The best gaming console in 2024

If you’re looking for the best gaming console in 2024, you might be diving into the world of videogames for the first time, buying a console for a gamer in your life, or just curious to see how we rank the big names against one another. This gaming console list isn’t about console wars, but a guide identifying each platform’s unique specs and strengths to help you make a great buying decision.

That means we’re comparing the Sony PlayStation (PS5 and PS4), Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S, and the best portable gaming consoles including the Nintendo Switch. The latest game consoles offer class-leading performance and let you play the best games out there right now. They look stunning, too. But each gaming console offers very different functionality; some are brilliant for playing games on the go, while others are fully-blown entertainment hubs. 

In this guide, we’ll compare the performance, design, and functionality of the best gaming consoles, but the game libraries are also an important decision factor. Check out our guides on the best Xbox games, the best PS5 games and the best Nintendo Switch games – as the console which has the most games to appeal to you might be the one you want to buy.

Here are the best gaming consoles in 2024:

• PlayStation 5 – best gaming console overall
• Xbox Series X – best premium console
• Nintendo Switch – best portable console
• Xbox Series S – best affordable games console
• Steam Deck – versatile handheld console
• Super NES Classic – fun retro console

1. PlayStation 5

The Sony PS5 is the best gaming console overall.

PS5 Slim Disc Edition

PS5 Slim Digitial Edition

PS5 Disc Edition (Original)

PS5 Digital Edition (Original)

PlayStation 5 specs:

Pros:

• Runs off powerful AMD Oberon graphics card
• Impressive haptic feedback on PS5 controllers
• Large library of award-winning exclusives

Cons:

• Limited in-built storage space
• Large and bulky design (excluding the newer Slim model)

The PlayStation 5 is the most advanced gaming console currently on the market, with great hardware to boost the experience. Its DualSense controllers offer haptic feedback, which responds with precise vibrations that give you a feel for the game’s virtual environment.

There are currently two models of the PS5, the launch version and the newer Slim one which has effectively replaced the original. As a result, you can sometimes find the original, more bulky PS5 for a better price if you’re not concerned about the design.

Each has a disc PS5 and a Digital Edition, with the latter being slightly cheaper since it doesn’t include a disc drive. You can still download and enjoy all of the same games as players with a disc console, however, those with a physical PS4 game collection or looking to keep a physical collection going forward may want to pay the extra and opt for the pricier one of the two. There’s also the ability to buy and sell second-hand copies of physical games for those with a disc console, which is usually cheaper than waiting for deals on the PlayStation Store.

It’s also worth noting that for the PS5 Slim model, you can actually buy the disc drive separately if you change your mind later down the road. This is not available with the original version, so make sure you check which one you’re picking up.

With a growing number of PS5-exclusive games, and other new PS5 games, it makes sense to go for the PS5 vs PS4, because you don’t want to risk missing out on big games like Horizon Forbidden West, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and God of War: Ragnarok. What’s even better is that most of the best PS4 games will still play on a PS5.

PS5 controllers are also broadly compatible with most other devices, so if you’re a PC gamer looking to expand into console territory, you could use them on your Steam library too. The ergonomic design of the PS5 controller also means that if you’re a small-handed gamer, you don’t need to worry about finger aches from having to extend your extremities in uncomfortable ways.

In terms of raw power, the PS5 is technically lagging behind the Xbox Series X by a hair’s width, but it’s an excellent platform for anybody who wants to enjoy the biggest games. The Nintendo Switch doesn’t have any options for triple-A games like these, the PS5 can run them flawlessly.

However, the PS5’s storage isn’t much to write home about. Less than a terabyte of storage in a world where games can be up to 100GB or more means that you’ll be filling it up frequently. Fortunately, you can actually install NVMe SSDs into the PS5, which is cheaper than the Xbox Series X’s proprietary storage. You can find the best PS5 SSDs here.

If you’re a fan of gaming on the go, you might be inclined to go for the Nintendo Switch, or the Xbox Series X (due to its Cloud Gaming), but PS Remote Play is a new feature on the console that encompasses more and more releases all the time – in a few years, you might be able to stream large swathes of the PS5 library to your mobile device.

For those interested in virtual reality, the PS5 is hands down the best console for you. The bespoke PSVR 2 headset is an expensive but brilliant bit of kit, as our PSVR 2 review states, and none of the PS5’s rivals can claim to cater to this kind of immersive gaming. 

