Category: video game console

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Switch 2 vs Xbox Series X: which system is right for you

Gamers love to compare one console to another to know which will provide the best experience. The latest entry in the console market is the Nintendo Switch 2, which crushes the previous version when directly comparing the Switch 2 vs. Switch, but that’s to be expected of any generational leap. The more interesting questions are how things shake out with the Switch 2 vs. PS5, Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck, and Switch 2 vs. Xbox Series X. Technical power is one thing, but there’s more to a console than just raw power. We have compared everything a gamer should consider when deciding whether or not to buy a new console, from the best games to controllers and price, to make sure you know which console is right for you.

Switch 2 vs Xbox Series X specs

	Nintendo Switch 2	Xbox Series X
Size	3.9mm thick	15.1 x 15.1 x 30.1 cm
Weight	TBD	9.8 pounds
Screen	7.9-inches, 1080p HDR, 120Hz.	N/A
CPU/GPU	Custom Nvidia chip	3.8GHz Custom Zen 2, 12 TFLOPS 1.825GHz RDNA 2
Storage	256GB	1TB custom NVME SSD
Wireless	Yes	Wi-Fi 5
Video output	4K docked via HDMI, 1080p handheld, HDR and ray tracing support	Up to 4K, HDR and ray tracing support
Speakers	Stereo	N/A
USB connector	2 USB Type-C ports	USB-A
Headphone/mic jack	Built-in mic with noise-cancelling tech, but an audio jack is included in the new Pro Controller	3.5mm stereo on controller
Game card slot	Nintendo Switch game cards	Disc drive or digital only
microSD card slot	Supports microSD Express	N/A
Internal battery	Lithium-ion battery/522mAh or ~20Whr	N/A
Battery life	2 – 6.5 hours	N/A
Charging time	TBD	N/A
Availability	Launching on June 5	Available now

Even for those who are technologically knowledgable to compare CPU and GPU specs will be at a loss here since Nintendo has been tight-lipped about the specifics of its chipsets. All we know is that it holds some form of custom Nvidia chip, but the more interesting thing to compare is what both systems are capable of doing.

Both the Xbox Series X and Switch 2 have the potential to hit 4K graphics (only while docked in the Switch 2’s case) and frame rates of up to 120. That said, not many Series X games hit either of those high-end targets, with most offering performance and quality modes that aim for 60 to 120fps or 4K. While we only have a small sample size of Switch 2 games right now, we see a similar story with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. This game in docked form can run at either 4K 60fps or 1080p 120fps. However, we don’t expect this to be the standard since this is a Switch 2 Edition of a Switch game.

The Switch 2’s internals not only allow for HDR like the Series X, but it also now supports both DLSS and ray tracing. DLSS, in particular, could help achieve those higher frame rates without losing visual quality. Xbox Series X uses a technology similar in AMD’s FSR and is also capable of ray tracing.

Storage-wise, it looks like the Series X has a huge advantage here, but that isn’t necessarily true. While Xbox’s 1TB system easily clears the Switch 2’s 256GB, game sizes are vastly different on each platform. Most major Xbox Series X games are reaching sizes close to, or even above, 100 GB per game, which will quickly fill up that 1TB drive. Switch 2 games, at least so far, are remarkably small. The largest we know of right now is 64 GB, with most falling between 5 and 10 GB. We will have to see how game sizes look going forward, but in terms of how many games you can expect to fit on each console before expanding their storage, the Switch 2 looks like it will be able to hold more.

Switch 2 vs Xbox Series X design and features

There’s not much to say about the Series X design, which could be a positive for most. It is a basic tower design that is simple and unobtrusive to have in your home. You can spice it up with different wraps, and there are a few color variations, but it is not meant to stand out.

Beyond games, the big feature going for the Series X is Game Pass. This subscription model comes in several tiers that give its subscribers access to a catalogue of free games from first and third parties to download ranging from the original Xbox to modern games, online multiplayer, PC access, and cloud streaming, depending on the tier. This does allow you to play Series X games on the go, though you will need other hardware to do it.

The Switch 2 is far smaller, whether in handheld mode or docked. Handheld mode is still the Switch 2’s defining feature and is ready to go right out of the box. It also includes its own subscription service called Nintendo Online and the Expansion Pass. At the highest level you get online multiplayer and access to tons of retro games from the NES up to the GameCube.

Switch 2 vs Xbox Series X controllers

The Xbox Series X controller is simple but effective. It is perfectly functional in every way but with nothing that makes it stand out. You can opt for a more expensive Elite version to give you more customization options and back paddles, however. There are also plenty of alternative controls, from the accessibility focused Adaptive controller to fight sticks and racing wheels.

