The updated Xbox Series X is now available - disassembly reveals some interesting differences

To mark the fourth anniversary of the Xbox Series X launch, Microsoft has released an updated console. The Xbox X now features new colors, a digital version, and a larger storage capacity. There are also minor hardware modifications.

New consoles have been available since yesterday, with the digital version lacking an optical disc drive priced at $449 — $50 less than the original model at its launch in 2020. It offers 1 TB of storage and the same AMD Zen 2 processor with RDNA2 graphics. However, it does feel a bit different.

Teardowns of the new Xbox confirmed the chip is made using a more advanced process. Austin Evans' video shows that the processor utilizes a 6nm manufacturing process, while the original chip, codenamed Project Scarlett, was built on a 7nm process.

The digital edition cannot simply accommodate an optical drive — while there is space for one, the connectors are not soldered. The cooling system and the design of the motherboard have also been updated. The board looks similar, but is noticeably arranged differently.

The cooling system has replaced the large copper vapor chamber with a small copper contact surface, from which heat pipes extend to the radiator. With a significant reduction in copper, the cooler now weighs 100 grams less.

A quick review indicates that the new processor version delivers the same performance, noise levels, and temperatures, but consumes less power. The original Xbox drew 60 watts in standby mode, while the new versions, including the 2TB model, consume 51 watts. The disc-less version consumes just 39 watts. Here are the figures for idle and under load:

• Xbox Series X (2020): 60W/167W
• Xbox Series X (2024) 2TB: 51W/156W
• Xbox Series X (2024) Digital: 39W/151W

So, the Xbox Series X update does not offer better performance; it simply requires less energy, with the disc-less model being cheaper. However, a reduction of just $50 on a four-year-old device may seem insufficient. Additionally, the digital version is available only in Robot White.

Sources: Austin Evans, VideoCardz