When purchasing new game consoles, the first question you should ask yourself is how you intend to use it. Do you like the Mario, Pokémon, or Zelda franchises? Do you require hardware capable of playing UHD Blu-rays and streaming 4K video? Are you searching for a simple, all-in-one entertainment system or a portable gaming computer?
It is now simpler than ever to find excellent gaming hardware, but it can be difficult to locate the most recent and greatest hardware during the holidays. The good news is that a variety of the finest handheld and stationary consoles are currently available.
Nintendo Switch OLED
With the release of the Switch OLED model, key QoL improvements were made to Nintendo’s flagship consoles. In handheld mode, it features a seven-inch OLED display and 64 GB of storage, which is double the storage capacity of the original Nintendo Switch.
From the 2017 Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to the near-perfect Super Mario 3D World remaster, the game library is outstanding.
The hardware’s playability remains a major selling point: it can be played on the go as a handheld by removing it from the dock.
You can play it on your TV with a controller, and you can share a Joy-Con with a friend to experience “couch co-op” in games such as Mario Kart and others. You can also use the included stand to hold it up as a shared screen when playing multiplayer games away from your television.
Every Switch currently available is susceptible to developing the “Joy-Con drift” issue, which is caused by a faulty thumbstick design, but Nintendo has promised free repairs for Joy-Con controllers that cease to function correctly. The failure of a Joy-Con is not optimal, but it is a risk worth taking for consoles with exclusives such as Super Mario Maker 2, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and Breath of the Wild.
If you just want great video game consoles and aren’t overly concerned with it meeting specific performance benchmarks or functioning as the ultimate entertainment system, the Nintendo Switch OLED model is an excellent option.
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Nintendo Switch Lite
If you don’t require all of the OLED Model’s features, you have another excellent Nintendo option. The Nintendo Switch Lite is an elegant, all-in-one solution to the problem of not having a Switch but wanting to play the latest Animal Crossing or indie game phenomenon.
The only limitation is that the controllers cannot be removed from the transportable configuration, so motion controls and other features are somewhat restricted.
Aside from its reduced screen and lack of a TV (“docked”) mode, the only other major drawbacks are the lack of a docking port and the absence of a TV mode. And its battery may not last as long as the larger, conventional OLED Switch’s battery. It is available in a variety of vibrant hues, including turquoise, yellow, coral pink, indigo blue, and gray.
You will be compelled to play this wherever you go. It offers the same 32 GB of storage as the original Switch, which can be expanded with any microSD card.
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series X is the home console I use the most during my leisure time. Its social features, multiplayer systems, and game selection are great for a broad variety of players, though it may seem more suited for teenagers and adults than the Switch.
The two most recent Xbox consoles look fantastic in any living room, have the largest game library of any system, and are compatible with all of your favorite streaming services, Blu-rays, and entertainment apps. If you haven’t possessed a Microsoft console since the Xbox 360, their power and dependability have greatly improved.
Xbox provides the greatest possible value. When it comes to performance, the Xbox triumphs nine times out of ten. If you want to play new online multiplayer games with friends but don’t want to deal with a costly gaming PC, the Xbox is probably your best bet. It lacks Zelda and God of War, but it will make you a very happy customer.
Sony PlayStation 5
The Sony PlayStation 5 is popular with many individuals who prefer cinematic, single-player games. If you’re searching for a good story and some peace and quiet, you’ll probably enjoy the PS5. It’s a significant upgrade from the PS4 Pro, it comes with a 4K UHD disc drive, the Dual Sense controller’s haptics provide unparalleled immersion, and the titles are fantastic.
It does not yet have as many games as the Xbox and Switch, but when you include PS4 games that are compatible with it, there is still plenty to keep you entertained. There is a digital-only edition available, but you may want to use the disc drive for all of your film viewing.
PlayStation’s subscription service models renewed to include additional tiers and more classic titles. But the PlayStation ecosystem lacks the backward compatibility of the Xbox ecosystem.
If Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Final Fantasy VII Remake, or God of War: Ragnarok appeal to you, the PS5 is an excellent way to play them without having to purchase an expensive gaming PC. The majority of your beloved multiplayer games are also available, and more retro classics are available soon.
Xbox Series S
If you want to maximize your options—next-generation titles, every generation of the Xbox catalog, 4K video playback, and as many streaming applications as you can handle—the Xbox Series S is an unbeatable value. With an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and games such as Forza Horizon 5 and Halo: Infinite, the Xbox One S will provide years of high-performance gameplay and entertainment.
All of your beloved video and music apps, as well as thousands of games, are available on Xbox One, and the next era of first-party Xbox titles is just beginning. This is an excellent method to play Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, GTA Online, and Minecraft.
Valve Steam Deck
The Valve Steam Deck is arguably the finest handheld consoles for PC gamers who want to play their favorite games on the go. With up to 512GB of local storage, the option to expand, and a Linux-based operating system, the Steam Deck is capable of running literally thousands of PC Free Games from the Steam storefront.
The Steam Deck also supports a variety of game emulators and can run games from older consoles generations, including the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo Switch. It is also extremely pleasant to hold for hours.
Due to the fact that it operates on Linux, if you are particularly adept with that operating system, you can customize it in any way. (Some users have altered the loading screen, for instance.) And if you don’t feel like fiddling with it, the Deck will run Windows just as simply.
The Steam Deck’s battery life is a significant drawback; in our tests, it lasted a maximum of five hours while playing low-fidelity games via Steam or emulation. High-definition games, such as Cyberpunk 2077, consume battery life much more quickly, so the Steam Deck only had enough energy for two hours of gameplay with these games.
However, because you can install games directly onto the Steam Deck, you do not need Wi-Fi access to play them, making it a superior travel companion for flights and road trips than the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld. Although other handhelds, such as the Asus ROG Ally, may be more potent, the Deck is superior in terms of battery life and usability.
Logitech G Cloud
Check out the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld if you primarily play games from your sofa or bed and require a device with a minimum eight-hour battery life. Don’t let the term ‘cloud gaming’ deter you. If you have a stable internet connection, there will be no discernible difference between gaming on the Logitech G and other handhelds such as the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.
The 7-inch, 1080p display on the Logitech G not only produces vibrant colors, but its physical size and maximum resolution make it much simpler to read text in games like Cyberpunk 2077 without adjusting the UI settings in-game. It is also slightly lighter and easier to hold than the Steam Deck.
The Logitech G is compatible with cloud gaming services such as GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, the indie-focused Utomik, and any other Android cloud gaming app. Additionally, you can connect the Logitech G to your local gaming PC via Steam Link and play.
One disadvantage of the Logitech G is that it lacks a cellular chip. If you wish to play cloud games over a 5G cellular connection, you will need a cell phone with hotspot capabilities to connect the device to. This can function seamlessly, but it won’t if there are too many people nearby or if you are too far from a 5G tower.
Nevertheless, Logitech designed this portable device for use at home or anywhere with a stable Wi-Fi connection, and it passed our testing with flying colors. The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld is not a direct competitor to the Steam Deck, Switch, or other gaming handhelds. But you can play PC and consoles games from a single device without having to deal with bulky hardware.