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Xbox Series X/S detailed specs confirm Wi-Fi 5, no USB-C

Xbox Series X/S's hardware specs may be cutting edge, but some of its I/O options are outdated.

Microsoft has officially published detailed specs of both Xbox Series X and Series S, revealing certain specifics that don't typically get mentioned in trailers.

More specifically, the spec sheets confirm that both next-gen Xbox consoles are equipped with an 802.11ac dual band Wi-Fi antenna, which means they're both rated for the Wi-Fi 5 spec, rather than the faster, modern Wi-Fi 6. This is the same spec being used with the Xbox One X/S, and Sony's PS4 Pro.

In other words, it's the current-gen standard of Wi-Fi, not the upgraded next-gen standard. This is a bit disappointing, particularly given the forward-looking specs of Series X, and Series S to a lesser extent.

Cover image for YouTube video

The spec sheets also confirm that both the Xbox Series X and Series S each have three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, killing the hopes of many who wanted a USB-C port. USB 3.1 Gen 1 is just a different name for the standard USB 3.0, with a 5Gbit/s data rate, and up to 500MB/s transfer speeds.

Though the difference in speed is appreciated, it won't matter too much given that both consoles have a propriety expansion port for NVMe SSDs that match the speed of the internal drive. You will still be able to use standard USB drives when playing current-gen games, or to simply backup next-gen games you're not currently playing, but next-gen games can only be played off the ultra-fast new SSDs, whether internal or external.

Xbox Series X/S launch November 10, and our pre-order guide will help you secure a unit at launch.

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Sherif Saed

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Sherif (he/him) is VG247’s go-to shooter and Souls-likes person. Whether it’s news, reviews, or op-eds – Sherif is always eager to tell you about video games. He's one of VG247's most veteran writers, with 10+ years experience on the site.

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