Microsoft’s next-gen game consoles — the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S — will be available in a matter of days now. With many looking to pick up a new Xbox, questions about compatibility are rife. While coverage on games is widespread, this one is for the movie lovers: Does Xbox Series X/S play 4K UHD Blu-rays? If so, do they play at the highest quality? Here’s the need-to-know on watching disc-based 4K content on Xbox Series X and Series S.
Does Xbox Series X play 4K UHD Blu-rays at full quality?
Xbox One drew some ire for placing a large focus on entertainment features and apps at first, in place of the all-important games. As a result, it almost feels like Microsoft is allergic to covering Xbox Series X entertainment features in the aftermath. Despite how it may feel, the big black box (unboxing for scale) isn’t just a games machine in reality.
The Xbox Series X plays 4K Blu-ray discs and does so at full quality. The image quality of 4K Blu-ray content can vary, so some discs may still look better than others, but Xbox Series X displays each one at the highest possible quality.
In addition to supporting physical 4K media, a number of streaming apps will offer 4K video-on-demand services for Xbox Series X users.
Does Xbox Series S play 4K UHD Blu-rays at full quality?
Xbox Series S does not feature 4K Blu-ray support. The reason for this is simple: Xbox Series S has no disc drive to accept any form of physical, disc-based media including 4K Blu-rays.
Fortunately, as with the Series X, Xbox Series S has access to 4K video streaming via a number of entertainment apps. There’s still plenty of 4K video content to consume on the cheaper next-generation Xbox as a result.
For more on Xbox, check out how the Series X/S controller differs from Xbox One. Additionally, following the next-gen Xbox UI update, users can now set all-new profile themes.
