The game console allows you to play directly without any configuration or purchase of additional peripherals, unlike the PC. Knowing what to buy is tricky though. Should you opt for a new generation console or try something cheaper like a PS4, Xbox One or even older? There's no right or wrong answer. But if the near-infinite options confuse you, fear not. Here's our guide to the best gaming consoles.
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"The Xbox One X displays native 4K HDR graphics. Aside from a fantastic memory issue accentuated by HDR support, Microsoft's console delivers on its promise…"
"A versatile console with an excellent catalog of AAA games, the PS4 Slim is better in almost every way compared to the original, with one…"
"Nearly 3 years after its launch, the PS4 Pro is still an easy and recommended purchase for all PlayStation newcomers, early PlayStation VR users, and…"
"The Nintendo Switch Lite is the best truly portable gaming system you can find on the market. In fact, it's the only one, and it…"
The Xbox One X displays native 4K HDR graphics. Aside from a fantastic memory issue accentuated by HDR support, Microsoft's console delivers on its promise with 4K HDR gaming and offers a premium gaming experience.
799 £ on CdiscountThe Xbox One X looks just like the Xbox One S. It takes the form of a rectangular box the size of a large Blu-ray player with a matte steel gray coating. The console features an 8-core processor clocked at 2.3 GHz, as well as 12 GB of GDDR5 RAM. It has a GPU clocked at 1,172 MHz, leaving the console with 6 teraflops of graphics processing power. The Xbox One X's specs are quite comprehensive and have helped usher in a new era of 4K HDR gaming in the living room, which the S and X series will no doubt continue.
Of course, what's the end goal of all that extra power if not a better gaming experience? Fortunately, we're happy to report that the Xbox One X performs exactly as advertised: games look great across the board. Whether you're using a 1080p TV with the Xbox One X or playing in 4K HDR, games look fantastic on the most powerful console of the last generation.
A versatile console with an excellent catalog of AAA games, the PS4 Slim is better in almost every way compared to the original, with one notable exception. In addition to a reduction in size, this Slim model drops in price compared to the original PS4.
See the priceIts compactness makes the PS4 Slim a more decorative console in most rooms. As a bonus, it makes less noise and uses less power than the original PlayStation 4. The latter mixed glossy and matte plastics while the PS4 Slim extends the matte black finish throughout the console. The only major casualty of the slimmed-down design is the abandonment of the optical output port on the back. HDMI will meet the needs of many gamers to carry audio signals. But the optical output port will be missed by those connecting older home theater receivers.
In just about every aspect of performance, the PS4 and PS4 Slim consoles are equal. There's no noticeable difference in load times or frame rates for games. The only big difference is that the PS4 Slim does not offer a native 4K display. The resolution stops at 1080p (Full HD). The increase in performance is mainly based on power consumption and energy efficiency, which Sony says is down 28% compared to previous models.
Nearly 3 years after its launch, the PS4 Pro is still an easy and recommended purchase for all PlayStation newcomers, early PlayStation VR users, and 4K HDR TV owners.
See the priceWe wouldn't say that the PS4 Pro's design is a carbon copy of the original PS4. On the other hand, there are many similarities, the first being the decision to give the console the same flat parallelogram shape. The system enclosed in a matte black shell is reminiscent of the one used on the PS4 Slim. However, this time you won't find rounded corners along the edges. The PlayStation 4 Pro is clean in every sense of the word.
This version with 1TB storage packs better hardware inside, enough to improve performance and visuals beyond what is possible on a standard PS4. The console also uses the SATA-III specification, which theoretically means you can install an SSD drive to enjoy faster read times. The improved performance manifests itself in a variety of ways, including the ability to play at 4K resolution at 30 fps, more detailed textures, and the ability to choose a higher frame rate at 1080p resolution.
The Nintendo Switch Lite is the best truly portable gaming system you can find on the market. In fact, it's the only one, and it has a fantastic catalog of games. The dimensions of the console will not suit large hands.
159 £ on CdiscountThe main difference between the Nintendo Switch Lite and the original Nintendo Switch is that the Switch Lite is exclusively a portable console. As a result, the Switch Lite is much more compact and lighter than its predecessor. This means that the device has a smaller LCD touchscreen, measuring only 5.5 inches but still offering HD resolution (720p).
The Nintendo Switch Lite displays the same performance as the original Switch, except that the Lite model has a slightly longer battery life of around 30 min more. However, it should be noted that the Lite model does not come with Rumble HD or the IR motion camera. The device is designed to play portable games only, so it only supports Nintendo Switch games that support portable mode.
