Xbox One S On Sale This August for $299

Heads up, Xbox gamers: Microsoft's Xbox One S is official.

At E3 on Monday, Redmond confirmed rumors that it plans to release a smaller version of its Xbox One console.

The Xbox One S, which division head Phil Spencer called "the smallest Xbox One yet," will be available in August starting at £249.

The all-white console Microsoft showed off Monday is 40 percent smaller than its predecessor, but inside you'll find an IR blaster, and integrated power supply, as well as support for HDR gaming, 4K Ultra HD video, and Blu-ray. The 500GB Xbox One S is £249, the 1TB version if $299, and a limited-edition 2TB console is £349. Pre-orders begin today.

To save space, Redmond removed the dedicated Kinect port from the back; the motion sensor can still be hooked up via a free USB adapter. Users can also position the console horizontally or vertically with an optional stand.

The Xbox One S comes with a new Xbox wireless controller, which features a textured grip, Bluetooth support, and an increased range.

For a peek at the Xbox One S, check out the video below.

"We are creating more choice in your gaming experience than ever before," Spencer said, promising "more exciting hardware, more innovation on Xbox Live, and more exclusive games."

Also on tap is Project Scorpio, which Redmond calls "the most powerful console ever created." It features 6 teraflops of GPU for a true 4K gaming and high-fidelity virtual reality. It won't arrive until holiday 2017, but will "coexist alongside Xbox One and Xbox One S and all of your Xbox One games and accessories are compatible."

The Xbox One S wasn't exactly a surprise. Ahead of today's big event, images of the scaled-down console leaked online.

Xbox One gamers can also look forward to some new features expected this summer, including background music so you can listen to your own jams while you play, "language region independence" so you can choose your preferred language no matter where you live, and Cortana.

Microsoft's director of program management, Mike Ybarra, also outlined three new features headed to Xbox Live this fall: Clubs, where you can create your own communities; Looking For Group, a place where you can post want-ads for multiplayer teammates; and a new tournament platform called Arena.

Also coming up is a new service called Xbox Play Anywhere. The idea is that once you buy a game digitally, you can play it across Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. Your progress and achievements will be stored on Xbox Live and shared across both platforms at no additional cost.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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Xbox One S On Sale This August for £249