Best match
Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim, disc)
$649vs $799Save $150 (19%)
Why it's a good swap Similar 4K console with a disc drive for $150 less.
You give up: No Xbox Game Pass library or Xbox exclusives.
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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: No Xbox Game Pass library or Xbox exclusives.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Xbox Series X is the Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim, disc), about $649 instead of $799 (save 19%). What you give up: No Xbox Game Pass library or Xbox exclusives. The cheapest is the Xbox Series S (512 GB) at about $499. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap Similar 4K console with a disc drive for $150 less.
You give up: No Xbox Game Pass library or Xbox exclusives.
Why it's a good swap Cheapest way into current Xbox games and Game Pass.
You give up: Only 512GB of storage, weaker graphics and no disc drive.
Why it's a good swap Same PS5 power as the disc model for $200 less than a Series X.
You give up: No disc drive and no Game Pass.
Why it's a good swap Plays the same Xbox and Game Pass games, with 1TB of storage.
You give up: Much weaker graphics than Series X and no disc drive.
Why it's a good swap Same Series X power and 1TB of storage for $50 less.
You give up: No disc drive, so no physical games or Blu-rays.
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Xbox Series X? It usually sells for about $799. Here are 5 cheaper swaps from $499: the Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim, disc) is the closest match from another brand, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition is a cheaper option from Microsoft and the Xbox Series S (512 GB) is the cheapest at about $499. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
After Microsoft's August 2026 price increase the Xbox Series X costs $799.99. The closest cheaper Xbox is the Series X Digital Edition at $749.99, the same console without a disc drive. The PlayStation 5 with a disc drive is $649.99, and the cheapest option is the Xbox Series S 512GB at $499.99.
Worth it if you want Game Pass and Xbox exclusives at their best: Microsoft lists native 4K gaming, up to 120fps on supported games and displays, a 12-teraflop GPU, a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive and thousands of backward-compatible Xbox games. Engadget said it's essentially the only premium choice for Xbox loyalists.
If you play digital games and Game Pass, the Xbox Series S (512 GB) ($499) is the cheapest way into current Xbox games, though it renders at 1440p. If you don't need Xbox exclusives, the Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (Slim) ($599) plays PS5 games, and Engadget recommended the PS5 for newcomers.
Compared on their own pages: PS5 alternatives · Xbox Series S alternatives
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X | The original | $799 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Xbox Series S (512 GB) | Budget pick | $499 | $300 (38%) | Only 512GB of storage, weaker graphics and no disc drive. | View ↗ |
| Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (Slim) | Close match | $599 | $200 (25%) | No disc drive and no Game Pass. | View ↗ |
| Xbox Series S (1 TB) | Same brand, cheaper | $599 | $200 (25%) | Much weaker graphics than Series X and no disc drive. | View ↗ |
| Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim, disc) | Close match | $649 | $150 (19%) | No Xbox Game Pass library or Xbox exclusives. | View ↗ |
| Xbox Series X Digital Edition | Same brand, cheaper | $749 | $50 (6%) | No disc drive, so no physical games or Blu-rays. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Xbox Series S (512 GB), at about $499 (38% less). Cheapest way into current Xbox games and Game Pass. The catch: Only 512GB of storage, weaker graphics and no disc drive.
The Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim, disc), at about $649 (19% less). Similar 4K console with a disc drive for $150 less. The catch: No Xbox Game Pass library or Xbox exclusives.
Yes. The Xbox Series X Digital Edition, at about $749 (6% less). Same Series X power and 1TB of storage for $50 less. The catch: No disc drive, so no physical games or Blu-rays.
Microsoft says the Series X runs games in native 4K and has a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive, while the Series S has no disc drive and renders at 1440p, upscaled to 4K. The Xbox Series S (1 TB) ($599) plays the same Xbox and Game Pass games.
Yes, minus the disc drive. Microsoft lists it with a 1TB SSD and no disc drive, so the Xbox Series X Digital Edition ($749) can't play physical games or Blu-rays.
Engadget's 2024 re-review called Game Pass the strongest reason to own an Xbox, but said the PS5 has more notable exclusives and recommended it to newcomers. The Sony PlayStation 5 (Slim, disc) ($649) also has a disc drive.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Compared on their own pages: PS5 alternatives · Xbox Series S alternatives
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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