Xbox 360 Elite: HDMI-enabled black unit in late April for $479, limited-edition

by Christopher Grant { Mar 20th 2007 at 11:20AM }

Update: Engadget has the scoop on the limited-edition 'Xbox 360 Elite'! (Details below.)

Looks like Game Informer's black Xbox 360 rumor wasn't so much a rumor as it was a pending exclusive in their shiny mag. Of course, GI weren't the first outlet to whisper secrets about an elusive revision of the Xbox 360 -- actually, Engadget got pics of the console's (dubbed Zephyr) HDMI port, proving its existence. Now, GI's April issue has the deets.

This news has been floating around for a couple days -- first hitting NeoGAF and subsequently our tips line -- but, Kotaku has managed to get some pics of the page and even confirmation from GI that this isn't an April Fool's hoax. So, without further delay, the specs:

Uh, it's black
HDMI port and HDMI cable (oh, you bullies!)
120GB hard drive (but you told us 20GB was more than enough!)
A $479 price tag (ouch!)
No HD-DVD integration (yup), the "format's not proven" (pssst, and it's being outsold)
The 120GB hard drive will be available for under $200 (uh, we certainly hope so!)
It's coming in "late April"

Engadget adds:

Dubbed the Xbox 360 Elite
Limited-edition; probably a couple hundred thousand units
Case, controller, and headset will be black; new packaging
Confirmed: 3rd SKU; sold alongside Premium and Core bundles
Elite runs cooler than other models
Eventually Elite hardware (in white) will replace Premium; estimated to be in late summer or fall

Our questions:

Where the hell is the built-in WiFi? Seriously. Our DS Lite has it built-in -- and DS is only $30 more than the 360's adapter! (Engadget: "There are no current plans to integrate WiFi into the Elite or future Premiums...")
~~Will this be a third SKU, or will they finally pull the Core?~~ Yeah, #3.
Will the ~~Zephyr~~ Elite release come coupled with price-drops for the other SKUs? (Engadget: "Prices may remain the same with the 120GB / HDMI hardware upgrade in the Premium Xbox, but we may still see a price cut on the line when 65nm chips start shipping.")
Does this model have the desirable, albeit delayed, 65nm chips? (Engadget: "not yet confirmed to have 65nm chips.")
How pissed off will early adopters be?

Tags: Elite, HDMI, xbox360elite, Zephyr

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)

Quigley Guy @ Mar 20th 2007 11:27AM

I dont want it in black :(

Intentless @ Mar 20th 2007 11:28AM

The only part that pisses me the hell off is the larger hard drive... Although my Gears Faceplate will look so much better on this one...

Frosty @ Mar 20th 2007 11:28AM

HDMI doesn't really bother me. My optical/vga combo seems to do the trick rather nicely. Harddrive would be a convenience... but I make due with the 20gb. All and all it looks like a nice spec and if I did not buy a 360 many moons ago I would probably get this one, but I've been very happy with the 360 that I currently have. The additions are conveniences to me (convenience of one cable and convenience of not having to constantly delete data when my 20 giger fills up).

Jonah Falcon @ Mar 20th 2007 11:28AM

I'm not pissed off. I have no use for the HDMI, etc. And the HD will be seperately sold.

Jack of No Trades @ Mar 20th 2007 11:29AM

MS is the best! Hell yea I will buy it!

Thryon @ Mar 20th 2007 11:29AM

I'll get one.

As an early adopter, I am not pissed one bit. Why should I?

PS1, PS2, Nintendo DS, Gameboy, Sega Genesis, all consoles I can remember getting redesigned....no major kicking and screaming there.

Daniel D @ Mar 20th 2007 11:30AM

Uh So what if HD DVD is being outsold you make it sound as if "blu-ray" is a proven technology. When it isn't either.

Also if you don't want it in black then I suggest you avoid buying it in black.

Dolla Dolla @ Mar 20th 2007 11:30AM

Hello 360 Purchase. Hot Damn.

I wish Castle Crashers was being released :(

dvdguy @ Mar 20th 2007 11:31AM

I wasn't pissed when the Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1 and PS2 were updated during their lifecycle. As a 360 owner since launch, I don't mind at all. Choices are good.

If you have a 360 and want this one, sell it or trade it in somewhere.

blamecanada @ Mar 20th 2007 11:31AM

$80 more for a larger HDD? HDMI should be added to all SKU's imo just because MS has always said that the lower 360's will be upgradeable to the higher specs. I want to see this at $400 w/ the premium accessories, and the current premium put at $300 w/ the core accessories.

Brandon Johnson @ Mar 20th 2007 11:34AM

No I'm not angry. If I do ever need a bigger hard drive I will just get it seperate. And I don't really need HDMI since I don't own a HDtv.

