Where to buy the Xbox Series X console in the UK today

The Xbox Series X stock shortage has eased up for now, with Microsoft’s console generally available online across most major retailers. But experts say we’re not out of the woods yet. Although lockdowns are easing in cities across China, the world’s leading producer of microchips, we can still expect to see even more supply constraints down the line.

So, where can you get an Xbox Series X today? Right now, the best deal is at Amazon where you can get your hands on a standalone console with no delivery charges, no rolling contract and no bundled accessories (£449, Amazon.co.uk). And of course, Game and Argos also stock Microsoft’s next-generation console, as well as the official Microsoft store.

If you’re looking to pick up an extra controller to play local multiplayer, the Microsoft store is discounting the Xbox elite wireless controller series 2 (£142.99, Xbox.com). Our Xbox controller guide has everything you need to know about Microsoft’s range of gamepads, including when we expect to see the Xbox elite wireless controller 3.

The officially backed Xbox All Access scheme also lets you spread the cost of the console over a 24-month period, and comes with the Netflix-style games-on-demand service Game Pass Ultimate. When available, Xbox All Access is sold at three UK retailers, Asda, Smyths Toys and 4gadgets, and costs £28.99 per month for two years. The scheme comes with Game Pass included, meaning you get instant access to a library of hundreds of games including Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 with new games on Game Pass arriving regularly.

We frequently update this article with the latest deals, so keep checking back with us for news on where to find the Xbox Series X in stock and at the best price in the UK.

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In recent months the Xbox Series X has been easier to come by, though some retailers still struggle to keep the console on the shelves for very long. Knowing which retailers to check first to can help you grab one when they do appear, so we’ve compiled a shortlist of the most likely places you can buy an Xbox Series X.

Amazon – Amazon has stock of the Xbox Series X available for £449.99, with free delivery for Prime customers. If you haven’t already, register for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime to get your console sooner.

Microsoft Store – The Xbox Series X is currently in stock for £449.99, with free delivery.

Very – The Xbox Series X is in stock bundled with three months Game Pass Ultimate for £482.98.

Argos – Argos has the Xbox Series X in stock at branches all around the country for £449.99. Stick your postcode into the site to check your nearest store, then click “change store”, followed by the “tell me where” button in the “happy to travel?” box, which will hopefully show where consoles are available a little further from home.

Currys – The home for electronics has the Xbox Series X available, bundled with three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, for £479.

Smyths Toys – Smyths Toys has small numbers of consoles available in physical stores for £449.99, as well as available through Xbox All Access at £28.99 a month. To find out if your local branch has stock, enter your postcode on the Xbox Series X product page.

Game – The Xbox Series X is in stock at Game, bundled with your choice of a free controller case, T-shirt or cap for £449.99.

Asda – Asda has the Xbox Series X available through the Xbox All Access programme.

EE – Existing customers can add the Xbox Series X to their plan and pay for their console monthly.

If you’re looking for the more affordable version of Microsoft’s latest console, then you’re in luck. The Xbox Series S is generally available across most of the big retailers.

Some bundles include additional hard-drive storage, controllers and Game Pass subscriptions. There’s also an official bundle including Rocket League and Fortnite for almost no extra cost. Here are some of the best deals right now.

The Xbox Series X costs £449. There’s also the Xbox All Access programme, where you pay nothing up front and get an Xbox Series X console and 24 months of Game Pass Ultimate for £28.99 per month. At the end of the 24 month term, you keep the console.

The all-digital Xbox Series S console costs £249 and is more often in stock than the more powerful Xbox Series X. The Series S is also available through the Xbox All Access programme for £20.99 per month.

Both the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 are priced identically at £449. The PlayStation 5 digital edition (which doesn’t have a disc drive) costs £349, compared to the all-digital Xbox Series S, which is cheaper than its rival at £249.

Comparing the two cheaper models is tricky, as while neither has a disc drive, they’re not equivalent. The PlayStation 5 digital edition is just as powerful as a standard PlayStation 5 — it simply doesn’t have a disc drive — while the Xbox Series S is a slight performance downgrade of the higher-specification Xbox Series X.

