Xbox One X 1TB Renewed Review: Conditional Buy (6.8/10)
“Refurbished” is the word doing the heaviest lifting here. Microsoft Xbox One X 1TB Console (Renewed) earns a conditional recommendation because user stories swing hard between “like brand new” and “dead-on-arrival headaches.” Verdict: Conditional buy — 6.8/10.
Quick Verdict
Yes/No/Conditional: Conditional — worth it only if the price is right and you’re comfortable with refurb risk (or have a strong return/warranty plan).
| What buyers care about | What user feedback suggests | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Visual upgrade (even on 1080p) | Noticeable jump in clarity/smoothness for some upgraders | Amazon Renewed reviews; Microsoft Community thread |
| “Refurbished” quality control | Quality varies: “like new” vs. cracked/dirty units and failures | Amazon Renewed reviews; Best Buy Geek Squad reviews |
| Included controller condition | Repeated complaints about broken/dirty/non-matching controllers | Amazon Renewed reviews; Best Buy reviews; Back Market reviews |
| Disc drive reliability | Some report discs not reading | Best Buy reviews |
| Overheating / shutdowns | Reports of overheating or powering off during games | Best Buy reviews; Amazon Renewed reviews |
| Value vs. next-gen | Community splits: “worth it with 4K HDR” vs “wait for Series X” | Microsoft Community threads |
Claims vs Reality
Amazon’s Renewed positioning leans on the promise that the console is “professionally inspected and tested to work and look like new.” Digging deeper into user reports, that “look like new” part is where experiences diverge most sharply. One Amazon reviewer described a near-perfect arrival: “the thing is like brand new. you wouldn’t even know its refurbished.” But another Amazon buyer’s story goes the other direction fast—after updates and a brief session, the console repeatedly shut down: “it powered off after i played one match… played 2 matches and it powered off.”
The marketing story around performance is more consistent, even when buyers aren’t using a 4K display. An Amazon customer upgrading from an original Xbox One framed the jump as immediate: “coming from a first generation xbox one to the one x is quiet outstanding… i play on a 1080 tv and the quality of the picture is outstanding, it’s more clear and smooth.” On the community side, Microsoft Community replies echoed that the One X is “a more powerful xbox one” and, for people with the right TV, “definitely worth it, especially with a 4k hdr tv.”
Where reality bites is the refurb pipeline and retailer execution. Best Buy’s Geek Squad refurb reviews repeatedly turn into customer-service narratives, not just product impressions. One reviewer said their unit “overheated every 3-5 minutes,” then described conflicting guidance between online and in-store support: “the online cutomer service was great but in store the manager would not exchange it for a working one.” Another summed up the mismatch between “refurbished” expectations and accessories quality: “refurbished means everything should work! … xbox unit works but the controller does not.”
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
A recurring pattern emerged across Amazon Renewed reviews and community discussions: when a refurb unit is healthy, the Microsoft Xbox One X 1TB Console (Renewed) feels like a serious upgrade for people coming from older Xbox One hardware—especially users chasing smoother visuals and better performance without changing their whole ecosystem.
For budget-focused upgraders playing on older TVs or monitors, the surprising takeaway is that 4K isn’t the only reason people feel the improvement. An Amazon reviewer who played on a 1080p TV still called the jump “outstanding” and highlighted the picture as “more clear and smooth.” That kind of report matters for players who don’t own a 4K set but want a more stable, sharper experience in familiar games.
Physical media and home-theater use also show up as quiet wins when everything works. A Best Buy refurb buyer said the console “works great online and plays physical games and movies,” framing it as a practical family-room device rather than just a gaming upgrade. Another Best Buy customer emphasized everyday reliability and completeness: “works like new! all components came as advertised.”
Finally, value is repeatedly praised—when the unit arrives in strong condition. A Best Buy reviewer kept it simple: “works great, and runs fast, controller is like brand new!” and another said the deal overcame their initial nerves: “i was nervous with it being refurbished, however it had worked great.” On Amazon, the same sentiment appears as shipping/condition satisfaction: “arrived super fast” and “packed with care… working perfectly.”
