The holiday rush is about to begin, and that means it’s the perfect time to get started on your holiday gift list. With nationwide shipping concerns, the clock’s ticking if you want your gifts to arrive on time. A popular gift category this year is gaming. Since we’re spending more time at home than ever before, games don’t just keep us entertained — they allow us to stay connected with friends and family from the safety and comfort of our own homes.
Video games are at the top of a lot of holiday wish lists. But picking what to buy is hard if you’re not a gamer yourself. Swappa’s here to help you find the best gifts for the gamers in your life — and save money in the process.
Table of Contents
PlayStation vs Xbox vs Switch Comparison
We are living in a golden era for video games. Modern game consoles are incredibly powerful, capable of delivering nearly photorealistic graphics and levels of immersion not seen previously. The only problem is that with so many great options, it can be pretty difficult to make a choice. Let’s begin by taking a closer look at all your options.
| Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X|S | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Console Type | Portable/Hybrid | Home Console | Home Console | Home Console | Home Console |
| Game Library | 3114 games | 2988 games | 2626 games | 441 (and 2988 PS4 Games) | 328 (and 2626 Xbox One games) |
| Variants | Nintendo Switch Switch Lite (portable-only) | PlayStation 4 PlayStation 4 Slim PlayStation 4 Pro (4K) | Xbox One Xbox One S (Slim) Xbox One X (4K) | Standard (Blu-Ray) Digital Edition (no-disc) | Xbox Series X Xbox Series S |
| Known For | Massive library of kid-friendly games like Animal Crossing | Sony-exclusive action-adventure and RPGs like Final Fantasy | Action games like Halo, Gears of War, and Forza | Sony exclusives (mainly for PS4) | Xbox exclusives (mainly for Xbox One) |
| Notable Add-Ons | Pro Controller, JoyCon Controllers | PlayStation VR | Kinect | PS5 DualSense Controller | Most Xbox One accessories |
| Blu-ray Player | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming Video | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Initial Release | 2017 Refresh: 2019, 2021 | 2013 Refresh: 2017 | 2013 Refresh: 2017 | 2020 | 2020 |
| MSRP | $299 | $399 | $499 | PS5: $499 PS5 no-disc: $399 | Series X: $499 Series S: $299 |
Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite
Let’s begin with the most popular game platform, the Nintendo Switch. There are three versions of the Nintendo Switch: the original Nintendo Switch hybrid console, the portable-only Nintendo Switch Lite, and the recently released Nintendo Switch OLED. The original Nintendo Switch launched in 2017 for $299, and it can be used as a portable unit or as a home video game console when docked to your TV. Nintendo released the portable-only Switch Lite in 2019 for $199 as a lower-cost option. And earlier this year, Nintendo refreshed the original Switch with a new OLED display and an improved kickstand.
We recently compared the Switch and Switch Lite. Although there are a few games that can’t be played on the Switch Lite, the smaller and lighter Switch Lite is better for portable-only use. However, the original Switch is better if you want to connect to your TV when playing at home. Finally, the Switch OLED currently sells for $120 more than the original Switch. This makes it a poor value since the Switch Lite is better for portable use and the original Switch is cheaper but just as good when used with a TV.
Sony PlayStation 4
The Sony PlayStation 4 was released in 2013 for $399. The PlayStation 4 is a home video game console — meaning that, unlike the Nintendo Switch, you can only play the PS4 at home, connected to your TV.
The PS4 received a mid-cycle refresh in 2016 with the sleeker PlayStation 4 Slim and the more powerful PlayStation 4 Pro. All three PS4 variants play the exact same games, but the PS4 Pro delivers higher frame rates and greater visual fidelity at 4K resolution. The entire PS4 lineup is also compatible with the PSVR virtual reality system, which delivers the most immersive VR gaming experience currently available on a game console.
Microsoft Xbox One
Microsoft launched the Xbox One in late 2013 for $499 ($399 without Kinect). Similar to the PS4, the Xbox One is a home video game console — meaning that it has to be connected to your TV in order to work.
The Xbox One is available in three different versions: the original Xbox One, the slimmer Xbox One S, and the more powerful Xbox One X. The Xbox One X offers many of the same improvements found on the PS4 Pro such as 4K gaming and higher frame rates — and it currently sells for a bit less on the used market than Sony’s higher-res offering.
Next-gen game systems: PS5 and Xbox Series X
But what about those next-gen home game consoles that are out of stock everywhere? The PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S launched late last year to widespread critical acclaim. The PS5 and Series X offer native 4K gaming, higher frame rates, and backward compatibility with many existing games. But they’re far from cheap, and they’re still practically impossible to buy at retail. Fortunately, there are quite a few in stock at Swappa — so anyone who wants the absolute best, and is willing to pay for it, should get a next-gen PS5 or Series X console.
