Best gaming consol

Noire , and Dark Souls Remastered. The Nintendo Switch is also a great companion console for anyone who already own a PlayStation or Xbox console. Read our full Nintendo Switch review. We picked up the OLED to take advantage of the bigger, more vibrant screen. And the larger 7. The Switch OLED is an excellent choice because it uses all the accessories from the previous model including Joy-Con controllers , dock, microSD memory cards, and, of course, games.

This means users who are upgrading can use all of their old accessories on the new OLED model. While the Switch OLED does play all the same games as the original Switch, games simply look better on the new machine — at least in handheld mode.

This is a huge improvement over the thin, flimsy kickstand on the original model. Overall, the original Switch still gets the job done, but the OLED model is a significant improvement in more ways than one. Why you should buy this: This last-gen console has a healthy catalog of top-tier games and the price tag has dropped since the release of the PS5. This console delivers an impressive playing experience for 4K television owners because of the enhanced graphics and sharper images for 4k-enabled titles.

Read our full Playstation 4 Pro review. Why you should buy this: The Nintendo Switch Lite is the best handheld game console out right now. Why we picked the Nintendo Switch Lite: If you plan on only using your Nintendo Switch in handheld mode, the Nintendo Switch Lite makes for a great option at a slightly lower price point. It lacks the television docking support of the standard system, but features a smaller size and a slightly better battery life than the updated Switch console that launched last year.

The standard Switch comes with two removable Joy-Cons that can be used as individual motion controllers, making it ideal for playing with a friend while on the go.

Nintendo Switch games come in durable cartridges rather than on Blu-ray discs, making them easy to store in a case and travel with. The console also has expandable storage via MicroSD card, so you can boost the fairly small 32GB internal storage by up to 2TB to save more digital games. The cheaper Switch Lite is an ideal choice for solo portable play, but it lacks the ability to connect to a TV and it doesn't use removable Joy-Con controllers.

The Switch Lite battery lasts for about seven hours, while the standard Switch can last for up to nine hours. If you plan to share your console with friends or family, you should definitely pay the extra money for the standard Switch, since the extra portable controllers, dock, and the TV output are worth the money. Even if you're not looking for a portable system, the Switch is still a very capable home console with a large library that's especially great for families. As a minor point of frustration, the Switch does not support Bluetooth headphones, but it does have a headphone jack and USB-C devices like the Genki Bluetooth adapter will let you connect headphones wirelessly.

No portable gaming console can compare to the Switch's library and value at this price point — it's just a matter of whether you want to invest in the standard Switch or the Switch Lite. Of course, if you're just looking for a way to play games while you travel, you can stream games to your smartphone using a video game streaming service like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Google's Stadia and connect a controller to play.

Cons: Dolby Vision doesn't work when playing Blu-ray discs, movies purchased through the Xbox store can only be streamed to the console so you can't download them for offline viewing. The Xbox Series X is a multimedia powerhouse, boasting support for 4K Blu-rays and most popular streaming apps.

Unlike PlayStation, Xbox offers movies and TV shows through its digital storefront, allowing you to build an entertainment library that can easily be carried over to Windows PCs and tablets. PlayStation doesn't support Dolby Vision at all yet, though a future update could potentially add that feature too.

In terms of settings, the Xbox Series X also offers a bit more control than the PS5 with its support for p resolution and variable refresh rate on applicable screens. The Xbox Series X is arguably more powerful than the PlayStation 5 in terms of performance, but the PS5's exclusives and unique DualSense controller make it slightly more appealing for most gamers.

Still, if you're looking for a living room centerpiece, Xbox Series X will deliver the best possible experience for both games and movies. Pros: Great price for next-gen hardware, support for Xbox Game Pass, backwards compatible with thousands of Xbox One and Xbox games. Cons: No disc drive for games or Blu-rays, GB storage space can be filled quickly, can only be expanded with a special card from Seagate.

This more budget-friendly Xbox console can play all the same games as the more powerful Xbox Series X, with a few significant trade-offs. The Series S doesn't have a Blu-ray disc drive, so you'll be limited to digital games on the console's solid state drive. Xbox Series S has GB of storage space available for games after installing the operating system, and you can buy an expansion card to add another 1TB. Xbox Series S and Switch share the same price, but budget-focused gamers will get more value out of the Xbox's multimedia features and other benefits like Xbox Game Pass.

