you become familiar with it, you should be able to move around quickly.
Based on 6 quotes from 5 sources [show quotes and sources]

How easy is it to navigate through the menus and settings on the Xbox One S Blu-ray player?

According to a product review on AVForums, the Xbox One S Blu-ray player is fairly easy to use. The joystick and A button provide for navigation and enter controls, while pressing the B button will bring up a series of playback options on the screen. Additionally, the Blu-ray sub-menu offers options to turn on/off Dolby Digital Dynamic Range Control, select bitstream output for Atmos and DTS:X, and select preferred menu, audio, and subtitle languages. The Disc sub-menu allows users to select to play a disc automatically and resume playback, although the console didn't seem to do that properly. Finally, the Display menu offers options to select different resolutions from 720p to 4K UHD and also select 8-, 10- or 12-bit and the color space.
Based on 3 quotes from 1 sources [show quotes and sources]

What do experts say about the user interface layout or design of Xbox One S?

According to the product reviews in the ReviewFinder database, experts have mixed opinions about the Xbox One S user interface. Some experts from TopTenReviews and The Guardian note that the Xbox One S has improved its user interface since its first launch, adding that the original UI was clunky and difficult to navigate. However, AVForums found the tiled layout rather confusing, and navigation was far too complicated. While it is still not perfect, games and apps are easy to find, but some less common features are still hidden away in odd places.
Based on 9 quotes from 6 sources [show quotes and sources]

Disc compatibility

The Xbox One S is a versatile gaming console that supports a wide range of disc formats, including Ultra HD Blu-rays, 2D and 3D Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs, making it a great choice for gamers and movie enthusiasts.

The Xbox One S is a versatile gaming console that supports a wide range of disc formats, including Ultra HD Blu-rays, 2D and 3D Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs. It is also capable of playing region-specific discs, although users should be aware of the limited number of times they can change the region.

Unfortunately, there is no information available on how well the Xbox One S handles scratched or damaged discs, so users should handle their discs with care to prevent damage.

What disc formats does the Xbox One S support?

The Xbox One S supports Ultra HD Blu-rays, 2D and 3D Blu-rays, DVDs and CDs according to AVForums and The Guardian.
Based on 9 quotes from 6 sources [show quotes and sources]

How well does the Xbox One S handle scratched or damaged discs?

Unfortunately, we do not have any information on how well the Xbox One S handles scratched or damaged discs. However, it is generally recommended to handle discs with care to prevent scratches and damage. Additionally, there are disc repair services and products available that can potentially fix minor scratches on discs.

Can the Xbox One S play region-specific discs?

Yes, the Xbox One S is capable of playing region-specific Blu-ray and DVD discs. However, keep in mind that the number of times you can change the region on an Xbox One S is limited, so make sure to choose the correct region before changing it.
Based on 7 quotes from 3 sources [show quotes and sources]

Additional features

The Xbox One S offers a variety of additional features, including support for streaming services, media playback from USB drives, and voice control through Cortana.

The Xbox One S offers a variety of additional features that enhance the user experience. It supports popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, as well as music streaming apps like Spotify and Pandora. The console can also play media files from a USB drive, including various audio and image codecs.

Additionally, the Xbox One S has voice control capabilities through its integration with Cortana, allowing users to control the console with voice commands. While the response time of Cortana can be slow in certain situations, the feature is still useful for snapping a live TV window alongside a game.

Overall, the Xbox One S is a versatile entertainment system that offers a range of additional features to enhance the user experience.

Which streaming services are supported by Xbox One S?

Xbox One S supports a variety of streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, Demand 5, Now TV and TV From Sky, as well as music streaming apps like Spotify and Pandora. However, according to PCMag, currently none of the third-party streaming apps have been updated to support 4K video streaming.
Based on 14 quotes from 10 sources [show quotes and sources]

Can the Xbox One S play media files from a USB drive?

Yes, the Xbox One S can play media files from a USB drive. According to TechHive, the Xbox One S can play various audio and image codecs such as FLAC, Apple and Windows lossless, MP3, WMA, Apple M4V, and WAV files up to 7.1 channels and 96kHz/24-bit sampling rates/resolution. It also supports bitmap, JPEG, PNG, and even uncompressed and compressed TIFF files. However, support for some 4K UHD files in HEVC (h.265) format may be missing.
Based on 7 quotes from 5 sources [show quotes and sources]

Does the Xbox One S have voice control capabilities?

Yes, the Xbox One S has voice control capabilities through its integration with Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant. You can use voice commands to control the console, such as snapping a live TV window alongside a game. However, it's worth noting that the response time of Cortana can be a bit slow in certain situations, and the console needs to be properly configured to pick up your commands from a noisy environment.
Based on 8 quotes from 5 sources [show quotes and sources]

Expert Reviews

There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. Below are their opinions.

ReviewFinder database has 25 expert reviews of Xbox One S.

Expert reviews [25]

80
Total expert reviews: 25
  • with a score: 22
  • without a score: 3
Highest score by Stuff.tv
100
Average score based on 25 reviews
80
Lowest score by What Hi-Fi
60

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20

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Expert consensus not yet generated.
Expert consensus not yet generated.
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Position in ranking

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ReviewFinder: reviews, prices and alternatives summarized by a powerful AI engine.