Meanwhile, the Switch 2 Joy-cons are upgraded versions of the original. You can use them connected to the system via magnets or wirelessly in two halves as before, but now they also have mouse-like functionality. Placing one down on a flat surface lets you use it as though it were a mouse to make aiming in FPS games or navigating menus in strategy games far easier, though not all games are guaranteed to support this. If you wanted a more traditional control option, there’s also a new Pro controller with a layout very similar to Xbox’s that even has back paddles. There is also the new C button to activate GameChat, which allows players to voice chat directly through the system without the need for a headset.

Switch 2 vs Xbox Series X games

In recent years, Xbox has been drifting away from exclusives and putting more games on competing hardware, including the Switch. We haven’t seen what plans there are for more Xbox games coming to Switch 2, but we assume every game that can be ported will be, even if it isn’t right away. Xbox still gets nearly every major third-party game that hasn’t struck a deal with either Sony or Nintendo, however, so it isn’t lacking for games.

The Switch 2 obviously remains the only place to play Nintendo games. You will never see Mario or Link on an Xbox unless there’s some massive shakeup. With more Xbox and other third-parties eager to embrace the Switch 2 as a platform, you can get the best of all worlds with the Switch 2.

Switch 2 vs Xbox Series X price

Normally, price would be the easiest comparison point, but things are a little muddled at the moment. Currently, the Switch 2 comes with a $450 price tag, but that may not be the case for long. Preorders were already delayed due to tariff announcements, and Nintendo may be forced to alter the price to reflect that.

The normal 1TB Xbox Series X still costs $500 or $450 for the all-digital version at the time of writing for a new unit, with a 2TB option also available for $600.

April 6, 2025

Switch 2 vs. PS5: which console is worth owning in 2025

Before the Switch 2, it was a tight race in terms of power between the PS5 vs. Xbox Series X. However, Nintendo is releasing its most powerful console yet, which seems like it could rival the current market leader. There’s a clear winner when comparing the Switch 2 vs. the Switch, but things get a little more complicated when pitting this new hybrid system against Sony’s home console. There’s a lot that makes a system worth owning besides the specs, including controllers, current and upcoming video games, and the all-important price tag. We are comparing the Switch 2 and PS5 in every category to see which one you should own in 2025.

If you’re more of a handheld person, we did the same treatment for the Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck.

Switch 2 vs. PS5 specs

	Nintendo Switch 2	PlayStation 5
Size	3.9mm thick	358x216x104 mm
Weight	TBD	7.05 lbs
Screen	7.9-inches, 1080p HDR, 120Hz.	N/A
CPU/GPU	Custom Nvidia chip	8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5GHz, 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (Variable Frequency)
Storage	256GB	1TB
Wireless	Yes	Wi-Fi 6
Video output	4K docked via HDMI, 1080p handheld	4K at 120Hz, 8K
Speakers	Stereo	N/A
USB connector	2 USB Type-C ports	USB-A and USB-C
Headphone/mic jack	Built-in mic with noise-cancelling tech, but an audio jack is included in the new Pro Controller	3.5mm stereo on controller
Game card slot	Nintendo Switch game cards	Disc drive or digital only
microSD card slot	Supports microSD Express	N/A
Internal battery	Lithium-ion battery/522mAh or ~20Whr	N/A
Battery life	2 – 6.5 hours	N/A
Charging time	TBD	N/A
Availability	Launching on June 5	Available now

Comparing these two systems on specs is a bit tricky since each one is using custom chips and we aren’t fully sure what the Switch 2 has under the hood. All we know is that it has some custom Nvidia processor that is capable of outputting 4K graphics at 60fps (or 120fps at lower resolutions) with HDR and ray tracing support while docked. In handheld mode, the Switch 2 maxes out at 1080p 60fps but is also capable of 120fps and HDR at lower resolutions. That’s quite impressive for Nintendo’s little machine, especially for how big a leap it is over the Switch’s power.

The base PS5 can also deliver 4K visuals on supported games and up to 120fps with HDR. On paper, both have basically the same upper limit in terms of visuals and frame rates, but just because a console is able to hit these numbers doesn’t mean all games will take advantage of it. Most PS5 games offer performance and quality modes to let players pick between high frame rates and better visuals, and we see the same starting to happen with some Switch 2 games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Size is an easy comparison, however. Even with the smaller dimensions of the Slim, the PS5 is still a bulky device. That might not matter to some as a home console, but the Switch 2 being so much sleeker is worth noting.

Storage space is a little misleading. On paper, the Switch 2 has almost nothing compared to the PS5, but we need to put it in context. PS5 games regularly hit close to or above 100 GB in size, while the initial batch of upcoming Switch 2 games range from 3.5 GB to 23.4 GB at the largest we know of. That means you will generally be able to hold more games on your Switch 2 by default, but both systems are easily upgraded with more storage space.

