Dolby announced today that both their Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos technologies would be fully supported on Microsoft’s upcoming next gen Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles when they release on November 10th later this year.

This will make each next gen Xbox the first ever to support gaming in both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

Microsoft’s current gen Xbox One X console does support Dolby Vision right now but it only works for supported video content such as movies like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in the Disney Plus app. Dolby Atmos, however, does work with video games on the Xbox One X console so the addition of this feature on its own isn’t too ground-breaking.

What is Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision?

Dolby Atmos is a technology that allows for a more immersive audio experience that moves beyond separate audio channels and creates the illusion of a three-dimensional space by making certain sounds sound as if they’re happening closer to or further away from the listener.

Dolby has confirmed that gamers will still need to download the free Dolby Access app on their Xbox console to enable this feature. A Dolby Atmos-enabled TV, soundbar, or home theater system is also required. Those will headphones will still need to pay for the Dolby Atmos for Headphones add-on through the app though existing owners should be able to continue using it on the next gen consoles without paying again.

Dolby Vision creates a more realistic color profile in games and media. Dolby claims that Vision enhances content even more than HDR with 40x brighter highlights and 10x deeper blacks. A TV with Dolby Vision support will be needed to use this feature. Unlike Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision won’t be available at launch on the Series X and S and is set to come sometime in 2021.

Are you excited for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S or are you fine with your current setup? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest and Twitter for more Xbox gaming news.

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After a year of anticipation, the Surface Duo is finally here, and today, we’ll be unboxing it. Available from Microsoft starting at $1,400, we purchased our own Surface Duo for a full review. Our unit comes configured with 128 GB of storage, and 6GB of RAM, as well as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor inside. Of course, the RAM and processor are standard, but adding extra storage will cost you an extra $100 and bring the price up to $1,500.

We opted to go the cheaper route and stick with the base configuration.  Anyway, we’ve spent the last couple of hours with the Surface Duo, here’s our unboxing and quick impressions:

What’s in the Box:

Inside the Surface Duo are some routine things. As soon as you open the box, you’ll find the Duo housed on top, and then another box with the Duo’s Bumper Case. As we’re planning to take photos of the Duo in its nude and glory, we won’t be installing the case just yet. However, it is pretty straight forward to install and there’s a pamphlet explaining how to do so. It’s as simple as peeling the blue stickers off and then applying the bumper to the Duo.

Other than the bumper case, the box also includes a USB-C to USB-C charging cable. There’s also an 18-watt quick charger, included as well. In our brief tests, we were able to get about 20 percent of juice added to the Duo’s battery in just a few minutes.

Touching the Duo:

As we took the Duo out of the box, we felt similar impressions as to our initial hands-on at Best Buy. The Duo is a super-thin phone. It’s just as thin as a USB-C port. We also compared the Duo to our Pixel 3XL and found that it’s just as thick as the Pixel when its two screens are folded shut. However, the Duo is much shorter and wider when compared to a Pixel. Not surprising, as Microsoft wanted to keep the 3:2 aspect ratio and make it feel really natural.

Setting up the Duo:

Comparisons done, we also guide you through setting up the Duo. It takes just a few steps. An initial update is available, and it weighs in at around 270 MB. Installing takes about 15 minutes, and when the install is finished, you get to finish the setup. You’ll sign in with Google, choose your privacy settings, and then sign in with Microsoft, too. There’s also a step to configure diagnostics data, as well. When you get to the end, a welcome screen will explain some of the Duo’s gestures and other offerings, if you’re not familiar with it.

Using the Duo:

After the setup, we spent the remainder of the afternoon using the Duo in place of our iPhone XS. We set it up with our apps which include Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and more. Most apps aren’t ready for dual-screen support just yet, including Snapchat and Instagram, and they are separated in the middle when you use it in the expanded mode across the two screens. Microsoft apps like OneNote, Outlook, and Edge, though, can take advantage of the dual-screens, which isn’t all too surprising as it is a Microsoft phone. his is all something we can get used to.

