From the most powerful to the most affordable

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Getting your hands on the greatest gaming console for your specific needs is almost a must, whether you’re new to console gaming or just looking to upgrade your current setup. Even while it’s getting cheaper to construct your own computer, gaming consoles still frequently provide considerably better value than a full-fledged gaming PC, allowing you to experience all the newest and best titles for less money.

Since they have been on the market for more than three years, current-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S are widely accessible everywhere and frequently come in amazing bundles with well-loved games and top peripherals. But, you don’t have to choose between these three possibilities; you may also think about portable systems like the Super Pocket and Steam Deck, which are essentially simply handheld PCs.

It’s no secret that there are a tonne of elements to take into account when choosing a new console, making the process quite daunting. These can include the pricing range you have in mind as well as the performance standard you hope to reach. Of course, you should also take into account the console’s general appearance and the allure of any platform-exclusive games you really want to play. Fortunately, we’ve thoroughly examined every major console now available on the market and put together this helpful guide to help you decide which new system is best for you.

QUICK LIST

• BEST OVERALL: PlayStation 5
• BEST PERFORMANCE: Xbox Series X
• BEST BUDGET: Xbox Series S
• BEST HANDHELD: Nintendo Switch OLED
• BEST FOR KIDS: Nintendo Switch Lite

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1. PlayStation 5

The best gaming console

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)

GPU: 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency)

GPU Architecture: Custom RDNA 2 ‘Oberon’

Memory interface: 16GB GDDR6 / 256-bit

Memory bandwidth: 448GB/s

Internal storage: Custom 825GB SSD

Usable storage: 667.2GB

IO throughput: 5.5GB/s (raw), typical 8-9GB/s (compressed)

Expandable storage: NVMe SSD slot

External storage: USB HDD support (PS4 games only)

Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-ray Drive (for standard edition)

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The PS5, with its amazing collection of unique titles that includes Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Stellar Blade, and The Last of Us Part 1, is unquestionably one of the greatest platforms available today. Although on paper it may not be nearly as powerful as the Xbox Series X, it still delivers excellent performance and a large selection of first- and third-party games. It is possible to anticipate playing some games at 4K resolutions and with ray tracing.

Another standout feature is the DualSense Wireless Controller from Sony, which comes with the device. It has a very cosy design and excellent haptic feedback. With a price tag of $499.99 / $479.99, this product offers a lot of value in comparison to its competitors. While buying games on discs can be a wonderful deal, if you only want to add more games to your library online, there is a less expensive digital edition available for $379.99 / $399.99 that does not require a disc drive.

It is worth noting, though, that if you purchase a lot of digital games, the console’s storage capacity can become a problem. Despite having 667.2GB of available space out of the box—which sounds like a lot—the console will quickly fill up because many of the greatest PS5 games have big file sizes. To aid with this problem, consider getting something from our guide on the best SSD for PS5.

The digital and disc version of the base model has been essentially superseded by a new PS5 model that is currently available. This version offers the option to buy a detachable Ultra HD Blu-Ray disc drive, is somewhat thinner, and has a slightly prettier look. To find out more, see our thorough analysis of every change in the new model.

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2. Xbox Series X

The most powerful gaming console

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: 8x Cores @ 3.8 GHz (3.6 GHz w/ SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU

GPU: 12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU

Die Size: 360.45 mm2

Process: 7nm Enhanced

Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 w/ 320b bus

Memory Bandwith: 10GB @ 560 GB/s, 6GB @ 336 GB/s

Internal Storage: 1TB Custom NVME SSD

I/O Throughput: 2.4 GB/s (Raw), 4.8 GB/s

Expandable Storage: 1TB Expansion Card (matches internal storage exactly)

External Storage: USB 3.2 External HDD Support

Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-ray Drive

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

If speed is your primary priority, the Xbox Series X is easily the most powerful console currently on the market from a technical standpoint. As such, it’s our recommendation. Many of the best Xbox Series X games have amazing visual and aural qualities, largely due to the excellent use of Dolby Atmos surround sound and Dolby Vision, which perfectly match the high-end specifications of the system.

The Xbox Series X, which costs $499 / £479, is considerably superior to anything you could get in the gaming laptop or PC market for that amount of money. Similar to the PS5, the Xbox Series X supports 4K and is compatible with ray tracing and other desirable graphical capabilities. The system is also unlikely to see any storage speed issues anytime soon because it uses Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD technology for its storage.

The Xbox Series X’s software catalogue is one area where it might fall short—it doesn’t have as many interesting console exclusives as the PS5. On the other hand, Xbox Game Pass helps offset this by giving users access to a large library of games for a cheap monthly fee. Additionally, there is outstanding backwards compatibility that lets you play games from the first Xbox—far better than what the PS5 has to offer.

That’s not to argue that the Xbox Series X doesn’t have a few good exclusives of its own. One of the best racing games available is Forza Horizon 5, and fans of simulators will undoubtedly enjoy Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is an incredibly attractive and hardware-intensive game. There are several multi-platform games available as well, such as the excellent Sonic Superstars and Lords of the Fallen.

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3. Xbox Series S

The best budget gaming console

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: 8-core 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT) custom AMD 7nm

GPU: 4 teraflops at 1.565GHz

RAM: 10GB GDDR6

Frame rate: Up to 120fps

Resolution: 1440p with 4K upscaling

Optical: No disk drive

Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD

Usable storage space: 364GB

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

With a price tag of under $299.99 / £249.99, the Xbox Series S offers remarkable value. That’s also prior to additional savings, which often result in the price being cut to as low as $249.99 / £199.99 or the inclusion of bundled games to strengthen the package.

