Best gaming console in 2023

Although you might only be able to squeeze the very best performance out of a high-end gaming PC, picking up one of the best gaming consoles can be a much cheaper way to experience all of the latest and greatest video games releasing right now.

Now is a great time to think about picking up a new console because the very latest systems like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S have all been on the market for a few years, meaning that they are readily available worldwide and often subject to good bundle deals or discounts. There are also a handful of more niche alternatives like the Steam Deck (which is effectively a powerful handheld PC) or retro-oriented Super Pocket to consider, too.

With so many options, the process of picking out a new machine might seem a tad overwhelming at first. That’s exactly why we’ve assembled this handy guide, which outlines what we consider to be your best choices for a new console at the moment with a wide range of options depending on your specific preferences or budget.

When buying a new console, it’s also worth taking a look at some potential accessories. Why not also visit our guides to the best PS5 accessories or the best Xbox Series X and Series S accessories?

Best gaming consoles - The quick list

Best gaming consoles in 2023

Best gaming console

With a library of incredible exclusives including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and The Last of Us Part 1, the PS5 is absolutely one of the best consoles you can buy right now. It might not be quite as powerful as the Xbox Series X on paper, but it still offers superb performance and in a wide range of first and third party titles. You can expect to experience games with ray tracing and at resolutions up to 4K. 

The included controller, Sony’s DualSense Wireless Controller, is also a major highlight with a brilliant form factor and fantastic haptic feedback. Priced at $499.99 / $479.99, you’re getting plenty of value here compared to the competition. Purchasing games through discs can be great value, but there is also a cheaper digital version priced at $399.99 / $379.99 which cuts out the disc drive if you wish to solely expand your collection of games via the digital store. 

It is worth nothing that the console’s storage may become an issue if you buy lots of digital games, however. Although the console comes packed in with 667.2GB of usable space out of the box, which does sound quite large, this will fill up very quickly given the large file sizes of many of the best PS5 games. Picking something up from our guide to the best SSD for PS5 can go a long way to help alleviate this issue.

A new PS5 model is on the horizon, though, intended to replace both the digital and disc version of the base model. This revision is much slimmer, has a slightly more appealing design, and provides an option to purchase a detachable Ultra HD Blu-Ray disc drive down the line. Read our full breakdown of the new model releasing in November to learn more.

• Read more: PS5 review 

Best performance gaming console

From a raw technical perspective, the Xbox Series X is comfortably the most powerful console currently available and is therefore our top pick if pure performance is your number one concern. A lot of the best Xbox Series X games look and sound phenomenal, thanks in no small part to the stellar implementation of Dolby Atmos surround sound and Dolby Vision - which compliment the console’s high-end specs very well.

Priced at $499 / £449, the Xbox Series X is comfortably better than what you would be getting for that price in the gaming PC or gaming laptop market. Like the PS5, the Xbox Series X also has 4K support and compatibility with desirable graphical features like ray tracing. As the system utilizes Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD tech for its storage, it is also unlikely to be slowing down any time soon. 

The one area where the Xbox Series X may disappoint is in its software library, which lacks the many compelling console exclusives that you can find on PS5. Xbox Game Pass, however, does help make up for this, offering players the chance to tap into a wide range of titles for a low monthly price. There is also excellent backwards compatibility, far better than what the PS5 offers, which allows you to play games dating all the way back to the original Xbox. 

That's not to say that the Xbox Series X lacks a handful of decent exclusives of its own, of course. Forza Horizon 5 is one of the best racing games on the market, while simulator fans will surely appreciate the hardware-intensive and stunningly beautiful Microsoft Flight Simulator. There are loads of multi-platform releases to consider too, including the brilliant Lords of the Fallen and Sonic Superstars.

• Read more: Xbox Series X review 

Best affordable gaming console

At just $299.99 / £249.99, the Xbox Series S presents incredible value. That’s before additional discounts, too, where we frequently see that price slashed to as low as $249.99 / £199.99 or the addition of bundled games to bolster the package.

While this low price point makes it an obvious choice for the best affordable gaming console, you should keep in mind that you are making a number of concessions when picking the Xbox Series S over its larger sibling or the PS5. For a start, the machine lacks a physical disc drive and is limited to a 1440p resolution instead of the 4K output of the Xbox Series X. This means that games will not look quite so sharp, especially if you’re using a 4K monitor or expensive gaming TV. 

The 512GB SSD may also begin to fill out quicker than expected if you're downloading many of the larger titles that are available on Xbox Game Pass. This can be solved by the addition of a Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card, but this is an expensive solution if you’re after the higher capacity models.

This is to be expected when you’re paying about 2/3 the price for the Xbox Series X, however, and this console still lets you enjoy all the great current-generation Xbox games like Forza Motorsport and Starfield. It also makes for a perfect media streaming centre, offering native apps for Netflix and Disney Plus where the 1440p resolution of this console helps make images look far crisper than your standard 1080p picture.

• Read more: Xbox Series S review

Best handheld gaming console

The Nintendo Switch OLED is easily the definitive model out of the company's current console lineup. While it boasts the same internals as the stock Nintendo Switch, the screen has received a substantial upgrade. It is now a larger 7-inch OLED panel that helps the best Nintendo Switch games really pop. 

With its $349.99 / £299.99 asking price, the Nintendo Switch OLED positions itself as significantly cheaper than both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. This cheaper price and handheld form factor do have a tangible impact on performance, however, meaning that many ported games like The Witcher 3 can begin to struggle. This will be most noticeable if you're someone who primarily plays on the TV in docked mode.

With this variant, you're also getting a greatly improved kickstand and significantly better speakers as well, leading to a much better experience while playing in handheld or tabletop mode. All of the original Nintendo Switch library of compatible with the Nintendo Switch OLED too, granting you immediate access to incredible exclusive games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Despite the many upgrades found in the Nintendo Switch OLED, there are still some circumstances where buying the older original Nintendo Switch Model is still advisable. This includes getting your hands on any potential limited edition designs, such as a the cute Animal Crossing Switch, or if you can manage to snag one of the cheapest Nintendo Switch bundles and deals.

• Read more: Nintendo Switch OLED review

Best gaming console for kids