Xbox 360 Premium Gets HDMI Port

Microsoft has quietly updated its mid-range Xbox 360 Premium model with an HDMI output, making the game console compatible with high-definition televisions and receivers. The HDMI port had been a major selling point of the high-end Xbox 360 Elite, which costs $100 more and features a larger hard drive.

Customers began noticing the HDMI port on the latest shipments of Xbox 360 units to retail stores, and Microsoft has confirmed it is phasing in the updated model. The Redmond company has not said whether the new Xbox 360 Premium features the rumored 65-nanometer chips that run cooler or quieter DVD drive, but it is likely. Xbox 360 Premium buyers can look for an HDMI logo on the box to ensure they receive the updated version.