There are now so many different ways to play video games in 2025 that it can be difficult to know which device is best for your needs. But that’s where we at Trusted Reviews come in; we’ve compiled a list of the best game consoles to highlight the top options we’ve tested.
Not only have we fully reviewed the most popular picks from PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox, but we’ve also tested numerous portable PCs, streaming gadgets and retro-inspired handhelds to give you a better understanding of the options at play.
Every product that we review undergoes strict testing, as we evaluate the performance, features, design and game library. Only the highest-scoring gadgets qualify for this guide, so you can be sure you’re only getting the highest quality.
We’ve included a variety of options on this list, each aimed at fulfilling a specific need. So whether you’re looking for a child-friendly gadget or the most powerful console possible, we’ve got your back.
Alternatively, you can check out our best gaming laptop list if you’d prefer to stick to PC gaming.
Best game consoles at a glance
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How we test
Learn more about how we test game consoles
Every game console we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality and performance.
We’ll play multiple games on the hardware, while comparing the performance to rival consoles (and predecessors) to see whether it’s worth the investment.
We’ll also evaluate the software, as well as the line-up of games when deciding on a final score.
Pros
- Refined slimmer and lighter design
- Absurd power meets brilliant user interface
- DualSense controller is a step forward
- Removable disc drive adds flexibility
- Better library of first-party exclusives
Cons
- Mid-cycle refresh doesn’t improve internals
- Lags behind Series X and S when it comes to loading times
- Still expensive
Pros
- Sleek and premium design
- Xbox Game Pass offers a stunning level of value
- Quick Resume is a game changer
- SSD makes games and applications faster than ever
Cons
- User interface and overall design is very familiar
- Not as many high-quality exclusives as PS5 and Switch
Pros
- Plenty of welcome screen upgrades
- Faster performance to give even classic Switch games an extra boost
- Sleek design
Cons
- Poor battery life
- OLED would have been better
- Hefty price
Pros
- Visuals and performance in optimised titles can be stunning
- Faster Wi-Fi speed
- 2TB storage is welcome (and frankly needed)
- Looks better than the original PS5
Cons
- No disc drive included
- Stand is another separate purchase
- Not all games benefit in the same way and it doesn’t dramatically change any game
- The whole package is very expensive
Pros
- Bright and vibrant OLED screen
- Longer battery life
- Improved grip on joysticks
- Open-platform PC with slick software
Cons
- No performance upgrade
- Still a faff loading up non-Steam apps and games
Pros
- Impressive battery life
- Great performance, especially in Turbo mode
- Small, but significant, improvements to overall design
Cons
- Still an IPS LCD display
- No trackpad
Pros
- Major performance upgrade on Xbox One S
- Small and stylish design
- Next-gen SSD reduce loading times dramatically
- Incredible value considering the specs
Cons
- 500GB storage is far too small
- Lacks a disk drive
- No support for Wi-Fi 6
Pros
- 4K and HDR visuals looks incredible
- Cinema-quality audio
- Redesigned remote
- GeForce Now cloud streaming is a game changer
Cons
- GeForce Now still in beta
- No app for Now TV
Pros
- Design is robust, attractive and easy to use
- Already boasts a fantastic library of games
- Increased battery life compared to the base model
Cons
- Nature of console means certain games are no longer supported
- Local multiplayer is far harder to achieve without docking
Pros
- An inspired celebration of retro gaming
- Perfect size for portable gaming
- A surprisingly varied array of games included
- The crank is fun to use
Cons
- No backlight
- No Bluetooth at launch
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Refined slimmer and lighter design -
Absurd power meets brilliant user interface -
DualSense controller is a step forward -
Removable disc drive adds flexibility -
Better library of first-party exclusives
-
Mid-cycle refresh doesn’t improve internals -
Lags behind Series X and S when it comes to loading times -
Still expensive
The PS5 has been available since 2020, but it has seen several improvements since then. Firstly, Sony has refreshed the design with the new PS5 Slim model, which is now the default option to buy. It’s also updated the firmware, unlocking new features that weren’t available at launch.
These tweaks have helped establish the PS5 as the leading console choice. It has a solid selection of exclusive titles, incredibly powerful with support for the likes of hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and a blazing fast SSD that loads up games in a matter of seconds.
The PS5 controller arguably steals the show though, with Adaptive Triggers and Haptic Feedback, which we found to increase immersion within games tenfold. There are a wide number of accessories that can be paired with the console now too, with the PlayStation Portal allowing you to play remotely and the PlayStation VR 2 allowing you to explore incredible virtual worlds.