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Xbox One X
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PS4 Slim 500 GB
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PS4 Pro 1Tb
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Nintendo Switch Lite - Turquoise
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The Xbox One X displays native 4K HDR graphics. Aside from a fantastic memory issue accentuated by HDR support, Microsoft's console delivers on its promise with 4K HDR gaming and offers a premium gaming experience.
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A versatile console with an excellent catalog of AAA games, the PS4 Slim is better in almost every way compared to the original, with one notable exception. In addition to a reduction in size, this Slim model drops in price compared to the original PS4.
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Nearly 3 years after its launch, the PS4 Pro is still an easy and recommended purchase for all PlayStation newcomers, early PlayStation VR users, and 4K HDR TV owners.
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The Nintendo Switch Lite is the best truly portable gaming system you can find on the market. In fact, it's the only one, and it has a fantastic catalog of games. The dimensions of the console will not suit large hands.
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Native 4K HDR gaming
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Improved energy efficiency
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Sony's first 4K HDR-compatible console
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More robust construction
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Blu-ray player with built-in 4K capability
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DualShock 4 better than ever
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1TB hard drive
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More compact design
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Enhanced FullHD experience (1080p)
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Lighter weight
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More polished design
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Good battery life
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Choosing the right game console for you can be difficult. To make your life easier and save you time, here are the things you'll need to think about before making your purchase.
It is very likely that you or the recipient of the game console have a preference for certain types of games. Some of us prefer sports games while others prefer FPS or RPGs. Chances are, there is even a franchise or series of games that you just can't live without. It's important that you don't end up with a new console that doesn't have the games you love to play. Japanese RPGs, for example, won't be readily available on Western-oriented consoles like the Xbox.
Do you really need 4K graphics or is Full HD (1080p) or even HD (720p) resolution enough for you? Do you need smooth gameplay and can you tell the difference between 30 FPS and 60 FPS? If you're an experienced user, you don't want to end up with a console that doesn't live up to your expectations. The Xbox One X, for example, can offer smooth 4K gameplay unlike the Xbox One.
Backwards compatibility is the ability to play previous generation games on a current or next generation console. If you still want to play old generation classics and don't want to change your console. Or when you sold your old console to buy the new generation console, but still want to be able to play your old games, it is necessary that your console is backward compatible.
PlayStation and Xbox have a different take on backwards compatibility. With PlayStation Streaming and PlayStation NOW, for example, you can play PS3 games on your PS4.
Most consoles offer an online service. The cost and what's included in these servers varies by console. If you're going to be playing a lot of games online, you'll want the best service available: stable servers, no downtime, cloud storage. Generally speaking, PlayStation's PSN service is considered to have more downtime than Xbox Live.
The way your data is stored and the maximum disk capacity are very important considerations. If you plan to buy digital versions of games, you may run out of disk space very quickly. With a PlayStation, it's very easy to add a little extra storage with an SSD drive. So check the physical storage capacity of the console and think about how much space you think you need. Also check the possibility of adding a hard drive to increase the capacity of the drive (internal or external) if necessary.
Are you concerned about controlling how much time your kids spend playing games or what kind of content they can access? Every console has powerful parental control features.
The Nintendo Switch has an app that you can download to your cell phone. Via the app, you can monitor game time and even set automatic system shutdowns when players go over time limits. The app will also allow you to control age-limited content based on predefined age categories or custom options.
Parents can access the PlayStation 4 Parental Controls in the system menu. They can restrict online network features and Internet browsing and set age levels for games and Blu-ray/DVD content. Adults can also impose monthly spending limits on the PlayStation Online Store.
Finally, Xbox One offers a similar approach, with age-limited content and online accessibility monitored and managed through the console's dashboard. Xbox One also offers the "Ask a Parent" feature, which will notify parents for approval when their child wants to make a purchase in the Microsoft Store.
There are mainly three types of video game consoles: home consoles, portable consoles and hybrid consoles.
Home video game consoles are devices that are typically intended to be connected to a television or other type of monitor, and are powered via a plug, requiring the unit to be used in fixed locations, typically in the home, living room or bedroom. Separate game controllers, connected via wired or wireless connections, are used to provide input to the game. The earliest home consoles were the Atari 2600 and the Sega Genesis. Today, the main home consoles are the PlayStation 4, Wii U, and Xbox One.
Portable consoles are consoles with the screen and controller built into the case. They are powered by a rechargeable battery or battery compartment. This allows the console to be carried anywhere. The GameBoy, PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo 3DS are the best examples.