Key praised themes (after the stories):
- Visual/performance boost feels immediate for upgraders (“outstanding… more clear and smooth.”)
- Works well as a disc-and-streaming living-room box when functional (“plays physical games and movies.”)
- Strong value when the refurb is truly clean and complete (“works like new… as advertised.”)
Common Complaints
The most consistent pain point isn’t raw performance—it’s refurb consistency. Digging deeper into user reports, “refurbished” often becomes shorthand for accessory roulette, early failures, or units that look like they skipped a meaningful inspection.
Controllers are the loudest repeated complaint across platforms. A Best Buy buyer purchased the unit as a gift and found “the controller did not work,” then got trapped by timing: “told that i was out of the return / replacement window… had to purchase a new controller for $65.00.” Another Best Buy reviewer echoed the same basic failure: “xbox unit works but the controller does not.” On Back Market, the pattern continues with condition issues rather than outright dead controllers: one customer said the console was “working perfectly” but the controller had “a good bit of forward drift,” while another described the controller as “a mess… battery compartment was clogged with corrosion.”
Thermal shutdowns and instability show up as the next most alarming thread because they hit core usability. One Amazon Renewed buyer described repeated power-offs only during gameplay and escalating attempts to troubleshoot: “it was only shutting off while running a game.” Over on Best Buy, the complaint becomes even more blunt: “overheated every 3-5 minutes.” For competitive players or anyone planning longer sessions, that’s not a minor inconvenience—it’s the difference between a bargain and a return.
Disc drive and “does it actually work” reliability round out the biggest fears, especially for people who buy consoles to avoid always-online dependence. A Best Buy customer described the specific failure plainly: “i purchased a brand new game a few days ago and it does not play the disc… we wanted to have a disc so didn't not have to rely on internet.” And the most extreme version of refurb disappointment appears in stories about condition and packaging—one Best Buy Series X refurb customer (different console generation, same refurb program) complained about “a large crack” and bagged accessories, while another described a unit as “filthy… smelled like cigarette smoke,” reinforcing that refurb experiences can vary wildly even under “certified” labels.
Key complaint themes (after the stories):
- Controller problems are common (dead, drifting, dirty, or mismatched).
- Heat/power issues can appear immediately (“powered off,” “overheated”).
- Disc drive failures and poor packaging/condition undermine trust.
Divisive Features
The biggest split isn’t about what the Xbox One X can do—it’s about whether buying one now makes sense relative to newer consoles and pricing. In Microsoft Community discussions, some posters come in with a straightforward recommendation: “xbox one x is definetely worth it!” and “definitely worth it, especially with a 4k hdr tv.” For players with a 4K HDR setup who mostly want to keep playing Xbox One-era titles, that argument is simple: pay less than next-gen, get better-looking current library.
But others frame the One X as a short-term compromise, especially when a next-gen upgrade is on the horizon. One community reply advised: “if you dont already own one i'd recommend waiting and buying the next gen console,” and another asked the value question directly: “is that extra cash worth it for the x for just 18 months ish?” That disagreement matters most for buyers deciding between a cheap refurb One X and spending more on a Series X.
Trust & Reliability
A trust gap shows up clearly in refurb narratives: buyers don’t just complain about defects—they question whether “refurbished” means anything operationally. On Best Buy’s Geek Squad Certified Refurbished Xbox One X listing, one reviewer pressed the point: “do you stand behind your geek squad recertified or refurbished products or not?” Another went further, warning: “buyer be ware! don’t buy refurbished items from best buy… they will not stand behind their product.”
Longer-term durability stories are mixed, but the cautionary ones are specific about timelines. An Amazon Renewed buyer said they enjoyed the console for “almost 1 year” before problems started: “it started to glitch bad… you have to restart the console to regain control.” That’s the kind of report that hits long-haul users—families and daily players—harder than someone who only plays occasionally.
