Xbox Series X Unboxing: Everything Included in the Retail Package

Following fast on the heels of Sony and its unboxings of the PS5, Microsoft has given the go-ahead for unboxing the Xbox Series X|S consoles. Game Rant has an Xbox Series X in-house and for those that might be curious, we will give a rundown of everything that comes in the retail packaging. It’s important to note that this is not a review.

The Xbox Series X box itself features a stark close-up of the console, highlighting the circular vents at the top and green tint that makes the top look almost concave. Retail packaging While the Xbox Series S box also features close up of the console it also includes a shot of the white controller. It’s only once you look at the side of the retail packaging for the Xbox Series X does Microsoft offer a full view of the console (and its black controller).

Opening up the Xbox Series X retail packaging has a very, present-like appeal. The top slides off the base and reveals the console lying horizontally. There is a black wrapping around the console and a piece placard across the center that says “Power Your Dreams.” For many, the tagline and the wrapping will be quickly disposed of, but it’s a nice touch nonetheless.

Removing the wrapper reveals the Xbox Series X console. It’s certainly a heavier console than some might be used to, but at roughly 10 pounds it’s not going to require any strain to lift. The Xbox Series X feels substantial and that’s all that matters. The material doesn’t feel cheap and it seems sturdier enough that standing it vertically wouldn’t lead to accidental knockdowns.

As mentioned, the one main color accent to the Xbox Series X is some green on the circular vents at the top of the console. These vents are painted with the green in such a way (the outer vents painted with a fade) that it looks like there is a glow coming from below them.

The Xbox Series X has a flat, circular piece at its base that will help it stand vertically but it can also tip horizontally. Microsoft says that the vertical orientation is best for venting out hot air from the components, but many will likely opt for horizontal to fit in their entertainment centers.

The Xbox Series X includes three USB ports for charging peripherals or attached external storage – one on the front and two on the back. There is also an Ethernet port for high speed Internet, an HDMI 2.1 port for audio/video, and the port for the power cable.

The are two other noteworthy details about the back of the Xbox Series X console, the first being the expansion slot, which will accept the Seagate proprietary SSD card for additional storage. While the Xbox Series X can access external storage via USB, it can’t run games off any of those drives. The Xbox Series X can only run games off of the proprietary expansion card because it uses the same architecture that the console’s internal SSD uses.

The other thing worth pointing out is that the Xbox Series X does not have an optical audio output. An early image of the back of the console showed a port, but the retail version does not have one.

Every Xbox Series X comes with the new Xbox controller (with batteries), which looks and feels a lot like the old Xbox controller. The main differences in terms of aesthetics are that the Xbox Series X looks like more of a single piece, whereas the Xbox One controller had some ridges and grooves to give it some body. The Series X controller also has a dedicated Share button in between and slightly below the Start and Options buttons.

Holding the Xbox Series X controller in the hands shows off some other new changes. The grips have a grooved material on their undersides that resembles what is on the grips of the Xbox Elite Controller. Most of the controller is still smooth, but that material should help gamers during longer play sessions. The triggers also have a more tactile material on them instead of the smooth plastic that the early Xbox One controllers had.

Microsoft has also done away with the traditional D-Pad in favor of a more disc-like design. Again, it’s a design borrowed from the Xbox Elite controller and it should make moving between the directional buttons or fighting game inputs a little easier.

Alongside the console and the controller, the Xbox Series X retail package also includes a 7 ft. long HDMI cable and a 5 ft. long power cable. There is no external power brick for the console, unlike earlier versions of the Xbox One.