Switch 2 vs. PS5 design and features

The PS5 Slim, which is the current base model, still has a polarizing design. Some don’t mind it, while others think it is hideous. Unlike the Switch 2, you’re free to put your PS5 somewhere out of sight (as long as it has enough ventilation) and not have to look at it. Internally, the PS5’s special sauce is its SSD which all but eliminates loading times. It also has a subscription service called PlayStation Plus that is broken down into three tiers that offer online gaming, redeemable monthly games, a library of new and classic games, and game streaming.

The Switch 2 has one huge advantage over the PS5, and that is obviously the ability to play the game handheld or docked as a home console. The PS5 does have a Portal accessory, but this works via streaming and requires an internet connection whereas you can play your Switch 2 anywhere you like.

Switch 2 vs. PS5 controllers

The Switch 2 comes with new Joy-con controllers as the default, which can be used connected to the system or separated and held in each hand. They still have the HD rumble of the originals, but now can be used in the same style as a computer mouse. This opens up the doors for way more control options and ways to play genres that typically struggle on consoles. There is also a new Pro Controller that adds back buttons into the mix for a more traditional control method. Another new addition is the C button for GameChat which lets you chat with friends online without the need for a microphone.

The DualSense controller is still fantastic. It features HD rumble, dynamic triggers, a built-in speaker, and a touchpad. However, the battery is still lacking for most. There is the more expensive DualSense Edge that adds in back buttons but somehow has an even worse battery life.

Switch 2 vs. PS5 games

This is the most subjective category, but you can’t go wrong with either console. Thanks to both being backwards compatible, the Switch 2 and PS5 already have a library of hundreds of games to pick from. That said, the number of Switch 2 exclusive games is still very small compared to the PS5.

Previously, the Switch missed out on a ton of third-party games due to its lack of power, but that doesn’t appear to be the case going forward. We’re already seeing a ton of new games coming to Switch 2, and big publishers have already stated that they don’t want to miss out on that audience again. If you are not specifically tied to Sony or Nintendo exclusives, you shouldn’t worry much about game selection on either system.

The real selling point for both consoles is, and always has been, their first-party exclusives. While it is unthinkable to ever see a Mario or Zelda game on anything but a Nintendo console, PlayStation has dipped its toes into putting games on Nintendo with Lego Horizon Adventures. We can’t say for sure that it will support the system with more titles, let alone its big franchises, but it might not be impossible to see eventually.

In the end, this will come down to whether you are more drawn to Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon, etc., or Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Ghost of Yotei, and Horizon.

Switch 2 vs. PS5 price

If you’re buying one new, a PS5 Slim with a disc drive will cost you $500, or $450 for the digital version.

The Switch 2 retails for $450, which is the same as the digital PS5, making it a fairly even comparison. However, given the uncertain nature of tariffs, who knows what these prices will look like in the future.

April 4, 2025

The best Nintendo consoles, ranked

Nintendo wasn’t the first video game console on the market, but it certainly defined it as what we know it to be today. Starting with the NES and currently anticipating the Switch 2, Nintendo has stacked each of its systems with some of the best franchises in gaming. Nintendo is all over the list of the best consoles of all time, but what about pitting Nintendo against itself? Between the home consoles and handhelds, Nintendo has released more consoles than any other company. Determining what console is superior comes down to a lot of factors, but the most important one is how much fun we had with them. A console could be the most powerful piece of technology in the world, but that doesn’t the games more fun or influential. The best Nintendo consoles not only had great games but pushed the medium of games further.

10. Virtual Boy

There should be no surprises here. The Virtual Boy is categorically the worst console Nintendo has ever released. It had a nugget of a great idea but neither the technology nor the games to bring it to reality (or virtual reality, for that matter). The black and red screen alone would be a death sentence for a console you’re meant to wear on your face, but that’s only the start of this system’s problems. It was a headset that couldn’t be worn on your head, it had a strange controller, and barely a dozen games ever came out for it. Of the games released, only one or two is seen as great. Every other Nintendo console has at least a small section of the audience that champions it, but not the Virtual Boy.

9. Wii U

Put your pitchforks down. No, the Wii U was not a terrible console. It had so much potential, and perhaps the second best library of games of any Nintendo system, but it failed to properly communicate what it was. The gamepad controller is a great idea poorly executed. We’ve seen Nintendo innovate with dual screens before, but this form factor just didn’t sit well with audiences. It also hurt that only a handful of titles fully took advantage of that new control scheme and made some genuinely innovative games we’d never seen before. Other games, which were still fantastic, either left the gamepad screen as an afterthought or ignored it completely. We don’t need any more proof than seeing all the Wii U games become massive sellers on the Switch to know that it had the stuff in terms of games. It was just everything else that fell short.

