Xbox One S review

The Xbox One S is Microsoft's slimmer redesign of the gaming console that originally launched in 2013. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

The Xbox One S comes at a strange time in console video gaming. Announced at this June's Electronic Entertainment Expo, it's a slimmer redesign of Microsoft's Xbox One, which launched in 2013.

Starting at $400 in Canada, though, it doesn't offer a reduced price compared to the first version. Meanwhile Project Scorpio, a more powerful version of the same machine is due for a holiday 2017 release.

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It's an attractive package that puts its size more in line with Sony's PlayStation 4, which has enjoyed a consistent lead in sales. But gamers, especially those who own the 2013 Xbox One, shouldn't consider it a required purchase.

Slimmer, sleeker body

The Xbox One S is a very pretty console, exchanging the 2013 model's piano black for a matte "Robot White." With minimal black accents it looks like Microsoft merged a Star Wars Stormtrooper's uniform with a Blu-ray player.

The One S is notably smaller than the 2013's model, though the difference isn't quite as dramatic as one graphic in the announcement video suggests. It's about the same size as Sony's PlayStation 4, and should fit more easily on your home theatre shelves.​

The Xbox One S is notably smaller than the 2013 model... (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

...but not quite as small as one animation in the announcement trailer suggested. That said, its dimensions are comparable to the Sony PlayStation 4. (Microsoft/YouTube)

Coming with the redesigned console is a slightly improved controller with more grip on the thumbsticks and the bottom of the pad thanks to a subtle, textured surface.

The most welcome change to the One S's design is probably integrating the power source into the box, eliminating the giant brick that came attached to the 2013 model's power cable.

A port for the Kinect motion sensor is also gone, and owners of the Xbox One Kinect will need to buy a dongle to connect it to the One S.

4K video, HDR support

​The One S supports 4K video streaming, and plays 4K Blu-ray discs at native resolution. Interestingly, that makes it the cheapest 4K Blu-ray player currently on the market. Players that support native 4K resolution start at $599 in Canada — $200 more than the cheapest Xbox One S.

It doesn't output games in 4K, though — that will be up to Project Scorpio.

The Xbox One S with the new, slightly redesigned contoller. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Select games will feature high-dynamic range, or HDR, colour output. In short, that means more vibrant colours and deeper blacks than are possible with regular 1080p TVs.

No games support HDR yet, though. Racing game Forza Horizon 3 and sci-fi shooter Gears of War 4 will be the flagship HDR games this fall.

To even get the most out of these new features, you'll also need a TV that supports both 4K native resolution and HDR. If you have a TV that maxes out at 1080p, you won't notice much of a difference compared to the 2013 model.

Should you upgrade?

Who is the Xbox One S for? If you're a first-time Xbox One buyer, the One S is the clear winner — for now. 

Gamers who already have the 2013 model would be better advised to wait and see if Project Scorpio, whose shadow looms over the Xbox product line, offers more reasons to upgrade in 2017.

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One share most of the same library, so if you have one but not the other, you'll have to decide whether the handful of exclusive games is worth the money. Xbox One-only titles, from Halo 5: Guardians to Killer Instinct, are few in number.

Gears of War 4 will be one of the marquee games to support HDR colour imaging when it launches in October. (The Coalition/Microsoft Studios)

In the past, video game consoles were redesigned near the end of their product cycles, with lower manufacturing costs passing the discount down to the customer. The Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo both enjoyed new models with a reduced price a few years after they first hit stores.

Those glory days are long gone. The Xbox One S is a beauty of a machine to look at, but it will still cost between $400 and $550 in Canada, depending on the model or bundle you buy.

The growth of mobile games, especially the free-to-download Pokemon Go, and the excitement over Nintendo's announcement of an $80 NES Classic suggest that there are customers itching for quality games without the need to drop hundreds of dollars on a console first. There isn't a PlayStation or Xbox for them yet.

The "Launch Edition" Xbox One S with a 2TB hard drive is out today for $499. Bundles with Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo 5 launch August 23, either with a 500 GB hard drive for $399 or a 1TB hard drive for $449. A special Gears of War 4 version with a 2TB hard drive is due out in October 7 for $549.