Best Game Consoles October 2026
Compare the top game consoles to find the right match for your gaming setup and budget. Review portable flexibility, 4K visual performance, and key pros and cons across our independently ranked picks. Whether you play on the couch or on the go, this guide makes it easy to choose.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
Nintendo Switch 2 climbed 1 position
Sony PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5) 2TB dropped 1 position
Game Consoles: Top 5
1
Nintendo Switch 2
from £369.0015 stores
1
from £369.00
15 stores
2
Sony PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5) 2TB
from £789.008 stores
1
from £789.00
8 stores
3
Sony PlayStation 5 Slim 1TB (PS5)
from £568.9913 stores
from £568.99
13 stores
4
Sony PlayStation 5 Slim (PS5) Digital Edition 825GB
from £869.003 stores
from £869.00
3 stores
5
Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle (inkl. Mario Kart World)
from £453.995 stores
from £453.99
5 stores
The Nintendo Switch 2 delivers versatile hybrid gaming with a 7.9-inch 1080p touchscreen and 4K TV output when docked. DLSS 3 technology and 12GB of RAM provide a major performance jump over the previous generation. It comes with 256GB of storage that can be expanded up to 2TB via microSD.
Pros
7.9-inch 1080p display with 120 Hz
Supports 4K output docked and DLSS 3
Wi-Fi 6 and built-in Gigabit Ethernet
Supports up to 8 wireless controllers
Cons
Modest battery life of 2 to 6.5 hours
LCD panel instead of OLED
The Sony PlayStation 5 Pro delivers high-end home gaming with 17 TFLOPs of GPU power and advanced machine learning upscaling via PSSR. It features a generous 2TB SSD alongside Wi-Fi 7 for faster downloads and online stability. HDMI 2.1 support allows smooth frame rates up to 120 Hz in 4K resolution.
Pros
High GPU performance with 17 TFLOPs
Large 2TB internal SSD storage
PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution
Wi-Fi 7 wireless connectivity
Cons
No built-in disc drive included
Heavy console weight at 3.9 kg
The Sony PlayStation 5 Slim 1TB offers full next-generation performance in a space-saving design. Its ultra-fast 5,500 MB/s SSD reduces loading screens to seconds, while 10.28 TFLOPs of graphical compute power drives smooth 4K visuals. It is well-suited for living room setups with support for 3D audio and VR.
Pros
Fast 1TB built-in SSD storage
Supports 4K and 120 Hz with HDMI 2.1
10.28 TFLOPs GPU for smooth gaming
Compact slim chassis design
Cons
No optical disc drive included
Only supports Wi-Fi 6, not Wi-Fi 7
The Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition 825GB is built for players who buy and store their entire game catalog digitally. It provides the same 10.28 TFLOPs graphics capabilities and 120 Hz gaming support as larger models in a lightweight 2.6 kg build. With HDMI 2.1, it delivers responsive 4K visuals directly to your TV.
Pros
Lightweight design at 2.6 kg
Fast SSD with 5,500 MB/s read speed
Full 10.28 TFLOPs graphics power
Compact 80 mm slim profile
Cons
Smaller 825GB internal SSD
No physical disc drive
The Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle pairs the hybrid gaming system with the included Mario Kart World title for immediate multiplayer fun. You can play anywhere on the 7.9-inch 120 Hz screen or dock it to enjoy 4K visuals on your television. It comes equipped with 256GB of internal storage, Wi-Fi 6, and support for up to 8 controllers.
Pros
Includes Mario Kart World in the box
7.9-inch 120 Hz screen with DLSS 3
Docked 4K output via HDMI 2.0
Expandable storage up to 2TB
Cons
Modest battery life of 2 to 6.5 hours
LCD screen panel instead of OLED
Compare specifications
| Series | Nintendo Switch 2 | Playstation 5 | Playstation 5 | Playstation 5 | Nintendo Switch 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video formats supported | 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080p (Full HD), 2160p (4K Ultra HD) | 1080p (Full HD), 2160p (4K Ultra HD), 4320p (8K) | 1080p (Full HD), 2160p (4K Ultra HD), 4320p (8K) | 1080p (Full HD), 2160p (4K Ultra HD), 4320p (8K) | 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080p (Full HD), 2160p (4K Ultra HD) |
| HDR Format | HDR10 | HDR10 | Dolby Vision, HDR10 | Dolby Vision, HDR10 | HDR10 |
| Built-in storage capacity | 256GB | 2TB | 1TB | 825GB | 256GB |
| Optical drive | — | No | No | No | — |
| Release year | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2025 | 2025 |
How we create the list
The ranking is updated monthly and is based on data we collect from our own platform. Products that rank highly are popular among our users while also maintaining high quality according to editorial expert assessments. Specifically, we weigh how many users follow the product via price alerts or lists, how it is rated by experts and users, as well as how much traffic it generates to stores and how well it is represented in retail. The texts on this page are AI-generated and created to give you a quick and clear overview. No products are paid placements – the ranking is driven solely by data.
