The 7 Best Video Game Consoles Based on Hands-On Testing
Waste time (and villains) with these high-performance rigs.
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Video game consoles have changed so much since the Magnavox Odyssey — the first product of its kind — debuted half a century ago. Gone are the days of singularly focused, basic gaming. Today, the gaming console realm runs the gamut — from basic consoles that take you down memory lane to ultra-portable rigs for gaming on-to-go to insanely powerful offerings for high-res HDR and virtual reality gaming — the list is endless.
And the growth seems never to stop. The Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 — the next-generation gaming consoles by Microsoft and Sony — hit the shelves in late 2020 with $499.99 stickers. After being pretty impossible to find at those prices for a while, the cutting-edge gaming rigs are easier to get a hold of.
The Best Gaming Consoles
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What to Consider
Honestly, patience is among the most important things you need before embarking on a journey to buy a new gaming console. Even though supply issues have improved massively over the past year (the Microsoft Xbox Series S is now easy to find in stock), getting your hands on a top-tier gaming rig is still challenging. We suggest keeping a close eye on major retailers such as Amazon, BestBuy, and Walmart and following them on social media for possible announcements about stock availability.
Recently, Amazon made purchasing a PlayStation 5 and an Xbox Series X less frustrating by introducing an invite-based setup. Designed to ensure that real customers (not bots) buy a console, the retailer will notify you with an email when the product is in stock after granting your invite request.
Gaming Performance
Regarding actual gaming performance, you should know that the latest PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles are head and shoulders above their rivals. The PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X can deliver a 4K experience at up to a whopping 120 frames per second — more than a high-quality gaming PC can produce — when paired with the right TV (HDMI 2.1-equipped televisions are a must-have for the latest Microsoft and Sony consoles).
Nintendo’s products don’t offer the same high-powered gameplay and streaming capabilities as their Microsoft and Sony rivals. However, they’re hugely popular thanks to next-level versatility and exclusive access to iconic characters and titles like Mario and Zelda. Switch consoles are more affordable, too.
Home Entertainment Capabilities
Most of today’s finest gaming consoles also double as amazing streaming devices. Save for Nintendo’s product, any other option we suggest can stream 4K content from popular streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix, among others.
Our thoroughly researched picks from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo — the gaming console industry's titans — will allow you to enjoy today's latest (and greatest) video games with the highest quality. We also evaluated Apple and Google products to pick solid options for casual and budget-minded gamers — they may be cheaper, but they're pretty darn great.
Get ready to get your play on with these top-rated gaming consoles.
A note on availability: Due to high demand, some gaming consoles constantly fluctuate in and out of stock. We will frequently check and refresh the links to these products as they become available again.
Pros
- Exceptional gaming performance
- Rich selection of games and accessories
- Excellent content-streaming capabilities
Cons
- Bulky
Editor's Note: The Xbox Series X is available by invitation from Amazon. The product is in stock at Walmart.
Key Specs
- 4K gameplay at up to 120 frames per second
- 1TB of expandable storage
- Doubles as a streaming player
The Series X is the most powerful and entertaining Xbox yet. It can deliver stunning 4K gameplay with a high frame rate, which makes your graphics spectacular. Plus, it has 8K HDR and exceptional cloud gaming capabilities.
The console has an 8-core CPU, a 12-teraflop GPU, and ultra-fast memory and storage. Combined, the hardware bits also make video games load almost instantly.
The console also has a 4K Blu-Ray drive and the ability to deliver high-resolution content from popular streaming services. There are plenty of additional controllers and accessories for it, too.
Pros
- Fantastic gaming performance
- Best controller in the business
- Rich selection of games and accessories
Cons
- Storage upgrades are costly
Editor's Note: The Xbox Series X is available by invitation from Amazon. You can also find it at Best Buy and Walmart.
Key Specs
- 4K gameplay at up to 120 frames per second
- 1TB of expandable storage
- Doubles as a streaming player
Sony's PlayStation 5, like the Xbox Series X, can deliver 4K gameplay at up 120 frames per second and 8K output. Sony's finest console also rocks fast memory and storage for instantaneous interactions. It is an excellent streaming player, too.
