Do you want a new game console but are confused about which is best for you? The most popular brands have many of the same features and games, but the differences between the consoles can enhance your gameplay or leave you feeling wanting. Before you buy, review this checklist to ensure you will be happy with your purchase.
It is hard to directly compare tech specifications between game systems because they have different operating systems and architectures. No universal benchmark exists for hardware.
However, game performance and graphics are measurable, and PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One take the lead. Both have 4K capabilities with high dynamic range (HDR) resolutions.
In addition to the game console, your purchase is an investment into the company. Well-known and successful companies are more likely to have longevity and a larger library of games. Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony are household names that will continue to make new games, accessories, and more for their consoles.
Nintendo Switch is the most successful game system released in the last five years, with 84.59 million units sold. However, the Switch is not as popular as the company’s other system. Around 102 million people have bought a Wii system since 2006.
PlayStation 5 has sold 10 million units since 2020, making it the second most popular of recent releases. Its predecessors PlayStation, 2, and 4 are three of the five top-selling game systems, with hundreds of millions of units sold each.
Gamers bought more than 6.5 million Xbox Series X/S units, which is more than Super NES Classic Edition (5.28 million) and NES Class Edition (2.3 million). However, the Nintendo DS, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color are two of the top three highest selling units at almost 155 million and 119 million, respectively.
PlayStation 5 (PS5) is the newest game system, as Sony release it on November 12, 2020. The high-powered PC is the fifth generation.
Pros:
- Console’s speedy solid-state drive (SSD)
- 60 frames per second
- Gives new life to older games
- Good game lineup
Cons:
- Bulky controllers
- No options to customize the interface
Microsoft released the Xbox Series X and Series S just a couple of days before PlayStation on November 10, 2020. The Series X has more features than Series S, including 4K resolution, disc drive, and more internal storage.
Pros:
- 4K resolution and Blu-Ray capabilities in Series X
- 60 frames per second in Series X, while Series S runs 1440p
- Both have a great solid-state drive (SSD) with 1 TB storage in Series X and 512GB in Series S
- Series S is very affordable
Cons:
- High price for Series X
- Hard drives are slower than PS5
- Loss of Halo Infinite game
Nintendo’s latest system can transform from a home console to a portable gaming unit. The Switch’s versatility is one of its biggest draws.
Pros:
- Only system with station to portable capabilities
- Games load up faster than PS5 and Series X/S
- Smallest unit and does not take up much space
Cons:
- Poor battery life when streaming
- Glare on screen
- Only 32GB of internal memory
- Limited game selection
If you are techy, then the following information will help you see the systems’ differences side by side.
CPU
- PS5 – Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2, variable frequency, up to 3.5 GHz
- Series X – Custom AMD 8-core Zen 2; 3.8 GHz, 3.6 GHz with SMT
- Series S – Custom AMD 8-core Zen 2; 3.6 GHz, 3.4 GHz with SMT
- Switch – ARM 4 Cortex-A57 cores @ 1.02 GHz
Memory
- PS5 – 16 GB GDDR6 SDRAM; 512 MB DDR4 RAM (for background tasks
- Series X – GDDR6 SDRAM; 16 GB
- Series S – GDDR6 SDRAM; 10 GB
- Switch – 4 GB LPDDR4 @ 1331/1600 MHz
Storage
- PS5 – Custom 825 GB SSD
- Series X – 1 TB; WD SN530 NVMe SSD with custom ASIC that supports both PCIe 3.0 x4 and 4.0 x2
- Series S – 512 GB; WD SN530 NVMe SSD with custom ASIC that supports both PCIe 3.0 x4 and 4.0 x2;
- Switch – 32 GB eMMC
Display
- PS5 – HDMI: 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 4K UHD, 8K UHD
- Series X/S –720p, 1080p, 1440p, 4K
- Series X – 8K
- Switch – 6.2-inch, 1280 × 720 LCD (237 ppi) Docked: 480p/720p/1080p via HDMI
Graphics
- PS5 – Custom AMD RDNA 2, 36 CUs @ variable frequency up to 2.23 GHz
- Series X – Custom AMD Radeon RDNA 2 architecture; 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz, 12.15 TFLOPS
- Series S – Custom AMD Radeon RDNA 2 architecture; 20 CUs @ 1.565 GHz, 4.006 TFLOPS
- Switch – 256 Maxwell-based CUDA cores @ 307.2–768 MHz
From our computers to our phones, devices serve multiple purposes. A game system that can serve all of your entertainment needs gives you the best bang for your buck.
On a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, you can stream popular apps like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plus, Crunchyroll, DAZN, Disney+, ESPN Plus, Funimation, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, NFL Sunday Ticket, Peacock, Plex, Pluto TV, Spotify, TubiTV, Twitch, Vudo, WWE Network, and YouTube.
Switch lets you stream some applications, like Hulu, YouTube, and Funimation. But it does not support Netflix, Disney+, and several other services.
Nintendo Switch has family fun games like New Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart, and Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu. You can also play games for older kids like Fortnite and Zelda. The console is easy for those as young as 4 to figure out.
PS5 also has games for young gamers, like Minecraft, LittleBigPlanet 3, and Lego Dimensions. But it caters to the older gamer with speedy racing and blood-and-gore video games as well as classics, like FIFA 19. The system lets you set age rating levels and disable web browsing, so it is safer for kids.
Like PS5, Xbox Series X/S has more games for adults, such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Gear 5, and Forza Horizon4. However, parents will be happy to know that there are games for all ages like Lego games, Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled, and Kingdom Hearts 3.