The Xbox One has been out on the market since 2013, which means Microsoft is due for an update. In preparation for the rollout of Scorpio and Xbox One S, the developer has slashed it prices to nearly half of its original asking price. But that doesn’t mean it’s now a cheap game console. Once taxes are included, it will still run gamers multiple of hundreds of dollars, making it quite the investment for those funding their purchase with allowance. When the system is as valuable as it is, adult and teenaged gamers should take all of the necessary steps to protect their console, and there’s no better way than with an Xbox One skin.
Skin, decal, or wrap — they all amount to the same thing: flexible pieces of vinyl that secure to the surface of the console, accommodating its various ports, fans, corners, and buttons. In covering the entire system (the Kinect Box and controllers included) it creates a barrier between the delicate machine and the outside world. Resilient against sharp edges and rough surfaces, it prevents any item from scoring the plastic of the console. It’s also grime-resistant and easy to clean, which will come as an added bonus to those who happen to snack as they play.
Protection detail isn’t their sole job. Xbox decals are true to their title. While the underside clings to your Xbox to create an impermeable seal, the external side can be stylized to take on your customized combination of colors and textures. If you click here you can see just how many options are at your fingertips. Between carbon fiber, wood, and metal textures with true colors like red, blue, and magenta, there’s something for everyone.
As you click through different looks, be sure to keep an eye out for other features, too. Though it’s easy to get caught up in the cool styles you can create, you need to check that your decal source can offer extreme precision in all of its iterations. Without this made-to-measure quality, the skin won’t fit your console. Too small and you’ll have large portions of your system go uncovered. Too large and overlap can seriously interfere with your gameplay, clogging fans and disrupting the smooth twirl of your toggle. The best Xbox One decals gamers can trust to fit will measure within a micro-millimeter of Microsoft’s blueprints, adding only 0.23 millimeters to its overall size.
Only once you can confirm this kind of fit can you go wild with your style, so be sure to check for this information first. A fully covered Xbox won’t just look great and play well. It will be a protected piece of tech that’s safe from wear and tear, which means you’ll have taken the appropriate steps to protect your investment—even if it’s cheaper than it’s ever been before.