Daniel @ Mar 20th 2007 11:35AM

The 360 looks excellent hooked up via VGA, no real reason for me to be pissed.
You can always buy a 120gb drive for your old 360.
... and a can of black spray paint.

Myke @ Mar 20th 2007 11:37AM

Love the black, gotta rock it, Son of a B!!!!!

White Rose Duelist @ Mar 20th 2007 11:37AM

I'm not sure why Microsoft would be trying to make their console more like the PS3. I mean, the 360 is succeeding.

I'm almost certainly getting a 360 in the future, but with no HDTV and no plans to download large-scale content like TV programs, the Premium is more than enough for me. Just drop its price already and you'll make another sale!

Oxybeles @ Mar 20th 2007 11:37AM

Microsoft should allow all early adopters to purchase the Upgraded unit for $100 with Trade. Maybe; $50.

Flit @ Mar 20th 2007 11:37AM

Huh. Don't know how i feel about this. Would have hoped for it to be $399 and a price drop on the other two (or get rid of core all together). I'm staying away from the 360 and ps3 until they are practical to own without making 30 small children into gold farmers to afford them.

I miss the good old days of the original xbox. Still is a great machine and didn't have 4 different sku's. (Ninja Gaiden still looks better than some ps3 games).

Scott @ Mar 20th 2007 11:38AM

As a buyer at launch, I'm not pissed. Just hope that the 120GB HDD is sold separately at a reasonable price.

Richard Mitchell @ Mar 20th 2007 11:38AM

"So, early adopter, how pissed are you?"

"So pissed."

:)

Billy @ Mar 20th 2007 11:39AM

I can't believe they're going to charge almost 500 for it. The 360 has been in production for over 18 months now, surely their costs have dropped considerably. The current $400 model should move to 300 or 329 or something, and this new one should be 400. The only thing you're getting is 100GB and HDMI... that's not worth an additional $80 for something that has been the same specs and the same price for 16 months.

Oh wait, I get it... they're pulling an Apple and chargin a premium simply because it's black... oh yah, that's really hip. Nevermind, I'm totally going to go out and buy ten of them now, because they're black. :P

jsn @ Mar 20th 2007 11:40AM

why would anyone be pissed? It's cool that it's in black, but I like the white one just as well. The bigger HD is moot, because is anyone REALLY going to trust putting all their media on a console? I would not, which is why I have it stored safely on the network. HDMI is nice, but certainly not a big deal since 1080p is practically meaningless, every TV still has component inputs and DRM isn't going to be a problem for years to come in HD movie formats.

Dolla Dolla @ Mar 20th 2007 11:40AM

@White Rose Duelist

The Premium will drop in price, at least $50. And, if you ever do want to upgrade the HDD, you can, cause they'll be selling the 120GB separately for less than $200 (199? lol)

I knew they would have to increase the hard drive for the IPTV release in May. I just hope these have the 65nm processor.

Andy @ Mar 20th 2007 11:41AM

My question is, this being the April edition, what are the odds its an April Fools joke?

On the serious side, will this come with premium accessories like wireless controllers and all? Or will we have to shell out for that stuff also?

LongshotX @ Mar 20th 2007 11:42AM

Well I just wonder how you will transfer data from either Hard drive and whether there will be a trade in program. I also wonder if it'll be the quieter and cooler Xbox 360.

chris ciancanelli @ Mar 20th 2007 11:43AM

Anyone else notice that this is in the April issue? Magazines always pull jokes like this, and I'm not saying that it is definitely a joke, but certainly up for speculation.

Defenestrator2.0 @ Mar 20th 2007 11:44AM

Early adopters won't be as pissed off as late purchasers. I got a 360 in December, and I'm pissed off now that they're coming out with the Zephyr, and it's too late to return my 360.

Phil @ Mar 20th 2007 11:45AM

Not pissed and no need to purchase:

I only have a 480P TV so I don't need HDMI.
I have an external USB hard drive that is 60GB if my current 20GB hard drive ever gets full.
I like the color of my current 360.

jsn @ Mar 20th 2007 11:45AM

and hey, if you don't like the price, don't buy it, it's as simple as that. It's only a little bit more than the premium system currently and it gives you HDMI and a bigger HD. IF those are things you wanted adn were holding off buying a 360 for, great, now you can buy one and it doesn't cost much more. IF you already have a 360, it's hardly a reason to upgrade.

Myke @ Mar 20th 2007 11:45AM

They contacted GI and the editor confirmed it was true and that there was no joke in the works, they swore on Katamari.

joemama @ Mar 20th 2007 11:50AM

*****
OMG! Another LIE from Microsoft!
*****
They denied this repeatedly, then they come out with it. And what about all their previous statments that HDMI was unnecessary for the "HD Generation"?

Nice to see they've further punished anyone who's already invested in one of their consoles, after a record short time, and further fractured the 360 user base - those with hard drive, those without; those with HD-DVD, those without; those with HDMI, those without.

