On June 13, Microsoft unveiled a product that is the smallest, fastest, and greatest of its kind. Capable of 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray™ and 4K gaming (3840 × 2160 pixel resolution), it may be the finest gaming console ever. It is the all new Xbox One X. The console has a scheduled release date of November 7, 2017. According to Microsoft officials, the Xbox One X is such a hit in the gaming world that the pre-orders sold out in just a matter of days, which is faster than any previous Xbox ever made. Are people ordering it just because it’s the next big thing, or is the hype justified?

According to Xbox.com, the Xbox One X has 40% more processing power (meaning the console can provide better graphics and faster, smoother animation) than any other console on the market. The Xbox One S possessed a computing speed of 1.4 teraflops  while the One X has a whopping six teraflops, providing users one of the clearest resolutions on the market for games, shows, movies, and more. The Xbox One X is also the smallest Xbox ever made with a measurement of 11.8” long x 9.4” deep x 2.4” high. This ensures that wherever it gets placed, whether in an entertainment center or on a shelf, it will not take up much room.

Despite the fact that the Xbox One X projects to be the market leader among consoles, it has competition from Sony’s Playstation platform. According to www.cnet.com, Playstation released a console on November 10, 2016 called the Ps4 Pro. The Xbox One X has 4K Blu-ray™ and 4K gaming, but the Playstation 4 Pro does not support 4K Blu-ray™.  However, some people remain faithful to Playstation, such as eighth grader Ryan Casey. “[The Xbox One X] will not be as good [as the Ps4 Pro] spec wise,” he said. “I believe that the Ps4 Pro has better graphics.” Despite what Casey thinks, the Ps4 is equipped with only 4.1 teraflops, nearly two full terabytes below the computing speed of the Xbox One X. In addition, Playstation does not have any plans to release a new console anytime soon.

Of course,  not everything about Microsoft’s new gaming system is perfect. It can only hold a maximum storage of one terabyte as opposed to the Xbox One S which holds two terabytes. The most premium Xbox One S with two terabytes has a price of $399 which is approximately $100 less than the Xbox One X (it retails for ($499).

Even though the Xbox One X offers a powerful new processor and 4K gaming, many students with the previous generation will not be upgrading since the One S is just over a year old. “I would [upgrade] if I hadn’t just gotten my new Xbox [One S] a few months ago,” said seventh grader Anthony Pace. “[Microsoft] already has 4K for the Xbox One S [on] Blu-Ray™, so they could have just made it 4K for everything. [The Xbox One X] is basically an Xbox One S with 4K gaming.”

Some students, though, are eager to get their hands on Microsoft’s new console. “Now that I’m moving, I’m going to have new TVs that will be in 4K, so it would be worth the money,” said seventh grader Jonathan Skatoff. “[On] the Xbox One S, you could only watch movies in 4K, but since the Xbox One X – the whole thing is meant to play games – it would be worth it to play [games] in 4K.”

Microsoft, which has made a name for itself via its Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite software, does not simply want to be known for these innovations. It also wants to be known as a company that emphasizes the needs of everyone, including gamers. According to the gaming website www.polygon.com, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, said in 2007 soon after the release of the first version of the Xbox 360, “The reason we got into Xbox was not just for gaming. It’s a general purpose computer. In terms of the first generation in particular, where we were so known as a PC company, the need to make clear how we were prioritizing the needs of demanding gamers, that was super important.”

The Xbox One X is certainly a significant upgrade from the Xbox One S (and it’s competitor, the PS4 Pro). The console has 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray™ and 4K gaming, 6 teraflops of graphical processing power, and is 40% more powerful than any other console ever made. For the next few years, the new Xbox may be the only kid on the block, and therefore, the standard by which all other consoles are measured.