The gaming world has moved on a lot since the days when you only had one or two consoles to pick from. Back in those days, it was also easier to make the right choice because Mario fans opt for Nintendo, Sonic fans pick Sega.
Fast forward to 2023 and choosing the right console for you is a lot harder, sure there are still plenty of exclusives that could seal the deal for you, but most of the new games out there these days are multi-platform.
Mid gen upgrades and technological advancements to bring 4K HDR to (some but not all of) your gaming, and it can be difficult to figure out which console you should buy. we are here to help you make that decision a little easier. From our thorough research, we have compiled the list of the top best consoles that is suitable and affordable.
Best Console 2023
1. Sony PlayStation 5
The Sony PlayStation 5 takes the place of the PS4 as fan favorite boasting incredible sales figures.
The console’s biggest strength is its exclusive games in the world of increasingly service-based online titles. PlayStation continues to push narrative-driven single-player titles such as Uncharted, God of war, SpiderMan, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us. It is one of the only console at the moment that offers access to virtual reality experiences. Specifications include:
• Dimensions: 15.35 × 4.09 × 10.23 inches (W x L x H)
•GPU: 2.23GHz Custom AMD RDNA based graphics engine
•RAM: 16 GB of GDDR6
•Resolution: 4K
•Storage: 1TB
Pros
• Great exclusive games
• It has VR support
• It’s affordable
Cons
•Scarce
2. Sony PlayStation 4 Pro
The Sony PlayStation 4 Pro console is the second most powerful console in the PlayStation lineup at the moment capable of outputting native and upscaled 4K in games that have been patched to make that possible. You will find images look a little sharper and games will overall run more smoothly thanks to the PS4 Pro’s Boost Mode. These console has an excellent library of games and some fantastic exclusives as well as Playstation VR support. Specifications include:
• Dimensions: 12.8 x 11.6 x 2.1 inch (W x L x H)
•GPU: 4.20 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ based graphics engine
•RAM: 8 GB of GDDR5, 1 GB DDR3
•Max Resolution: 2160p
•Optical Drive: DVD/Blu-ray
•Storage: 1TB (expandable)
Pros
• Native and upscaled 4K
• A more affordable 4K option
• No need for a new game library
Cons
• Not the most powerful 4K console at the moment
• CPU speed
3. Xbox One S
This console has superseded the original Xbox One for many reasons – it has a much smaller and sleeker design and it’s a little bit more powerful. On Xbox One S you’ll be able to purchase and play original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles, many of which have become key classics. Specifications include:
• Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.9 x 2.5 inch (W x L x H)
• GPU: 917 MHz, AMD Radeon™ based graphics engine
• RAM: 8 GB of GDDR3
• Max Resolution: 1080p (max 2160p for video)
• Optical Drive: 4K/HDR Blu-ray
• Storage: 500GB, 1TB or 2TB
Pros
• it’s Very affordable
• 4K Blu-ray player
• Upscaled 4K gaming
• Excellent backwards compatibility
Cons
• Not many great first-party exclusives
• Upscaling isn’t very refined
4. Xbox One X
The Xbox One X is Microsoft’s answer to Sony’s PS4 Pro and it’s safe to say it is a pretty good one. This console outputs upscaled and native 4K as well as HDR on games that have been patched to support these features but because of its much better specs the Xbox One X offers native 4K on many more games and it’s often more consistent in maintaining a 4K output. If you are looking for the best 4K gaming experience possible on a console, the Xbox One X should be your choice.
