Xbox Prices Are Going Up — Here's How to Save Before August
If you've been sitting on the fence about buying a new Xbox console, the time to act is right now. Microsoft has officially announced that the prices of all Xbox models will rise in August 2026, marking the second price increase in less than a year. The culprit? Persistently high memory prices that continue to ripple across industries — from automotive manufacturing to consumer electronics. The good news is that right now, ahead of the hike, you can still find meaningful discounts on both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S at major retailers. Here's everything you need to know to make a smart purchase before those savings disappear.
Why Xbox Prices Are Increasing Again
Memory component costs have been a thorn in the side of electronics manufacturers for some time now, and Microsoft is no exception. The company's decision to raise Xbox prices for a second consecutive year reflects the sustained pressure these costs are putting on hardware production. Whether you're in the market for a powerful 4K gaming machine or a budget-friendly digital console, waiting until August will cost you significantly more than buying today. Understanding this context makes the current discounts on offer feel even more valuable — because they represent a brief window that is quickly closing.
Xbox Series X: The Flagship 4K Gaming Console
The Xbox Series X is Microsoft's most powerful consumer console, built from the ground up to deliver fast, fluid gameplay at full 4K resolution. It's the bigger, beefier sibling in the Xbox family, and it's packed with features that serious gamers will appreciate. The 1TB model includes a built-in 4K Blu-ray disc drive, meaning you can enjoy both digital and physical game libraries as well as 4K movie playback — a perk that's becoming increasingly rare in a streaming-first world.
Current Xbox Series X Deals
- Walmart: Xbox Series X 1TB (disc drive) — currently $573, down from $649.99
- Target: Xbox Series X 1TB (disc drive) — currently $573.99, down from $649.99
At either retailer, you're looking at savings of roughly $77 compared to the standard retail price. But here's where things get really important: after August, this same console is set to jump to $799.99. That means buying now versus waiting could save you a staggering $226 or more. If you're planning to play any of the highly anticipated titles coming out later this year — including GTA VI — the Xbox Series X is the console that will give you the best possible experience for those games, and locking one in at today's prices is a no-brainer.
Both Walmart and Target are reliable retail partners with strong consumer protection policies, so whether you prefer the convenience of online ordering with fast shipping or want to walk out of a store same-day, you've got options. The $1 difference between the two listings is negligible; pick whichever retailer works best for your situation.
Xbox Series S: The Compact, Budget-Friendly Option
Not everyone needs 4K gaming, and not everyone wants to spend upwards of $600 on a console. That's where the Xbox Series S comes in. It's a smaller, sleeker machine that ditches the disc drive entirely in favor of an all-digital experience. In exchange, you get access to the exact same library of Xbox games — just rendered at a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1440 QHD rather than full 4K. For gamers who primarily play on smaller screens or aren't yet invested in a high-end 4K television setup, the visual difference is often minimal in practice.
Current Xbox Series S Deals
- Dell: Xbox Series S 512GB — currently $349.99, down from $399.99
- Target: Xbox Series S 512GB — currently $379.99, down from $399.99
The best available deal on the Series S right now is at Dell, where the 512GB model is priced at $349.99 — a $50 reduction from the standard asking price. Target is also selling the same console for $379.99, which isn't quite as sharp but may make more sense if you prefer picking it up in person, already have a Target Circle Card for additional savings, or are combining the purchase with other items from a Target run.
The post-August price tag for the Xbox Series S is set to reach $499.99, which means buying now at Dell's price saves you a full $150. That's not pocket change — it's practically a few months of Xbox Game Pass, a new controller, or a handful of games. If the Series S is the right fit for your gaming habits, there's a compelling financial argument to act immediately.
Which Xbox Console Is Right for You?
Choosing between the Series X and Series S comes down to a few key factors: your TV setup, your preference for physical media, and your budget. If you own or plan to own a 4K television and want the absolute best visual performance — especially for upcoming big-ticket titles — the Xbox Series X is the clear winner. The inclusion of a disc drive also gives you the flexibility to buy used physical games and share titles with others, which can stretch your gaming dollar even further over time.
On the other hand, if you're gaming on a 1080p or 1440p monitor or TV, primarily buy games digitally, and want to keep costs down, the Xbox Series S is a genuinely capable machine that punches well above its price point. It runs the same games, supports Xbox Game Pass, and takes up far less space on your entertainment center.
Act Fast — These Deals Won't Last
With Prime Day deals already in circulation and the August price increases just weeks away, these discounts on the Xbox Series X and Series S represent some of the best opportunities to buy an Xbox console that we're likely to see for a long time. Once the new pricing kicks in, the cost of entry for Microsoft's gaming ecosystem goes up substantially, and there's no indication that prices will come back down anytime soon given the ongoing pressures on memory component costs.
Whether you grab the Xbox Series X at Walmart or Target for around $573, or opt for the Xbox Series S at Dell for $349.99, you're getting a current-generation console at a price that's only going to look better in hindsight come August. Don't wait until the window closes — score your discounted Xbox now while the savings are still on the table.