Xbox One 500 GB Console Review: a solid home media box that still holds up if you’re not picky

I picked up this discontinued 500 GB Xbox One mainly as a cheap living-room box, not as my main console. I already own newer hardware, so I went into this with pretty low expectations. I just wanted something that could handle Netflix, a few Xbox exclusives I missed, and some local multiplayer without complaining. After spending a couple of weeks with it, I can say it does what it’s supposed to do, but you can feel the age of the machine in a few places.

The first boot was straightforward: plug in the chunky power brick, HDMI to the TV, pair the controller, wait for the system update, done. It took around 15–20 minutes on a decent connection. Once it was up, signing into my Microsoft account pulled in my Xbox Live profile and some old purchases, which was handy. No weird setup traps, no crashing, just a bit of waiting.

Where this console still makes sense is if you want a cheap way into the Xbox ecosystem or you just want a media hub for another room. It’s quiet, it has all the main streaming apps, and the controller is still one of the most comfortable ones out there. You also get access to the Xbox library and Game Pass (if you subscribe), though some newer titles are clearly optimized for later hardware.

On the flip side, the 500 GB internal drive fills up fast, the box is bulky, and performance is clearly behind newer consoles. If you expect super fast load times and the best graphics, this isn’t it. But if you just want something that works and don’t care about having the latest kit, it’s still a pretty solid option, especially if you find it at a good price second-hand or on clearance.

Value really depends on what you pay and what you expect. At the original launch price, this thing would make no sense today. But on the current market, you can often find the 500 GB Xbox One for quite cheap, especially used. In that context, it’s good value if you want a secondary console, a cheap entry into Xbox for kids, or a media box that can also play games. It handles streaming, local media, and a big back catalogue of Xbox One and compatible 360 titles without complaining too much.

Where it becomes less interesting is if the price creeps close to a used Xbox One S, One X, or even a Series S. Those machines are cleaner, faster, and better prepared for newer games. If the price difference is small, I’d say skip this 500 GB launch model and go for something newer. Also, remember that 500 GB isn’t much in 2026. After the OS, you’re realistically looking at space for maybe 5–8 big games before you start deleting stuff, so factor in the cost of an external drive if you don’t already have one.

On the plus side, you’re buying into the whole Xbox ecosystem: Game Pass, backward-compatible titles, sales on digital games, and a pretty robust online service. If you’re not picky about graphics and just want to play older or cross-gen games on the cheap, this console still gives you a lot of content for not a lot of money. It’s also a decent solution for a kid’s room or a spare TV where you don’t want to put your main console.

So, is it worth it? If you can snag it for a low price and your expectations are realistic, yes, it’s a pretty solid deal. If the seller is charging a premium because it’s “rare” or “collector,” I’d pass. For that money, you can get something more modern that will age better and handle new releases more comfortably.

Design-wise, the original Xbox One looks like a black VCR from the early 2000s. Half glossy plastic, half matte, with vents all over the place. It’s not pretty, but it’s functional. In my setup, it just disappears in the TV cabinet, which is honestly what I want from a console in the living room. If you like slim and minimal boxes, this isn’t that, but at least it doesn’t scream for attention with RGB or weird shapes.

One thing I liked is the front layout: you get a physical power button, disc slot, and a USB port that’s easy to reach for charging controllers or plugging in a USB stick. On the back, you’ve got HDMI in and out, optical audio, a couple more USB ports, Ethernet, and the power connector. It’s simple, and the labels are clear enough that you don’t need to squint for ten minutes to figure out what goes where. If you’re running it into a receiver or soundbar, the ports are there, no drama.

The downside of this design is the size and the external power brick. For a console this large, it’s kind of annoying that they still pushed the power supply outside the case. You end up with a big box on the floor or hanging somewhere behind your furniture. Also, the glossy part on top scratches and shows dust quickly, so if you care about it looking clean, you’ll be wiping it down fairly often. Mine already had some light marks even though I try to be careful.

On the plus side, the big case and heavy build help with noise and heat. The fan doesn’t have to scream to keep it cool, and after a few hours of gaming or streaming, the box is warm at most, not hot. So in practice, the design feels a bit dated and bulky, but it works: good airflow, stable on the shelf, and easy access to ports. Not pretty, not ugly, just a big black box that gets the job done.

Living with this console day to day is pretty straightforward. The biggest plus for me is how quiet it is. Even after a couple of hours of playing something heavier, the fan sound is a low hum at most. You notice it if you mute the TV and listen for it, but during normal use it fades into the background. Compared to some older 360 models that sounded like small jet engines, this is a big improvement and makes it much nicer in a living room or bedroom.

The controller is still one of the best parts. It feels familiar if you’ve used an Xbox 360 pad: same general shape, slightly better triggers, much better D-pad. The sticks have a good amount of resistance and the overall grip is comfortable even in longer sessions. I played several evenings of different games back-to-back and didn’t get any hand fatigue. The downside is it still uses AA batteries by default. You can buy a rechargeable kit, but out of the box you’ll be swapping batteries every few weeks depending on how much you play.