We also tried out the camera, which as many have said, appears to be decent. Photos definitely don’t have as much brightness or vibrancy as they do on other phones, but at first glance, they will pass and get the job done.

Some photos taken on the Duo in outside light. HDR on. pic.twitter.com/vPAC4kcDOb

— Arif Bacchus (@abacjourn) September 10, 2020

We also didn’t experience any crashes or bugs that early reviewers have mentioned. Apps work fine in the single-screen mode, and it’s really fun to pair apps like Instagram and Snapchat, and experience two social media at once. However, one interesting point we want to note is that the Duo “squishes down” apps to fit the screen when multitasking. When in split-screen or open on one screen, Apps like Instagram or WhatsApp will feel a little more narrow and wider than you’d expect, coming from a Pixel or an iPhone. However, the one advantage is that this aspect ratio allows for more things to fit wide across the screen (when display settings are configured for a smaller display text.) We were able to see an entire almost row of stories along the top of the screen on Instagram, which was never before possible for us.

Have any questions? Let us know

Again, we’re still playing with the Duo and will be exploring more situations soon before our full review in a few weeks. Your feedback helps us, too, so be sure to submit your questions to us below. We’ll discuss them during our upcoming Podcast!

Microsoft officially unveiled its Surface Duo last month with the dual-screen device reaching its first customers starting today. With the Surface Duo just available, the company already rolled out the first batch of firmware updates for the device (via Neowin).

The changelog isn’t big in number, but these updates largely bring camera stability, performance, and image quality enhancements for Surface Duo owners. The unlocked Surface Duo is getting the firmware version 2020.812.86, while the AT&T Locked version is getting version 2020.812.87, but the fixes are identical across both variants.

You can see the official changelog below:

• Device stability improvements.
• Camera stability, performance, and image quality improvements.
• Improved application gestures for dismissing and moving apps to full screen.
• Improvements in calling features and stability.

If you have a Surface Duo arriving today, you can grab these updates right away by tapping Settings > System > System update > Check for update. Otherwise, the new Surface Duo is available to buy now in the US with a price starting at $1,399. The product comes in 128GB and 256GB variations, and you can get up to $700 cashback with a qualified trade-in when you purchase from Microsoft Store.

Microsoft has just released the Windows 10 Insider build 20211 for Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. This new flight brings two new features, the ability to search the Default Apps pages in Settings, and to attach and mount a physical disk inside of a Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) distro.

This new build also brings some fixes for bugs affecting the Lock Screen, Live tiles, Windows Update, as well as the Start Menu on Windows 10 on ARM devices. You can find all details about new features, bug fixes, and known issues below:

What’s new in Build 20211

Adding Search to the Default Apps pages in Settings

After making some updates to help improve performance, this changeto enable searching the lists of file types, protocols, and apps when setting a default is now rolling out to all Insiders in the Dev Channel – thanks everyone who’s shared feedback along the way.

Access Linux file systems in the Windows Subsystem for Linux

This latest insiders preview build adds the ability for users to attach and mount a physical disk inside of a WSL 2 distro. This enables you to access file systems that aren’t natively supported by Windows (such as ext4). So if you’re dual booting with Windows and Linux, and are using different disks, you can now access your Linux files from Windows! To learn more about this feature please read this blog post on the Windows Command Line blog.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where certain 32-bit applications running on a 64-bit OS do not get properly promoted to the discrete GPU for hybrid configurations.
• We fixed an issue that could result in Start menu tiles continuing to display an “app update in progress” progress bar after an app had already finished updating.
• We fixed an issue that could result in some of the app icons in Start appearing unexpectedly tiny.
• We fixed an issue on ARM64 devices resulting in Start crashing on launch the next time it was opened after launching certain apps from Start and then closing them.
• We fixed an issue that could result in the lock screen hanging.
• We fixed an issue that could result in ShellExperienceHost.exe hanging.
• We fixed an issue where hero images weren’t showing up in notifications (for example, when taking a screenshot using WIN + Shift + S).
• We fixed an issue from the last few flights that could result in Windows update getting stuck while downloading the update.