Hybrid game consoles are those that can be used as a handheld or a home console, with a wired connection or a docking station that connects the unit to a TV screen and a fixed power source, and the ability to use a separate controller. While portable consoles like the Sega Nomad and PlayStation Portable have these features, some consider the Nintendo Switch the first true hybrid console.
Sony's very first PlayStation was a 32-bit console that over time became one of the most powerful video game consoles in the world and the first console to ship over 100 million units. The first PlayStation was launched in 1994 and with it came popular game franchises such as Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid.
In 2000, Sony updated its lineup with a new model called the PSone, which was smaller and lighter than the original PlayStation. In the US, it was released for $99 alongside Sony's new PlayStation 2. In 2013, Sony released its most advanced and powerful console, the PlayStation 4 or PS4. The PS4 was a game changer and is one of the most popular video game consoles ever made.
Xbox is the game console created and owned by Microsoft. The American multinational released the first Xbox game console in November 2001 with the clear intention of competing directly with Sony's PlayStation with other video game consoles. However, unlike other game consoles, the Xbox is not based on a hardware platform designed specifically for playing games.
Instead, it was based on the same hardware that Microsoft's personal computing platform was based on. The Xbox hardware is derived from the same electronic architecture as standard IBM compatible PCs. In 2005, Microsoft released its popular Xbox 360 to compete with Sony's PlayStation 3, and in 2013, the Xbox One was launched as the successor to the Xbox 360 to compete with its rival PS4.
Sony's PlayStation consoles feature some of the most popular and highest rated AAA games in the world, such as God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, Dark Souls 3, Spider-Man, Metal Gear, Overwatch, and more. The PlayStation 4 is the most advanced and powerful gaming console the world has ever seen. However, the Xbox also has its share of strengths and weaknesses. The Xbox One X seems to be better than the PS4 in terms of graphics performance and visual customization.
Migrate games and saves from your PS4 game console
The PS4 may have some features that the PS5 doesn't, but chances are you'll want to play all your games, old and new, on the more powerful console. You can transfer those games to the PS5 over your network in just a few steps. Just head to Settings > System > System Software and select Data Transfer to get started. It will take several minutes, but hey, it's faster than re-downloading them.
Set difficulty, performance and camera preferences
There are
some settings you probably change every time you get a new game. For example, on the brand new PS5, it's possible to set performance mode and turn off subtitles. The PS5 lets you set a number of system-wide defaults, so your games switch to your preferred settings as soon as you launch them.
Avoid spoilers in the games you play
Here's
an incredibly clever feature for those who like mystery in their games. With PS5, you can avoid spoilers when other players share screenshots and game videos, based on what you've played so far. Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Spoiler Warnings and change your settings accordingly.
Download the Xbox Mobile application
The
redesigned Xbox app for Android or iOS is essential. If you haven't set up your new Xbox yet, the app is the easiest way to do so. It also gives you access to your friends and chat, lets you choose games and trigger downloads remotely, and offers access to screenshots and game videos captured from your Xbox for easy sharing.
Choose the right display settings on the new Xbox Series S
To get the most out of your new console's capabilities, you'll want to make sure your screen is optimally configured. You can do this in Settings > General > TV & Display Options, where you'll find everything from resolution settings to refresh rate to HDR calibration. Check out the 4K TV details to find out what your TV can do, and be sure to follow the calibration process. If you don't think you're getting full capability, check your cable and the port you're connecting to your TV to make sure both support HDMI 2.1.
The best games console depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best.
Yes, you can use any old Xbox One controllers that are lying around with your new console. They're easy to link. Hold the small circular button next to the USB port on your new console until the power button starts flashing, then hold the small circular button on top of the Xbox One controller until the Xbox button starts flashing. When the flashing stops, they are synced and ready to go.
On the Xbox Series S, if you head to Settings > General > Power and Startup Mode, you can set the amount of time of inactivity it takes for the console to shut down (the default is one hour). You can also choose between Instant-On and Energy-Saving. If you want to save power, disable the Instant-On option. And on the PS5, by default, the DualSense controller stays on when it's idle, so you can pick it up and continue playing right away. It is possible to save battery power. Under Settings > System > Power Save, you can set the amount of time until your controller turns off.
You can plug any USB 3.1 external hard drive into your new Xbox or PlayStation and use it to store games, screenshots and videos.
If you're curious about how many hours you've spent on a specific game, you can view your gaming stats under your PlayStation or Xbox profile. Select your profile picture from the main menu, then choose Profile and highlight the Games tab. You'll see full statistics for each game you own.
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