Although the PS5 and Series X are amazing, they come at a rather high price. Not only are they expensive, but you can’t find them at retail. Plus, not everyone wants to spend that much on a brand-new PS5 or Xbox Series X. Luckily, both Microsoft and Sony have committed to supporting current-gen consoles with new games for the next several years. This means that you can save money on a used PS4 or Xbox One now, and play the same cross-platform multiplayer games as those who spend almost three times as much on a PS5 or Xbox Series X.
Which game console should I buy?
The first thing you’re probably wondering is which video game system is best. But we’ll just stop you right there — there is no one-size-fits-all “best game console.” Instead, there are many great options, and it really depends on how you’re looking to play. So keep reading, as we help you figure out which is best for the gamer(s) in your life.
Game libraries and exclusives
The most important factor is a console’s game library. It doesn’t matter how powerful your video game system is — if it can’t play the games you want to play. Luckily, most popular games are cross-platform nowadays. This means that whichever console you choose, you’ll get a lot of great titles that you can play either by yourself or online with friends.
So which game console has the most games? The Nintendo Switch has the most games with a massive library of 3114 games. The PlayStation 4 takes second place with 2988 games. The Xbox One has the fewest at “just” 2626 games. Next-gen consoles like the PS5 and Series X have very few games, but they are compatible with most previous-gen titles. However, the raw game count doesn’t really tell the whole story, as certain game consoles just lend themselves more to certain genres than others.
Nintendo typically offers the most family-friendly games, making the Switch and Switch Lite perfect for gamers of all ages. With a critically acclaimed games library like Animal Crossing and the versatility of portable mode, it’s no wonder that the Switch has been difficult to keep on store shelves.
Sony, on the other hand, is known for its extremely cinematic, story-driven RPGs and action-adventure exclusive titles such as Final Fantasy. Then, there’s Microsoft with the Halo, Gears of War, and Forza franchises. However, there are several titles for each platform that buck these trends, such as Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch, widely considered one of the best story-driven RPGs of all time.
In short, you can’t go wrong. But if you want something that’s good for gamers of all ages, get a Switch. And if you primarily want to play multiplayer action games, get a PS4 or Xbox One. And if you want the absolute best but don’t care about cost, get a next-gen PS5 or Series X.
Portable game systems
Next up, we have location. If you’re mainly looking for something to play at home, you’ll be fine with any traditional game system such as the Xbox One or PlayStation 4. But if you’re looking to game on the go, you need a hybrid system such as the Nintendo Switch or the portable-only Nintendo Switch Lite.
Performance
Since a portable system can be played anywhere, that’s clearly the better choice, right? Not so fast! Portable systems are less powerful than their home console counterparts, meaning that cross-platform games will usually have slightly sharper graphics and run a bit smoother on home consoles.
There are also multiple versions of each console to cater to those looking for even higher frame rates and better graphics. The base Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles can provide a good experience in thousands of games. However, the Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro bridge the gap between the last-gen and next-gen consoles by giving you 4K gaming and higher frame rates in many existing titles. But if you want the absolute best possible graphics and frame rates, get a next-gen PS5 or Series X.
Fortunately, game designers work hard to optimize titles across all platforms. This means that for the most part, all cross-platform games will run just fine on all consoles, including portable/hybrid consoles.
Cheapest Home Video Game Consoles
Enhanced Home Video Game Consoles (4K Gaming)
Best of the Best (Next-Gen Consoles)
Blu-ray, YouTube, Netflix, and more
The last point to consider is versatility. Did you know that your game system can also play Blu-ray discs? Not only that — they also support various streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and more. So regardless of your preferred form of digital entertainment, PS4 and Xbox One have you covered — same with the Xbox Series X and PS5 (standard edition). Even the Nintendo Switch supports some streaming video content providers such as YouTube, although your options are a bit more limited.
Get a game bundle and save
Looking for yet another way to save? You may have noticed that many sellers on Swappa are also bundling several games with their listings. This gives you a head start on your game library and can often save you a considerable amount of cash compared to buying the titles separately. In practice, this means that you can pick up a gently used Xbox One and a bunch of games for about a third of the cost of a brand-new PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
Swappa’s quick picks
Made it this far and still can’t decide? That’s both good and bad because it shows how you can’t go wrong with any of them. But since we want to make things as easy as possible, here are our quick picks:
- Younger gamers (14 and under): Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite
- Best portable game system: Nintendo Switch Lite
- Largest library of party games and kid-friendly exclusives: Nintendo Switch
- Best action-adventure games and RPGs: PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
- Competitive online multiplayer games: PlayStation 4 or Xbox One
- Cheapest 4K-ready game system: Xbox One X
- Absolute best: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X
- Interested in Virtual Reality: PlayStation 4 family with PSVR
Whichever game console you choose, you’ll always find the best deals on Swappa. Our safe and easy-to-use marketplace makes finding the best deals a breeze. And because our expert moderation team reviews every listing before it goes live, junk devices are nowhere to be found.
No matter what you pick, Swappa makes buying even easier with Buy Now, Pay Later. Get the tech you want today, and pay for it in 4 easy installments spread over time. Get the best gaming deals on Swappa today!
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