Read our PlayStation 5 review.

2. Xbox Series X

The best premium console is the Xbox Series X.

Xbox Series X specs:

Pros:

• Uses a powerful AMD Scarlett GPU
• Backward compatible with two generations
• Excellent home entertainment center

Cons:

• Very few exclusive games
• No design variation

The latest addition to the Xbox family is a powerful piece of hardware (just read our Xbox Series X specs guide), capable of running some really impressive next-gen games. If you find yourself having to take a break from one of those games, the Xbox Series X is unique in its ability to let you hop back into the game at the exact point you left it thanks to Quick Resume, even after turning it off.

Meanwhile, Xbox is the home to Game Pass. While it’s true that this is also available on PC, there’s nowhere else that will give you such an enormous selection of games for you to play with a monthly subscription. Look at our list of all Xbox Game Pass games and you’ll see it truly puts the offering with Nintendo Switch Online to shame. And for those who don’t want to pay the full price of Game Pass, you can get access to over 30 titles via the Game Pass Core games library, which is a cheaper subscription (and is required for online multiplayer).

Having said that, the list of Xbox exclusives isn’t as big or exciting as that of the PS5 or Nintendo Switch. Most new games from Microsoft Studios work on the previous generation, the Xbox One as well, and are often available on PC as well. While these games definitely perform better on the Series X compared to the Xbox One, that might not be persuasion enough for everybody.

While it may not be possible to play an Xbox Series X on the go in the same way that you can do that with a Nintendo Switch, it does still offer some functionality in that regard. Using the Xbox Cloud Gaming feature, you can stream your Xbox Series X games onto your smartphone, or other handheld devices, giving you an opportunity to play from anywhere – it’s just a little rough around the edges (and admittedly, Xbox Cloud Gaming is still in beta).

It’s fortunate that Xbox is bringing a lot of games into the cloud too, as the Xbox Series X storage solution is pretty mediocre for a current-gen console. Instead of opting for third-party support with NVMe SSDs like the PS5, Xbox uses a proprietary storage solution called expansion cards. Fortunately, there are a few we’d consider the best Xbox expansion cards, but right now, they’re fairly expensive compared to similar-sized SSDs.

Overall, there’s an impressive selection of games on the console, and the list of new Xbox games seems to expand every month, offering some exciting titles for you to play that can put the console through its paces. And compared to the PS5, the best Xbox controllers list is rather expansive, including the Elite Series 2 controller which feels great and never makes your hands ache. What more could you want from a console? Except for a cheaper price.

Read our Xbox Series X review.

3. Nintendo Switch

The best handheld gaming console is the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch specs:

Pros:

• Hybrid home and handheld console
• Huge library of award-winning, exclusive games
• Less expensive

Cons:

• Misses some of the big triple-A releases
• Less powerful than others
• Fewer features outside of gaming

This is a console that’s moderately inexpensive (when compared to the PS5 or Xbox Series X) and one that’s really easy to get set up and play within a short space of time. While other consoles require you to go through account creation processes, with the Switch, you can literally just turn it on, put the cartridge in, and play.

Speaking of its game library, one of the many strengths of the Switch is the fact that just about everything is available on it. There are retro classics like Banjo-Kazooie, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Super Castlevania IV, alongside games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Minecraft, and indie superstars like Shovel Knight, Yooka-Laylee, Demon Turf, and Crypt of the NecroDancer… and all that without mentioning Zelda, Mario, Pokémon, and the other big Switch exclusives.

Although, having said that, there are quite a lot of big triple-A games that haven’t made their way to the console because it isn’t quite powerful enough to run them. GTA 5, Elden Ring, and annual Call of Duty titles all come to mind, so if they’re the types of games you’re most interested in, then this might be a deal-breaker for you. Still, it covers more ground than it misses overall.

Meanwhile, it is harder to use the Nintendo Switch as the center of your home entertainment setup. For whatever reason, this console doesn’t offer compatibility with most of the streaming platforms – if you want something you can watch Netflix, Disney Plus, or Amazon Prime Video through, you’re out of luck. Despite previously supporting a Twitch app, the Switch lost that as well in 2023. It does have services like Hulu, Crunchyroll, and YouTube, but that is a pretty limited selection compared to its rivals.

