Xbox 360 Slim Console (Renewed) Review: Conditional 7.6/10
A renewed Xbox 360 Slim can feel like a “retro refresh”—or a refund fight—depending on who refurbished it. Xbox 360 Slim Console (Renewed) earns a conditional verdict because the same “renewed” label covers everything from “perfect shape no visual damage” to “disk drive does not close.” Verdict: Conditional buy — 7.6/10.
Quick Verdict
Yes/No/Conditional: Conditional — worth it if you buy from a reputable refurbisher with a clear return policy, and you’re prepared for storage/accessory variability.
| What Matters | What Users Liked | What Users Didn’t | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise/thermals | “super quiet,” “sounds like a whisper” (Best Buy) | Some report it “gets a lot warmer” (Microsoft Community) | Living-room/family setups |
| Refurb quality consistency | “even better condition than i expected” (Back Market) | “xbox was faulty… non genuine xbox controller” (Back Market) | Buyers with strong return options |
| Storage | 250GB praised as “ample storage” (bestproductsreviews.com) | 4GB owners: “you’ll regret it” (ReviewStream) | Downloaders, install-to-HDD players |
| Connectivity | “built in wifi is a big plus” (Microsoft Community) | “will not connect to the internet” (Back Market) | Wi‑Fi-only households (if unit is solid) |
| Disc drive behavior | “everything ran smooth” (Best Buy) | “disc drive spins so fast… will ruin” (ReviewStream) | Disc collectors who keep console stationary |
| Accessories | HDMI included surprised some (Best Buy) | “controller… no good” (Fakespot) | First-time buyers needing full kit |
Claims vs Reality
Amazon’s renewed listings frame the console as “professionally inspected and tested to work and look like new” and “fully functional… backed by the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.” Digging deeper into user reports, that promise sometimes holds up: a Best Buy reviewer (s10shane) described a refurbished Slim that “came with everything it says including an hdmi cable… everything ran smooth and everything is working fine,” and another (tara 112) said it “looked brand new and works perfect.”
But the same “renewed” promise collides with harsher experiences on other refurb marketplaces. A Back Market buyer gave a blunt failure report: “xbox was faulty. disk drive does not close… non genuine xbox controller was provided.” Another went further, alleging a mismatch between listing grade and what arrived: “reportedly sold as excellent condition… in poor condition… they are now trying to dispute the refund!”
Marketing often implies a straightforward upgrade path: buy a Slim, enjoy modern conveniences like built-in Wi‑Fi, quieter operation, and fewer heat issues than older 360s. Microsoft Community replies echo that narrative in user language: one commenter advised, “the s model are designed to last longer and have much better heat control,” and another highlighted “built in wifi is a big plus for me.” Yet real ownership stories show the upgrade isn’t purely “set it and forget it”—one Slim owner admitted, “i still don't trust mine… the disc drive seems to be working way too hard… extremely loud until your first game starts,” suggesting that perceived reliability can vary by unit.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
“Quiet” is the word that keeps resurfacing, especially from people coming from older Xbox 360 models. A Best Buy reviewer (gamerchic) called the Slim “so quiet!” after selling an older Arcade model and moving over. On Reddit, a Slim owner celebrated the day-to-day experience: “i love how quiet it is,” adding that long sessions didn’t change their opinion—“most i have done is close to 10 hours… and i have nothing bad to report.” For parents and shared spaces, that quieter profile can matter more than specs; the Fakespot-surfaced Amazon review framed it as household logistics: “It’s noticeably quieter than our old one… the 360 is downstairs for the 4 year old nephew.”
Built-in Wi‑Fi also lands as a real quality-of-life win for people who don’t want dongles or cable runs. On Microsoft Community, one user celebrated skipping the pricey adapter era: “So glad i never bought that n adapter for 100.00 bucks.” For buyers setting up a second console, a “connect and update” story appears too—an Amazon-sourced quote via Fakespot said: “Connect this bad boy and download any required updates… no issues setting it up.”
