After several weeks with the Xbox Series X, the new high-end console from Microsoft, we give you our impressions. And the least we can say is that they are positive.
9
Read the conclusionMicrosoft Xbox Series X
- Backwards compatibility at its best
- The Quick Resume, hard to go back
- Built for the future (HDMI 2.1, dolby vision/atmos, VRR)
- Exceptional performance (even if we expect real next-gen games)
- The interface that evolves too little, with an old-school design
- The horizontal position impractical and aesthetic
- A controller that could have been enriched with new features (haptic feedback, adaptive triggers)
The model we tested included software that was not definitive but close to that available at the exit.
A powerful and complete console
You will not have missed it, Microsoft communicates a lot on two very distinct axes: the power of its console on the one hand, and the possibility of playing several thousand games from previous generations of Xbox. Indeed the Xbox Series X will offer one of the most effective backward compatibility, and if the subject interests you, we invite you to read our dedicated article below.
Read also:Xbox Series X: backward compatibility scrutinized
But it is above all on the power of its new console that Microsoft is putting the package, positioning it as the most powerful new generation home console ever designed. Indeed, the Xbox Series X ticks all the boxes when it comes to modern gaming tech:
- HDMI 2.1
- HDR 10 / Dolby Vision
- Dolby Atmos
- 4K up to 120 frames per second
- VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
- hardware ray tracing
- SSD
Of course, you will need to have a compatible TV to take advantage of the refinements linked to HDMI 2.1: 4K120 and VRR.
Powered by the Xbox Velocity architecture, based on AMD's Zen2 (CPU) and RDNA2 (GPU) platform, the Xbox could theoretically develop up to 12 TFLOPS, compared to 10,28 TFLOPS for the PlayStation 5. A phenomenal power which is equivalent on paper to double that developed by the Xbox One X (the different architectures do not allow a direct comparison). Remember that the latter remains the most powerful console of the previous generation.
Information
- Processor. Custom Zen 2 8-core 3,8 GHz processor (3,66 GHz with SMT)
- Graphic card. 12 TFLOPS, 52 CU at 1,825 GHz, custom RDNA 2 GPU
- SOC matrix size. 360,45 mm
- Treatment. 7nm enhanced
- Memory. 16 GB GDDR6 with 320 bit bus
- Memory bandwidth. 10 Go à 560 Go/s, 6 Go à 336 Go/s.
- Internal storage. 1TB Custom NVME SSD
- I/O throughput. 2,4 GB/s (raw), 4,8 GB/s (compressed, with custom hardware decompression block)
- Optical drive. 4K UHD Blu-ray
- HDMI. 1 port HDMI 2.1
- USB. 3 ports USB 3.1 Gen 1
- Wireless. 802.11ac dual band
- Ethernet. 802.3 10/100/1000
- Dimensions 15,1 × 15,1 × 30,1 cm
- Weight 4,45 kg
- Price €499,99
- AVAILABILITY 10/11/2020
Finally, Microsoft communicates a lot around Smart Delivery, a feature allowing compatible games to buy the game once and play it in the best possible version depending on the console you will be using, from the Xbox One S to the Xbox Series X. Thus a player who has purchased Assassins Creed Valhalla on Xbox One S, will be able to switch to the optimized Xbox Series X version for free when Santa Claus has delivered his brand new console. This is clearly good news, hoping that the publishers play the game, insofar as they are the ones who will decide which games will be compatible with Smart Delivery.
A new controller that does not revolutionize the game
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Microsoft offers a new version of its Xbox controller which is once again evolving smoothly. First observation, a button dedicated to sharing screenshots or video sequences directly to friends, or on social networks, has appeared. A feature that is reminiscent of Sony's famous "Share" button already present on its DualShock 4 since 2013. On the other hand, Microsoft does not offer adaptive triggers like Sony with the DualSense of the PS5.
The ergonomics of the controller have been revised and offer surfaces with a new "grip" coating that falls just under the fingers and allows a more pleasant grip over time. The slice buttons have been rounded, and the handles reshaped to slightly reduce the size of the controller and make it accessible to as many people as possible.
The directional cross has also been redesigned to be closer to what Microsoft's Elite controller offers, with the aim of improving player performance.
Controller in hand, let's be honest, the differences with the previous generation are very slightly noticeable... and so much the better! Microsoft has in mind the love that PC and Xbox players have for its controller, and has grasped the essence of the latter to make it evolve in the right direction without creating a break with its community.
Finally, a quick word on connectivity since the new controller is equipped with a USB-C port, Xbox radio protocols for backward compatibility, and low-energy Bluetooth with the possibility of memorizing several devices simultaneously (eg PC, smartphone , Xbox).
A revised and corrected interface
Before going into the details of the new Xbox interface, we invite you to read our article below on Quick Resume, the quick resume feature allowing you to switch between 4-5 games launched in less than ten seconds. In summary, it works very well and the functionality will delight players who like to play several games in parallel, perfect for the Game Pass so much promoted by the Redmond firm.
Read also:Xbox Series X: we tested Quick Resume, Microsoft's quick resume feature
For its new consoles, Microsoft has decided to continue its momentum with its "Metro" system, based on tiles to be pinned by group or not, according to the preferences of the user. Few new therefore compared to the recent update proposed by Microsoft, if not the dynamic themes and new video options related to modern TVs, HDMI 2.1 in mind.