Like its predecessor, the latest PlayStation is also capable of VR gaming. Its incredible DualSense controller has haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone and audio jack. Additional gaming controllers and other accessories for the console are also available.
Pros
- Unrivaled versatility
- Vibrant display
- Rich selection of exclusive titles
Cons
- Low gameplay resolution in handheld mode
Key Specs
- Full HD gameplay in TV mode; Standard HD in handheld mode
- 7-inch OLED display
- Up to 9 hours of battery life
Nintendo's latest Switch is a better version of a legendary product and the most versatile gaming console that money can buy. Unlike Microsoft and Sony rivals, it can transition from a mobile gaming rig to a home gaming console by docking it into a station.
Powered by individually backlit pixels, the OLED screen of the new Switch is a vast improvement over its predecessor's LCD unit. After hours of gaming, I can confirm that it is noticeably more vibrant.
The new Switch has excellent controllers and a constantly growing library of fun games with iconic characters. The new model's tabletop stand has improved, too.
The gadget also comes with a vast selection of accessories.
Pros
- Doubles as streaming player
- Easy setup
Cons
- Gaming resolution tops out at Full HD
Key Specs
- Full HD gameplay at up to 60 frames per second
- Doubles as a streaming player
- Bundled voice remote
This Chromecast console is the best option for budget-minded gamers because it supports NVIDIA's GeForce NOW cloud gaming service. The latter offers access to a stellar library of top-rated titles for only $10 per month, so long as you have access to a reliable internet connection.
Higher GeForce NOW membership tiers are also available. However, you should know that the cloud gaming resolution capacity of the streaming player tops out at Full HD.
The sub-$50 Chromecast with Google TV is compatible with Xbox and PlayStation controllers. It's powered by Google Assistant and can also serve as a superb 4K media player.
Pros
- Stellar gaming performance
- Excellent streaming capabilities
- Sleek design
Cons
- Could use more storage
Key Specs
- 1440p gameplay at up to 120 frames per second
- 512GB of expandable storage
- Doubles as a streaming player
Launched alongside the mighty Xbox Series X, the reasonably priced Microsoft Xbox Series S is the best entry-level option for high-performance gaming. It can deliver immersive, HDR-enhanced gameplay in QHD resolution (higher than Full HD).
The Xbox Series S ships with a redesigned gaming controller. Like the pricier Xbox Series X, the Series S is also compatible with an external keyboard and mouse, making for comfortable gaming.
The gaming console can also stream 4K and HDR video content from Netflix and other popular services. You should note, though, that the console lacks a disc drive. It also ships with less onboard memory than the Series X.
Pros
- Insanely portable
- Rich library of iconic games
- Large selection of accessories
Cons
- Underwhelming display
Key Specs
- 5.5-inch HD LCD touchscreen
- 32GB of expandable storage
- Up to 7 hours of battery life
For handheld gaming on the go, there's no better option than the Nintendo Switch Lite. It is the more compact variant of the Nintendo Switch with a much lower price tag.
Available in several eye-catching colors (yellow, turquoise, blue, and gray), the Lite looks even more adorable. We only wish it had a bigger and more vibrant display.
The Switch Lite is compatible only with games that support handheld mode, but unsurprisingly, there's a vast selection of titles to pick from.
Pros
- Excellent gaming perforfmance
- Seamless iPhone and iPad connectivity
- The best streaming player in the business
Cons
- Apple Arcade and controllers cost extra
Key Specs
- Apple A15 Bionic chip
- Up to 128GB of storage
- Bundled Siri remote
The latest Apple TV 4K is great for gaming, thanks to the A15 Bionic chip — the same that powers the iPhone 14 — and support for Xbox and PlayStation controllers. Plus, it allows iPhone and iPad users to game on a big screen via AirPlay connectivity.
There are plenty of cool titles to choose from in the App Store, too. The tech giant's own Apple Arcade service, on the other hand, brings access to a ton of exclusive, high-quality gaming titles for only $4.99 per month.
The Apple TV 4K is also today's best media player. It can deliver HDR-enhanced content with amazing quality from all major streaming services.
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