Description
This is an Xbox 360 E with a 250GB hard drive, sold as a bundle. The listing states the contents as the console, a genuine Microsoft wireless Xbox 360 controller, power and AV cables, a Kinect sensor and two games. That single sentence is the entire product description, and the specification block adds only a model name and a listing date of August 2014.
The Xbox 360 is a legacy console. Microsoft has long since moved to later hardware generations, and this machine is bought today for a specific reason rather than as a general purchase. This review covers what the bundle contains, what the console is, and the questions worth settling before ordering.
What the Xbox 360 E Is
The Xbox 360 E is the final hardware revision of the Xbox 360, released after the original model and the slim redesign. It is the version with the squared off styling that visually matched the Xbox One of its era. Functionally it plays the same library as earlier 360 models.
The 250GB internal drive is the larger of the two common storage options for the console and is the difference between managing space constantly and not thinking about it. It holds game installs, downloadable titles and saved data. For a console being bought now, mostly to play physical discs, 250GB is comfortable.
A note on scope: a games console sits outside the usual subject matter of a PC hardware site. It is in this catalog, so it is covered honestly rather than removed, but anyone arriving from a computing context should know that nothing about this product relates to the PC hardware covered elsewhere here.
What the Bundle Contains
The listing names five things: the 250GB console, a genuine Microsoft wireless controller, power and AV cables, Kinect and two games.
The genuine Microsoft controller matters more than it sounds. Third party 360 controllers vary enormously in quality, and a first party wireless pad is the reference standard for the platform. Note that Xbox 360 wireless controllers use batteries or a rechargeable pack, and the listing does not say which is supplied or whether a charging cable is included.
Kinect is the motion and voice sensor Microsoft sold for the 360. It requires a small amount of clear floor space in front of it to work, more than most people expect, and its supported game library is limited and specific. Treat it as a bonus item rather than a reason to buy, and check whether the games you want actually use it.
The two games are the significant omission: the listing does not name them. That could mean anything from two of the platform’s best titles to two shovelware discs. Ask the seller which titles are included before ordering, because two unnamed games is not a specification.
The cables are described as “Power/AV Cables”. Read that carefully. AV cables on this platform typically means the analog composite or component connection rather than HDMI. The Xbox 360 E has an HDMI output, but the listing does not state that an HDMI cable is included, and on a modern television the analog connection produces a noticeably worse picture, if it connects at all. Many current televisions have dropped composite inputs entirely. Budget for an HDMI cable and confirm the console’s output before assuming it will connect to your screen.
Highlights
- Xbox 360 E console, the final revision of the platform, with a 250GB drive.
- Genuine Microsoft wireless Xbox 360 controller included.
- Kinect motion sensor included in the bundle.
- Two games included, though the titles are not stated.
- Power and AV cables supplied.
- Plays the full Xbox 360 disc library.
Things To Consider
Three things need checking before buying legacy console hardware, and none of them is answered by this listing.
First, condition. The listing does not state whether the console is new, used or refurbished, does not describe cosmetic condition, and states no warranty. Xbox 360 hardware in circulation now is well over a decade old. The optical drive, the cooling fan and the hard drive are the components that age, and a disc drive that no longer reads reliably is the most common failure on this platform. Ask for a condition statement and photographs.
Second, online services. Microsoft has substantially wound down the online infrastructure for the Xbox 360, including its digital storefront. Anyone buying with digital purchases, downloadable content or online multiplayer in mind should check the current status of those services before ordering, because what was available when this console was current is not what is available now. Physical discs and local play are unaffected.
Third, the power supply. Xbox 360 consoles use a large external power brick, and the revision required varies by console model. The listing says power cables are included but does not identify the supply. Confirm that a correct, working power supply is part of what ships, since a console without one is unusable and replacements are not universal across the model range.
The previous version of this page described the controller as comfortable in hand and made claims about the play experience. Those are not statements this listing supports, and they have been removed. What can be said is what is in the box.
Who Should Buy It, and Who Should Not
Buy this bundle if you specifically want Xbox 360 hardware, whether for a physical game library you already own, for titles that were never re-released, or as a second console for a spare room, and you have confirmed condition and contents with the seller. A bundle including a first party controller and Kinect is reasonable value if the hardware is sound.
Do not buy it as a current games machine, do not buy it expecting the online store or digital purchases to work as they once did, and do not buy it without asking which two games are included and whether an HDMI connection is possible. For current gaming, a PC with a modern controller such as the EasySMX X10 or the Machenike G5PRO Max SE is the more sensible route, and a headset such as the Razer Kraken Tournament Edition covers audio across platforms. Our consoles category lists the other legacy hardware we cover, including the Nintendo 3DS, and our gamepads category covers current controllers.