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Ditto for the capture options, they remain identical to what Microsoft offered on the Xbox One X. It is therefore possible to capture video extracts up to 30 seconds in 4K HDR on the internal storage of the console, and if you wish capture longer sequences, it will be necessary to go through an external hard drive or a USB 3.0 key. For our part, we found that the video compression was too important in 4K, very far from what we were able to capture with an external box. That said, the quality will be more than enough to share these sequences on Twitter or upload them to Live and OneDrive. On the side of live broadcasts, it will be necessary to install an application like Twitch to stream its games on the platform.
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Controller in hand, the interface is very fluid. Supported by the console's CPU and SSD, the experience remains pleasant on all screens. Once its tiles are configured, you can access all the content quickly, and that's the most important thing!
A final word on console streaming, as we tested the feature through the new Xbox app on an Android smartphone paired to the Series X controller. To say the least, it works flawlessly. On the optimized version of Gears 5 for the Series X, we could play in 60fps with negligible latency on our Pixel 4 XL.
Performance, noise, thermal design: an engineering gem
To make the most of the refinements of the Xbox Series X, we tested it on an LG OLED 55B9 TV. A modern television that offers 4K definition, HDMI 2.1 compatibility, refresh up to 120 Hz, VRR, and HDR10/Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos compatibility. If LG provided us with beta firmware that was supposed to improve support for Microsoft's new console, in fact we didn't see any difference with the stable firmware.
It's hard to be impressed by the graphic leap made by this Xbox Series X at the moment, for several reasons. First of all, we don't have access to truly next-gen games, designed exclusively for the Series X. Indeed, Microsoft's strategy calls for future games to be all cross-gen (the first years at least), and developers will therefore have to deal with aging hardware. On the other hand, the Xbox One X being released in the middle of generation, the technical difference between it and the next-gen is already more limited. If we put aside the graphic aspect, the technological leap is truly present on the storage system. Indeed, loading times are extremely reduced on the Series X thanks to its custom SSD.
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Microsoft has made available to us Xbox Series X optimized versions, but not final, of DiRT 5, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Gears 5 and Gears Tactics, to test the performance of its new console.
If DiRT 5 can shoot up to 120 frames / sec, it is very far from being a technical slap. The feeling of fluidity is certainly pleasant, but the textures and models are limited enough to make our jaws drop.
Yakuza allows you to play in several modes, including an extremely clean 1440p (QHD) at 60fps. On a 55" TV, we also recommend favoring 1440p60 over 2160p30 (4K at 30 frames/sec) as the difference in definition is not very visible.
Finally, it was really on Gears 5 and Gears Tactics that we were able to appreciate the power of the Series X: playable in 4K at 60 frames per second, these two titles run perfectly without the slightest drop in framerate with a level of detail close to the parameters "Ultra" on PC. And the best part of it all is that the console doesn't make the slightest noise! It is in absolute silence, without even a discreet purring that the magic operates. There is also nothing to report on the temperature of the hot air expelled, which remains similar to that produced by the Xbox One X. Microsoft has perfectly mastered its thermal design, and the choice of a large fan on the upper part of the console. is probably for many.
We must recognize that it is impressive to achieve such a degree of detail and fluidity on a console of this size, especially when compared to our test PCs at Clubic. To achieve an equivalent result on Gears 5, you still need a muscular configuration (i9, RTX 2080 Ti) in a bulky case. Hats off to Microsoft! Now we are only waiting for one thing: games, games, games.
Capture us in 4K60
To calmly approach the next-gen, we have equipped ourselves with an Elgato Game Capture 4K60S+ capture box to be able to offer you captures in the best possible quality.
Games available at launch
- Assassins Creed Valhalla (Smart Delivery)
- Borderlands 3 (Smart Delivery)
- BrightMemory 1.0
- Royal Cuisine (Smart Delivery)
- Dead by Daylight (Xbox Game Pass + Smart Delivery)
- Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition
- DIRT 5 (Smart Delivery)
- E
- evergate
- The Falconeer (Smart Delivery)
- Fortnite
- Forza Horizon 4 (Xbox Game Pass + Smart Delivery)
- Gears 5 (Xbox Game Pass + Smart Delivery)
- Gears Tactics (Xbox Game Pass + Smart Delivery)
- Grounded (Xbox Game Pass + Smart Delivery)
- King Oddball (Smart Delivery)
- Manager (Smart Delivery)
- Manifold Garden (Smart Delivery)
- NBA 2K21
- Observer: System Redux
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Xbox Game Pass + Smart Delivery)
- Planet Coaster (Smart Delivery)
- Sea of ​​Thieves (Xbox Game Pass + Smart Delivery)
- Tetris Effect: Connected (Xbox Game Pass + Smart Delivery)
- The Tourist (Xbox Game Pass + Smart Delivery)
- War Thunder (Smart Delivery)
- Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition
- Watch Dogs: Legion (Smart Delivery)
- WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship (Smart Delivery)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Smart Delivery)
- Yes, Your Grace (Smart Delivery)
Xbox Series X : the Clubic avis
9
Microsoft signs an impressive console, as comfortable on the thousands of titles of previous generations, as on the demanding AAAs to come. The best thing is that you will enjoy this experience in absolute silence, to concentrate on the main thing: the games. It will be a while before the Xbox Series X becomes indispensable, but if you want the best experience possible currently at Microsoft, it is on Series X.Most
- Backwards compatibility at its best
- The Quick Resume, hard to go back
- Built for the future (HDMI 2.1, dolby vision/atmos, VRR)
- Exceptional performance (even if we expect real next-gen games)
- Totally silent, without excessive heating
The lessers
- The interface that evolves too little, with an old-school design
- The horizontal position impractical and aesthetic
- A controller that could have been enriched with new features (haptic feedback, adaptive triggers)