A third recurring positive is “feels like new” when the refurb is done right. Back Market includes happy surprises like: “item came as advertised, in even better condition than i expected as well!” Best Buy buyers echoed that confidence with specifics: “The console is in perfect shape no visual damage,” and “looked brand new and works perfect.” For gift-givers, that matters—one Best Buy reviewer bought it for a nephew: “registered fine with microsoft and he’s off and running!”
After these stories, the pattern is clear: when refurbishment is competent, the Slim experience is often described as quiet, convenient, and easy to live with.
- Common praise themes: quiet operation, built-in Wi‑Fi convenience, “like new” cosmetic condition (Best Buy, Reddit, Back Market, Microsoft Community, Fakespot)
Common Complaints
Storage frustration is the most consistent “you didn’t think about this until it hurt” complaint—especially with 4GB models. A recurring pattern emerged across platforms: buyers love the console until they hit capacity. ReviewStream’s writer put it as a warning: “i suggest getting the 250 gb model or you'll regret it… i bought the 4 gb model and had to get the hard drive separate,” then reinforced the pain: “i had that filled up within a week.” Best Buy reviewers sounded the same alarm in plainer terms: “fyi - get a hard drive ! you 're going to need it !” For download-heavy players or anyone installing games to reduce disc noise, 4GB becomes a bottleneck quickly.
Refurbished bundles can also introduce accessory uncertainty. One Amazon review quoted via Fakespot complained: “the controller that arrived with my renewed xbox 360 was no good,” though in that case they added the seller “sent out a replacement.” On Back Market, the complaint was more pointed: “non genuine xbox controller was provided.” This hits hardest for first-time buyers expecting a turnkey kit; for them, a bad controller turns the “cheap retro console” into a troubleshooting project.
Hardware functionality issues cluster around the disc drive and connectivity. ReviewStream described the optical side as “questionable,” warning that “if you move the console while it is on” the disc and drive “can get messed up.” On Back Market, one user reported a simple mechanical failure: “disk drive does not close… it opens up automatically.” And connectivity can become the day-ruiner: a Back Market buyer wrote, “it will not connect to the internet… i lost my first day of relaxation to stress,” adding insult with support frustration: “the option to go to the help desk… it was a code 404 page gone.”
- Most repeated complaints: 4GB storage is too small, refurb bundle accessories vary, disc drive and Wi‑Fi problems appear in a minority of reports (ReviewStream, Best Buy, Back Market, Fakespot)
Divisive Features
The Slim’s design and touch controls split opinions. Some see it as modern convenience—Microsoft Community users praised that “you just touch it” and it’s “smaller and takes up less space.” Others dislike the aesthetic and interface: one commenter wrote, “i on the other hand hate the design. i hate the beep noises,” and worried about dust ingress because “the vent on top is so big… i can still see dust in there.”
Thermals also show a split: while the Slim is frequently framed as a response to Red Ring of Death-era heat, not everyone feels reassured. One Microsoft Community reply insisted the Slim was “specifically designed for reducing heat & rrod issues,” but another owner said, “it also seems like it gets a lot warmer as well.” That contradiction doesn’t prove the Slim runs hotter overall—it highlights that user perception depends on placement, cleanliness, and the individual console’s condition (especially with refurbished units).
Trust & Reliability
Refurb trust is less about the Xbox 360 Slim itself and more about the refurb pipeline and seller behavior. Back Market reviews show the swing from confidence—“the stars speak for itself. functional console!”—to dispute anxiety: “they are now trying to dispute the refund!” That kind of report matters for risk-averse buyers, because even a small defect can become a time sink if the return process goes sideways.
For long-term durability, Reddit provides the most “lived-in” narrative. A Reddit owner who bought in 2021 wrote, “since the purchase, she's been working absolutely great… i didn't have any issues at all,” and even after maintenance (“brand new thermal paste… arctic mx 4”) they reported stability during “very long gaming sessions… close to 10 hours.” Meanwhile, Microsoft Community contributors framed longevity as both design and care: “the time frame for a xbox is how you treat it… i have always turned my xbox off when not in use… and my xbox elite has lasted… since 2009.”