There’s also a PS5 Digital Edition available for £359.99, although it lacks the ability to play any PS4 or PS5 games that you have on disk – not to mention films on Blu-Ray.
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Sleek and premium design -
Xbox Game Pass offers a stunning level of value -
Quick Resume is a game changer -
SSD makes games and applications faster than ever
-
User interface and overall design is very familiar -
Not as many high-quality exclusives as PS5 and Switch
The Xbox Series X is one of the best game consoles we’ve reviewed. We found it to be immensely powerful, capable of a 4K output at 120Hz. Console exclusives such as Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite particularly wowed us, while the option for Game Pass provides access to a huge selection of fantastic games for an affordable monthly fee.
Its internal SSDs allowed games to load pretty much instantly, which we found especially useful. Testing, Doom Eternal, for instance, the game loaded in six seconds, which put it firmly ahead of any other next-gen console.
The Quick Resume function also allows for games to be stopped in a suspended state if you decide to open something else. But if you wish to return to your original game, you can pick up right where you left off.
Whilst we found the Series X to look sleek with its matted black shell, it’s also quite a tall console with a non-descript cuboid shape. It’s relatively expensive in the world of consoles, but if you’re looking for the very best gaming experience, then the Xbox Series X is the console to go for.
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Plenty of welcome screen upgrades -
Faster performance to give even classic Switch games an extra boost -
Sleek design
-
Poor battery life -
OLED would have been better -
Hefty price
In the past, Nintendo has been known for going all out with new and often bizarre concepts for its latest consoles, and while the Switch 2 isn’t exactly a revolution like the Nintendo Wii was, it does double down on all the things that made the original Nintendo Switch great and we are here for it.
The most obvious change you’ll gather just by looking at the console is that it’s quite a bit larger than its predecessor. Unlike the 6.2-inch panel on the original Switch, there’s now a massive 7.9-inch panel for gamers to enjoy, which just makes the experience far more immersive on the go.
On top of the added real estate, that screen has also had a resolution bump to 1080p, and a boost in the refresh rate, allowing for 120fps gaming. Compared to the original Switch, the visual upgrades make an immediate difference, to the point where you’ll wonder how you ever put up with Nintendo’s previous hybrid console.
Under the hood, there’s a more powerful chipset which doesn’t just allow the Switch to play more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, it also paves the way for quicker response times when scrolling through menus, loading games and browsing the Nintendo eShop.
Hidden in plain sight is an upgrade to the Joy-Con controllers, which now use a magnetic system to attach themselves to the Switch 2, while a quick-release button allows you to separate them faster than the original Switch’s sliding design. All of this amounts to a far more confident console that takes Nintendo’s hybrid ambitions to new heights.
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Visuals and performance in optimised titles can be stunning -
Faster Wi-Fi speed -
2TB storage is welcome (and frankly needed) -
Looks better than the original PS5
-
No disc drive included -
Stand is another separate purchase -
Not all games benefit in the same way and it doesn’t dramatically change any game -
The whole package is very expensive
Until something else comes along, the PS5 Pro is currently the most sophisticated games console you can buy right now. As much as we love the Xbox Series X, Microsoft’s console doesn’t come close to offering the level of power that Sony’s high-end unit can supply.
Admittedly, the PS5 Pro won’t be for everyone. If you’re someone who already owns a PS5 and doesn’t spend any time weighing up the pros and cons of opting for performance or fidelity mode, then you’ll be just fine with staying where you are. The PS5 Pro has been made for gamers who obsess over every detail and need to have the absolute best means of playing the latest titles.
On top of an upgraded GPU, the PS5 Pro is also able to achieve a higher level of graphical fidelity thanks to its unique upscaling technology known as PSSR. When firing on all cylinders, the PS5 Pro lets you play certain titles not just with greater detail than before, but also at a higher frame rate as well.
This means that fast-paced games like Gran Turismo 7 feel even more at home on the PS5 Pro, whilst carefully constructed worlds, like that of The Last of Us Part II Remastered, have even more to catch your eye as you move through them.
Bolstering the experience even more is the inclusion of a 2TB SSD from the jump, so you’ll have more room than ever for storing all the latest triple-A titles, alongside a connection upgrade to Wi-Fi 7.
So long as you have a router that can match that internet speed, you’ll be able to enjoy a much smoother online experience than what was possible with the base-model PS5.
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Bright and vibrant OLED screen -
Longer battery life -
Improved grip on joysticks -
Open-platform PC with slick software
-
No performance upgrade -
Still a faff loading up non-Steam apps and games
In the last few years, there’s been a boom in popularity in handheld gaming PCs, allowing you to play PC games on the go without the need for an internet connection. There are plenty of fantastic systems in this new category, but our current favourite is the Steam Deck OLED.