Alternatives
Only competitors mentioned in the data are the Xbox One S and Xbox Series X. Community guidance frames the Xbox One S as the cheaper route if the buyer mainly wants basic 4K video rather than maximum console power. One Microsoft Community reply put it bluntly: “if you just want 4k, even a xbox one s would be more viable, since it is cheaper.”
The Xbox Series X appears as the “skip the compromise” option in multiple community threads about whether the One X is worth it. In the “what is a xbox one x?” thread, a reply clarified the positioning: “the xbox one x was an upgraded / refreshed xbox console that came out in 2017. it's not the same as a series x.” For buyers who want new releases and the modern “X|S” upgrade path, Best Buy Series X refurb reviews describe that contrast in lived terms: “the difference was night and day… everything loads immediately with a proper 60 fps boost.”
Price & Value
On Amazon, the Renewed Xbox One X pricing shown sits around $319.99, while Best Buy’s Geek Squad refurbished Xbox One X listing shows $224.99 (sold out in the provided snapshot). That gap matters because user feedback repeatedly suggests refurb risk—controller failures, overheating, disc drive issues—so the “right” price is often the one that leaves room for a warranty or replacement controller.
Resale market signals (eBay listings) show wide variability—from lower-priced “console only” deals to higher-priced special editions like Project Scorpio. The practical takeaway from community logic is that value depends on what you already own and how soon you’d want to jump to Series X. As one Microsoft Community poster asked, the key is whether paying extra for the One X is worth it for a shorter window: “is that extra cash worth it…?”
Buying tips rooted in user stories are consistent: prioritize sellers with strong packaging and return support. One Amazon reviewer praised careful shipping: “packed with care… working perfectly,” while another called out “very bad packaging” even though the console survived. If you’re shopping Renewed, those packaging stories become proxies for how seriously the refurb seller treats the product.
FAQ
Q: Is the Xbox One X worth it if I already have a regular Xbox One?
A: Conditionally, yes. Some upgraders call the jump “quiet outstanding” even on a 1080p TV, with visuals “more clear and smooth” (Amazon Renewed reviews). But Microsoft Community users also argue it’s “just a more powerful xbox one” and suggest waiting for Series X depending on timing and budget.
Q: Do refurbished Xbox One X consoles commonly arrive with controller problems?
A: Yes, controller issues are a recurring complaint. A Best Buy buyer said “the controller did not work” and they had to buy a new one for “$65.00.” On Back Market, one customer reported stick drift, and another found “corrosion” in the battery compartment—suggesting accessories can be the weak link.
Q: Are overheating and shutdowns real issues on renewed/refurb Xbox One X units?
A: They show up in multiple user stories. One Best Buy refurb reviewer said it “overheated every 3-5 minutes,” and an Amazon Renewed buyer reported repeated gameplay shutdowns: “it powered off after i played one match.” These reports point to refurb variance rather than a guaranteed behavior.
Q: Can the Xbox One X play Xbox Series X games?
A: No. In the Microsoft Community thread, a reply explains that “they can't play xbox series x games,” and that “one x games were xbox one games patched” for the older hardware. It’s best viewed as a stronger Xbox One, not a Series X substitute.
Q: Should I buy Xbox One X or Xbox One S if I just want 4K?
A: Many community members lean toward the Xbox One S for 4K on a budget. One Microsoft Community reply says: “if you just want 4k, even a xbox one s would be more viable, since it is cheaper.” The One X is framed as the pick when you want more power plus 4K.
Final Verdict
Buy the Microsoft Xbox One X 1TB Console (Renewed) if you’re a budget upgrader from an original Xbox One and you want a sharper, smoother experience—especially if you can return it easily. Avoid it if you’re risk-averse about refurb quality, need a flawless disc drive, or don’t want to gamble on controller condition.
Pro tip from the community mindset: if you “can get a good deal on the x,” it may be worth it—but if you’re paying close to newer-console money, multiple voices recommend skipping ahead and “go for the series x.”