Known issues

• We’re looking into reports of the update process hanging for extended periods of time when attempting to install a new build.
• We’re working on a fix to enable live preview for pinned site tabs.
• We’re working on enabling the new taskbar experience for existing pinned sites. In the meantime, you can unpin the site from the taskbar, remove it from the edge://apps page, and then re-pin the site.
• We’re investigating reports of some Office applications crashing or missing after updating to a new build.
• We’re working on a fix for an issue resulting in Settings crashing for some Insiders when opening Manage Disks and Volumes.
• We’re working on a fix for the Linux kernel not being installed when using the `wsl –install` command in the Windows Subsystem for Linux. For an immediate workaround run `wsl –update` to get the latest kernel version.
• We are investigating an issue affecting Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 distros where users can receive the error: “The remote procedure call failed” on startup.
• We’re working on an issue where on a small subset of devices the Start menu does not reflect when an update is pending restart and scheduled restarts are cancelled. To install the next update, you will need to update and restart through the Windows Update settings page, notification area (system tray) icon, or restart notification.
• We’re investigating a bug where the vEthernet adapter in Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 distros becomes disconnected after a period of use. For full details please follow this Github thread.
• We’re working on a fix for seeing generic errors when using `wsl –install` in the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

The Windows Insider team also announced that the next Windows Insider webcast, which will air on September 15 at 10 AM PDT, will focus on Windows 10 on ARM. Following the closure of Microsoft’s Mixer platform, the livestreams are now happening on Twitch.tv/windowsinsider.

Microsoft today announced Day 0 management support for its new Surface Duo device. In a recent Microsoft Endpoint Manager Blog post, the company explained that Surface Duo users will now be able to access the Android enterprise controls like Conditional Access, App Protection Policies, and Android Enterprise management directly from the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center.

Microsoft Endpoint Manager is basically an integrated endpoint management platform that has been designed to make it easier to manage all devices in an organization. It helps IT Admins to protect corporate data while allowing employees to work using both personal and corporate devices.

With this announcement, Microsoft Endpoint Manager gains some significant improvements to offer an optimized Surface Duo experience. The first improvement that the company highlighted today is dual-screen optimization. Moreover, the Microsoft Authenticator app and the Company Portal app will now come pre-installed for Surface Duo users. Here’s a video showing Microsoft Endpoint Manager app protection experience on Surface Duo:

Microsoft noted a bunch of Company Portal and Work Profile enhancements that will be reflected in the Duo experience, including an improved sign-in experience, setup checklist design, and more. If you want to learn more about the upcoming features and support for Surface Duo in Microsoft Endpoint Manager, make sure to check out Microsoft’s official support document.

If Microsoft’s new Xbox Series X and Series S consoles won’t start shipping until November, the company has shipped some dummy units to a couple of publications this week such as GameSpot and The Verge. We’ve already seen both next-gen consoles side by side in video trailers and marketing images, but we now have pictures of the two consoles taken from all angles, as well as a side by side comparisons with the Xbox One X.

Microsoft has said that the Xbox Series S would be nearly 60% smaller than the Xbox Series X, and the console is indeed much more thinner as well as slightly shorter in height. Both consoles look pretty great vertically, and they also both come with a single USB port on the front (they both have two more USB ports on the back).

When put horizontally, the Xbox Series X is just as wide as the Xbox One X, though it’s much taller. However, the Series X is quite shorter in length, and in that position, the top fan will fire hot air on the side instead of the top. It’s clear that the vertical position is probably best for the Xbox Series X, and all marketing images actually also show the console in the vertical position. However, depending on the dimensions of your cabinet, laying the console horizontally is possible.

Compared to the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S looks much better in horizontal position, and it’s actually quite similar to the Xbox One S with the large fan on the right. Overall, the console is much smaller than the Xbox One X, and GameSpot also noted that both consoles have about the same height. Considering that the Series S packs the same powerful CPU as the Xbox Series X plus a GPU that will support 1440p/60FPS gaming and DirectX Ray Tracing, this compact design is pretty impressive.

