Welcome to GamingExpert’s list of the best gaming consoles. Here in this list, we will discuss the most demanding gaming consoles with excellent performance, beautiful design, and totally worth the money.
In the early 1980s, the gaming consoles were introduced by Nintendo as a trial which soon got huge success. Looking at the success story, many companies like Microsoft and Sony entered in consoles’ industry. Within a few years of struggle, they took control of the market with the most powerful and best gaming consoles we have ever seen.
Today’s games consoles are slim in design and great in hardware performance with mind-blowing features. Even more, they are affordable and worth buying, and the most notable ones available in the market are Xbox One X, One S, PS4 Pro, and Nintendo Switch.
All the consoles are perfect, depending upon your personal preference and taste. Some gamers need 4K resolution to use it for their TVs, while others may be looking for the portability and multiplayer option to play with their family, kids, and friends. Even more, some players would love to play games on multiple devices and need a gaming console that is compatible with all the devices they have. In any case, the precise selection matters a lot.
This is the basic reason we have added more than one best console for gaming to let you decide which one is suitable for your requirements. From expensive consoles for the next level gaming to the inexpensive ones, this comprehensive list covers all the aspects, including specs, price, VR, UHD, and 4K resolution features that a gamer might be looking for in his console.
List of Best Games Consoles in 2022
- Microsoft Xbox One X (Best console with great features)
- Sony PlayStation 4 Pro (Most demanding console
- Microsoft Xbox One S (Most affordable and beautiful)
- Nintendo Switch (Best portable gaming console)
- Sega Genesis Mini (Best for retro gaming)
- Google Stadia (Best for streaming games)
- Nintendo Switch Lite (Best for kids and family)
- SNES Classic Edition (Best for 1990s gaming)
Xbox One X – Best Overall
Among the great game consoles, Microsoft’s Xbox One X is the most popular and demanding product. Multiple reasons are there to prove why we put it in the first place. Yet, the prime reason is the dynamic features offered by Xbox One X. Though Sony has taken charge in improving the quality, performance, and design of the consoles, Microsoft, too, is showing great interest in doing so, which, undeniably, can be seen in its newly designed Xbox One X, that is truly impeccable.
Shrouded in appealing matte black color, the Xbox One X offers multiple features, especially the HDR video playback and 4K Blu-ray player, which is somewhat similar to One S. The improved graphics of games are major features that make it the most powerful gaming console. The seriousness of Microsoft in the gaming industry can be perceived from the fact that the company has increased its investment in studios, especially Rare, Playground Games, and Ninja Theory. The Rare has already released a new game named Sea of Thieves.
The Xbox One X is equipped with eight cores 2.3GHz CPU that can be clocked at more than 1150MHz, the 12GB of GDDR5 RAM with a power-oriented GPU that offers 40 graphical computing power units that are really impressive. That is to say, the performance is nearly the same as offered by the Intel Core i3 processor. Besides, the console lets you play the games at 60 frames per second, and this is where it excels all of its competitors.
The common and the interesting thing about Xbox One X, One S, and PS4 Pro is the ability to upscale the gaming graphics in games like Forza, Call of Duty: Warzone, World of Warships: Legends, and Gears of War. That is to say, the console enhances the graphics and makes the quality that looks like a 4K display, though not real 4K. The only downside of One X is the limited 1TB storage capacity and lacks of VR capability.
If you are the one who is looking for a console that can equally play games and movies, the Xbox One X is for you. With this console, you can play high-definition games and watch the best quality movies. For more details, you may see the Xbox One X review.
PS4 Pro
Since its introduction in the consoles industry, Sony has proved to be the best company that develops excellent products. In its most important features making Sony PS4 Pro worth buying the best gaming consoles, the 4K HDR compatibility, Sony’s amazing game library, and a powerful GPU for extraordinary performance are worth mentioning here.
This best-selling console does offer an eight-core jaguar processor that can be clocked up to 2.13GHz, and a 900MHz GPU that offers 36 computing units of speed. Besides, this powerful GPU allows you to run 1080p as well as 4K videos with smooth frame rates and more details.
The addition of the HDR feature to the PS4 Pro has improved its color range and contrast ratio, and when it is combined with 4K, the results will be outstanding. That is to say, the HDR in combination with 4K doubles with a resolution to 2160p instead of 1080p. Sadly, the Pro can play games at 30 frames per second which is half of the performance of Xbox One X.
The PS4 Pro is good at the availability of the amazing gaming library offered by Sony. Bear in mind that the PS4 Pro offers far better game libraries than Xbox One. The games include the most stunning high-resolution games as well as some indie games and niche titles. This gives you diversity in choosing which games you want to play according to your taste and mood.
Another major point where PS4 Pro excels its competitors is its PlayStation VR compatibility. The Pro not only supports VR but also has the best performance in gaming performance. The only downsides of PS4 Pro are the limited 1TB storage capacity and the inability to run games at 60 frames per second. Sony needs to focus on these areas to make it more perfect than ever.
Overall the PS4 Pro offers amazing HDR support, VR compatibility, and upscaled 4K resolution. So, if you are looking for a gaming console that offers both 4K resolution and VR support, this is the best version made to meet your needs and play high-fidelity games. For more details, you may go to the Sony PS4 Pro review.
For the best gaming, you may also need the Best Gaming Headsets for PS4 and PS5.
Xbox One S
Though it might seem unnecessary to add two consoles from one company, it would be fine if both are extraordinary in performance and worth the money. Unlike Xbox One, S is more appealing due to its white color, which is why One S has got maximum respect from the gamers community. Likewise, the console offers playing games at 4K with somewhat the same performance.
