All three consoles fit into their own special niches, with the PS5 having an advantage in exclusives at launch, the Series X being power graphically potent on paper, and the Nintendo Switch being the ideal portable device. You wouldn’t be remiss in owning all three of them, though most people will be picking between the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 (if they can find them in stock). In our humble opinion, everyone should buy a Nintendo Switch, it’s the best choice for the gamer on the go.
If you’re not much of a console gamer, you may be more interested in our list of the best gaming PCs. For all others, read on to see our take on the best current gaming consoles to buy.
Beyond the power boost, the new DualSense controller is an exciting innovation, packing in precise haptic feedback and adaptive, resistance-providing trigger buttons for a more immersive play experience. The PS5—which is available with or without a disc drive—also has a solid array of launch games, including excellent exclusives like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls. The rival Xbox Series X is a bit more powerful on paper and sports a more compact, entertainment center-friendly design along with other perks, but the PlayStation 5 provides more early reasons to invest in new hardware during these early days.
GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2 | CPU: AMD Ryzen | Storage: 825GB SSD | Optical Drive: Yes | Dimensions: 15.4"x4.1"x10.2" | Weight: 9.9 Lbs
The Nintendo Switch has 50 third-party publishers in partnership for developing its future games. Hits like Mario Kart 8, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey have given it a strong lineup. The Switch makes for a great system for parties with its mobile snap-off joy-con controllers–once out of its docking station, it acts like a tablet with its own dedicated screen that can be shared with others through split-screen multiplayer games.
GPU: Nvidia Custom Tegra Processor | CPU: Nvidia Custom Tegra Processor | Storage: 32GB Internal | Optical Drive: No | Dimensions: 4"x9.4"x.55" | Weight: .88 Lbs
Microsoft’s console is compatible with a wide array of past Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games, but is currently lacking any big, new exclusives to truly warrant the $499 asking price. It’s impressive hardware with a lot of potential ahead, although it could be well into 2021 before we start to see games that really make the most of this power-packed new Xbox.
The real value of the console comes from its ability to play all the same games as the Xbox Series X. It’s also backwards compatible, giving you a wide range of games to play. The most cost-effective feature might be that you can use the Series S with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, giving you access to a large library of games for a monthly fee.
GPU: AMD Custom Radeon RDNA 2 | CPU: AMD Custom Ryzen Zen 2 | Storage: 1TB SSD | Optical Drive: Yes | Dimensions: 5.9"x5.9"x11.9" | Weight: 9.8 Lbs
At two-thirds the price of a standard Nintendo Switch there’s a much lower barrier to entry, but it does come with a few sacrifices. Most notably, the Switch Lite doesn’t dock to a television, meaning you can only play games in handheld mode. Along with the lack of a built-in kickstand, that severely limits local multiplayer, but there are a handful of improvements over the OG Switch as well.
The form factor feels better in the hands, and the smaller size makes it easier to take with you on the go. There’s a real directional pad that works better than the OG Switch’s directional buttons, especially for platformers or fighting games. These upgrades make the Switch Lite perfect for anyone who plays exclusively in handheld mode who’s looking for a better option on the go.
GPU: NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor | CPU: NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor | Storage: 32GB Internal | Optical Drive: No | Dimensions: 3.6"x8.2"x.55" | Weight: .61 Lbs
Hardware-wise, Google created a Stadia-specific controller that can connect directly to WiFi to reduce latency. However, it’s not necessary to buy Google’s official Stadia controller—you can instead grab a third party controller like the Xbox One Elite or Dualshock 4.
If you do go with Google’s controller, you’ll have easier access to the suite of social features Stadia is experimenting with. Stadia looks to build on the groundwork laid by platforms like Twitch, putting gameplay, streaming, and social media in one place. Google has a lot of work to do to establish Stadia as a main player in the video game landscape, but its premise is certainly intriguing.
GPU: Vega 56 | CPU: Custom Intel CPU | Storage: N/A | Optical Drive: No | Dimensions: 4.3"x6.4" | Weight: 9.45 Oz
With the original look and feel of the 16-bit home console (only smaller) the Super NES Classic acts as a sort of timepiece for when gaming was reaching its peaks. Some of the best two-player games of its era are included and ready to play, such as Super Mario Kart and Street Fighter II Turbo. Defining games such as Megaman X, Earthbound, Kirby Super Star and Super Mario RPG return, too.
Any gamer wanting to relive their youth or introduce new gamers to a simpler time when the Internet was first starting should get the Super NES classic. Included are two wired Super NES Classic controllers for multiplayer action.
GPU: Mali-400 MP | CPU: ARM Cortex-A7 | Storage: 512GB Flash Storage | Optical Drive: No | Dimensions: 10"x2.68"x8" | Weight: 2.12 Lbs
While Luna is a great alternative to modern game consoles due to the low price of entry, there are a few drawbacks. It has fairly poor Android support, which means you may not be able to run it on your Android phone. It does work well on both Windows PC and macOS though, in addition to iOS, newer Fire TV devices, and even some televisions that have Fire TV built-in.
Andrew Hayward has written for Lifewire since 2019. With publications in TechRadar, Stuff, and Polygon, he’s been covering gaming since 2006. He was impressed by the power of the Xbox Series X.
Jeremy Laukkonen is a tech generalist who’s written for Lifewire since 2019. He covers games extensively and reviewed the Xbox Series S which he liked for its value.
What to Look for in a Gaming Console
Price
The newest gaming consoles can be pricey, but you don’t have to spend a lot for an exciting gaming experience. Nintendo’s mobile gaming system, Switch, for instance, is more than $100 cheaper than many of its competitors. You can also find great deals on classic systems.
Compatibility
If you’ve previously owned a gaming console, you should consider buying a new console that’s compatible with the library of games you’ve likely collected. For example, your PS4 won’t play games from older Sony consoles, but you can still access hundreds of older PlayStation titles using the PS Now streaming service. Xbox One, on the other hand, has much better backwards compatibility, not to mention a digital redemption scheme that lets you download newer versions of your existing games for free.
4K or VR support
How important is it to you to be able to play your favorite games in true 4K? If your answer is “very,” you’ll want a console that supports 2160p, like the Xbox One X, but if your answer is “not really,” you can settle for something else. The same goes for virtual reality, as not all systems will support it.