8. GameCube

The GameCube is the only time where Nintendo felt more like a follower than a leader. It had no special gimmick or trick, which isn’t necessary but does give it a lack of a distinct identity compared to its contemporaries. It was just a better, prettier N64 from that aspect. However, it did have a fantastic library. Unlike the N64’s dearth of games, the GameCube is packed with titles, and almost all of them are worth playing. Many classic games from this era are still called back to and even remastered or remade. Despite such a strong first-party lineup, the console itself didn’t catch on like most Nintendo hardware but has earned itself a cult status.

7. Game Boy Advance

The Game Boy Advance is to the Game Boy as the GameCube is to the N64. By that, we mean it is everything its predecessor was, only upgraded. Still, this was such a needed improvement over the original Game Boy’s technology that it felt like a full generational leap. Where the original was doing its best to be a portable NES, the GBA crushes it as a portable SNES. Games looked stunning on the new hardware, and plenty of new franchises flourished on the handheld that would go on to become blockbuster series. It also built upon the Game Boy’s linking system to directly connect with the Game Cube as an early example of Nintendo experimenting with dual screen play.

6. NES

As important to video game history as the NES is, we also have to accept the fact that it was during an era where games were still going through a lot of growing pains. Even some of Nintendo’s own games feel a bit too clunky and primitive to fully enjoy today, despite how revolutionary they were at the time. On the other hand, we have the NES to thank for the birth of so many of the greatest franchises we still enjoy today, from Super Mario Bros. to The Legend of Zelda. It also had perhaps the greatest cultural impact of any console. This once unheard of Japanese company became a household name in the West and is still often used interchangeably with video game.

5. Nintendo 3DS

After the unmitigated success of the DS, Nintendo could have simply iterated once more with a more powerful version of the dual screen system. However, it wasn’t content with that this time around and wanted to keep pushing the limits of gameplay. The glasses-free 3D effect seemed like an impossible claim, and yet Nintendo managed to pull it off. The 3D effect wasn’t a complete game changer, but it didn’t need to be. It was a nice balance of something devs had the option to take advatage of, but wouldn’t be crippled by it if they wanted to make a more traditional game. With the entire DS and GBA library backing it up on top of the fantastic 3DS games, it’s no wonder this system basically wiped out all other handheld competition.

4. Wii

The only system that held more mindshare than the original NES was the Wii. Nintendo needed to find its footing again after both the N64 and GameCube saw sales dropping, and boy did it ever. The Wii saw the company fully abandon the race for better graphics and hardware and go back to what was most important — fun. Motion controls opened the door to every demographic and age group thanks to its intuitive system. If you want to swing a bat, swing. Want to roll a bowling ball? You already know what to do. Wii Sports alone was enough to make this system almost impossible to get for months after release. Sadly, this system was overburdened with shovelware looking to capitalize on its massive audience, but if you stick to the games made by Nintendo and other reputable teams, the Wii is still the perfect system for all players.

3. Game Boy

Taking your games on the go was every kid’s dream, but the best we had were cheap single-game toys to fill that gap. Until the Game Boy appeared, that is. For the first time ever, console-level games were available at our fingertips no matter where we went. Even after other handhelds came onto the scene, only the Game Boy had games that were just as good as what we were playing on the NES. This is where Tetris first appeared, and later its own set of Mario games and the birth of Pokemon. Nintendo supported this system for over a decade with various revisions and minor improvements. Any kid who owned one is sure to have cherished memories of trying to play in the back seat of a car, but only able to see when passing under a streetlight, or sneaking it into school to play under their desk.

2. SNES

Unlike the NES that preceded it or the N64 that followed, the SNES exists in that magical space where it still looks and plays amazing. Nintendo was in its prime with game development, creativity, and feel, and the 16-bit graphics haven’t aged a day. It is a system that feels like every bit of juice was used with nothing wasted. With no gimmick and a great but basic controller, the SNES earns its legendary status on the back of its games. This one console is home to some of the best entries in major franchises, such as Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy, Donkey Kong, and more. But unlike some NES classics, nearly every single one can be enjoyed today without strapping on any nostalgia goggles.

1. Nintendo Switch

Now that we’re at the end of its life, it is hard to argue against the Switch being the greatest console Nintendo has ever built. This wasn’t a fluke, but the culmination of many factors. After the Wii U had flopped, Nintendo was able to make a quick pivot and take its innovations in a new direction with a hybrid system. This allowed it to consolidate all its development efforts onto one system rather than two, as well as reintroduce all the amazing Wii U games everyone had missed to fill in the gaps. It is almost a fact that the Switch has the best library of games when looking at its exclusives, indies, ports, and growing library of classics on Nintendo Switch Online. Yes, it has some power struggles that put a damper on some games we wish weren’t there, but the games tend to be so good and genre defining that most of us are willing to overlook a few technical warbles.

April 1, 2025