If you want to keep up with the latest gaming trends and play all current-gen games at their best, you’ll need one of the best gaming consoles in 2023. The current generation of consoles offers a great experience that’s hard to beat, so if you want to update your setup, you should know what you’re looking for before you go shopping. But it hasn’t always been easy to shop for a new system. When the PS5 and Xbox Series X first came out, there didn’t seem to be a lot of stock of either one. Since then, though, there has been a huge rise in stock, making consoles more widely available. So there’s sure to be a game for you, no matter how much money you have or what you like.
The capabilities that modern consoles offer are astounding, ranging from the fast speeds of the newest PlayStation to the adaptability of the Xbox Series X. But, selecting a system has never been more challenging, particularly with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X going head-to-head. Not to mention the portability of mobile devices, or the options available if you want to go back in time and enjoy something more retro. The Wirecutter staff, including both casual players and video game professionals, love the Nintendo Switch because it’s a wonderful console with entertaining games and minimal drawbacks. Below we have mentioned some of the best gaming consoles
Best Gaming Consoles
Sony PlayStation 5Microsoft Xbox Series X
| Specification | PlayStation 5 |
|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core AMD Zen 2 at 3.5 GHz |
| GPU | 10.28 teraflops, 36 CUs at 2.23 GHz (custom RDNA 2 architecture) |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Storage | Custom 825 GB SSD |
| Optical Drive | Ultra HD Blu-ray |
| Resolution | Up to 8K |
| Max Frame Rate | Up to 120 fps |
| Ray Tracing Support | Yes |
| Backward Compatibility | PlayStation 4 games |
| Controller | DualSense Wireless Controller |
When you still can’t keep your best gaming consoles on the shelf even two years after you first introduced it, you know it’s a good one. With the PlayStation 5, that is the situation. The huge demand for this next-generation console worldwide combined with chip shortages have made it challenging for many to obtain one. I was only able to get one in the last several months because we refused to submit to the demands of scalpers. The PlayStation 5 gaming experience is unlike anything we’ve ever had on a gaming machine.
A redesigned DualSense controller, 4K visuals, and blazing-fast loading times are just a few of the features that make this system stand out from the competition. You can feel every stride, gunshot, and surrounding movement with the new PS5 controller, giving you complete control over your game experience. This controller is the greatest we’ve seen for console gaming, unsurpassed by rivals thanks to its haptic feedback, adjustable triggers, and built-in microphone.
Microsoft Xbox Series X
| Specification | Xbox Series X |
|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core AMD Zen 2 at 3.8 GHz |
| GPU | 12 teraflops, 52 CUs at 1.825 GHz (custom RDNA 2 architecture) |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Storage | 1 TB Custom NVME SSD |
| Optical Drive | 4K UHD Blu-ray |
| Resolution | Up to 8K |
| Max Frame Rate | Up to 120 fps |
| Ray Tracing Support | Yes |
| Backward Compatibility | Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games |
| Controller | Xbox Wireless Controller |
The best gaming consoles and fun Xbox yet is the Series X. It can give amazing 4K games at a rapid frame rate, which enhances the beauty of your graphics. Also, it boasts excellent 8K HDR and cloud gaming capabilities. The console contains a 12-teraflop GPU, an 8-core CPU, and extremely quick memory and storage.
Together, the hardware components also speed up the loading time of video games. The console can provide high-definition material from well-known streaming services and includes a 4K Blu-Ray drive. There are also many extra controllers and related items available for it.
Xbox Series S
| Specification | Xbox Series S |
|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core AMD Zen 2 at 3.6 GHz |
| GPU | 4 teraflops, 20 CUs at 1.565 GHz (custom RDNA 2 architecture) |
| Memory | 10 GB GDDR6 |
| Storage | 512 GB Custom NVME SSD |
| Optical Drive | Digital Edition |
| Resolution | Up to 1440p |
| Max Frame Rate | Up to 120 fps |
| Ray Tracing Support | Yes |
| Backward Compatibility | Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games |
| Controller | Xbox Wireless Controller |
Keep in mind that the Xbox Series S falls short of its larger sibling in a number of respects, so you are making a number of concessions in exchange for the aggressive pricing point. First off, the device lacks a physical disc drive and can only support 1440p rather than the Xbox Series X’s 4K resolution.
