1. It's smaller and more attractive than the original Xbox One.
The Xbox One S is a 40% reduction in size over the (admittedly very large) original Xbox One. The console also just looks better than its predecessor.
It's compact. It's got a sweet design with tiny holes covering half of the front face. It's got a sharp black and white color scheme. Aesthetics are all perspective, of course — maybe you prefer the look of the original Xbox One to the Xbox One S. You're wrong, but you're welcome to believe that!
3. It comes with a new gamepad.
Don't be fooled: this new gamepad is more than just a pretty face. It's got some major new additions!
4. Bluetooth connectivity is the biggest new addition: The Xbox One gamepad can connect wirelessly to PCs now!
6. But let's go back to the console itself: Games will look more gorgeous than ever!
With "HDR" lighting (high-dynamic range) being employed by upcoming games like "Gears of War 4" and "Scalebound," the Xbox One S is capable of making games look better than ever.
7. It's capable of powering 4K/Ultra HD video.
Tired of watching "House of Cards" in paltry old high-definition? Tire no more! The Xbox One S is capable of producing 4K video content for your snazzy new 4K TV (that's the successor to high-def video). Only so many shows and movies are available to be viewed in 4K at this point, but more are arriving every day.
8. The Kinect port is gone!
Maybe you're big into Xbox Fitness? Maybe you just love commanding the Xbox One with the power of your voice? If you're a diehard Xbox One Kinect user, the Xbox One S may not be for you. The dedicated Kinect port in the back of the Xbox One doesn't exist on the Xbox One S. You can still plug it in, but you'll need a separate USB adapter.
In case it wasn't already clear, Microsoft is pretty much done with the Kinect. Here is the latest strong indication of that reality.
9. But the Xbox One now has a new IR blaster.
Microsoft isn't done with the TV stuff yet, though. The infrared blaster that was in the Kinect — enabling you to command your TV using the Xbox One media remote — is now center stage on the Xbox One console itself.
10. No more giant power supply!
You can also say goodbye to the giant box that once acted as a power supply for the Xbox One — it's now integrated into the console itself.
11. You can get the largest-ever internal hard drive — up to 2TB!
You may already have an external hard drive hooked up your Xbox One. After all, the 500GB internal hard drive is hardly enough in an era of digital games that can easily exceed 50GB individually. But maybe you'd rather not have an external hard drive running all the time, sitting in your media center — totally understandable. You'll have to shell out a bit more cash, but there's now an option in the Xbox One S to get a 2TB internal hard drive. If you're filling up that thing, well, bless all your free time. We're jealous!
12. Perhaps the best part: The Xbox One S costs the same as the current Xbox One!
At $300, the Xbox One S is a solid price considering it's the exact same price as the current Xbox One model. So you get a newer, better looking system with more powerful internals and it's the same price as an older, slightly less svelte version. Hot dog!