Our Top Call: Wait for Next-Gen Xbox Unless You Need One Now
The Xbox price increase timing question asks whether it is financially smarter to buy current Xbox consoles now, before a confirmed price hike, or wait for potential next-generation hardware while component costs and console storage costs remain volatile. It weighs the immediate savings from buying an Xbox Series console before prices rise against the risks of paying more for six-year-old hardware and missing out on future consoles that could arrive within a typical generational cycle. For most people, the smartest move is to wait for the next-generation Xbox rather than rush to buy Xbox now. Microsoft has confirmed that Xbox console prices will climb by up to USD 150 (approx. RM690) from Aug. 1, with the 512GB models rising by USD 100 (approx. RM460) and 1TB versions by USD 150 (approx. RM690). That sounds urgent, but these consoles are deep into their cycle, and what counts as a deal today is higher than both launch prices and past discounts. If you don’t need an Xbox immediately, hold your cash for new hardware or future clearance pricing.
What the Xbox Price Increase Really Means for Your Wallet
If you are eyeing a Series S or Series X, the Xbox price increase is not a minor adjustment; it is a major jump driven by a RAM price surge and rising console storage costs. From Aug. 1, the Xbox Series S (512GB) moves from USD 399.99 (approx. RM1,840) to USD 499.99 (approx. RM2,300), and the 1TB model from USD 449.99 (approx. RM2,070) to USD 599.99 (approx. RM2,760). The Xbox Series X Digital steps up from USD 599.99 (approx. RM2,760) to USD 749.99 (approx. RM3,450), while the standard Series X jumps from USD 649.99 (approx. RM2,990) to USD 799.99 (approx. RM3,680). Microsoft directly links this to a more than 2.5x increase in storage and memory prices. As they put it, “console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x, and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027.” These higher component costs are hitting every console maker, but they make aging Xbox hardware unusually expensive for mainstream buyers.
| Model | Current Price (USD / RM) | After Aug. 1 (USD / RM) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S 512GB | USD 399.99 (approx. RM1,840) | USD 499.99 (approx. RM2,300) | USD 100 (approx. RM460) |
| Xbox Series S 1TB | USD 449.99 (approx. RM2,070) | USD 599.99 (approx. RM2,760) | USD 150 (approx. RM690) |
| Xbox Series X Digital | USD 599.99 (approx. RM2,760) | USD 749.99 (approx. RM3,450) | USD 150 (approx. RM690) |
| Xbox Series X | USD 649.99 (approx. RM2,990) | USD 799.99 (approx. RM3,680) | USD 150 (approx. RM690) |
Buy Xbox Now vs. Wait: How the Timing Plays Out
There is a short window where you can buy Xbox now at pre‑increase prices, and current discounts have pushed the Series S to USD 350 (approx. RM1,610) and Series X to USD 573 (approx. RM2,640). On paper, those numbers look attractive compared with the looming hike of up to USD 150 (approx. RM690). In practice, they are worse than what shoppers previously paid: some buyers picked up a Series X for under USD 400 (approx. RM1,840) and a Series S for USD 250 (approx. RM1,150) in recent years. In other words, the deal you see today is more expensive than real-world sale prices from the same generation. Pair that with the fact these consoles are entering year six of their life, a point where prices normally fall and bundles get better, and the rush to beat the increase starts to look more like protecting Microsoft’s margins than securing a standout bargain for you.
Component Shortages and Alternatives: Is Xbox Still a Good Value?
The RAM price surge and broader components crisis are pushing up hardware costs across the console market, not just for Xbox. Microsoft says the entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with current component shortages, but consoles are hit harder because they are often sold at or below manufacturing cost. Other platforms have already reacted: one rival raised its flagship console price by up to USD 150 (approx. RM690), another upcoming system is going up by USD 50 (approx. RM230), and a leading handheld PC has climbed by up to USD 300 (approx. RM1,380). Against that background, the question is whether a current‑gen Xbox is still a solid investment. Most Xbox exclusives are playable on PC and cloud services, and major series like Call of Duty must remain on competing platforms. Handheld gaming devices now offer strong value without locking you into aging hardware. With reports that next‑generation Xbox hardware could start reaching studios around 2027, it makes more financial sense for many players to invest in flexible platforms now and wait for either the next-gen Xbox or heavy discounts on this generation once successors are announced.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Xbox Series X if you want high-end console performance right now and are willing to pay current prices to avoid the upcoming USD 150 (approx. RM690) increase.
- Skip the Xbox Series X if you mainly play cross-platform titles and already own a capable gaming PC or handheld, since most Xbox games are available there anyway.
- Buy the Xbox Series S if you need a cheaper entry into the Xbox ecosystem before prices rise and plan to use instalment or refurb deals Microsoft is expanding.
- Skip the Xbox Series S if you are sensitive to long-term value and would rather wait for next-generation Xbox hardware or deeper clearance discounts once new consoles arrive.
- Buy the current-gen Xbox consoles if your priority is immediate access to Game Pass and console-only play in your living room, and you accept that hardware is six years old.
- Skip the current-gen Xbox consoles if you are comfortable delaying your purchase for a likely new generation around the typical seven-year cycle and want to avoid paying more for aging components amid a RAM price surge.