Building upon the fantastic foundations of the original Steam Deck, the new model sees a smattering of upgrades including a bright OLED panel, improved battery life, enhanced controls and a marginally lighter design. Those upgrades may sound minimal on paper, but they result in a far greater experience.
The Steam Deck OLED isn’t the most powerful option, with the likes of the Asus ROG Ally and Ayaneo 2S both proving to be faster. Nevertheless, the Steam Deck OLED can still run the vast majority of games at max graphics settings at 720p, and it’s available at a more affordable price. The SteamOS software is also far more slick than the Windows offering on other portables.
The base Steam Deck is still a great option for those on a tight budget, but if you want the perfect blend of price, performance, software, design, screen and battery life, then we reckon there’s no better option than the Steam Deck OLED.
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Impressive battery life -
Great performance, especially in Turbo mode -
Small, but significant, improvements to overall design
-
Still an IPS LCD display -
No trackpad
The Stream Deck OLED is a fantastic portable PC that provides access to the Steam library on the go, but it’s not perfect. It runs Linux, for example, so game support (especially outside of Steam) is very hit-and-miss, and it means that you can’t really use the portable PC for cloud gaming when Wi-Fi is available either.
The Asus ROG Ally X fixes most of those issues, and a whole bunch more. The Windows 11-equipped handheld console allows for easy access to every PC game storefront on Windows, and supports most games without any issue (as long as they’re supported by the hardware, anyway). It also means you’re free to use it for cloud gaming, and with a Thunderbolt 4 port for accessories, you can even use it as a full-fat Windows machine when connected to an external display.
The ROG Ally X also sports a more powerful chipset than the Steam Deck OLED in the form of the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, coupled with a massive 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage as standard. While that’s enough to deliver a smooth gaming experience with ultra-level graphics in titles like Cyberpunk 2077, it’s the battery life that stands out most.
With an 80Wh battery that’s 30Wh bigger than the Steam Deck OLED and one that’s double the 40Wh of the regular Ally, the Ally X has the best gaming longevity of any handheld we’ve used so far, hitting three hours of Horizon Zero Dawn gameplay with ultra-level graphics enabled, and this also means you can use the souped-up 25W Turbo mode for additional performance boosts without worrying too much about battery life.
The ROG Ally X may not feature the same high-end OLED screen tech as the Steam Deck OLED, and at £799/$799, it’s very much a premium purchase, but the experience on offer is one of few to truly rival what Valve offers with its Deck.
-
Major performance upgrade on Xbox One S -
Small and stylish design -
Next-gen SSD reduce loading times dramatically -
Incredible value considering the specs
-
500GB storage is far too small -
Lacks a disk drive -
No support for Wi-Fi 6
The Xbox Series S is the best choice for people who want new-gen gaming at a cut price.
It may not be as powerful as the Xbox Series X or PS5, but Microsoft’s more affordable console is still capable of outputting at 1440p complete with ray-tracing. We found it to offer some stunning visuals within games, with sharp images and great lighting.
With the Xbox Series S comes the optional convenience of Xbox Game Pass and its vast library of titles that gives you instant access to over 100 games for a reasonable monthly price. In addition, its UI is familiar and easy to navigate.
The console itself is smaller than the Series X by some way, as well as being noticeably dinkier than the older Xbox One S, featuring a sleek white shell. With that smaller stature comes the sacrifice of a disc drive, however, so if you want to play games or any other forms of media via a physical medium, you’ll have to pick up the more expensive Series X.
In addition, the Series S only features a 500GB SSD, which is highly limiting, providing you with space to install only a handful of games at any one time. You can install more storage via a memory card, but that can get pretty expensive.
With that being said, the Xbox Series S is still the best games console available for those on a budget who want to play the latest major games, as long as you can live with the smaller storage and lack of a disc drive.
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4K and HDR visuals looks incredible -
Cinema-quality audio -
Redesigned remote -
GeForce Now cloud streaming is a game changer
-
GeForce Now still in beta -
No app for Now TV
The Nvidia Shield TV (2019) technically isn’t a games console, but more of a premium Android streaming box. With a quick download of Nvidia’s own GeForce Now, however, the Shield TV transforms into a capable cloud gaming system.
With the Shield TV, you get a few different ways of playing your favourite titles, as you can either download Android games onto it to play locally, stream your PC thanks to integration with your Steam and Epic Games libraries, or utilise a GeForce Now subscription. The latter will grant access to some serious PC power for a monthly subscription to play the latest AAA games at some seriously high settings.
