It might seem odd to take on the PS5 versus the Xbox Series X versus the Nintendo Switch, since the latter is not a traditional game console and relies on less than the latest technology. But not everyone has close to $1,400 to have just the three collecting dust in their bank accounts.
And if you’re fairly new to playing games, the allure of PS5 exclusives might weigh against the Xbox Series X ecosystem, against the portability and family-friendly nature of the Nintendo Switch; This means nothing about the Nintendo Switch OLED.
In this article we’ll break down those differences and where the consoles intersect, giving you the information you need to decide which gaming device is best for you.
Microsoft Xbox Series X
In a glance: Microsoft’s Xbox Series X is the most powerful console on the market, featuring a more powerful processor and more storage than the PS5 or Switch. The Xbox Series X is a large black rectangle with a drive in the front and a variety of ports around the back. The Xbox Series X is also part of a larger Xbox system, which allows you to save your progress and pick up where you left off, regardless of whether you want to play on the Xbox Series X app, Xbox One, PC, or smartphone. The full-featured Xbox Series X costs $500; The smaller, less powerful digital Xbox Series S costs $300.
Positives: As it is the most powerful of the three consoles, Xbox Series X is arguably the best place to play popular multiplatform series, such as Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed. Microsoft-exclusive series like Halo, Gears, and Forza have been multiplayer favorites for a while, and Microsoft’s purchase of studios like Bethesda and Obsidian means there’s something for single-player fans, too. The Xbox Series X has the strongest backward compatibility of all three consoles, allowing gamers to experience almost all Xbox One titles, as well as many Xbox 360 and original Xbox games.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of buying an Xbox Series X, however, is the ability to take full advantage of Xbox Game Pass. This $15 per month subscription lets you download over 300 games to your Xbox or PC, or stream them to your Android or iOS smartphone. Your progress continues, no matter where you play. While you don’t really need an Xbox Series X to take advantage of it, playing games at 4K and 60fps speaks for itself.
Negatives: While Microsoft has a number of great perks, none of them have appeared exclusively on Xbox Series X yet. We’re in between Halo, Gears, and Forza right now, while big RPGs like Starfield and Avowed are still months or years away.
On top of that, one of the Xbox Series X’s biggest strengths – the cross-platform ecosystem – also means you don’t need to buy the console to experience its best games. You could theoretically get a similar experience with a $15 per month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, or even better on a powerful gaming PC. Finally, while it’s hard to break a deal, the Xbox Series X doesn’t have USB-C ports, which makes the console less future-proof than it should be.
Exclusive series: fairy tale, forza, war gear, halo, ori
Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch OLED
In a glance: The $299 Nintendo Switch is a small, lightweight console with a creative visual: it’s also a complete portable device. As its name suggests, you can use the switch in two ways: with your hands, play the game on a six-inch color screen, or dock to your TV, using a traditional console.
The newer $349 Nintendo Switch OLED, which comes out October 8, offers a larger 7-inch OLED display, a wider adjustable stand, a base with a wired LAN port, 64GB of storage and improved audio. Not only does the $199 handheld Nintendo Switch Lite include a dock but it’s a good affordable option for those who don’t want to play on a TV.
As a Nintendo console, the Switch is especially kid-friendly, hosting beloved series like Super Mario, Pokémon, and The Legend of Zelda. But it’s also very appealing for adults, too, with a never-ending supply of creative indie games, as well as third-party ports from Doom to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Positives: It almost goes without saying, but the ability to pick up your console and take your games with you anywhere is a revolutionary idea. The Switch is really as smooth as Nintendo advertises it. Plug it into the dock, and your game will appear on the TV; Pick up the console, and it becomes a handheld device. It’s impossible to overstate how much change this can make, if you live in a home with only one TV.
