Why the Xbox Series S is the perfect staycation companion
Opinion: Microsoft’s Xbox Series S is surprisingly portable
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I never thought of theXbox Series Sas a portable console – and fundamentally, it isn’t designed to be one. But after takingMicrosoft’s smallest ever Xbox with me on holiday, it’s actually far more viable than you might think.
In fact, I was rather shocked by just how easy it is to pack up the Xbox Series S and take it on the move. And while it obviously won’t be a replacement for theNintendo Switchor upcomingSteam Deck, it’s suddenly become my go-to console whenever I know I’m going to be away for a few nights. At least for now…
As it stands, Covid-19 travel restrictions continue to make the idea of hopping on a plane an anxiety-inducing and costly event that I’d rather do without. That’s why since the pandemic, my holidays have centered around booking nearby staycations, instead of sunning myself on a sandy beach with a cocktail in hand.
Even though a change of scenery is always welcome, it’s hard not to miss your home comforts when you are basically staying in… well… just another home, albeit a fancier one. And with no pool, beach or hotel entertainment to preoccupy me in the evenings, taking the Xbox Series S on holiday suddenly made sense. After all, I knew that there would be a TV, one which would hopefully have an HDMI port.
What’s more, I’ve also stayed at quite a few places which didn’t haveNetflixorAmazon Videoavailable, so being able to leave my laptop behind and watch my favorite programs on a bigger screen is also something that the Xbox Series S could provide.
Movin’ out
With the Xbox Series S essentially being made up of four parts: the console, power lead,HDMI cableand a controller, I found that three of these components could be handily stored in my headphone’s travel case. It meant that I only needed to worry about transporting the console safely, something which a discardedAmazonbox did the job of perfectly.
I’ll admit that sticking the Xbox Series S in a cardboard box wasn’t the most glamorous solution, but you canbuy some lovely little casesthat are specifically designed to transport your Xbox Series S more safely (though nothing is as cool as theMicrosoft Flight SimulatorXbox Series S luggage).
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Before I knew it, then, I had the Xbox Series S packed up and ready to go in a matter of minutes. Once I reached my destination, it was simply a case of unpacking the console, plugging in the necessary cables and voilà, my evenings were now sorted.
Once I’d connected to the Wi-Fi, the way Xbox handles cloud saves meant that my progress fromXbox Series Xwas synced to the Xbox Series S in a couple of seconds, and with theSeagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card, I had countless more games available as soon as I plugged in Microsoft’s proprietary SSD into the back of the console. From Gang Beasts andOctopath Travelerto Gears Tactics andFIFA 21, being able to game away from home was a luxury that I’m keen to repeat in the future.
Screen time
Of course, one factor that could hinder your enjoyment of your Xbox Series S on holiday is the quality of TV that you’ll find at your destination. Thankfully, my staycation had a surprisingly decent 1080p JVC television, which after a bit of calibrating (yeah, I have a bad habit of tweaking other people’s TVs) looked great.
Unfortunately, that won’t always be the case, but soon even this problem could be circumvented. The recently backedxScreen display on Kickstartermightturn the Xbox Series S into the ultimate portable console, as it lets you attach an 11.6-inch 1080p 60Hz display. Created by a company called UPSpec Gaming, it sits flush with the edge of the console, and only adds an extra 1.5 pounds (695g) to the overall weight of the Xbox Series S.
While I’d definitely opt for the Nintendo Switch orSteamDeck when I’m brave enough to fly again, if you’re an Xbox Series S owner, don’t discount Microsoft’s svelte white box as the system to take on your next vacation.
Adam was formerly TRG’s Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.
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