You have just two weeks to upgrade to a new XBOX console before price hikes take effect.
Microsoft is increasing the prices of its gaming consoles starting August 1 — making it the second global hike in just a little over a year.
That means if you're eyeing a 512GB model, expect to pay an extra $100. If you're looking at the 1TB model, it'll cost you an additional $150. New UK prices haven't been confirmed yet, but these increases could roughly convert between £80 and £130.
However, there are plenty of shops where you can snag a new console before the price increase arrives.
Amazon, Currys, and Argos are all offering deals that either reduce the price of the console or bundle it with accessories at a discounted rate.
Additionally, mobile providers such as EE and O2 offer monthly payment plans, making it easier and more affordable to purchase a new console.
Save £10 on XBOX Series S (512GB) from Amazon
When you buy the XBOX Series S from Amazon with a Prime membership, you could have it at your doorstep in as little as a day. It's a digital-only console, where you need to download all of the games you want to play. The 512GB model provides around 360GB of usable space, enough for roughly 5–8 large modern games.
Buy the XBOX Series S (1TB) from Argos
If you prefer extra storage from a digital-only console, the 1TB version may be the way to go. It can comfortably hold between 12 and 18 games. Plus, if you can get up to 30% off accessories when you add them to your basket at the same time as a new XBOX console.
Get an £80 gamecard when you buy the XBOX Series X (1TB) from EE
You can get an £80 gamecard to be put towards new games when you buy the XBOX Series X from EE. To make the console more affordable, EE will let you add it to your monthly bill. You'd need to pay £14.99 up front, and then £50 per month for the next 11 months.
Bundle and save £45 on XBOX Series X (1TB) from Currys
The Microsoft XBOX Series X (1 TB) Battlefield 6 bundle delivers powerful next-generation gaming with lightning-fast load times, stunning 4K visuals, and immersive gameplay. It includes a full game copy of Battlefield 6 and the stylish XBOX Wireless Controller — Ice Breaker Special Edition for enhanced comfort and precision. With a 1 TB SSD, you'll have plenty of space for your favourite games.
If you're after the best possible XBOX experience, the XBOX Series X may be the better choice. Released in November 2020, it's Microsoft's most powerful console, designed to deliver 4K gaming, faster load times, higher frame rates, and improved visual effects thanks to its more powerful hardware.
It also includes a built-in 4K UHD Blu-ray disc drive, allowing you to play physical games, watch Blu-ray movies, and buy or trade pre-owned games.
With 1TB of high-speed SSD storage as standard, you'll have space for around 15–20 modern AAA games (depending on file sizes) before needing to delete titles or add extra storage.
Given Sony's eyebrow-raising decision to halt the sale of physical discs in 2028, an XBOX console makes more sense if you don't want to rely only on digital gaming.
The team over at XBOX also recently decided to keep certain games exclusively for themselves — u-turning on them to PlayStation owners as well.
On the other hand, the XBOX Series S, also released in November 2020, is designed as a more affordable entry point into current-generation gaming.
It's a digital-only console, so all games must be downloaded through the Microsoft Store or services like XBOX Game Pass. This is a monthly paid gaming subscription, and prices were recently cut.
While it plays the same games as the XBOX Series X, they're typically rendered at a lower quality of 1080p or 1440p, rather than native 4K, and with lower graphical settings in some titles.
The original model includes 512GB of SSD storage, while a newer version offers 1TB.
In reality, though, the 512GB model provides around 360GB of usable space, enough for roughly 5–8 large modern games, whereas the 1TB version can usually hold 12–18 games, depending on their size.
