Xbox 360 Elite

Last update: Review by PCWorld (added on 08/05/07)

The Xbox 360 Elite features a 120GB hard drive (six times as capacious as the previous 360’s, twice as big as the PS3’s), a black wireless controller, a black Xbox LIVE headset, a HDMI cable and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.

Xbox 360 Elite Latest Price

REVIEWS (last updated: 08/05/07)

PCWorld reviews the Xbox 360 Elite (rating: 4/5) and writes;

“Though my limited testing of the Xbox 360 Elite doesn’t convince me that it can match the image quality of a dedicated HD DVD player, I look forward to doing a side-by-side comparison (as well as to checking out how the Xbox 360 Elite handles upconverting standard-def DVDs)…The inclusion of the 120GB hard drive, HDMI, and full 1080p support may make this console pricey, but it’s also a far more attractive option than its predecessor.”

CNET reviews the Xbox 360 Elite (rating: 8.5/10) and writes;

“The good: Excellent selection of games, including many 360-only exclusives; all games are in native high-definition; user-friendly Dashboard interface; supports wireless controllers and accessories; Xbox Live service offers online multiplayer (with matchmaking and voice chat) and content downloads for most games; backward compatible with many–but not all–original Xbox titles; doubles as a superior digital media hub and Windows Media extender; online Marketplace allows easy purchases of minigames, add-on gaming content, high-def movies, and TV shows. The bad: The Elite fails to correct most of the annoyances of the original 360 version: the noisy DVD drive and cooling fan; a gigantic, oversize power supply; no built-in wireless networking; only three USB ports; a substandard DVD player; support for next-gen HD DVD movies requires a bulky external accessory; online gaming requires a paid subscription to Xbox Live; proprietary wireless format limits third-party accessories. The bottom line: While it’s neither a must-have upgrade for existing 360 owners nor as feature-packed as the PS3, the Xbox 360 Elite’s combination of top-notch gaming and digital media features make it the current game console of choice.”

PCAdvisor reviews the Xbox 360 Elite (rating: 4/5) and writes;

“We found that HD DVD image quality on the movies we tested over an HDMI connection (and at 1080p resolution) appeared slightly better as compared to the Xbox 360 over component video (at 1080i resolution). Images were noticeably sharper when compared with the Xbox 360’s images over component video at 720p resolution… If you haven’t jumped on the Xbox bandwagon just yet, but had planned to (Halo 3, anyone?), the Xbox 360 Elite merits your consideration. The inclusion of the 120GB hard drive, HDMI, and full 1080p support may make this console pricey, but it’s also a much more attractive option than its predecessor.”

Engadget reviews the Xbox 360 Elite and writes;

“Basically, unless you are seriously eagle-eyed, have a massive friggin screen, or for whatever reason need to use HDMI because you’re all out of component inputs, your investment in the first-gen Xbox 360 is probably safe. Do yourself a favor, just buy that 120GB drive if you need the space, the HDMI really just doesn’t justify replacing your whole console for a new $480 unit. Then again, if you’re truly “elite” then all the stuff we just said really doesn’t matter, and you’re probably gonna buy this thing anyway. Cheers, enjoy!”

GamePro has published an article on Xbox 360 Elite and writes;

“The machine isn’t intended for gamers. Ultimately, the Elite has nothing to do with enhancing the gameplay experience; it’s for multimedia whores. HDMI, a larger hard drive, new movies and TV content? Great. Remind me why the gamer in me cares? How will the Elite improve my games? From a game saving and demo download standpoint, a 20 GB hard drive is more than enough (hint: you were right the first time, Microsoft). After all, despite whom Elite is being pitched to, gamers are the ones really buying the product. The only thing “elite” about Microsoft’s new Xbox 360 is its price. At $480, it’s just $20 shy of the once-available, now-defunct 20GB PS3. Shedding the contrarian in me, the extra hard drive space and bundled HDMI support (including cable) is nice from a non-gamer standpoint. DVD upscaling is appreciated too. But as a gamer, it’s hard to get excited about the Elite. And this isn’t to say it won’t sell; we just wish it was selling “more” to gamers.”

TIPS

About has published a tutorial on How To Transfer Data From 20GB to 120GB HDD;

“Connect your 20GB HDD to your new Elite console, Turn Elite system on and make sure a controller is recognized, Connect large end of the transfer cable to the 120GB HDD, Connect USB end of transfer cable to a USB port on your Elite console, Insert Hard Drive Transfer Disc into your Elite and follow the onscreen instructions, When the transfer is complete, you disconnect the 20GB HDD from the Elite and connect the 120GB HDD and you are all set”

VIDEOS

FEATURES

Xbox 360 Elite console: The console is equipped with a premium black finish and an HDMI port and like all Xbox 360 systems, comes with three powerful core processors, 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI cable and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.
Xbox 360 120GB hard drive: The huge 120GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, extra game levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Also sold separately.
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black): The sleek black finish of this high-performance wireless controller matches the style of the Elite Console. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. Also sold separately.
Xbox 360 headset (black): Now available in black, the headset lets you strategize while playing together online or trade taunts with your opponents. You can also send voice messages to friends on Xbox LIVE.
Xbox 360 HDMI cable: New to Xbox 360, HDMI lets you get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.
Xbox LIVE Silver Membership: With this, gamers can chat with friends online, collect achievements and gamerscores, send and receive voice and text messages, and access Xbox LIVE Marketplace content such as game demos, HD movies and TV, as well as the best in downloadable games from Xbox LIVE Arcade.
One-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold: An Xbox LIVE Gold Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience. Subscribe to this premium service and engage in competitive online multiplayer matches, tailor your matchmaking via feedback and accomplishments, chat with more than one person at a time, and take advantage of unique privileges in Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Xbox LIVE Arcade.