Anyone considering purchasing this system may want to wait another 9 months for the 720 to come out.

KR @ Mar 20th 2007 11:50AM

My question:

Can we transfer stuff between hard drives if we already have the premium?

If not, piss off. MS should think ahead more than they are if this is something they didn't bother to do.

And how about that HDMI cable? So are we going to find out that MS was lying when they said the 360 was capable of HDMI and they'd release it "when the time was right?" If they weren't lying, then we should also see an HDMI adapter/cable released for the current model 360. Right?

...

Right?

Neal @ Mar 20th 2007 11:50AM

WTF is going on with my comment not posting....

Anyway...

Add on Wireless network support and you're at about the same price as the PS3 only you don't have HD-DVD or Blu-Ray.

What a ripoff.

Finn @ Mar 20th 2007 11:51AM

I'm with Defenestrator2.0 I bought in late November and had I known probably would have waited

nim @ Mar 20th 2007 11:51AM

ZOMG TEH APRIL ISSUE!!!! APRIL! A P R I L
Sounds like an April fools joke to me.

sheppy @ Mar 20th 2007 11:52AM

I can't help but wonder what this one will look like with red lights...

*stares sternly at his fifth 360*

Neal @ Mar 20th 2007 11:54AM

@ 35

Get a PS3

colin @ Mar 20th 2007 11:54AM

sold

CW @ Mar 20th 2007 11:54AM

I'm going to be first in line to shell out $480 on top of
the $400 I already spent!

This is going to kick some serious Playstation ass!

Maybe next they can release one with builtin wifi and some memory card slots? I'd easily pay another $400 or more for that one too when it comes out.

If I can get $100 on each trade in, my $1000 in XBox hardware is going to be so sweet compared to PS3. And
it would be totally worth it, because not only does my HD-DVD not work with my PS3, but it looks like a white piece of shit next to it. It's going to look way better next to my black XBOX.

Jason @ Mar 20th 2007 11:54AM

Hmmm, interesting. Double the hard drive than the 600 PS3, for cheeper...yikes. Defenatly bad news for Sony.

MS: 120 gig black model for $479! Suck it bitches!

Sony: HEY! Quit copying our idea! *Plays with SIXAXIS*

Meanwhile, Nintendo quietly goes for a swim in its money.

ShaleX @ Mar 20th 2007 11:55AM

I've been playing kick ass Xbox 360 games for almost a year and a half... i wasn't pissed about the DS Lite, I'm not pissed about this.

Rowdy Rob @ Mar 20th 2007 11:55AM

This thing looks ugly in its dull plastic black. Hopefully there will be less rings of death will this model. I have no desire to go out and buy the new model, i have component and i dont DL TV shows or put videos on my 360, i have a computer. Im sure new adopters might buy this. However i still dislike MS for saying stuff or picking at another console, PS3, then including the stuff on their revision anyway. "20GB is more than enough room" Yet here we have them using a 120GB hard drive. They also mocked the price of the PS3 beeing $500-$600 yet there new model costs $479 now. Also Peter Moore said in an interview, that he didnt think there was anything was missing from the 360 or that an HDMI port was neccesary, but they included that in the update anyway.

dolemite @ Mar 20th 2007 11:56AM

I applaud the addition of the HDMI port, but why the higher price? I guess because gamers will pay it(answered my own question), but now the 360 is damn near the same price as the PS3(my PS3 was 499). What happened to trying to lower the price, not raise it? and how many of these will be sold to current owners rather than to new customers? that is a number I'd like to see.

REUYL @ Mar 20th 2007 11:58AM

I just want a 360 Premium with the new 65nm CPU.

CW @ Mar 20th 2007 11:58AM

Question: is the ring of death still going to be red?

polly @ Mar 20th 2007 12:01PM

ha ha april fools...how amusing

sheppy @ Mar 20th 2007 12:01PM

"Hmmm, interesting. Double the hard drive than the 600 PS3, for cheeper...yikes. Defenatly bad news for Sony."

Key difference here, sporto...

Microsoft wants $200 for this...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136007

This is what's pumping in my PS3 and I didn't have to go through Sony to do it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148073

Open peripheral platform FTW.

ill trooper @ Mar 20th 2007 12:02PM

As an early adoptor, I'm sorta pissed. I wish I had that hard drive. I don't like the black on the 360. Still no WiFi.

But that's a good value, and the 360 is a great system. Nice one Microsoft!

Neal @ Mar 20th 2007 12:04PM

@ Jason

You're forgetting the 479 dollar system with the bigger hard drive is also lacking WiFi and Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. Thats another 300 by Microsoft prices (100 WiFi, 200 HD-DVD) So, now you're at $779 instead of the $599 Sony price (which also has 1080p)

You're getting ripped off by Microsoft, not Sony. Go do your homework.