Again, you’re looking at non-functional consoles which have just been created for taking side by side pictures. Microsoft has already shown bits of gameplay footage on its next-gen consoles, though we have yet to truly see how next-gen features like DirectX Raytracing and Variable Rate Shading will make a difference on the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S. It will also be interesting to see how next-gen games will look on the latter, which will target 1440p at 60FPS but still be able to upscale every games to 4K.

This holiday season, Microsoft will have the most powerful next-gen console with the $499 Xbox Series X, which will target 4K at 60FPS. However, the cheaper Xbox Series S may well be more attractive for gamers on a budget or everyone else who doesn’t obsess about playing games in native 4K. The smaller form factor may also be a big selling point, and the Xbox Series S is indeed the smallest Xbox console ever created by Microsoft.

Do you prefer the design of the Xbox Series S over the Xbox Series X’s taller form factor? Let us know in the comments below.

Today marks Surface Duo Launch day, and after tech reviewers had the last two weeks to spend time with the Duo (under an embargo) the final reviews are finally out. The reviews cover a wide spectrum, which is a lot of good about the hardware and a lot of bad about the software (which has been updated twice so far, by the way.)

From Windows Central, ZDNet, Wired, and more, we’ve gathered up a look at some of these reviews thus far. We also remind you that we will be doing our own review soon, too, to help you with your buying decision. In the meantime, check out this roundup, and our hands-on from Best Buy, too.

Windows Central: 3/5: A dual-screen phone of tomorrow, that’s not quite ready today

First on our list is a review from our friends at Windows Central. This well-trusted publication amongst many Microsoft fans gave the Duo a score of 3/5. For Daniel Rubino, some pros of the Duo were the overall design, and the hinge, as well as the battery life and the dual-screens increasing productivity. The cons, meanwhile, included the OS being buggy, RAM, and CPU slowing down the experience, the device being expensive. There’s also the lack of Qi charging, additional cameras, and water resistance.

In a one-sentence summary, Daniel proclaims that “Can dual-screens be better than one? The answer is yes, but Microsoft has some work to do before Surface Duo is ready for the masses.” There you have it, you be the judge.

Petri.com: The Pursuit of Productivity

Next up is a review from Brad Sams, another trusted source with Microsoft reviews. In his review, Sams finds that the Duo is the “best ‘productivity pocketable’ available today but it is far from the best smartphone for the money.” Sams also mentions the excellent feeling hardware, the bright screens, and the tactile feeling of the buttons.

When it comes to the camera, meanwhile, Sams finds that the “experience falls short of other premium smartphones.” Other highlights of the review include a look at how productivity works on the device, as well as the learning curve that comes with it. “The Duo, for the right type of productivity user, is the best device available today but it is not for everyone: it is not a mass-market device and it is not perfect,” summarizes Sams’ review in one sentence.

Sams talks a lot about the productivity aspect of the Duo, so if you’re into that, we suggest you give his review a read.

The Verge: 6/10: Double Troubles

Third, on our list is a review from The Verge’s Dieter Bohn. This reviewer finds that the Duo has all the right ideas, but is spoiled by buggy software and a bad camera. Some of the good stuff for him includes using two apps at once, the thin and beautiful hardware, as well as the good battery life. The bad stuff, meanwhile, include the “terrible” camera, the software being buggy, and the price.

The Verge’s review really dives a bit deeper into the troubles with the software, and if this is a concern for you, we suggest giving it a read. Microsoft pushed out a firmware update, but the Duo is still buggy for now, and that “it’s worth waiting to see what more people say about their Surface Duo experience over time before considering buying one.”

ZDNet: I am not so sure the Duo scratches any itch for me

Moving along is a “non-reviewers review” of the Surface Duo from veteran Microsoft reporter, Mary Jo Foley. In this review, Foley discusses how the Duo is an “interesting concept, but it definitely feels like a “Generation 1 solution that’s in search of a problem more than a solution to a problem I have with mobile devices.”

Her review is one that’s simple, and straight to the point. So, if you’re not interested in the technical things and just want to see how someone uses the Duo, give Foley’s a read.

