Since your laptop's HDMI port likely won't accept an incoming signal, a USB video capture device is the only way to physically connect the two.
Connecting an Xbox Series S to a laptop screen is not possible with a simple HDMI cable due to the output-only nature of laptop HDMI ports. However, users have two viable alternatives: using a USB video capture card for a direct hardware-based connection (best for low latency if a quality card is used) or leveraging Xbox Remote Play for a wireless, software-based solution (best for convenience and zero cost). Each method has trade-offs in latency, cost, and quality. Ultimately, while a direct plug-and-play HDMI connection remains a common expectation, understanding the underlying hardware limitations enables gamers to successfully achieve their goal through proper technical workarounds. how to connect xbox series s to laptop with hdmi