Alternatives
The only direct “alternative” consistently raised in the data is the older Xbox 360 models (Arcade/Elite and the original white units), used as comparison points rather than shopping recommendations. For buyers deciding whether to stick with an older unit, the Slim is often positioned as the quieter, more convenient successor: Best Buy’s gamerchic sold an “xbox 360 arcade” and found the Slim “so quiet,” while Microsoft Community users describe the Slim as “miles ahead of the white 360’s,” calling early white models “rrod waiting to happen.”
But for players hoping the Slim is a performance upgrade, Microsoft Community is emphatic that it’s not: “there’s no performance difference in terms of cpu / gpu / ram,” and “performance-wise, there’s zero difference.” Another thread reinforced that any perceived improvement may come from storage configuration: installing games to the HDD can help with “loading times” and some assets, which makes the 250GB Slim feel better in practice even if raw gameplay performance is the same.
Price & Value
The renewed market pricing looks wide, and that’s where value debates begin. Amazon renewed lists the “Xbox 360 250GB Slim Console - (Renewed)” at $172.99 (with separate international shipping/fees shown in the scrape), while used listings and refurbished marketplaces show plenty of lower asks. eBay snapshots include working consoles around the $80–$150 range depending on bundle and condition, with outliers and auctions dipping much lower.
A recurring value logic emerges: the Slim is “worth the money” when you get a clean unit plus essentials, and it becomes a bad deal when you’re forced into costly add-ons or troubleshooting. ReviewStream’s writer complained that storage expansion can sting: “the cheapest found a hard drive for the slim was $118, an outrageous price,” and described a compatibility surprise: “i bought a 250 gb seagate hard drive and it only recognized 16 gb.” Best Buy reviewers offered a different route: “you can put a usb memory stick in and format it,” and others suggested shopping drives elsewhere: “on amazon.com there is a 250 gb hard drive for about $ 50 dollars cheaper.”
Buying tips from community feedback cluster around three moves: prioritize a 250GB model (or budget for storage), verify what’s included (controller, HDMI, power), and treat “renewed” as seller-dependent rather than a guarantee of uniform quality.
- Value tips echoed across sources: prefer 250GB, confirm bundle contents, pick strong return policy sellers (ReviewStream, Best Buy, Amazon listings, eBay)
FAQ
Q: Should I buy the 4GB Slim or the 250GB Slim?
A: Go 250GB if you plan to download games, install discs, or store media. ReviewStream warned, “get the 250 gb model or you'll regret it,” and Best Buy’s tara 112 added, “fyi - get a hard drive ! you 're going to need it !” The 4GB model can work if you add storage.
Q: Is the Xbox 360 Slim actually quieter than older models?
A: Many owners say yes, especially versus older Arcade/Elite units. A Best Buy reviewer said the Slim “is so quiet!” and Microsoft Community users described it as “quieter (a lot)” and “sounds like a whisper.” Some still report loud disc drive behavior in certain situations.
Q: Do Xbox 360 Slim consoles perform better than older Xbox 360 models?
A: Users on Microsoft Community repeatedly say no—game performance is effectively the same across models. One reply stated, “there’s no performance difference in terms of cpu / gpu / ram,” and another: “performance-wise, there’s zero difference.” Installing games to the HDD may improve load times.
Q: What refurbished problems show up most often?
A: The most serious reports involve disc drive failures and connectivity issues, plus mismatched accessories. On Back Market, one buyer wrote: “disk drive does not close… it opens up automatically,” and another said it “will not connect to the internet.” Others complained about a “non genuine xbox controller.”
Q: What’s the biggest risk with “renewed” Xbox 360 Slim listings?
A: Inconsistent refurb quality and return disputes. Some buyers say units arrive “in perfect shape,” while others report “poor condition” despite “excellent” grading and even refund conflicts. One Back Market customer said the seller tried “to dispute the refund,” showing why the seller’s support process matters.
Final Verdict
Buy if you want a quiet, space-friendly retro console and you’re choosing a seller with a strong return policy—especially if you can get the Xbox 360 Slim Console (Renewed) in a 250GB configuration. Avoid if you’re counting on flawless refurb consistency or you can’t tolerate troubleshooting around Wi‑Fi, disc drives, or bundle accessories. Pro tip from the community: “fyi - get a hard drive ! you 're going to need it !” (Best Buy reviewer tara 112).
