Video game consoles have changed so much since they were first invented. 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 to never stop. The Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 — the next-generation gaming consoles by Microsoft and Sony — hit the shelves last year with $499.99 stickers, and are pretty impossible to find at those prices today.
Honestly, patience is the most important thing you need before embarking on a journey to buy a new gaming console. Due to a combination of insanely high demand and global supply chain issues, getting your hands on just about any gaming rig is a massive challenge. The products are impossible to find in stock, and according to yet another report, they won’t be easy to get a hold of soon, either. We suggest keeping a close eye on major retailers like Amazon, BestBuy, and Walmart. You can also follow them on social media for possible announcements about stock availability.
Gaming Performance
In terms of 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 what a high-quality gaming PC can produce — when paired with a compatible TV.
Nintendo’s products don’t offer the same high-powered gameplay and streaming capabilities as their Microsoft and Sony rivals. However, thanks to next-level versatility and exclusive access to iconic characters and titles like Mario and Zelda, they're hugely popular. 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 like 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 increased demand, the 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.
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 accessories for it, too.
Editor's Note: The Sony PlayStation 5 is currently out of stock at all major retailers. However, we'll be checking in and updating availability accordingly.
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, as well as 8K output. Sony’s finest console yet 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 fantastic DualSense controller has haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone and audio jack. Additional accessories for the console are also available.
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 its rivals from Microsoft and Sony, it can transition from a mobile gaming rig to a home gaming console by docking it into a station. Powered by individually backlit pixels, its screen incredibly vibrant, making handheld gaming even more enjoyable.
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.
You need to spend extra on Google Stadia and controllers
Key Specs
4K 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 Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service. This offers access to a stellar library of top-rated titles for only $10 per month.
Users can easily expand their collection by purchasing the hottest titles via the Stadia store. Best of all, they can also access Google Stadia on their phone, laptop, or tablet while away from their TV.
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.
Launched alongside the mighty Xbox Series X, the reasonably priced Xbox Series S is our favorite entry-level gaming console by Microsoft. The elegant console is capable of delivering HDR-enhanced gameplay in high resolution, with stellar graphics.
The Xbox Series S ships with a redesigned gaming controller, and 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 stream 4K and HDR video content from Netflix and other popular services, too. Note though, that the console lacks a disc drive. It also ships with less onboard memory than the Series X.
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.
The latest Apple TV 4K is great for gaming, thanks to a powerful chip and support for controllers (including Xbox and PlayStation ones). It also allows iPhone and iPad users to game on a larger 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 high-quality content from all major streaming services.
Stefan VazharovSenior Technology EditorStefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015; He previously covered tech products for GSMArena.com and his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics.
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