When loading up the likes of Hitman 2, for instance, we found the experience on the Shield TV to be especially smooth and fun. Do note though, that the performance of any game on a cloud gaming platform, such as GeForce Now, depends on how good your internet connection is. As long as it’s stable and quick, you should get a great gaming experience.
The actual device itself features 4K HDR output, complete with the powers of both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. You do need a supported display and speakers to take advantage of such features, but then games should look and sound fantastic. With its revamped remote, you get access to Netflix via a dedicated button, as well a raft of other movie and TV streaming services.
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Design is robust, attractive and easy to use -
Already boasts a fantastic library of games -
Increased battery life compared to the base model
-
Nature of console means certain games are no longer supported -
Local multiplayer is far harder to achieve without docking
The Nintendo Switch Lite is the cheapest portable console on our list, which makes it an ideal choice for those on a budget, as well as for children.
It looks particularly bright and fun, with a funky yellow plastic outer shell. And if this isn’t to your taste, the Switch Lite is available in a couple of other colours, including turquoise and grey. This is a much smaller footprint console than the full-fat Switch, which we found made it nicely portable. Its lighter 275g weight also made it easier to hold, especially for younger children.
The display on the Switch Lite is a denser 5.5-inch panel with the same 720p resolution as the original. Generally speaking, you won’t be losing anything in terms of picture quality, even with a 0.7-inch reduction in overall size.
It’s worth noting that the Switch Lite isn’t fully compatible with every Switch game, since the Joy-Cons aren’t detachable. This means a select few titles (such as 1-2-Switch) that need motion controls won’t work, unless you shell out on extra Joy-Cons. Other than that, the entire library is open to you, meaning all the best Mario, Zelda and Pokemon games are all within reach.
In addition, the console features decent battery life, ranging from four to seven hours, depending on the game. At the top end, it means you’ll get roughly a working day’s worth of playtime out of the Switch Lite before it needs to be charged. If you’re only playing for a couple of hours a day, it’s likely you could get several days’ worth of charge out of this little guy.
While it may not have detachable Joy-Cons and slightly shorter battery life than the standard Switch, the Switch Lite is a great option for those who want the fundamentals of Nintendo’s latest console with a fun gaming experience, complete with a sturdy and colourful outer shell and a great selection of games.
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An inspired celebration of retro gaming -
Perfect size for portable gaming -
A surprisingly varied array of games included -
The crank is fun to use
-
No backlight -
No Bluetooth at launch
The Playdate is the best retro-inspired games console, despite being the most recently-released console on our list.
It’s a homage to the retro game consoles of old, with its yellow plastic frame an obvious nod to the iconic original Game Boy. Weighing just 86g, we found it to be incredibly portable. The Playdate features just two buttons, a D-pad, as well as a crank on the side that we found to add an interesting mechanic to the games that support it.
The selection of games available with the Playdate is varied, with there being 24 in total that we found to offer a fun experience, whether it’s the Asteroids-inspired Hyper Meteor, the crank-driven Crankin’s Time Travel Adventure, or the side-scrolling detective thriller Saturday Edition. There’s sure to be a title that everyone will enjoy, especially given how captivating we found the gameplay to be.
There is also the ability to make your own games with the clever Playdate Pulp feature, and means anyone (even those with basic coding knowledge) has the potential to make a game.
The only major issue we had with the Playdate was its display. While its dinky 2.7-inch screen is perfectly serviceable for the most part, the fact there isn’t a backlight means you can’t really make use of the console if you’re playing in the dark. While the Playdate is a great retro-inspired console, the lack of a backlight does feel like it brings the old experience a little bit too close to home at times.