Among its features, the One S comes with standard 1TB storage space, 8GB DDR3 RAM, and a 1.75 GHz CPU. This is where One S lags behind One X, which offers 12GB DDR5 RAM, 2.3 GHz eight-core CPU, and 1.172 GHz GPU. Yet, its beautiful white color and greater comfort make it the best-selling console in the market. Like One X and PS4 Pro, this is also the All-in-one gaming console that can, without a single shadow of a doubt, handle multimedia as well as gaming tasks.
The One S is able to play almost all the AAA games. With its 1TB space, which can be extended to 2TB in a similar edition, you can easily store more than 50 high-quality AAA games. Besides, you can stream movies from online services, especially Hulu and Netflix, and experience 4K HDR on all TVs that support this feature. The only downside with One S is that, unlike One X and PS4 Pro, it cannot render games in 4K, but you can stream movies in 4K.
Overall, One S is the best home gaming console for those looking for an All-in-one console. This will equally quench your thrust for games as well as compensate you with experience of high home cinema-like feeling when you are playing the movie with its 4K Blu-ray player. Plus, this is also an affordable gaming console. For further information, You may read Xbox One S Review.
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo has now come up with Nintendo Switch, the most advanced model and much better than previous models, thus proving to be the best handheld games console. This is actually a hybrid console that offers dynamic connectivity options with TV as well as works as a handheld console that can be used at home with friends or family.
Though the switch cannot compete with One X or PS4 Pro, it still offers playing games at the speed of 30 frames per second, much above the satisfactory level for many Nintendo players. We played some traditional and newly launched games like Wolfenstein II, Skyrim, Dark Souls Remastered, and Doom (2016). All the games that we played showed great performance, and nowhere did we face any lags or blurs in gaming display that could hurt our expectations.
The Switch is more beautiful than One X, and PS4 Pro as its Joy-Cons pair comes in a perfect combination of Neon Red and Neon Blue colors, while the display comes in a really appealing grey color. On the adaptability side, you can either use the console in tabletop mode by sliding the Joy-Cons or join them to use it for handheld mode. In the first case, you will better use the console by laying it flat or installing it on the built-in stand. On top of that, the TV mode allows you to connect the console to your monitor or TV by plugging in the dock.
The good thing about Nintendo Switch is that the console lets you enjoy the VR by using the VR kit which Nintendo has built from Labo. The interesting thing is that, rather than using a dedicated headset, the VR kit uses Nintendo Switch’s built-in screen that gives it a unique difference from previous products built by Nintendo.
Overall, the Switch is the best handheld console for those looking for something different, which offers almost all the famous titles, is built with beautiful design, and is equipped with enchanting features. For more information, you may see Nintendo Switch Review.
Sega Genesis Mini
The timing of the release of products really matters a lot when other competitors are too tough to win. Even after a lapse of many years, the Sega has made a successful come back with a most attractive and performance-oriented console for retro-gaming. The company has finally introduced Sega Genesis Mini in late 2019.
The retro gaming lovers would definitely love the Sega Genesis Mini as this is the only console that offers more features than any retro gaming console.
Equipped with 42 Sega Genesis games that are already installed on this console, this is really a hidden gem, and the good thing is that some of the pre-installed games are the latest and have not been released before. This is where Sega Genesis Mini excels all previous retro gaming consoles and makes it an interesting one. Besides, the console offers a great library of retro games and delivers a unique combination of Japanese games packed in the new design.
The only downside of this console is that as some of the games are old, albeit updated, they required a classical six-button Genesis controller, which means you will have to buy that controller separately.
Overall, this is the best choice for Nintendo kids in 2022 who are still eager to enjoy the classical 80s and 90s gaming experience. Plus, the newly added games will definitely rock you and make it the most impressive retro gaming console.
Google Stadia
Finally, Google has come up with its own gaming controller: a streamer, a tuner, and a console that is Google Stadia. Technically speaking, this is not a console, rather an online streaming service that combines your gaming experience to be played on any compatible device.
Before buying this device, the only thing you need is a powerful internet connection to stream high-definition online games, for instance, DOOM Eternal, Borderlands 3, Destiny 2, and Marvel’s Avengers. The list is enormous and bundled with the most amazing games available on the market.
However, if your internet connection is not too strong to support heavy games, you may, alternatively, scale down the graphics quality. Besides, keeping in view the gaming demand and satisfying Stadia users with Google Stadia exclusives, Google has created its own dedicated gaming studio. As a most innovative company – Google – is also venturing into cloud-based gameplay and streaming services. This is where Google’s Stadia will be a great opportunity to be a futuristic gadget.
Google also offers a wireless Controller that is specifically compatible with the Stadia device. By the way, if you have your own controllers, such as Dualshock 4 or Xbox One Elite, you can easily connect them with Stadia and play games on the go. Besides, in the future, hopefully, in the next update, the Stadia will enable you to remain social with its amazing social features like Twitch.
Overall, Google’s Stadia is an outstanding console-like streaming service that combines all the entertainment like gaming, social media, and streaming in one place. At a price under $150, this is really the best option for every high-end gamer.
4K, HDR, and buying game consoles
Keeping in view the technological advancement, If you want a 4K and HDR display on your gaming console, the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro are the perfect choices depending upon your personal preference. Both support this high-quality display, though, after 4K, the HDR has, to some extent, lost its importance among display enthusiasts.
So, if you are planning to buy a new TV, just for your console, Please! Don’t do this. This is because though the consoles have improved, only a small list of games is offered by these consoles that are really a drawback that needs to be addressed in the future.
Besides, consider buying a new 4K TV after doing a lot of research that we have already done for you in this article on the best gaming monitors. One more thing, try to get the TV that comes with HDR 10 and supports running games at a minimum 60Hz. Only then will you get an impressive performance offered by the best game consoles.
