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Credit: Trevor Raab

Pros

• Lots of great exclusive games (God of War Ragnarok, Ratchet and Clank, Spider-Man 2)
• Strong technical performance
• Hardware-based spatial audio
• DualSense has unique, immersive features that developers actually use

Cons

• Very large, may not fit great in every existing TV room setup
• Media app ecosystem is thin

The goal of every game console is to create a dedicated one-stop shop where you can buy and play any game. While no one machine can give you everything, the PlayStation 5 comes the closest to that ideal.

The PS5 has the most comprehensive game library, including a bevy of high-profile (and well-crafted) exclusives like God of War Ragnarok, Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart and, most recently, Ghost of Yotei. It also gets better support from third-parties than the Xbox or Nintendo ecosystems. Though we’ve started to see certain developers releasing “console exclusive” games on the Switch 2, I would still say that the PS5 carries the edge in 2025. And, like other modern consoles, it features some backwards compatibility—your PS4 library carries forward, ensuring that you can always return to the last decade of PlayStation games.

The PS5 delivers consistent strong technical performance across the board. Many of its biggest games consistently run in either 4K at 30 frames per second (fps) or 1440p at 60 fps. Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles made major strides in cutting load times this generation, thanks to the switch to Non-Volitile Memory Express (NVMe) storage. Though load times have started to creep back into some games recently, many of the big hits from early in the generation feel nearly seamless.

To me, though, what really sets the PS5 apart from the Xbox (and even gaming PCs) is a host of technical features that both simplify and enhance the immersion in your games. The console’s DualSense controller is a huge leap forward from the PS4’s DualShock 4, adding large triggers with hyper-specific rumble capabilities that mimics on-screen action. Plus, games can add resistance to the triggers, simulating tension in a bowstring or resistance as you attempt to pry open a locked treasure chest.

The DualSense also has a built-in microphone, so players can chat with their friends in multiplayer games without a headset. Frankly, it’s still not ideal. (I have a friend who insists on playing without a headset and the sound quality is pretty muddy.) Some single-player games use the controller mic in creative ways to set certain sounds apart from the general game audio—it’s a hit or miss feature, but its prevalence across first- and third-party games suggests that the PS5’s hardware has opened creative doors for developers, and that means a lot as gaming hardware options become similar.

Aside from the controller, I’d highlight PS5’s Tempest 3D Audio features, which virtually simulates spatial audio on any audio hardware: Other consoles can support spatial audio via premium gaming headsets, but this feature ensures that more players can hear the best possible version of their games.

Still, no console is perfect. For one, it’s quite large. It looks (and likely fits) better standing up than hidden in a TV stand. That isn’t going to work for everyone. And, if you want it vertical, you need to shell out $30 for a stand.

Also, and I admit this is a minor nitpick, but the PS5 doesn’t have the same robust library of streaming apps as the Xbox ecosystem: You can get all the major services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, etc., but you won’t find niche services like Shudder, BritBox, or Dropout.

Like I said, there is no console that truly does it all, but the PS5 offers the greatest games and best technical performance for the price. If you’re starting from scratch as a player, this is the console to buy.

Key Specs

Game Store/Ecosystem	PSN
Max Resolution	4K
Max Framerate	120Hz
Storage	1TB (Expandable via select M.2 SSD)
Special Features	Tempest Spatial Audio, DualSense vibrating triggers

Credit: Trevor Raab

Pros

• Play at home on a big screen or in handheld mode… anywhere
• Access to Nintendo’s games, new and old
• Most kid-friendly console by a wide margin, but also great for adults
• An affordable choice if you’re unsure how much you’re going to play

Cons

• Lower target tech specs than other consoles, and many games still don’t perform great.
• The library has tons of great smaller games, but is missing many blockbuster games on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles.
• Technically a last-gen console, will not see many more new releases from Nintendo.

The Nintendo Switch is right on the cusp of becoming the most popular game console of all time. With 154 million consoles sold, it sits just behind top-selling PlayStation 2, which sold 160 million units in its lifespan. And like the PS2, I expect many players will continue to embrace their original Switches even after the launch of its successor.