Nonetheless, the Switch will still be able to provide you with entertainment more often than its competitors, simply due to the fact that it is a hybrid console. While the Steam Deck may offer the same functionality, and Xbox Series X allows your games on mobile devices, there is no other console that lets you play on the TV, and then shortly after on the bus, with the ease of the Nintendo Switch.

Optionally, you can pay the extra and go for the Nintendo Switch OLED too. The exact same features are on both consoles, except the more expensive Switch offers an OLED screen, which gives brighter colors at the cost of a reduced battery life. However, considering many of Nintendo’s exclusives are bright and cheery, the OLED truly helps them pop in the best way possible.

Read our full Nintendo Switch review.

4. Xbox Series S

The Xbox Series S is the best affordable console.

Xbox Series S specs:

Pros:

• Capable of playing Series X|S games
• More affordable than Series X
• More compact than Series X

Cons:

• Less powerful than the Series X
• No disc drive (nor the ability to add one)
• Few exclusive games

The Xbox Series S is more affordable than the Series X console and is only slightly less powerful. Like the PS5 Digital Edition, it’s cheaper because it doesn’t have a disc drive. While both consoles use a custom RDNA 2 graphics processing unit (GPU), the Series S gives you a resolution of 1440p against the 4k gaming experience of the Series X. It has half the internal storage of the Xbox Series X, so will soon be faster when you download and save games, but that can easily be fixed by buying an external hard drive.

If you’ve got a library of original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games that you still like to play, the lack of a disc drive could be a deal-breaker. And as far as other entertainment is concerned, you won’t be able to use the console to watch the classics in your DVD collection.

However, if you’re buying an Xbox for the first time and don’t have an enormous budget, this is probably going to be the best gaming console for you. The Xbox One is only available second-hand now, and the Series S will give you access to the large library of games in the Microsoft Store, plus the fantastic Game Pass subscription service, and it’s compatible with most major streaming platforms as well. Check our Xbox Series X vs Series S guide if you’re still not sure which console is best for you.

Read our full Xbox Series S review.

5. Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is the best handheld gaming PC.

Steam Deck specs:

Pros:

• Powerful, portable gaming PC
• Huge library of compatible Steam games
• Can be modified to run other games

Cons:

• A little big for handheld mode
• Tricky to get setup if you’re not techy
• Expensive

The Valve Steam Deck is a powerful handheld gaming computer and it was released in early 2022. It uses a Linux-based SteamOS as its operating system, but with some workarounds, you can play games that are only compatible with Windows too, but the library of games available to play on Steam is enormous anyway. Like the Nintendo Switch, you can play Steam games on the go or docked on a TV, which is a refreshing change from having to play your PC games at a gaming desk.

Setting up a Steam Deck can be complicated if you compare it to a Nintendo Switch, which lets you just turn the console on, pop in a game, and start playing. The Steam Deck requires a greater technical understanding, which will please some gamers and frustrate others – particularly younger users. The advantage is that you can make the console your own, thanks to near-endless customization, from unique boot screens to various mods that will give you information on each game.

The Steam library alone will provide more than enough entertainment, but as it’s very easy to emulate pretty much anything on it, that means that you can potentially play classics from every era of gaming history on your platform. You can set it up to do exactly what you want. Steam offers its own system to show whether a game from the Steam store is compatible with the Steam Deck, but we suggest checking ProtonDB, a site where Steam Deck players can share whether a game is playable on the Deck or not, and how to get it working.

For example, Steam says that Sunset Overdrive isn’t playable with the Steam Deck, because it fails with a pop-up on startup. However, simply accepting the pop-up allows you to enter the game, making it playable despite what Steam says on the store page.

The Steam Deck is more expensive than other consoles on this list, and it’s essentially a powerful and portable gaming PC. But if you’re a tech-savvy gamer looking for new ways to play PC games, then you should consider a Steam Deck as your next console.

6. Super NES Classic Edition

The Super NES Classic Edition is the best retro games console.

Super NES Classic Edition specs:

Pros:

• Library of 21 pre-installed classic games
• Comes with authentic SNES controllers
• Save states available for all games

Cons:

• No way to expand your library
• Need to buy your own charger
• Certain classics missing

In this guide, we’ve been focused on the current era of gaming consoles, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot of respect for what came before. If you love retro games, we recommend the Super NES Classic, which is one of the best retro gaming consoles. Whether you’re an older gamer looking to relive the games of your childhood, or a modern gamer wanting to experience these classics for the first time, the Super NES Classic is an excellent choice.