It’s also worth noting that the Switch hosts some absolutely amazing games, including the best games of the decade, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While the Switch has the potential to gather dust between major releases, first-party fare for the Big N is often a cut above, from the sprawling Super Mario Odyssey to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Negatives: The Switch is the oldest of the three major consoles on the market, and that means it’s also the least powerful. Not only does the transformer have outdated components; It is designed to be a low quality machine. Contrary to the 4k/60 fps promises from the PS5 and Xbox Series X, the Switch gets 720p in portable mode and 1080p when docked to a TV; Most games run at 30 frames per second. This may seem like a purely aesthetic concern, but if you have a UHD TV, it will make a huge difference.
This also raises a related issue: the fact that the converter is already four years old, and it’s already lagging behind the 4K successor. While the Switch OLED is somewhat of an upgrade, it still has a 1080p display and components that are mostly identical to the base switch. If you buy the Switch now, you may have to exchange it as early as next year. And even if you don’t, you’ll likely miss out on some great third-party titles as the games adapt to the most demanding hardware.
Exclusive series: The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Splatoon, Super Mario, Super Smash Bros.
Sony PlayStation 5
In a glance: The PS5, the fifth entry in Sony’s PlayStation lineup, is a machine beast, in more ways than one. This massive two-tone device looks like a giant asymmetric router. But beneath its flashy looks, the PS5 is all about gaming. Not only does PS5 host a number of great Sony exclusives, such as Horizon Forbidden West and Deathloop, but it’s also an excellent place to experience PS4 games, thanks to its excellent backwards compatibility. While the PS5 isn’t quite as powerful as the Xbox Series X, it’s comparable, and the 825GB SSD is one of the fastest on the market.
Positives: In addition to being a powerful all-around device, the PS5 has two notable features: access to the exclusive Sony series and the innovative DualSense controller. Sony owns the exclusive rights to publish games in the Ratchet & Clank, God of War, Horizon, The Last of Us, Spider-Man, Demon’s Souls, and Gran Turismo franchises — the list goes on. Over the past generation, these games have routinely topped the “best” lists, thanks to superior game design and excellent production values.
Also of note is the DualSense controller, which uses some of the most innovative and accurate touch devices on the market. Instead of just simple vibrations, DualSense can provide different sensations for steps, collect coins and even move different types of obstacles. The console’s adaptive triggers can also become resistant, adding a level of realism in everything from shooting a gun to web-tossing around New York City.
Negatives: In addition to being nearly impossible to find (the hardest of the three consoles are easy to buy at the moment), the PS5 is a pretty old gaming console in some ways. You can pick up a key and take it with you; You can stream your Xbox game just about anywhere. The PS5 game is connected to your TV, PC, or smartphone screen on your local network. (And until then, good luck with a wireless controller.) It has a limited number of streaming apps, and none of its subscription services feel as cohesive as Xbox Game Pass.
There’s also no getting around the fact that the PS5 is big, bulky and hard to maneuver in an entertainment center. It is not possible to add additional internal storage at this time, and it will require a lot of extra effort once that is done.
Exclusive series: God of War, Gran Turismo, Horizon, Ratchet & Clank, Spider-Man
PS5 vs. Xbox Series X vs. Nintendo Switch: Want to Buy Now?
Given the ongoing PS5 and Xbox Series X restocking challenges, how hard it was to find a Nintendo Switch in peak trading times, along with rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 and new upgraded versions of Sony and Microsoft consoles, you might be wondering if it’s worth going into trouble. Find any of the consoles.
Well, we’ll say yes. The Switch has a mature library of games, and the PS5 and Xbox Series X are growing with exclusive games and enhanced titles. Sure, all three may take some effort to find either in stock or at competitive prices, but they are well worth it because all of them offer excellent gaming experiences.
What about computers/smartphones/other gaming devices?
To be clear, the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch aren’t the only gaming systems you can buy. You can play excellent games on the best phones or the best gaming PCs. The Xbox One and PS4 are still viable consoles, and there’s a whole world of affordable vintage games to explore.
These are all good options, and well worth considering, depending on what you want from your gaming system. However, for now, the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch are the most prominent consoles on the market, and represent the easiest entry point into the hobby. Unless you specifically need something very powerful (like a gaming computer) or something super cheap (like a cloud gaming service on your smartphone), your best bet is to start with a console and work your way out from there.
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