The Xbox Series S doesn't have the same level of graphics performance as the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, so it's best to save for those consoles if you're worried you won't have the best visual quality.

The Series S does support 4K resolution playback though, unlike the Switch. Pros: Dozens of games pre-installed on the console, HDMI support for playback at p, save state features make it easy to pick up where you left off.

Cons: Retro console stock is limited so prices can vary based on availability, controllers are still wired. With publications in TechRadar, Stuff, and Polygon, he's been covering gaming since He was impressed by the power of the Xbox Series X.

Jeremy Laukkonen is a tech generalist who's written for Lifewire since He covers games extensively and reviewed the Xbox Series S which he liked for its value.

While gaming consoles are reliant on an internet connection for much of their functionality, having a stable connection isn't entirely essential. However, not connecting your console will severely hamper its features and your overall enjoyment. Besides not being able to play with your friends online, you won't be able to get updates for your console or games, purchase or download games digitally, or have access to the multitudes of free games that typically become available over the course of a console's lifetime.

Modern consoles do have a limited capacity for upgrades, but this is usually restricted to storage and aesthetics. Unfortunately, there is no way to install granular upgrades like you would see with a gaming PC, but you still have the option to increase your storage space or swap its color for something more palatable.

Since their launch, both of these consoles have been red-hot commodities and nearly impossible to find. Some of the blame can be placed on scalpers buying up available stock and reselling it at a disgusting markup. However, the larger problem that has been plaguing these consoles is an overall shortage of the chips that are used in the manufacturing of these consoles.

There was a massive demand for these parts in , and that is likely to continue through this year while supply catches up with demand. You can also find great deals on classic systems. 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.

How important is it to you to be able to play your favorite games in true 4K? The same goes for virtual reality, as not all systems will support it. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.

Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. By Alex Williams Alex Williams. Alex Williams is an experienced tech writer with an interest in wearable technologies. He focuses on everything from gaming headsets to headphones. Fact checked by Rich Scherr. Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire.

Tweet Share Email. While it now has titles such as Doom, Skyrim and LA Noire, many of these have been available on other platforms for months, if not years.

We're slowly watching that change but the latest and greatest releases may still not make it here purely due to a lack of power. It's also worth being aware that you're likely to need to purchase a separate microSD card for this console at some point as its internal memory is restrictive. What the Switch does offer is portability and exclusive titles that you won't find on either Xbox or PlayStation.

So if you're a Mario or Zelda fan, then it's worth picking up a Switch as you won't find these adventures on any other platform. If the standard Switch model is a bit basic for you, then it's worth checking out the Nintendo Switch OLED above for a bigger screen and more vivid colors. This is our full Nintendo Switch review.

These are the best Nintendo Switch deals at the moment. The Nintendo Switch Lite is a dedicated handheld alternative to the original Switch, boasting the same power as the original, but in a smaller - and lighter - package.

It's also worth noting that the Lite is a solely handheld device and, while you can connect Joy-Cons to it, it's meant to be used by a single player. That means you can't dock it and it doesn't actually come with any Joy-Cons in the box. It also means that you are can't play all the games in the Switch library - mainly those that require docked mode or are party games. While Joy-Cons will attach, the screen is a bit too small to play properly. The Switch Lite is for those who aren't particularly fussed by the Switch's docked mode and would rather take their games on the go.

The smaller screen makes for more comfortable portable play. Like the Nintendo Switch, you may need separate microSD card for this console at some point as its internal memory is restrictive. Buy this if you want: A more portable, comfortable alternative to the Nintendo Switch. This is our full Nintendo Switch Lite review. We also have a list of the best Nintendo Switch games the console has to offer - though some may not be compatible with the Lite.

Interested in the handheld? Check out the cheapest Nintendo Switch Lite prices and bundle deals. But the Nintendo Switch is also a fantastic games console for those who want the option to take their games on the go.

The next big console release will be the Steam Deck , which releases in December. Vic is TechRadar's Gaming Editor. You may have even heard her on the radio or speaking on a panel. Not only is Vic passionate about games, but she's also an avid mental health advocate who has appeared on both panels and podcasts to discuss mental health awareness. Make sure to follow her on Twitter for more. North America. Included in this guide: 1.

Looking for the best games console of ? PlayStation 5. GPU: Usable storage: IO throughput: 5. PlayStation 4 Pro. Specifications Dimensions: