Straight-talking picks across every current console and handheld — what each one's best at, the honest trade-offs, and where to buy. 12 devices, no fluff.
Plug into the TV. Best raw power and the biggest exclusives.
The cheapest way into current-gen gaming and Game Pass.
Best for Budget players and 1080p/1440p TVs who love Game Pass.
The best original Switch — a gorgeous OLED screen for handheld play.
Best for Players who mostly play handheld and want the huge Switch library cheaply.
Same PS5, no disc drive — cheaper if you buy games digitally.
Best for Digital-only buyers who never use physical discs.
The big upgrade — a bigger screen, more power and 4K docked.
Best for Nintendo fans who want the latest first-party games and handheld+TV play.
The standard PS5 with a disc drive — the default pick for most players.
Best for Most people: a big exclusive library, 4K games and physical discs.
Microsoft's flagship — 4K power and the best value via Game Pass.
Best for Game Pass subscribers who want 4K and a huge day-one library.
The most powerful PlayStation, built for 4K/60 with ray tracing.
Best for 4K TV owners who want the best-looking console games, no compromises.
Play anywhere. From the Switch library to full PC gaming on the go.
The cheapest way to play Switch games — handheld only.
Best for Kids, travel and budget buyers who only play handheld.
A remote-play handheld that streams your PS5 games over Wi-Fi.
Best for PS5 owners who want to play their console away from the TV, around the house.
A handheld PC that plays your whole Steam library on the go.
Best for PC gamers who want their Steam library portable, with tinker-friendly SteamOS.
A big-screen Windows handheld with detachable Switch-style controllers.
Best for Handheld gamers who want a large screen and versatile detachable controls.
The top Windows gaming handheld — power, battery and a 1080p screen.
Best for Power users who want max performance and full Windows/Game Pass on a handheld.
Every device at a glance — sorted by type and price.
| Console | Type | From | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S | Home console | $299 | Budget players and 1080p/1440p TVs who love Game Pass. | Buy ↗ |
| Nintendo Switch OLED | Home console | $349 | Players who mostly play handheld and want the huge Switch library cheaply. | Buy ↗ |
| PlayStation 5 Digital | Home console | $449 | Digital-only buyers who never use physical discs. | Buy ↗ |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Home console | $449 | Nintendo fans who want the latest first-party games and handheld+TV play. | Buy ↗ |
| PlayStation 5 (Slim) | Home console | $499 | Most people: a big exclusive library, 4K games and physical discs. | Buy ↗ |
| Xbox Series X | Home console | $499 | Game Pass subscribers who want 4K and a huge day-one library. | Buy ↗ |
| PlayStation 5 Pro | Home console | $699 | 4K TV owners who want the best-looking console games, no compromises. | Buy ↗ |
| Nintendo Switch Lite | Handheld | $199 | Kids, travel and budget buyers who only play handheld. | Buy ↗ |
| PlayStation Portal | Handheld | $199 | PS5 owners who want to play their console away from the TV, around the house. | Buy ↗ |
| Steam Deck OLED | Handheld | $549 | PC gamers who want their Steam library portable, with tinker-friendly SteamOS. | Buy ↗ |
| Lenovo Legion Go | Handheld | $699 | Handheld gamers who want a large screen and versatile detachable controls. | Buy ↗ |
| ASUS ROG Ally X | Handheld | $799 | Power users who want max performance and full Windows/Game Pass on a handheld. | Buy ↗ |