Among the games in the Super NES Classic, you’ve got Donkey Kong Country, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, EarthBound, Super Mario World, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, and many other SNES smash hits. These are some truly amazing, formative games whose influence can still be felt in new games today. Excitingly, it also includes the first-ever official release of the game Star Fox 2.

While modern gamers might find these games a little bit harder than the games they usually play, the Super NES Classic includes save states that help make the classics a lot more accessible. Of course, if you’re a purist, you can just completely ignore them and play just like it’s 1991.

Even though the Super NES Classic does have a pretty fantastic selection of games, it has to be said that there are some pretty big games missing. Where in the name of sanity, and all that is holy, is Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest? And what about Chrono Trigger? Or Super Mario All-Stars? Of course, no matter what they included, someone would be missing a favorite, but it is a shame – especially when there’s no legitimate way to add games to it.

Still, while it may have a few shortcomings, it’s hard not to love the Super NES Classic. Playing these amazing games with its packaged-in SNES controllers feels amazing, and we’re sure that it will put a big grin onto the faces of anyone who has an appreciation for the games of yore.

Read our Super NES Classic Edition review.

Is Xbox or PS5 better?

In reality, it depends on what you want from your gaming console. If you’ve got a lot of older games to catch up on, from the past few generations at least, the Xbox Series X is better as the backward compatibility options are more advanced than PS5’s disappointing compatibility.

However, for those looking forward to the future of games, the list of PS5 exclusives seems to always score extremely high. And there’s the fact that PlayStation is keen to push virtual reality further with the PSVR 2 headset, even if it’s a niche market right now. That’s not even taking into account the immersive features that the PS5’s DualSense controller offers.

Based on pure power alone, at least on paper, the Xbox Series X wins by just a hair, but PS5’s no-joke attitude this generation by offering extremely powerful compression tech to numb down file sizes, an extraordinarily fast SSD, and the option for NVMe SSDs gives it just as much as an edge. If you own a PC already though, we recommend the PS5 simply for its exclusives.

How we chose the best gaming consoles

We didn’t just pick these gaming consoles at random. Our list represents the whole range of gaming consoles on the market right now – some are better for children, while others might suit older players and advanced gamers. And then there’s the size and format. You can’t play an Xbox in bed or on the train, but you can take a Nintendo Switch wherever you want to play. Here are some considerations to help you pick the right gaming machine for you:

• Games libraries: Without games, what is a console? There are plenty of major game releases that crossover on both the Xbox and PlayStation platforms, while the Switch and Steam Deck both have their own unique libraries. If you don’t already have any experience with a console, or a brand preference, check out which games you might like to play and narrow down your choice from there.
• Pricing: Games consoles vary in price, and we know that for some gamers, the choice will come down to what they can afford. That’s why we’ve included two versions of the Xbox and PS5 consoles.
• Portability: Is size important to you? Where do you mainly play games? If you love gaming on the go, you’re going to want a console that can either let you stream to your mobile device or which can be played directly as a handheld.
• Power: If you want the best graphics and performance with speedy loading screens, then the processing power of a console is going to be important to you. Generally, the larger the console is – think PS5 and Xbox here – the greater its processing power.
• Additional features: Some gamers don’t just want a platform to play games on, but a whole home entertainment center. The PS5 and Xbox can be loaded with streaming platforms such as Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video – giving you movies and TV on-demand whenever you want to watch them.

How we tested the best gaming consoles

We want you to trust our gaming console buying advice, which is why we’re super transparent about our review process. We spend months and even years living with gaming consoles so that we can give you a full picture of how they perform. Many of our expert reviewers have several next-gen consoles, which means they can compare and contrast several – so that you don’t have to.

We want our gaming console reviews to be helpful and trustworthy. Our editorial team is incredibly experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate about the games industry, and we do have a relationship with many big brands. But we’ll never review a product just because a manufacturer asks us to, and we’ll always be honest if something doesn’t match our high standards.

We spend months and even years living with and playing on the best gaming consoles so that we can give you a full picture of how they perform in real life. Many of our expert reviewers have tested several next-gen consoles, meaning they can compare their true strengths and flaws honestly. Find out more about how we test and review games and hardware on The Loadout.