There is no way to overstate the impact of the Nintendo Switch on the modern gaming world. People absolutely love the versatility of being able to play games on a TV at home, then picking up the console and carrying it. Plus, there’s tabletop mode aided by an integrated kickstand, and the detachable sides of the handheld, called Joy-Cons, work as individual mini controllers. The Joy-Cons support Wii-style motion controls, and some games still work flicking, swiping, or pointing into their gameplay.

As a result, PC manufacturers have created a whole sub-genre of handheld gaming PCs to copy it. There are rumors that both Microsoft and Sony will incorporate handheld hardware into their next generation of consoles. I’ve said for a long time that I see Nintendo as a toy-maker, rather than a tech company: The creativity and whimsy they impart into their product design allows them to make things that other companies would not dare. That hasn’t always worked in the brand’s favor, but the Switch marks the height of that potential.

The Switch is not a console you buy for technical performance. The console maxes out at 1080p at 60fps in docked mode, connected to a TV. The standard Switch display runs at 720p, though the display is only 6.2 inches, so it looks pretty sharp. Its Nvidia custom chipset was considered “underpowered” in 2017, and there have been a few games over the course of the Switch’s life that have pushed the console past its technical limits, leading to issues like pop-in and long load times. But most games, in my experience, look and feel fine, so I wouldn’t get hung up on it. The real issue is that there are a lot of games from the last seven years that came out on PS5 and Xbox, but not the Switch.

Playing the game in handheld mode adds its own technical concerns, primarily with battery life. I can’t remember a time when I praised a console for having incredibly long battery life, so in the big scheme of things, the Switch’s five- to nine-hour battery life isn’t all that bad. That said, it isn’t enough to get you through a full day of playtime, so it’s not great either.

But there are also a lot of truly incredible Nintendo games made specifically for the Switch, which you can’t play anywhere else. I wouldn’t want to miss out on the games that you can’t play on the Switch, but I would also never deprive myself of playing the games that define this console. From The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild, to Super Mario Odyssey, to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo has expanded (or breathed new life into) nearly all of its decades-old franchises on the Switch. Even after all these years, nobody makes games like Nintendo.

The fact is, though, that the Switch’s time is at a close. At this point, with the Switch 2 in stores and Nintendo committing to developing games that push the new platform forward, I’m only recommending the original Switch because it is the cheapest option—the only one with a standard price below $400.

Over the next year or two, I expect the number of new games coming to the platform to dwindle. If you don’t own a Switch, though, there are dozens of great games that are worth your time, and many should go on sale because the console is out of date. And if you don’t own any consoles, this gives you hundreds of great games that you can play at home or on the go.

Key Specs

Game Store/Ecosystem	Nintendo eShop
Max Resolution	1080p (Docked), 720p (Handheld)
Max Framerate	60Hz
Storage	64GB (Expandable via MicroSD Card)
Special Features	Hybrid handheld form factor, detachable Joy-Con controllers

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Credit: Thomas Hengge

Pros

• Everything you love about the Switch, but with better tech
• Improved multiplayer infrastructure
• Still the most kid-friendly console by a wide margin, but also great for adults
• Home of the next generation of Nintendo games

Cons

• New custom chipset has expanded the Switch library, but there are still a lot of third-party games not coming to Switch 2
• Webcam support and optical controls don’t add much to the experience
• Console is new so the first-party library is small

The Switch 2 is the newest console on the block, designed to capitalize on all the goodwill Nintendo accrued during the Switch era. It sticks to the Switch formula: a hybrid design that you can play on a TV or hold in your hands. Compared to the revelation of the Switch and its innovative design, the Switch 2’s improvements feel very muted. But they are improvements all the same and well worth the reinvestment for longtime Switch players debating the upgrade.

For starters, the console has grown to accommodate a bigger, 7.9-inch screen that supports high-dynamic range (HDR) for more vibrant lighting and color. Games run in 4K at 60 fps or 1440p at 120fps in docked mode, and up to 1080p at 120fps in handheld mode. The Switch 2’s exclusive games look dramatically better than anything you could experience on the Switch. And even original Switch games, most of which are compatible with the new console, do see minor performance bumps.

Other changes are more subtle. The Joy-Cons are larger and more comfortable to hold, and they now attach magnetically with a satisfying pop, rather than sliding into place. The kickstand is also more adjustable, plus there’s an extra USB-C port on the console to plug in accessories.