Lately, more retailers have opted to restock the Xbox in store rather than list them online. This helps avoid scalpers and get the console into the hands of legitimate customers. Here are some tips for finding the Xbox Series X in stock out there in the wild:

No. It’s true that the Xbox one sold poorly compared to Sony’s PlayStation 4, but in many ways the Xbox Series X marks a shift in how Microsoft views the traditional console cycle. Rather than thinking in generations and hardware, the company is now focusing on providing ongoing access to games as a subscription service, similar to how Netflix or Spotify operates.

Game Pass is Microsoft’s on-demand games platform, giving players access to over 100 full games for a monthly fee. Microsoft is investing heavily in its subscription offering, snapping up large games publishers like Bethesda in a bid to bolster its library of titles and lure players away from Sony’s rival PlayStation Now service.

Even the very latest games on Game Pass are designed to be compatible with previous consoles as well as next-generation ones, so that over time, owning the newest hardware becomes less important for the majority of players. Older generations of Xbox are expected to dodge the landfill for a while yet.

Whether you’re still waiting for your chance to get your hands on an Xbox Series X or you managed to snap one up in a recent drop, we’ve tested and reviewed everything you’ll need to complete your gaming experience, from the best wireless gaming headsets to the best gaming keyboards. Here are a few of our favourites.

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Our favourite Xbox One headset is still our favourite Xbox Series X/S headset. These lightweight cans are comfortable, the 40mm drivers sound great, and the retractable microphone offers decent noise-suppression and clarity. They’re currently on sale at Amazon.

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This is the pinnacle of gamepads. The elite controller comes with a set of optional thumb stick pads so you can select the shape and texture you prefer. The pad has adjustable-tension thumbsticks, a rubberised grip for clammy hands and more sensitive triggers to achieve faster reaction times in FPS games.

At the push of a button you can switch between three preset profiles, so your control setup is always correct for the type of game you’re playing. A premium Xbox controller for the discerning gamer, it can truly elevate your skills.

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There are more sophisticated and elaborate racing wheels for the Xbox Series X but the full-size Hori wheel is built from the ground up to work perfectly with Microsoft’s next-gen console.

It has a simple design belying superb build quality and durability, and can be clamped to a table for a secure ride. Shifting paddles and turn ratios can all be customised in terms of function and sensitivity, and the wheel comes with a set of foot pedals for a complete racing simulation.

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The Xbox Series X has a storage capacity of 1TB with its internal SSD drive. That’s a significant amount of storage space which would give most players enough room to download their favourite games. But as some games can easily run over the 100GB mark, it’s sensible to consider upgrading the storage capacity to avoid removing games from your library.

If you’re planning to load the Xbox Series X with some hefty games such as Forza Horizon 5, then there is an option to expand the internal storage by 1TB with a proprietary Seagate storage expansion card (£214.99, Very.co.uk). There are a number of different sizes but an extra 1TB of storage space will effectively double the capacity of your new console.

The Xbox Series X is often bundled with a gaming headset to bump up the price and stave off scalpers.

The console doesn’t come with its own headset, but it’s compatible with all existing headsets for the Xbox One. The Xbox wireless controller (£54.99, Xbox.com) also has a headphone jack, so you can plug in your regular headphones to have game audio play through them rather than your TV, which is ideal if you’re sharing a room with somebody you don’t want to disturb.

If you need to upgrade or you don’t have your own headset yet, Microsoft sells the wired Xbox Series X headset separately (£49.99, Currys.co.uk). Lots of third-party manufacturers make Xbox compatible headsets too. We’ve rounded up the best gaming headsets you can buy today.

To get the most out of the Xbox Series X, you’ll need a 4K television.

Many next-generation games allow you to choose between a performance mode and a graphics mode. The former downgrades the visuals slightly for smoother framerates, while the latter mode enables higher resolutions and more fancy effects at the expense of framerate.

If your TV only goes up to 1080p, you won’t be getting the most out of your new Xbox Series X. To help you upgrade your set without breaking the bank, we’ve pulled together a list of the best 4K TV deals for entertainment, movies and gaming.

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