In terms of interface comfort, the UI has improved a lot since the early days, but it’s still not perfect. It tries to do a lot at once: games, apps, store, social, settings. Once you learn where things are, it’s fine, but the first few days I found myself bouncing around menus more than I wanted. Voice commands with Kinect can help, but this bundle doesn’t include Kinect, and honestly, I didn’t miss it. A regular controller and maybe a cheap headset are enough for basic navigation and chat.

Overall, the console is easy to live with. It turns on reasonably fast, resumes games from standby most of the time, and doesn’t heat up the room or drown out your TV sound. The only real comfort hits are the bulky footprint and the battery situation on the controller. If you can live with a big black box and keep a pack of AA batteries around (or buy a rechargeable kit), it’s a comfortable system to use regularly.

On the durability side, the original Xbox One feels solid. The case doesn’t flex, the vents are generous, and the console runs fairly cool, which is good for long-term health. This isn’t like some of the early 360 models that cooked themselves. I’ve run long gaming and streaming sessions without any sign of overheating or random shutdowns. The disc drive is a bit noisier than a fully digital setup, but it loads discs reliably and doesn’t sound like it’s about to die.

That said, we’re talking about hardware that first came out around 2013–2014. If you’re buying new old stock, you’re probably fine. If you’re buying used or refurbished, it’s a bit of a lottery. Some user reviews mention getting dirty units, failing hard drives, or consoles that needed a full clean and parts swap. That’s not really the console’s fault as a product, but it’s part of the reality now that it’s discontinued. Check seller ratings carefully and be ready to return it if the condition doesn’t match what was advertised.

The weak link long-term is the internal hard drive. A 500 GB mechanical drive from that era isn’t going to be eternal. If it starts to fail, you’ll see slowdowns, crashes, or games failing to install. You can offload a lot of storage to an external drive, which I recommend anyway, but if the internal drive really goes, repairs are more hassle than they’re worth for most people. At that point you’re probably better off putting the money toward a newer console.

Controllers are generally tough, but the usual wear points are the thumbsticks (drift) and the bumpers. If you’re buying this as a replacement unit, factor in that you might need a fresh controller down the line. Overall, though, the console itself is built like a tank. As long as you keep it ventilated, dust it once in a while, and don’t buy total junk from a sketchy seller, it should hold up fine for casual use over the next few years.

In terms of raw performance, you can feel that this is an older console, but it’s still usable if your expectations are reasonable. I tried a mix of first-party titles, some backwards compatible 360 games, and a few digital indies. Load times are longer than on newer hardware, especially if you’re used to SSD-based consoles. Some bigger games can take close to a minute to fully load into a level, and switching between heavy apps isn’t instant. It’s not painful, but it’s not snappy either.

Once you’re in a game, though, most titles run fine. Frame rates are usually locked at 30 fps on big AAA games, and smaller titles can go higher. If you’re not obsessed with frame rate counters, it’s playable. Graphics are clearly a generation behind: softer image, lower resolution, less detailed textures. On a 1080p TV it’s okay; on a big 4K screen you can see the age. For couch gaming with friends or playing older exclusives you missed, it’s still enjoyable. You just have to accept that you’re not getting the best version of those games anymore.

Where the console still feels strong is as a media machine. Streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube run smoothly. Video playback is stable, audio sync is fine, and I had no crashes or weird stutters during long sessions. It also handles local media streaming from a PC on the same network without too much drama, which is handy if you have a big library. The UI isn’t the fastest in the world, but once you get used to the layout, it’s manageable.

Online multiplayer through Xbox Live is solid. Matchmaking times are still okay in popular games, and the network itself is reliable. I didn’t run into disconnects or lag spikes that felt like the console’s fault; most of the time it was just normal internet issues. So overall, performance is good enough for casual gaming and media use. If you’re a power user who notices every frame drop and second of load time, you’ll probably be annoyed. If you just want to sit down, launch a game, and relax, it does the job.

This specific bundle is pretty basic: you get the Xbox One 500 GB console in black, one wireless controller, an HDMI cable, the external power supply, and that’s basically it. No Kinect sensor, and usually no pack-in game unless the seller throws something in. For an older product, that’s fine, but don’t expect any fancy extras. Also, check the listing carefully if you’re buying used, because some sellers skip the headset or swap in third-party cables.

The console itself is a bit of a tank: around 20 x 14 x 7 inches in the box and about 11 pounds. Once it’s on your TV stand it doesn’t feel crazy large, but compared to the later slim models and other small boxes (like a Series S or a streaming stick), it’s definitely on the big side. The external power brick adds even more clutter, so you’ll need somewhere to hide that if you care about how your setup looks.

In terms of features, this model still taps into the same Xbox Live network as newer consoles, so you get online multiplayer, digital game purchases, streaming apps, and cloud saves. You can also plug in external USB hard drives to expand storage, which is basically required now because modern game installs are huge. The 500 GB drive sounds okay on paper, but in practice you get less than that free after system files, and it disappears quickly.

The key thing to understand is: this is the base old-gen Xbox One, not the One S, not the One X, and definitely not a Series console. No 4K gaming, no fancy upscaling, and performance is more in line with the earlier part of the last console generation. If you’re fine with that and just want something cheap to play older Xbox One titles and use as a media center, the package still makes sense. If you’re hoping for current-gen performance on the cheap, you’ll be disappointed.