When choosing the Xbox Series S over its bigger sibling, the PS5, or both, you are making a lot of compromises, even though its low price makes it the clear winner for the finest inexpensive gaming console. To begin with, the device does not have a physical disc drive and can only output in 1440p as opposed to the Xbox Series X’s 4K resolution. This implies that games won’t appear quite as crisp, particularly if you’re using a costly gaming TV or 4K monitor.

If you’re downloading a lot of the larger games that are available on Xbox Game Pass, the 512GB SSD can also start to fill up sooner than you think. A Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card may be added to fix this, but if you want the higher capacity models, this is a costly alternative. As an alternative, a somewhat more expensive Series S variant with 1TB of storage space is now offered in Carbon Black for $349.99/£299.99.

For a tenth of the cost of the Xbox Series X, you can still play all the fantastic titles from the current Xbox generation, like Forza Motorsport and Starfield, on this device. With built-in apps for Netflix and Disney Plus, as well as a 1440p resolution that helps make images appear much clearer than they would on a 1080p screen, it’s an ideal video streaming centre.

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4. Nintendo Switch OLED

The best handheld console

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: 4 x 9.5 x 5.4 inch(W x L x H) with Joy-Cons

GPU: 768MHz (docked)/307.2MHz (undocked) Nvidia custom Tegra SOC

RAM: 4 GB

Max Resolution: 1080p (docked); 720p (handheld)

Optical Drive: None

Storage: 64GB (expandable with MicroSD)

Portable battery life: approx 3 – 7 hours

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

Among Nintendo’s current system lineup, the Nintendo Switch OLED is without a doubt the best model. While it may have the same internal processing capability as the basic Nintendo Switch model, it features a much improved screen. The top Nintendo Switch games now appear better than ever when played in portable mode thanks to a larger 7-inch OLED panel.

The Nintendo Switch OLED costs $349.99 / £299.99, which is more than the basic Switch model but still far less than the PS5 and Xbox Series X, Sony and Microsoft’s current generation consoles. It is important to keep in mind that the Nintendo Switch OLED isn’t as powerful as these competing consoles, and users of games that have been ported to the system from other platforms may occasionally find their games to be a little less responsive.

Aside from the screen upgrades, it’s also important to note that the Nintendo Switch OLED has bigger speakers and a wider kickstand, making games sound better when the device isn’t docked and making tabletop gaming easier. It’s also not need to worry about having a limited collection of games because every Nintendo Switch title works with the OLED model.

Purchasing the older original Nintendo Switch Model is still advised in some situations, even with all of the improvements seen in the Nintendo Switch OLED. This means obtaining any conceivable limited edition models—like the adorable Animal Crossing Switch—or finding the best Nintendo Switch bundles and discounts.

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5. Nintendo Switch Lite

The best games console for kids and families

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: 3.6 x 8.2 x .55 inch

GPU: NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor

Screen: Capacitive touch screen / 5.5 inch LCD / 1280×720 resolution

Storage: 32GB (expandable)

Portable battery life: approx 3 – 7 hours

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

When it comes to family-friendly consoles, the Nintendo Switch Lite is our top pick. At $199.99 / £200, it is not only less expensive than the Nintendo Switch standard and Nintendo Switch OLED variants, but its smaller size makes it perfect for little hands (or just those who like a more compact device). Beyond that, you may choose from a wide range of vivid, upbeat hues, including blue, pink, purple, and yellow.

We discovered that the Nintendo Switch Lite is more resilient than the regular Nintendo Switch model thanks to its strong plastic structure, so it should survive a little bit longer. The Joy-Con controllers cannot be taken out, unlike the standard Switch, thus they cannot be misplaced.

Even though the screen is somewhat smaller than the Nintendo Switch OLED variant, it still has the same 720p resolution as both devices. You shouldn’t be concerned about games running less quickly just because you’re utilising a smaller PC because its performance is the same.

It’s important to remember the Nintendo Switch Lite’s primary drawback, though, which is that playing TV mode requires docking and connection to a TV. Rather, it is a system that is only portable. For other prospective purchasers, it is obviously something to consider, even though this might not be an issue for kids.

Best Gaming Console – FAQs

Is the PS5 or Xbox Series X cheaper?

Both the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 retail for about $500. Consider this while making your decision rather than the price if you have strong feelings about the exclusive games, subscription services, or controllers that come with each system. Additionally, watch out for any possible sales on each console.

Which gaming consoles is the most powerful?

The most powerful console is the Xbox Series X. However, there isn’t much of a difference in use between this and the PS5. Not only can both consoles output 4K images at steady frame rates, but they can also handle advanced features like 120Hz.

Is the Nintendo Switch OLED better than the Nintendo Switch?

Although the Nintendo Switch OLED has a better screen and more storage than the Nintendo Switch, there isn’t much of a performance difference in terms of raw power.

How we test gaming consoles

Here at TechRadar, we test and review gaming consoles in a similar manner to how we do it for any other piece of hardware or gaming gear: thoroughly.

All of the choices on this list of the greatest gaming consoles, nevertheless, need different care and testing. For instance, we will utilise a home console, such as a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, on a daily basis and use it as any other enthusiast or gamer would. We’ll be sure to test the device’s battery life, portability, and other features by taking it out and about on our commutes and vacations with handheld gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch OLED or Steam Deck.

We’ll also go in-depth into the inside hardware and technology, including how well a console’s storage holds up, how quickly games load and can be transferred, and how well-performing custom technical components—like the PS5’s DualSense controller’s haptic feedback—work.

We can better understand what a gaming console is like and how each one delivers different experiences with the use of all of this information and more. You can rely on our recommendations and reviews since we put them through a rigorous testing process.