I will say: I don’t love every new feature added to the Switch 2. Nintendo put a lot of effort into shoring up the console’s multiplayer infrastructure, which includes a new party chat system with webcam support so you can show your face as you play, and add your face to some compatible games. I found the webcam resolution to be pretty poor, certainly sub-standard in a post-Covid world where every device employs video chat.

Likewise, the Joy-Cons now feature optical sensors, which allow you to turn them sideways and use them like computer mice: It’s a neat idea in theory, but in practice the Joy-Cons aren’t comfortable to use that way. I don’t expect either of these features to make a lasting impression.

And don’t get me started on the battery life. I’ve found that it averages around 4 hours on a charge. It’s worse than the original Switch and a problem if you don’t keep a big battery pack handy.

Also, even with its new and improved Nvidia chipset and Deep Learning Supersampling (DLSS) support, which uses AI to improve framerates and overall tech performance, the Switch 2 doesn’t seem to be achieving third-party release parity with the PS5 and Xbox consoles. Fall 2025 tentpoles like Battlefield 6 and The Outer World 2 did not come out on Switch 2 at launch. The games on the Switch 2 run great, but it still doesn’t have the same comprehensive library as the PS5.

On the plus side, though, the Switch 2 has already scored some early third-party console exclusives—if you want to play Hades 2 on a console, the Switch 2 is your only option. Same for the critically acclaimed retro-style game collection UFO 50. Both of these are perfect Switch games because they lend themselves to short bursts of play, so I see this as a positive sign that the Switch 2 could earn itself a modest library of games optimized with it in mind.

Right now, the biggest question about whether or not to buy the Switch 2 is not matter of if you should, but when: As of December, 2025, Nintendo has only released a handful of Switch 2 games, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Metroid Prime 4: Echoes. The first two are great—I only played a small bit of *Prime 4 *back in the Spring so I’m withholding judgment—but that’s not a lot of options if you’ve played through the original Switch catalog. If you love Nintendo and expect to be committed to the Switch, upgrading will give you better hardware, which is not nothing, but I know plenty of folks who would rather wait for a larger library before spending that cash.

Key Specs

Game Store/Ecosystem	Nintendo eShop
Max Resolution	4K (Docked), 1080p (Handheld)
Max Framerate	120Hz
Storage	256GB (Expandable via MicroSD Express Card)
Special Features	Hybrid handheld form factor, detachable Joy-Con controllers

Credit: Trevor Raab

Pros

• Most powerful hardware that doesn’t cost as much as a gaming PC.
• Xbox Game Pass is still the best game subscription service.
• Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support offer enhanced performance
• The Xbox Elite V2 (sold separately) is my favorite controller

Cons

• Microsoft makes a lot of games, but most are now multi-platform so there are very few true Xbox exclusives.
• Price hikes have made it more expensive than the PS5
• Price hikes have also made Game Pass more expensive, which makes the value proposition more questionable.

I have to be honest with you: Microsoft has been working very hard to make it as difficult as possible to recommend buying an Xbox. In the past few months, the brand has substantially raised the price of both its consoles and Xbox Game Pass, its gaming subscription service. In the past year, it has changed its strategy to release most of the games it publishes on PS5, so the Xbox has very few true exclusive games. Microsoft has also leaned heavily into game streaming, putting Xbox apps on Samsung and LG TVs, as well as high-end Amazon Fire TV streaming devices, making the console superfluous for casual players.

And yet, here I am, still telling you that there are a couple of good reasons to buy an Xbox Series X. And it’s not just because I think there should be more than two companies making game consoles. (I’m not saying that isn’t part of it, but there’s more to it.)

First, other than the PS5 Pro, which costs $800, the Series X is the most powerful console on the market. It has strong hardware under the hood and supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which provide superior HDR visuals and spatial audio, respectively. If you are plugging your console in an advanced home theater setup, the Series X is the console best equipped to take advantage of the equipment you’ve bought and the features they bring to the table.

