Looking To Buy A Console? We Look At The Most Popular Ones

Christmas is just around the corner and perhaps you’re thinking of treating yourself (it’s been a long two years, after all) with a new gaming console.

But maybe, you’re still on the fence about which console to get? Or maybe you’re not sure what are the latest offerings? 

We’re here to break down the top three gaming consoles, but before you rush out of that door to buy your latest rig, know this – supply chain bottlenecks mean consoles might be a little hard to find on the shelves this Christmas.  

PlayStation 5 

Sony’s latest console is the PlayStation 5.

It comes in two editions – standard or digital (which comes without a disc drive). For the PS5, Sony has upgraded key parts of the PlayStation experience, making setups easier, controllers more sensitive and adding in bonuses for PS Plus members.

The PS5 also comes with powerful graphics tech courtesy of the NVMe SSD and GPU that enabled higher frame rates and 4K resolution display. There are also little, almost personalised touches like a built-in microphone on the DualSense controller which could act as a replacement headset. 

In fact, the PS5 recently won an award for the Best Gaming Hardware at the 2021 Golden Joystick Awards. 

The cons though – the console itself is pretty big, measuring 390mm x 260mm x 104mm. They can be pretty bulky. The games available on the PS5’s are also usually available on its predecessor – the PlayStation 4 – as well. 

The prices of the PlayStation 5 range from US$399 (digital edition) to US$499 (standard edition). 

Xbox Series X|S

Xbox launched the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S a year ago in November 2020. 

The Series X flaunts higher end hardware, support for higher display resolutions (up to 8K!), and a high-speed SSD to reduce loading times. While the Series S uses the same CPU but has a less powerful GPU, less memory and internal storage. Both consoles can support almost all Xbox One games.

The Xbox also has console exclusive (not including PC) games in the form of Halo Infinite and the upcoming Starfield from Bethesda Software. 

The cons? Well, at 300mm x 150mm x 150mm, it’s not exactly something easy to port around. You can put it on its side, but one reviewer said doing so made the console look like a love-child between an audio amplifier and a brick. Also, most games available on the Xbox Series X/S are also available on the PS5. 

The Xbox Series X will set you back US$499, while the Xbox Series S will cost US$299. 

Not sure about which series to get? Xbox has this nifty quiz to help you pick. 

Nintendo Switch OLED

The epitome of on-the-go gaming. 

The Nintendo Switch is a tablet that can either be docked and used as a console or carried around as a portable device. Unlike the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S behemoths, the Nintendo Switch OLED comes in at a quaint 100mm x 240mm x 14mm – meaning you can chuck it in your bag and play it anywhere you want. It comes with Joy-Con controllers, which can be attached to the console to support handheld play, or used on its own if the Nintendo Switch is hooked up to a TV. 

The Nintendo OLED – featuring an OLED screen – was released this October but most of Nintendo’s original Switch specs remain. Games – if in handheld mode – run at 720p, and the size of the console is about the same as the original. That means if you have an older Nintendo Switch, its accessories should work with the Nintendo Switch OLED. Some reviewers say the main selling point of the Nintendo Switch OLED is its screen.

As for games – Nintendo has a slew of exclusives, from Pokemon to Mario and of course, Animal Crossing.

The cons – apart from the screen and a few minor tweaks, the Nintendo Switch OLED doesn’t really set itself apart from the previous Switch models. That’s not to say it’s not a good console to buy, just that if you’re already a Switch owner then well, you might want to hold out for the possibility of a Nintendo Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch OLED currently retails for US$350.   

Happy console shopping!

*Featured image from Unsplash/@pragii07

By Samantha Chan \ 09:15am, 3 December 2021