Latest Microsoft Xbox One Bundle Containing Elite Controller, 1 TB Hybrid Drive

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By Kevin Carbotte
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Microsoft announced the latest Xbox One bundle. Dubbed the "Xbox One Elite," it will include two notable upgrades from all previous models in the form of a 1 TB solid state hybrid drive and the company's upcoming Elite Wireless Controller. 

The interesting part here is not that the Elite console comes equipped with 1 TB of capacity; it's that, unlike all of the previous Xbox One models, this one comes with a solid state hybrid drive. The data on the drive is stored on magnetic platters like a standard drive, while frequently accessed data gets cached onto the solid state partition within the drive. Microsoft said this results in 20 percent faster boot time when using energy-save mode (read: when the console is turned off entirely). If the performance increase of a hybrid drive on a PC is any indication, load times in some situations could be improved as well.

This year at E3 2015, Microsoft revealed the Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller. The updated gamepad features a number of improvements over the standard option, including a replaceable D-pad, swappable joysticks that have stainless steel shafts, and up to four interchangeable paddles on the backside. The Elite controller has been available for pre-order for some time, but a different controller was also announced today.

The Xbox One Special Edition Lunar White Controller is a standard Xbox One Wireless Controller with a special paint job. It features a bright white body, paired with a black upper section (including the shoulder buttons) and black underside. Both joysticks are black, as are the X, Y, A, and B buttons, and the D-Pad and triggers have been painted a shimmering gold color.

Microsoft has set the price of the Xbox One Elite at $499.99, and pre-orders for the console are now open. The Elite console will be available on November 3, but for the first month of U.S. sales, it will be exclusive to GameStop and Microsoft Stores. The lunar white controller will be available in late September for $64.99, exclusively at GameStop.

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Kevin Carbotte

 Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware. He has been writing for us for more than four years. 

12 Comments Comment from the forums
  • TallestJon96
    Pretty lame of Microsoft to not let you upgrade your hard drive, and then charge you for an upgrade to a model with an SSHD. I fully expect we will see a full SSD model by the end if the generation, but it might be a while.
    Reply
  • DelightfulDucklings
    Loving the Lunar white controller, that thing is looking amazing. I can't really justify $150 for a controller although I know compared to similar products it's actually reasonably priced, I guess I'm just not in the target market, nice that it's included in the bundle for a bit more of a reasonable price though
    Reply
  • josejones
    I would like to hear more about the, "1 TB solid state hybrid drive" - does that include NVMe support o,r the same old almost obsolete AHCI standard hard drive interface?
    Reply
  • josejones
    "1TB solid state hybrid drive Xbox One console. 1"

    "Console hard drive is internal. Advanced TV hardware required. Initial set-up, updates, and some games and features require broadband internet (ISP fees apply) and/or Kinect for Xbox One. Games, Kinect, and media content sold separately."

    Xbox One Elite Bundle
    http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Xbox-One-Elite-Bundle/productID.319986300

    ; )
    Reply
  • josejones
    I also have another question about the hybrid ssd - how is it partitioned? 500g/500g or what?
    Reply
  • turkey3_scratch
    The controller is very nice looking, pricing is fine considering you get 1TB hybrid drive and the Elite controller which costs $150 with it.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    Loving the Lunar white controller, that thing is looking amazing. I can't really justify $150 for a controller although I know compared to similar products it's actually reasonably priced, I guess I'm just not in the target market, nice that it's included in the bundle for a bit more of a reasonable price though

    Uh, the Elite controller is $150 by itself, or bundled with the Elite console. The Lunar controller you're complimenting is only $65. :P
    Reply
  • falchard
    LOL the price on the XBone controllers is robbery. The standard controller is $65. It doesn't even have an aluminum body. I have no idea how they can charge so much for it. There is no way the production costs come anywhere close to justifying more than $20 for the controller.
    For $150, I expect them to have premium buttons and mechanical switches instead of rubber domes.
    Reply
  • epobirs
    I also have another question about the hybrid ssd - how is it partitioned? 500g/500g or what?
    I would like to hear more about the, "1 TB solid state hybrid drive" - does that include NVMe support o,r the same old almost obsolete AHCI standard hard drive interface?

    It's a standard SATA hybrid drive. Nothing remarkable or anything that required changes to the chip set or main board. The partitioning is likely identical to the existing 500 GB models. See the iFixit teardown for details on that.
    Reply
  • epobirs
    Pretty lame of Microsoft to not let you upgrade your hard drive, and then charge you for an upgrade to a model with an SSHD. I fully expect we will see a full SSD model by the end if the generation, but it might be a while.

    OTOH, adding 3 TB of additional storage to my Xbox One consisted of plugging the drive into a USB port and telling the system to go ahead and claim it all. Can't do that on the PS4. When the day soon comes that I need more space in that machine, I have to pull the existing drive and install another, losing the capacity I originally purchased as part of the machine. Currently, the PS4 still has issue with drives much larger than 2 TB, so the Nyko device for using 3.5" drives is of limited value.

    I'm hoping Sony fixes the issues with Nyko (or a higher quality comparable add-on) but I'm not holding my breath.
    Reply