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Prices checked November 10, 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: Nintendo's game library only, so no Xbox games or Game Pass, and it has 64GB of storage.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Xbox Series S (512 GB) is the Nintendo Switch OLED Model, about $399 instead of $499 (save 20%). What you give up: Nintendo's game library only, so no Xbox games or Game Pass, and it has 64GB of storage. The cheapest is the Nintendo Switch Lite at about $229. Prices checked November 10, 2026.
Why it's a good swap A console that plays on the TV or as a handheld with a 7-inch OLED screen, for $100 less.
You give up: Nintendo's game library only, so no Xbox games or Game Pass, and it has 64GB of storage.
Why it's a good swap A small, light handheld that plays Switch games for less than half the price.
You give up: Handheld only with no TV output, and it only plays Switch games that support handheld mode.
Why it's a good swap The same 512GB console, tested, cleaned and repackaged by Microsoft with all standard accessories, for $100 less.
You give up: A 90-day warranty, and it is available only at the Microsoft Store.
Typical US prices, checked November 10, 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Xbox Series S (512 GB)? It usually sells for about $499. Here are 3 cheaper swaps from $229: the Nintendo Switch OLED Model is the closest match from another brand, the Xbox Series S (Certified Refurbished, 512 GB) is a cheaper option from Microsoft and the Nintendo Switch Lite is the cheapest at about $229. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
The Series S is worth it if you want the cheapest new Xbox for Game Pass and current games. Xbox lists 1440p gaming at up to 120 frames per second, a 512GB NVMe SSD and Quick Resume, in a console Microsoft says is 60% smaller than the Series X. It is all-digital, so it cannot play discs.
If you want the same console for less, the Xbox Series S (Certified Refurbished, 512 GB) ($399) comes from Microsoft with a 90-day warranty. If you don't need Xbox games, the Nintendo Switch OLED Model ($399) plays on a TV or as a handheld, and the Nintendo Switch Lite ($229) is the cheapest.
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S (512 GB) | The original | $499 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Nintendo Switch Lite | Budget pick | $229 | $270 (54%) | Handheld only with no TV output, and it only plays Switch games that support handheld mode. | View ↗ |
| Xbox Series S (Certified Refurbished, 512 GB) | Same brand, cheaper | $399 | $100 (20%) | A 90-day warranty, and it is available only at the Microsoft Store. | Not on Amazon |
| Nintendo Switch OLED Model | Close match | $399 | $100 (20%) | Nintendo's game library only, so no Xbox games or Game Pass, and it has 64GB of storage. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked November 10, 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Nintendo Switch Lite, at about $229 (54% less). A small, light handheld that plays Switch games for less than half the price. The catch: Handheld only with no TV output, and it only plays Switch games that support handheld mode.
The Nintendo Switch OLED Model, at about $399 (20% less). A console that plays on the TV or as a handheld with a 7-inch OLED screen, for $100 less. The catch: Nintendo's game library only, so no Xbox games or Game Pass, and it has 64GB of storage.
Yes. The Xbox Series S (Certified Refurbished, 512 GB), at about $399 (20% less). The same 512GB console, tested, cleaned and repackaged by Microsoft with all standard accessories, for $100 less. The catch: A 90-day warranty, and it is available only at the Microsoft Store.
The 512GB Xbox Series S is $499.99 at the Microsoft Store. Microsoft's listings put the 1TB model at $599.99.
No. Xbox says Series S consoles are all-digital, and disc-based games are not compatible with the 512GB or 1TB models.
Xbox lists 1440p gaming at up to 120 frames per second, with upscaling to 4K. It has a custom NVMe SSD and 10GB of memory.
Microsoft's Certified Refurbished Series S is $399.99 with a 90-day warranty. The Nintendo Switch OLED Model is $399.99 and the Nintendo Switch Lite is $229.99, but neither plays Xbox games.
Each swap links to a store that sells it (amazon.com or Microsoft Store). Prices are typical US prices checked November 10, 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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