If you’re downloading bigger games that are also accessible on Xbox Game Pass, the 512GB SSD here can start to fill up more quickly than you anticipate. The Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion card, for example, can easily fix that. That leaves room for some of the better titles offered by the service to be gathered in one location. Thus, this product is one of the best gaming consoles available right now.
Valve Steam Deck 64 GB
| Specification | Valve Steam Deck 64 GB |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Zen 2 CPU (quad-core, 8 threads) |
| GPU | AMD RDNA 2 GPU |
| Memory | 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM |
| Storage | 64 GB eMMC NAND Flash |
| Display | 7-inch LCD touchscreen, 1280 x 800 resolution |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Input | Gamepad controls with trackpads and thumbsticks |
| Operating System | SteamOS |
The Steam Deck from Valve is our best gaming consoles if you enjoy Steam. With millions of gamers now, Steam is a well-liked gaming platform for both AAA and independent games. In the past, accessing your library would have required you to be tethered to your workstation, tower PC, or laptop; however, the Steam Deck, which was released last year, has changed the rules.
Based on Linux, this game system has docking and portable options. The analogue sticks and top controls are comfortable and familiar, and the interface is user-friendly. The graphics are amazing and, in my opinion, significantly superior to the Nintendo Switch when playing resource-intensive games.
Nintendo Switch Lite
| Specification | Nintendo Switch Lite |
|---|---|
| CPU | NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor |
| GPU | NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor |
| Memory | 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 32 GB internal storage |
| Display | 5.5-inch LCD touchscreen, 1280 x 720 resolution |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 hours |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Input | Integrated controls |
| Backward Compatibility | Nintendo Switch games |
The Nintendo Switch is not attempting to serve as the focal point of your entire television set-up. It has few streaming video apps and is unable to perform any 4K tasks. Nonetheless, it continues to perform the function that Nintendo gaming systems are best known for: playing top-notch, fun for the whole family, genre-defining Nintendo games from venerable series like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon.
A large selection of captivating independent games, as well as offbeat experiments like cardboard robots and exercise gear, are available on the Switch, in contrast to other Nintendo systems that haven’t offered gamers anything to do in between Mario titles. Currently, this is one of the best gaming consoles that you can buy right now.
The Nintendo Switch’s base model can function as both a home console and a portable gadget similar to the Nintendo 3DS. It consists of a little tablet with controllers connected, and you can either use it as a handheld device or dock it to your TV to play games. The Switch delivers graphical quality that falls in between that of a PS3 and a PS4, yet it is not as powerful as the PS4 or Xbox One S, let alone the new PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S consoles.
Apple Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation)
| Specification | Apple Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Apple A12 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture |
| GPU | Apple-designed GPU |
| Memory | 3 GB RAM |
| Storage | 32 GB or 64 GB flash storage |
| Resolution | Up to 4K HDR |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos |
| Input | Siri Remote |
| Operating System | tvOS |
Thanks to the A15 Bionic chip, which also powers the iPhone 14 and supports Xbox and PlayStation controllers, the most recent Apple TV 4K is excellent for gaming. Moreover, AirPlay connectivity enables iPhone and iPad users to play games on a large screen. The App Store offers a tonne of fascinating games to select from. This is one of the best gaming consoles.
On the other hand, the tech giant’s own Apple Arcade program offers $4.99 per month access to a huge selection of premium, exclusive video games. The best video player available right now is the Apple TV 4K. It can provide stunningly high-quality HDR material from all of the main streaming services.
FAQs
1. Sony PlayStation 5Microsoft Xbox Series X
2. Microsoft Xbox Series X
3. Xbox Series S
4. Valve Steam Deck
5. Nintendo Switch Lite
With a GPU capable of 12 teraflops in processing power compared to the PS5’s 10.3 teraflops, the Xbox Series X boasts a more potent GPU. Moreover, the Xbox Series X’s 3.8GHz CPU is a little bit faster than the PS5’s 3.5GHz CPU. But, aside from that, the systems are evenly matched in terms of power.
The console that is currently the simplest to find is also the most well-liked. The Wirecutter staff, including both casual players and video game professionals, love the Nintendo Switch because it’s a wonderful console with entertaining games and minimal drawbacks.
With its approximate 390 X 260 X 104mm dimensions, the PS5 is now the largest console ever made.