Anyway, like everyone else, Foley is impressed with the overall hardware, as well as the battery life. She also mentions how the Duo is a “big and somewhat unwieldy phone” for phone calls. As for camera quality, she says it “is OK but it is not amazing.” Other points of the review mention the perplexing gestures, too.

At the end of the day, Foley did find one thing. She says that though the Duo can replace her Pixel 3XL, she still found herself reaching for her single-screen pixel when she was in a rush to get things done. She also finds it can replace her Kindle, but not her Surface Laptop 3.

“I don’t open multiple browser tabs on my phone. I don’t use two side-by-side monitors in my PC setup, which may be a reason I don’t feel a need for two separate screens on a mobile device,” said Foley.

Wired: 4/10 “A future for mobile technology that is both exciting and disappointing”

A final review for our list comes from Julian Chokkattu, a senior associate editor at WIRED. This review is definitely one of the most critical, as it explains a lot of the personal issues that were faced due to the buggy software. For Julian, the two screens on the Duo are the future. He gets into how the screens are bright, the battery life is good, and how Microsoft’s user interface is likable.

Then, there are the lows. Like everyone else, it includes the stuttery performance, typing being hard, the camera being bad, and apps not being optimized. “What drains the Duo of its mobile multitasking charm is glitchy software that makes this $1,400 phone feel like a work in progress,” said Julian.

Other reviews: MKBHD, Mr. Mobile, and more

Of course, we can’t possibly cover all the Surface Duo reviews in one post, but we do want to end by highlighting some other perspectives. In his review, popular YouTuber Mr. Mobile finds that the Duo is “Double Trouble” He proclaims that “Those considering investing $1399 in one of these wafer-thin experimental gadgets should do so only if they’re the most devoted of Microsoft fans.”

Finally, there’s everyone’s favorite tech YouTuber, MKBHD. He says that most people should not buy the Duo and that there is a lot of “Good” “Meh” and “Ugly” with it. All of his gripes also come with it being a first-gen device, it seems.

What do you think of these reviews? Do you think it’ll hold you back from buying one? Let us know in the comments below, and remember to drop us anything you want us to discuss or talk about in our next podcast, too!

We’re now just two months away from the launch of Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox consoles, and the company has once again teamed up with Taco Bell to give US consumers the chance to win one. Starting September 24, any purchase of a medium or large drink at Taco Bell will include a code on the cup for a chance to win an Xbox Series X console.

In the announcement, the Xbox team specified that consumers will be able to redeem up to three codes per day, adding that “there will be a winner every 15 minutes throughout the promotion.” It’s worth mentioning that you’ll also get a code on your drink if you purchase it via Taco Bell’s mobile app. “To get your hands on a free taco and gain even earlier access to win an Xbox Series X bundle, make sure you sign up for Taco Bell’s all-new rewards program,” the Xbox team added.

Every winner will get an Xbox Series X bundle including a console, the new Xbox Wireless Controller, and six months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The console only will cost $499 and start shipping on November 10 alongside the $299 Xbox Series S. This promotional offer is only available in the US, but consumers in other Xbox markets will be able to pre-order both the Xbox Series X or the Xbox Series S on September 22.

After more than a year of waiting, one of Microsoft’s most anticipated and much talked about products is finally here. Today, September 10, marks a new day in Microsoft history, the official launch date, and the public availability of the Surface Duo.

As a reminder, the Surface Duo is available for purchase unlocked from either the Microsoft Store or Best Buy. There’s also a carrier-locked AT&T version for sale, too. Pricing starts at $1,400 for a model with 128GB of storage, or $1,500 for a model with 256 GB of storage. Both variants come with 6GB of RAM inside, as well as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor. The Microsoft Store also has a trade-in program as well, for you to save up to $700 by trading in your old phone.

It should also be noted that the Duo features a single 11MP selfie camera, which also serves as the main camera when the phone’s two screens are flipped around and rotated. Software-wise, the Duo ships with Android 10, with an upgrade to Android 11 when it’s ready. The device will also get three years of Android updates, too.