Second, even with a 50 percent price hike from $20 to $30 per month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the best video game subscription service out there. If you are a console player who likes to play a lot of games, but doesn’t necessarily have the time to justify buying every game you want to try, Game Pass is a huge boon. You have access to 100 or so games, including all of Microsoft’s first-party published games: That means every Call of Duty, every Gears of War, every Halo, and all of Bethesda’s RPGs like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. And let’s not forget many of 2025’s biggest hits, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, both available through Game Pass on launch day.

And while Game Pass is not the only option, it is the best. PlayStation has a similar, two-tiered subscription service, PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Premium. It works fine, and can be worthwhile, but I find the selection is lacking and you don’t get nearly as many games on launch day. (Sony specifically doesn’t put its exclusives on PS+ until many months, if not over a year, after launch.) Nintendo Switch Online is an affordable subscription and valuable because it gives you highlights from Nintendo’s history, but doesn’t include any new games.

If the idea of paying for most (or all) of your games via a subscription appeals to you, I would recommend buying an Xbox to take advantage of Game Pass.

Key Specs

Game Store/Ecosystem	Xbox Store
Max Resolution	4K (Supports 8K upscaling on compatible video content)
Max Framerate	120Hz
Storage	1TB
Special Features	Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio, Xbox Game Pass

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Credit: Mike Epstein

Pros

• Everything that’s great about the PS5 is still great here.
• Improved technical performance for better visuals at higher framerates
• Adds improved Ray-tracing and DLSS
• DualSense has unique, immersive features that developers actually use

Cons

• Same problems, too: Console is still beefy, media app library isn’t what it should be.
• Extremely expensive for a mid-generation upgrade

I wrote about the PS5 Pro at length when it launched in 2024, so I’ll give you the short version: Like the PS4 Pro before it, this is a mid-generation upgrade console that adds a series of tech upgrades to unlock the full potential of the PS5.

The PS5 Pro’s upgrades are fairly technical and nitty gritty: Basically, it adds new and improved hardware that beefs up the PS5’s power and adds DLSS, which improves framerates and performance. This leads to a couple of things: First, you get better ray-tracing, which allows games to render lighting in more realistic ways. It also allows the console to generally run at its best possible performance: On the PS5, many games allow you to choose between “visual quality” modes, which generally run in 4K at 30 fps, or “performance” modes that run in 1080 or 1440p at 60-120 fps. With the PS5 Pro, any game that features a PS5 Pro mode will run in 4K at 60-120 fps. (It varies from game to game.)

If you’re a tech-head like me, this can make a world of difference in how games look—sometimes. The performance bump almost always does something, but it’s rarely a sea change. And it’s worth pointing out that you’ll primarily notice the difference in big budget showpiece games with visuals that can take advantage of these nuanced features.

If you don’t have a PS5 and have the budget to buy the Pro, you’re spending a few hundred extra dollars to ensure you get the absolute best version of what I ultimately think is the best console. If you already have a PS5, spending another $800 for these upgrades is a really big ask. Then again, as of December 2, 2025, the PS5 Pro’s down to $650 for the holidays. I think that’s a much more manageable price for visual nerds who really want to play games that make their eyes pop.

Key Specs

Game Store/Ecosystem	PSN
Max Resolution	4K
Max Framerate	120Hz
Storage	2TB (Expandable via select M.2 SSD)
Special Features	All the PS5 stuff, Ray-Tracing, PSSR (Sony’s version of DLSS)

What to Consider

Game Library

Every time a new console launches, manufacturers (and critics like me) dig deep into the specifics of the hardware—the CPU, the GPU, RAM, Storage, max resolution, framerate, screen size (on the Switch), battery life (also on the Switch), what the controller looks like, and so on.

Any veteran gamer will tell you, though, that the only thing that really matters in the end is whether your game console can run the games you want to play. Performance is important, but in the end, we are sitting in front of the TV because we want to be challenged, or transported, or to experience a compelling story. Consoles don’t create those experiences. Games do.

Historically speaking, all of the console manufacturers have released the games they published as exclusives on their platforms, which has historically given people like me good reason to buy all of the consoles every generation. These days, the math has changed: Sony and Nintendo still have some console exclusives, but Microsoft releases most Xbox games on PlayStation and some on Switch/Switch 2. Both Sony and Microsoft also tend to release most of their games on Windows, though often many months after coming out on consoles.