Test Data
| Sony PS5 | Xbox Series X | Nintendo Switch 2 | PS5 Pro | Steam Deck OLED | Asus ROG Ally X | Xbox Series S | Nvidia Shield TV (2019) | Nintendo Switch Lite | Playdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCMark 10 | – | – | – | – | – | 6029 | – | – | – | – |
| Cinebench R23 multi core | – | – | – | – | – | 9468 | – | – | – | – |
| Cinebench R23 single core | – | – | – | – | – | 1707 | – | – | – | – |
| Geekbench 6 single core | – | – | – | – | – | 2101 | – | – | – | – |
| Geekbench 6 multi core | – | – | – | – | – | 7213 | – | – | – | – |
| 3DMark Time Spy | – | – | – | – | – | 2803 | – | – | – | – |
| CrystalDiskMark Read speed | – | – | – | – | – | 5010.26 MB/s | – | – | – | – |
| CrystalDiskMark Write Speed | – | – | – | – | – | 3376.44 MB/s | – | – | – | – |
| Brightness (SDR) | – | – | – | – | – | 400 nits | – | – | – | – |
| Contrast ratio | – | – | – | – | – | 1000:1 | – | – | – | – |
| PCMark Battery (gaming) | – | – | – | – | – | 3 hrs | – | – | – | – |
| Battery recharge time | – | – | – | – | – | 106 mins | – | – | – | – |
Full Specs
| Sony PS5 Review | Xbox Series X Review | Nintendo Switch 2 Review | PS5 Pro Review | Steam Deck OLED Review | Asus ROG Ally X Review | Xbox Series S Review | Nvidia Shield TV (2019) Review | Nintendo Switch Lite Review | Playdate Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK RRP | £479.99 | £449 | – | £699 | £479 | £799 | £249.99 | – | – | – |
| USA RRP | $499.99 | $499 | – | $699 | $549 | $799 | $299 | – | – | $179 |
| EU RRP | €549.99 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| CA RRP | CA$649.99 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| AUD RRP | AU$799.95 | AU$749 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| CPU | – | – | – | 8 core / 16 thread AMD Zen 2 | AMD Zen 2 | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | – | – | NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor | – |
| Manufacturer | Sony | Diesel | – | Sony | Valve | Asus | Diesel | Diesel | Nintendo | Teenage Engineering |
| Screen Size | – | – | – | – | 7.4 inches | 7 inches | – | – | 5.5 inches | – |
| Storage Capacity | – | – | – | 2TB | 512GB, 1TB | 1TB | – | – | 32GB | – |
| Expandable storage | – | – | – | Yes, SSD | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Battery | – | – | – | – | 50 Whr | 80 Whr | – | – | 3570 mAh | – |
| Battery Hours | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – |
| Size (Dimensions) | 358 x 216 x 96 MM | x x INCHES | – | 8.5 x 3.5 x 15.2 INCHES | 298 x 49 x 117 MM | 280 x 111 x 247 MM | x x INCHES | x x INCHES | 8.2 x 0.55 x 3.6 INCHES | x x INCHES |
| Weight | 3.2 KG | – | – | 3.1 KG | 638 G | 678 G | – | – | 278 G | 86 G |
| ASIN | B0CL5KNB9M | B08H93GKNJ | – | – | – | B0D6Z6MFN4 | B08GD9MNZB | B07Z6QQZPF | B092JPSVCS | – |
| Operating System | – | – | – | – | SteamOS | Windows 11 | – | – | – | – |
| Release Date | 2023 | 2021 | – | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | 2022 |
| First Reviewed Date | 18/03/2024 | – | – | 18/02/2025 | 01/04/2024 | 23/07/2024 | – | – | – | 20/04/2022 |
| Resolution | – | – | – | – | 1280 x 800 | 1920 x 1080 | – | – | 1280 x 720 | – |
| HDR | – | – | – | – | Yes | – | – | – | – | – |
| Refresh Rate | – | – | – | – | 90 Hz | 120 Hz | – | – | 60 Hz | – |
| Ports | – | – | – | USB-C x2, USB-A x2, Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 | USB-C and headphone jack | 2x USB-C, 3.5mm headphone port, ROG XG Mobile Interface | – | – | 3.5mm and USB-C | – |
| GPU | – | – | – | 16.7 TFLOPs, AMD Radeon, RDNA-based graphics engine | RDNA 2 | RDNA 3 | – | – | NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor | – |
| RAM | – | – | – | 16GB | 16GB | – | – | – | – | – |
| Connectivity | – | – | – | – | Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E and Blutooth | – | – | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 | – |
| Colours | – | – | – | – | Black | Black | – | – | – | – |
| Display Technology | – | – | – | – | OLED | LCD | – | – | LCD | – |
| Screen Technology | – | – | – | – | – | IPS | – | – | – | – |
| Touch Screen | – | – | – | – | Yes | Yes | – | – | Yes | – |
| Convertible? | – | – | – | – | No | Not Applicable | – | – | Yes | – |
| Ray Tracing? | – | – | – | Yes | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The Nintendo Switch arguably has the best library of family-friendly games, with the likes of Mario Party and Mario Kart available. Although the Xbox Series S is a good option too, since it’s available at a low price and can be paired with Game Pass to access a large library of games.
The Nvidia Shield TV technically offers the best graphics if you subscribe to the most expensive GeForce Now tier. But if we’re talking about traditional consoles, it will be between the PS5 and Xbox Series X.