It has been been a big journey to this day, and it all began when Microsoft played with the idea with its canceled Project Courier concept. Panos Panay recently talked to The Verge about these origins, as well as the future of the Duo, too, and the article is a really good read.

We recently went hands-on with the Surface Duo at Best Buy and invite you to check out our initial impressions post. We’ve also ordered ourselves our own Surface Duo, too, and will be doing a full review in the coming weeks, and an unboxing within the next few days.

We’ll even be showcasing the Duo on our new Podcast, so be sure to drop us any comments, questions, or suggestions about the Duo in the Discus section below. We’ll do our best to answer your questions on camera during our show!

The iOS and Windows 10 versions of the Microsoft Whiteboard app both updated this week but, while their release notes on their app store pages show identical release notes to the previous update, the notes within the Microsoft Store app on Windows 10 actually lists changes which suggests that the web versions of the store listings haven’t been updated yet.

Regardless of what the situation is, here’s what’s new with this update:

• New poll options! You can now create multi-choice polls and public polls
• Fixed crash when downloading files
• Dark mode fixes when adding people to groups and starting direct messages

Do you use Microsoft Whiteboard? Let us know what features you’d like to see added in future updates in the comments below and then follow us on Pinterest for more Microsoft app content.

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Perhaps, in an effort to sow the legal landscape with a crop of anti-competitive rhetoric, Slack recently warned its investors that Microsoft could act in a “retaliatory” manner soon.

As vague as the threat sounds, Slack stuffed the warning into its latest 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as part of its fiduciary responsibilities when reporting its latest quarterly earnings.

On Tuesday, Slack underscored a potentially bumpy road ahead for investors as the company’s recent antitrust complaint to the European Commission against Microsoft might result in earnings-effected retaliation from the Redmond-based company.

Furthermore, we could be subject to retaliatory or other adverse measures by Microsoft, its employees, or agents in response to the complaint that we filed with the European Commission.

Despite the dire admonition, Slack has yet to clarify what retaliatory actions Microsoft could enact that would result in a direct adverse result for the company.

In another seemingly obfuscating move, Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield explained to investors openly that the market was just too big at the moment to be worried about any significant pressure from Microsoft.

Win rates are the same. We are now in Quarter 14 of competing with Microsoft. We’ve won over and over again in Office 365-using customers. … No doubt that it causes some friction, it’s another thing for us to overcome, but it doesn’t put any kind of ceiling or limiter on our growth.

Meanwhile, the company buried another nugget of fearmonger rhetoric regarding Microsoft’s continued growth in its 10-Q stating, “This competition has intensified in recent periods and we believe that it has harmed, and may continue to harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition.”

Even as Slack’s earnings report beat analysts’ predictions with revenue up to $215.9 million for the quarter, the company continues to view Microsoft’s ability to leverage its enterprise suite to grow its enterprise chat solution as illegal.

While Slack’s eye has been largely on Microsoft, the company’s after-hour trading was affected by dark-horse newcomer Zoom and its crazy ridiculous growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Microsoft has not publically addressed Slack’s claims over the past few months and continues to make inroads with customer adoption for Teams at the moment.

As it stands, Slack and Microsoft’s Office 365 continue to work interoperably and should maintain for the time being, especially as the European Commission scrutinizes Microsoft’s every Teams related move for the foreseeable future.

Update: It appears as though the Duo is now back in stock at Microsoft. Our original article still can be seen below.

The Surface Duo is set for release tomorrow, September 10, but if you’re hoping to buy one directly from Microsoft at the very last minute, you might be out of luck. We’ve just realized that the Surface Duo is currently listed as out of stock online at the Microsoft Store.

Currently, when adding the Surface Duo to our Microsoft Store Cart for checkout, both the 128 GB and the 256GB models of the Duo end up being listed as out of stock. Seen in the image below, the store cart also gives us an error, telling us that one or more of our items are currently out of stock, suggesting that we remove it or save it for later.