If you want to play everything on consoles, you need a PS5 and a Switch 2. You will occasionally see an Xbox console exclusive on Game Pass, I believe, but they are rare and will often come to other platforms eventually. The argument for picking up an Xbox is for Game Pass, which we’ll talk about in a minute.

Choosing between the Switch 2 and PS5 ultimately comes down to a matter of taste (and possibly whether or not this console is for a young kid.) Sony’s exclusive games tend to be larger, story driven experiences made for adults. Nintendo’s games vary quite a bit, but most are family friendly and made for lots of skill levels. Ultimately, I can’t tell you what your priorities are, so just go with your gut. (Or your wallet, since the Switch 2’s a bit cheaper than the PS5.)

Performance

Until the next generation of PlayStation and Xbox consoles launches, I would not get too hung up on specs. After spending years with the PS5 and the Series X, I can tell you that both run most games quite well. I usually prefer to play games on those consoles over the Switch unless I specifically want to bring the game with me, because there is a technical gap between the home consoles and the Switch. (I will concede that I have not done enough comparison testing between my Switch 2 and the other consoles to say if there’s a difference there, but based on the hardware as I understand it, my assumption is that the gap is smaller, but still present.)

Frankly, your TV and audio gear will likely make a bigger difference in how your games look. You can only take advantage of features like high framerates, HDR, spatial audio, if your TV has the specs to properly support them. Make sure you’re plugging your consoles into an HDMI 2.1 port, especially if your TV supports a 120Hz framerate. I generally recommend having a gaming headset handy to optimize your audio, especially if you’re working with TV speakers instead of a soundbar and a subwoofer—you get more EQ customization options, including presets for different genres or even specific games, which definitely comes in handy when you play competitively online.

Controller

Very few players pick a console for the controller, but as someone who plays a lot of games, it’s something we should think about more. Your controller is the part of your console that you interface with most. You hold it, press buttons, drop it on the couch, and have to remember to charge it or replace its batteries.

My primary concern when looking at controllers, especially third-party alternatives to the gamepads that come with a console, is ergonomics. After holding a controller for long periods of time, especially when you do it over and over for years, can cause your hands to cramp and, in the long-term, could contribute to repetitive strain injuries. Though research into the topic isn’t exactly comprehensive or definitive, there is some evidence, like this study from 2025, indicating evidence that excessive gamepad use can lead to tendonitis in the thumbs and other issues.

I’ve reported on and reviewed input devices made for enhanced ergonomic support in the past, including vertical mice and split keyboards, and based on that research I can tell you that best controller for your hands is the one that fits comfortably, with minimal curling of the fingers to grip it, and that doesn’t require you to stretch your thumb or fingers to hit any of the buttons.

Personally, I generally prefer the larger feel of the Xbox gamepad, which fills your hand and doesn’t force you to wrap your fingers around it, as the DualSense does. The Switch and Switch 2 Pro Controllers also both have a good ergonomic grip. Many folks swear by the DualSense, though, and I can imagine that its more compact profile reduces stretching for smaller hands.

That said, you can’t discount the unique capabilities of controllers like the DualSense or the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons. Ergonomics aside, they expand your horizons and enhance your games. For most of us, that’s going to be the priority. Still, I recommend using a Pro Controller as much as possible with the Switch and Switch 2 to spare your hands.

Battery life is also a concern here. The Xbox controller gets the best battery life, especially when you use disposable batteries, but none of them have unacceptably short battery life. The DualSense tends to last 8 to 10 hours (though some people report much less): That’s enough to get through even a long session without needing to stop and charge. Could they be better? Of course, but I don’t consider it a make or break issue.

Mike Epstein is a Senior Commerce Editor at Hearst Enthusiast Group, producing reviews for buying guides Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, and *Best Products. *Prior to joining Hearst, he was a video game and technology critic for over 10 years, with bylines at IGN, Gamespot, Variety, Lifehacker, Kotaku, GamesRadar, Flavorwire and Digital Trends, among others. Now, he’s a jack of all trades, helping reviewers share everything they know about all kinds of technical gear, from snowblowers, to running shoes and bicycles, and every kind of gadget imaginable.