Reviewers generally like Microsoft's new Xbox One X game console.
But many also said they couldn't give a definitive verdict on it. That's because they didn't have enough games to play on it that take advantage of the new console's capabilities.
The $500 gadget is due out November 7, and Microsoft allowed some game journalists to get an early look at it. The game machine's selling point is that it will play games that have been "enhanced," a term representing a grab-bag of different technologies and features, including 4K video resolution and high dynamic range (HDR). Many of the latest TV support both 4K, which delivers sharper images on bigger screens, and HDR, which provides a greater range of light and dark tones than you'd see on screens without it.
The problem is that there just aren't many "enhanced" Xbox games to play. So reviewers had a tough time evaluating the console.
Still, the reviewers did have some interesting notes from their tests of the Xbox One X. Here's what they had to say:
Reviewers liked the design of the Xbox One X.
Overall, reviewers like the fact that the Xbox One X takes some design cues from last year's Xbox One S.
The new gadget has a sleek, minimalist appearance with a matte plastic exterior. Its power supply is housed inside of the game machine instead of in an external power brick.
Many reviewers liked the fact that they could position the Xbox One X horizontally or vertically.
Reviewers liked how smoothly the Xbox One X plays games.
The general consensus from reviewers is that the Xbox One X plays games with few hiccups or stutters. The new machine even does well with games that aren’t "enhanced" for it, playing them more smoothly than the Xbox One S.
"Even during the most intense firefights, the gameplay was beautifully smooth," said TechCrunch’s Matt Burns, referring to his experience playing "Gears of War 4" on the Xbox One X.
Some said games looked great even on older TV sets.
The Xbox One X was designed for TV sets that support 4K and HDR. But you can still see a difference between it and previous Xbox One models if you plug it into an older, 1080p TV, thanks largely to its sheer power, reviewers said.
"1080p TVs will see benefits to pure performance," said The Verge's Warren. "I played Destiny 2 on the Xbox One X and it felt a lot smoother than on my Xbox One S."
See the rest of the story at INSIDER