It’s unknown to everyone how many Surface Duo devices Microsoft initially manufactured for this first run on the launch day, so there’s no telling if this sell-out really can be used as a gauge of interest for the dual-screen foldable. Still, the Duo is actually listed as available for pre-order at Best Buy, so if you really want a Duo tomorrow, you can buy it from that retailer instead.

On another side, it is also possible that this could just be a temporary store error. And, it could also be linked to the fact that since September 10 is now less than 24 hours away, Microsoft could no longer possibly deliver actual pre-orders in time for September 10.

Anyway, our own Surface Duo just shipped. We will be doing a full review within the next few weeks. We’ll also be doing an unboxing in the days ahead, so be sure to keep it tuned to OnMSFT for all your Surface Duo news and information.

Following months of leaks, Microsoft officially announced the Xbox Series S yesterday, which will be a $299 discless console providing gamers an affordable entry point into the next console generation. The company has followed up this morning with another post that reveals what’s inside this cheaper alternative to the Xbox Series X, which will be priced at $499.

First of all, the Xbox Series S will nearly 60% smaller than the Xbox Series X, and it will feature the same “Robot White” color previously seen in the Xbox One S back in 2016. The console will also come with a matching white next-gen controller, which will also be available for purchase separately this holiday season.

Under the hood, the Xbox Series will include a 512GB custom NVMe SSD that supports Microsoft’s new Xbox Velocity Architecture, and providing more than 40x the I/O bandwidth of the Xbox One. Microsoft highlighted that this NVMe drive has identical I/O performance as the one in the Xbox Series X, which is 2.4 GB/s raw and 4.8 Gb/s compressed with a custom hardware decompression block. Just like the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S will support the 1TB Seagate Expansion cards that will provide the same speeds as the console’s internal NVMe SSD.

The Xbox Series S also shares a similar CPU with the Xbox Series X, and that’s a custom-designed AMD 7nm eight-cores Zen 2 CPU running at 3.6 Ghz. On the GPU side, the 4 teraflops AMD RDNA 2-based GPU will deliver “approximately 3x the GPU performance of Xbox One.” The console also comes with 10GB of GDDR6 memory, compared to 16GB on the Xbox Series X.

Overall, the Xbox Series S should be perfect for gamers who prefer smoother frame rates of a native 4K resolution as it’s designed to play games at 1440p at 60 frames per second, with support for up to 120fps. The Xbox Series S will also be able to upscale games to 4K when the console is connected to a 4K TV set. It remains to be seen how Microsoft’s upscaling technology will compare to native 4K graphics provided by the Xbox Series X.

“With the increased efficiency we get from the next generation AMD RDNA 2 graphics architecture combined with the virtual memory multipliers enabled through the Xbox Velocity Architecture, Xbox Series S will deliver performance and experiences well beyond the raw specs,” the Xbox team emphasized. Additionally, the Xbox Series S will share its development tools with the Xbox Series X, and it should be pretty straightforward for developers to optimize their games for the entry-level console.

If Microsoft introduced an “Optimized for Xbox Series X” badge earlier this year, the company clarified today that “games built for the next generation will be optimized for both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.” For next-gen games that will Smart Delivery, this means that gamers will automatically receive the best version of the game that’s optimized for their console, whether it’s an Xbox Series S, an Xbox Series X, or an Xbox One.

If you already have the 4K-ready Xbox One X, the Xbox Series S should still be an excellent upgrade. With smoother framerates (up to 120 FPS), 4K upscaling, and support for next-gen features like DirectX Ray-tracing, this is a console designed for next-gen games. Faster loading times and the ability to resume multiple games almost instantly should also be a real game changer.

Again, the most important differences between the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X is the support for native 4K resolution, and the amount of internal storage, and the presence of a 4K Blu Ray Player. If these features are not essential for you, the $299 Xbox Series S should be a very interesting proposition.

Both the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X will be available on November 10, with pre-orders set to open on September 22. If you don’t want to pay $299 or $499 upfront, Xbox All Access will also offer either console with 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for a low monthly price.