These console has excellent backwards compatibility support as well as a built in Ultra HD Blu-ray player for your physical media collection. Specifications include:
• Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.5 x 2.4 inch(W x L x H)
• GPU: 6 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ based graphics engine
• RAM: 12 GB of GDDR5
• Max Resolution: 2160p
• Optical Drive: 4K/HDR Blu-ray
• Storage: 1TB
Pros
• Native and upscaled 4K
• 4K Blu-ray player
• Excellent backwards compatibility
Cons
• Small internal hard drive for size of 4K assets
• Lack of exclusives
• it’s expensive
5. Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo switch is the most unique option on the market at the moment as you can use it both as a handheld and home TV console. On Nintendo Switch you will find a quickly growing library of games, from thrilling exclusives like Super Mario Odyssey to essential indies like Stardew Valley. Nintendo Switch offers all kinds of experiences. Specifications include:
• Dimensions: 4 x 9.5 x 5.4 inch(W x L x H) with Joy-Cons
• RAM: 4 GB
• Max Resolution: docked 720p, undocked 1080p
• Optical Drive: None
• Storage: 32GB (expandable)
• Portable battery life: approx 3 hours
Pros
• Portable and home console
• Great first-party exclusives
Cons
• It has Less extensive third-party game selection
• Still no fully fledged online service
6. Nintendo 2DS XL
The Nintendo 2DS XL is one of the most powerful and multifunctional Nintendo console on the market at the moment. The 3DS and 2DS XL are still excellent handheld only options. They have an extremely large and diverse library of games to play and they’re more affordable than ever. Specifications include:
• Dimensions: 3.4 x 6.3 x 0.85 inch(W x L x H) when closed
• GPU: 804 MHz ARM11 MPCore quad-core
• RAM: 256MB FCRAM, 10MB VRAM
• Max Resolution: 240p
• Optical Drive: None
• Storage: 4GB
• Portable battery life: approx 4 hours
Pros
• It’s light and sturdy
• Good library of games
• Perfect for younger gamers
• Its very affordable
Cons
• it’s the least powerful console
7. Alienware Steam Machines
Alienware console with a glowing alien logo on its front panel which depending on your taste is either a wonderful idea or cast-iron deal breaker. There are four different variants available, with the most basic offering 2GB of video memory, 4GB of system RAM, and an i3 processor. The high-end model doubles the system RAM and swaps the processor for an i7 which makes it a far more forward-thinking system. Pricing on the more advanced systems is not yet available. The units can play up to 4 Steam Controllers at once. Specifications include:
• CPU: Intel Core i5-4460.
• GPU: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 960 2GB.
• Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz.
• Storage: 1TB SSHD
Pros
• Replaceable hard drive
• Integrated touchpad
Cons
• CPU speed
• Number of games
8. The Nintendo Switch Lite
Nintendo Switch Lite is compact, lightweight, addition to the Nintendo Switch family, with integrated controls.
This Nintendo Switch Lite supports all Nintendo Switch software that can be played in handheld mode. It’s great for people who have lots of opportunities to play outside and for anyone who wants to play online or local wireless multiplayer with friends or family who already own a flagship Nintendo Switch console. Specifications include:
• CPU/GPU: Custom Nvidia Tegra processing
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 32GB – upgradeable by microSD card
• Connections: Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, USB-C (charging-enabled)
• Touchscreen: 5.5-inches, 1280×720 resolution, LCD
• Speakers: Stereo
• Battery: 3,570mAh
• Measures: 91.1 x 208 x 13.9mm
• Weight: 275g
Pros
• Lightweight
• Portable
• Comfortable design
Cons
• Limited to handheld games
9. Sony PlayStation 4 Slim
The PlayStation 4 Slim is a great console because its quieter, smaller, and much more portable than the original PS4. The auxiliary port and the optical audio port have been removed to save space, and the troublesome touch sensors that controlled the disc drive and the power supply have been replaced with physical buttons. Specifications include:
• Dimensions: 11 x 10 x 1.5 inches
• CPU: 1.6GHz 8-core AMD custom “Jaguar” CPU
• RAM: 8GB GDDR5
• STORAGE: 500GB (5,400rpm) replacable hard drive
• 4K support: Yes (video only)
Pros
• More compact than before
• Quieter performance
• Even more portable than before
• No more distracting LED strip
Cons
• Lacks the UHD Blu-ray drive
• Only available with a 500GB disk
10. Sony PlayStation 4 Ultimate Player 1TB Edition
The new PS4 is model CUH-1200, and there are three significant changes to the hardware. The first is a 10% reduction in the weight of the console. The second is an 8% power saving when in use compared to the existing model. The third and most noticeable change is the hard drive cover section of the casing. Specifications include:
•RAM: 8 GB of GDDR5
•Max Resolution: 1080p
•Optical Drive: DVD/Blu-ray
•Storage: 1TB (expandable)
Pros
• Integrated touchpad
• Replaceable hard drive
Cons
• Number of games
• CPU speed