While Sony's decidedly enormous PS5 has remained difficult to track down since its initial release back in 2020, the Xbox Series X and Series S – both of which arrived around the same time – tend to be easier to get hold of. It's perhaps easiest to snag the less-powerful S model, which is often a big hit during sales periods.
We're always keeping an eye on major online shops such as Microsoft, Amazon, Argos, Currys, and John Lewis & Partners to help you get ahead of the queues as soon as the Xbox Series X and Series S arrive online, though you'll still have to be quick.
It's also possible to buy one of the current Xbox consoles through less traditional means. You'll find that multi-product retailers like Very and even Jacomo often have stock. Meanwhile, BT and EE will allow you to pay for consoles in monthly instalments.
Xbox Series S vs Xbox Series X: Which is best?
When you're weighing up a new Xbox purchase, you'll first want to consider the Xbox Series X vs S conundrum. If you want a full 4K HDR gaming experience with the smoothest possible frame rates and a disc drive that allows you to continue to purchase physical games for collection or resell purposes, then you'll want the Xbox Series X.
If you're happy to compromise a little when it comes to visual fidelity and power for a lower price — and are happy to embrace an all-digital gaming future — then the discless (and, in our view, far more attractively designed) Xbox Series S might be a better option for you.
And if you're still deciding between the two, you can check out our reviews of both the Xbox Series S and Series X. Suffice it to say, these latest consoles are well worth picking up if your ageing Xbox One is starting to creak.
Related: The best games of 2022
You shouldn't be investing in a new Xbox Series X or Series S without at least considering Game Pass Ultimate. It's a sort of Netflix-esque service that lets you download or stream hundreds of games for as long as they're still in the Game Pass library — and that includes permanent residency for any Microsoft-published games from the day they're released.
Game Pass Ultimate usually costs £10.99 a month, but at the time of writing, you can get your first month's access for just £1.
Game Pass is off to a great start in 2023, with critically acclaimed RPGs such as Persona 4 Golden and Monster Hunter Rise joining the service, as well as the out-of-nowhere (and absolutely brilliant) rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush.
In terms of console prices, the Xbox Series X tends to cost around £449.99 with most retailers and rarely drops much below that price.
Meanwhile, the Series S has an RRP of £249.99 but often dips a lot lower in sales. During 2022's Black Friday sale, you could pick up Microsoft's second-tier machine for as little as £190 with several retailers.
We've scoured the internet for the best current deals on both consoles, as well as the best games you can currently save money on. Here are the listed prices right now, by retailer, for the Xbox Series X and Series S, with stock information at the time of writing.
Xbox Series X stock UK – where to buy
- Microsoft: £449.99 (in stock)
- Amazon: £449 (in stock)
- Argos: £449.99 (in stock)
- John Lewis & Partners: £449.99 (in stock)
- Very: From £449.99 "with optional extras" (low stock)
Xbox Series S stock UK – where to buy
- Microsoft: £249.99 (in stock)
- Amazon: £237.80 (in stock)
- Argos: £249.99 (in stock)
- John Lewis: £249.99 (in stock)
- Very: From £249 "with optional extras" (in stock)
Cheapest Xbox Series X|S games – February 2023
-
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II -
£69.99£55.99 -
Rayman Legends -
£25.99£5.99
-
Evil West -
£49.99£29.99 -
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga -
£34.99£24.99 -
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands -
£34.99£27.99 -
Far Cry 6 -
£34.99£24.99 -
WWE 2K22 -
£64.99£29.99 -
FIFA 23 (Digital Code) -
£69.99£31.49
Now that you've checked the current stock status and prices of both Xbox Series consoles, dive into our round-up of the available deals and bundles by retailer at the time of writing, in case you have a preferred place to shop.
Microsoft Xbox Series X and Series S stock UK
- Xbox Series X - £449.99
- Xbox Series S - £249.99
- Xbox Series S Gilded Hunter Bundle - £241.99
- Xbox Series X|S digital games
- Xbox Series X|S accessories and controllers
Microsoft isn't currently running discounts on either the Xbox Series X or the Series S, but the latter is regularly significantly cheaper, so it's worth shopping around for the best deal or waiting for a sale. Similarly, you'll regularly find bargain-priced games in Microsoft's digital game store.
Also, if you sign up for Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service, you can get your first month for £1.
Amazon Xbox Series X and Series S stock UK
- Xbox Series X - £449
- Xbox Series S - £235.19
- Xbox Series X with Back 4 Blood - £458.71
-
Xbox Series S with FIFA 23: Standard Edition download code -
£319.98£307.99
Amazon's Series S deals have been more enticing in recent months, and Amazon is also one of the most reliable retailers for a discount. It's worth checking in regularly to see what it's offering. Plus, £235.19 is still cheaper than the regular price of the console.
Argos Xbox Series X and Series S stock UK
- Xbox Series X - £449.99
- Xbox Series S - £249.99
- Xbox Series X|S accessories
John Lewis Xbox Series X and Series S stock UK
- Xbox Series X - £449.99
- Xbox Series S - £249.99
We can't spot any particularly enticing Xbox Series X or Series S console bundles or deals on John Lewis' website at the moment. However, there are deals to be had on some games — like last year's underrated Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, now going for £27.99.
Currys Xbox Series X and Series S stock UK
- Xbox Series X - £449
- Xbox Series S - £249
- Xbox Series X with three months of Game Pass Ultimate - £479
- Xbox Series X with Gotham Knights - £489
- Xbox Series S with three months of Game Pass Ultimate - £279
- Xbox Series S and additional Xbox Wireless Controller - £299
- Xbox Series S|X accessories and controllers
EE Xbox Series X and Series S stock UK
- Xbox Series X - £450 (or £40 a month for 11 months with £10 upfront payment)
- Xbox Series S - £252 (or £22 a month for 11 months with a £10 upfront payment
- Xbox Series X with 24-month Game Pass Ultimate membership - £754 (£31 a month for 24 months with £10 upfront payment)
- Xbox Series S with 24-month Game Pass Ultimate membership - £514 (£21 a month for 24 months with £10 upfront payment)
EE's partnership with Xbox allows its customers to purchase an Xbox Series X or Series S outright or via a 24-month contract with monthly payments. You can also bundle the console with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription and unlimited data.
BT Xbox Series X and Series S stock UK
- Xbox Series X - £449 (or £18.30 a month for 24 months)
- Xbox Series S - £239 (or £9.96 a month for 24 months)
- Xbox Series S with additional Wireless Controller - £289 (or £12.05 a month for 24 months)
Like EE, BT will allow you to either purchase an Xbox console outright or pay for it in either 6, 12, or 24-month instalments. You can also opt to include an additional pad for multiplayer games.
Best Entertainment and Tech Deals
