The Xbox One X will make games look better even on non-4K TVs

One of the buzzwords surrounding Microsoft’s Xbox One X announcement was “4K,” as the new console promises gaming in the coveted 4K resolution.

But the Xbox One X isn’t just for those with 4K TVs.

Microsoft announced during its press event at E3 last week that the new Xbox One X will use a technique called “super-sampling” to make games on the Xbox One X look better than on an original Xbox One or Xbox One S if you have a 1080p TV.

Super-sampling essentially means that edges around in-game characters and objects will appear smoother, which should enhance the overall look of a game on a 1080p TV. With super-sampling, games can also look more detailed on a 1080p TV with an Xbox One X.

Microsoft

Forza 7 in 4K on the Xbox One X.

Another benefit of using an Xbox One X is that games will load faster due to the console’s sheer power.

You can actually get an idea of what super-sampling will look like on the Xbox One X, as Sony’s 4K-enabled PlayStation 4 Pro console also uses super-sampling to make games look better on 1080p TVs. Digital Foundry found that super-sampling made several games look better on 1080p TVs, especially those that had issues with jagged edges around in-game objects and characters.

With all that said, it’s probably not worth upgrading to the Xbox One X if you already have an Xbox One or Xbox One S and a 1080p TV. With the price of the Xbox One and Xbox One S dropping dramatically over time, you probably wouldn’t get much if you were to sell your old Xbox online to offset the Xbox One X’s $500 price tag. For example, you can buy an Xbox One S that comes bundled with Minecraft for $200 for a limited time on eBay.

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