Xbox Series X vs Series S SSD Speed Comparison

Both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S utilize custom NVMe SSDs designed to eliminate load times and enable Quick Resume features. While the underlying technology is similar, the raw throughput and available bandwidth differ slightly between the two consoles due to their respective performance targets. This article explores the technical specifications, real-world loading performance, and how these storage speeds impact gameplay on each device.

Technical Specifications

Microsoft engineered both next-generation consoles with high-speed solid-state drives to move away from mechanical hard drives. The Xbox Series X boasts a 1TB custom NVMe SSD with a raw throughput of 2.4 GB/s. The Xbox Series S comes equipped with a 512GB custom NVMe SSD that also claims a raw throughput of 2.4 GB/s. On paper, the uncompressed read speeds appear identical, suggesting parity in data retrieval capabilities.

Bandwidth and Architecture Differences

Despite the identical raw speed ratings, there are architectural nuances. The Xbox Series X SSD utilizes more flash channels than the Series S, resulting in higher total bandwidth availability. This allows the Series X to stream higher resolution textures and more complex geometry simultaneously, which is necessary for its 4K gaming target. The Series S, targeting 1440p rendering, has slightly less bandwidth headroom, though it is still optimized to prevent bottlenecks for its intended resolution.

Real-World Load Times

In practical testing across various titles, the load time differences between the two consoles are negligible. Games optimized for Xbox Series X|S load significantly faster on both machines compared to the previous Xbox One generation. Users typically see differences measured in fractions of a second rather than full seconds. The Quick Resume feature, which allows players to switch between multiple games instantly, functions equally well on both systems, leveraging the SSD speed to suspend and restore game states rapidly.

Storage Expansion Options

Both consoles support the same proprietary Seagate Storage Expansion Card, which matches the speed of the internal SSD. This ensures that expanding storage on the Series S does not result in a performance penalty compared to the internal drive. However, because the Series S starts with less internal space, users may rely on external USB drives for cold storage more frequently, though those drives cannot run optimized next-gen games directly.

Conclusion

While the Xbox Series X possesses a slight advantage in total bandwidth due to its wider architecture, the custom SSD in the Xbox Series S delivers a nearly identical user experience regarding load times. For most gamers, the SSD speed difference is imperceptible during regular play. Both consoles successfully meet the next-generation standard for fast loading and seamless game switching, ensuring that storage speed is not a deciding factor between the two models.