Xbox One S review: A slimmer gaming console but not a required upgrade

The Xbox One S comes at a strange time in console video gaming. Announced at this June's Electronic Entertainment Expo, it's a slimmer redesign of Microsoft's Xbox One, which launched in 2013.

Starting at $400 in Canada, though, it doesn't offer a reduced price compared to the first version. Meanwhile Project Scorpio, a more powerful version of the same machine is due for a holiday 2017 release.

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It's an attractive package that puts its size more in line with Sony'sPlayStation4, whichhas enjoyed a consistent lead in sales. But gamers, especially those who own the 2013XboxOne, shouldn't considerit a required purchase.

Slimmer, sleeker body

TheXboxOne S is a very pretty console, exchanging the 2013 model's piano black for a matte "Robot White." With minimal black accents it looks like Microsoft merged a Star WarsStormtrooper'suniform with a Blu-rayplayer.

The One S is notably smaller than the 2013's model, though the difference isn't quite as dramatic as one graphic in the announcement video suggests. It's about the same size as Sony'sPlayStation4, and should fit more easily on your home theatre shelves.

Coming with the redesigned console is a slightly improved controller with more grip on the thumbsticks and the bottom of the pad thanks to a subtle, textured surface.

The most welcome change to the One S's design is probably integrating the power source into the box, eliminating the giant brick that came attached to the 2013 model's power cable.

A port for the Kinect motion sensor is also gone, and owners of the Xbox One Kinect will need to buy a dongle to connect it to the One S.

4K video, HDR support

The One S supports 4K video streaming, and plays 4K Blu-ray discs at native resolution. Interestingly, that makes it the cheapest 4K Blu-ray player currently on the market. Players that support native 4K resolution start at $599 in Canada $200 more than the cheapest Xbox One S.

It doesn't output games in 4K, though that will be up to Project Scorpio.

Select games will feature high-dynamic range, or HDR, colour output. In short, that means more vibrant colours and deeper blacks than are possible with regular 1080p TVs.

No games support HDRyet, though. Racing game Forza Horizon 3 and sci-fishooter Gears of War 4will be the flagship HDR games this fall.

To even get the most out of these new features, you'll also need a TV that supports both 4K native resolution and HDR. If you have a TV that maxes out at 1080p, you won't notice much of a difference compared to the 2013 model.

Should you upgrade?

Who is the Xbox One S for?If you're a first-timeXboxOne buyer, the One S is the clear winnerfor now.

Gamers who already have the 2013 model would be better advised to wait and see if Project Scorpio, whose shadow looms over the Xbox product line, offers more reasons to upgrade in 2017.

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One share most of the same library, so if you have one but not the other, you'll have to decide whether the handful of exclusive games is worth the money. XboxOne-onlytitles, from Halo 5: Guardiansto Killer Instinct, are few in number.

In the past, video game consoles were redesigned near the end of their product cycles, with lower manufacturing costs passing the discount down to the customer. The Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo both enjoyed new models with a reduced pricea few years after they first hit stores.

Those glory days are long gone. The Xbox One S is a beauty of a machine to look at, but it will still cost between $400 and $550 in Canada, depending on the model or bundle you buy.

The growth ofmobile games, especially the free-to-download Pokemon Go, and the excitement over Nintendo's announcement of an $80 NES Classic suggest that there are customers itching for quality games without the need to drop hundreds of dollars on a console first. There isn't a PlayStation or Xbox for them yet.

The "Launch Edition" Xbox One S with a 2TB hard drive is out today for $499. Bundles with Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo 5 launch August 23, either with a 500 GB hard drive for $399 or a 1TB hard drive for $449. A special Gears of War 4 version with a 2TB hard drive is due out in October 7 for $549.