The development of the gaming industry is as unstoppable as a rushing locomotive, and console manufacturers have jumped into one of the cars. Modern game consoles are equipped with powerful processors, capacious hard drives, they can be used not only for games, but also for listening to music, watching movies and surfing the Internet.
And in ranking of the best game consoles 2020 we will take a look at the most popular models and suggest which game console is most suitable for your needs.
How to choose the best gaming console
First of all, you must choose which type of game console you need - portable or stationary.
- The portability option is useful if you travel a lot. With the help of a game console, you can brighten up boring hours on an airplane or train. Portable consoles are great for restless teenagers who can't sit still, and are cheaper than stationary models.
- Stationary game consoles are the preferred option for the player who wants to immerse themselves in the game world without leaving the apartment. They connect to your TV, support multiplayer games, and let you enjoy great graphics, sound and a huge variety of AAA games.
But the choice of manufacturers will be small. The lion's share of the gaming console market belongs to the trio of Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. You can also find good retro-style game consoles from Sega on sale.
The best stationary game consoles
3. Xbox One S All-Ditigal
Average price - 18 990 rubles
Characteristics:
- stationary game console
- wireless controller included
- support for HD-resolution and 3D-mode
- Comes with a 1024 GB hard drive
- Infrared, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11ac), LAN
This good and inexpensive game console is designed specifically for people who want a gaming experience without a flagship price tag and are willing to sacrifice a little power for that.
The Xbox One S All-Ditigal has a 1.75GHz 8-core AMD processor and 8GB of DDR3 RAM. It only comes with a 1TB hard drive, which is a good size for digital storage. But the package does not include a Blu-ray drive. This ultimately benefits the build as this console is noticeably lighter than its optical drive version.
What sets this version of the Xbox One S apart from other models is its completely game download-based system. It's a double-edged sword because, on the one hand, you save a little money, but on the other hand, you won't be able to play DVDs or buy physical copies of games. But if you're planning on building a digital collection of games (and let's face it, this is likely to happen), there is no better console than the One S All-Ditigal.
And if you want a model with a floppy drive, pay attention to the One S 1 TB. The only difference between this model and All-Ditigal lies in the support of Blu-ray, DVD and CD media.
pros: Optimal price / performance ratio, Quiet operation, Includes one gamepad and three game download vouchers, UltraHD (4K) support.
Minuses: high price of games.
2. Microsoft Xbox One X
Average price - 26 980 rubles
Characteristics:
- stationary game console
- wireless controller included
- support for HD-resolution and 3D-mode
- Comes with a 1024 GB hard drive
- video playback
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11ac), LAN
This console is an improvement over the popular Xbox One, and offers some of the most powerful technologies you'll find in a modern gaming system.
The Xbox One X can handle six trillion floating point operations per second, has 12GB of RAM, supports 4K HD graphics, and has a 60fps gaming frame rate. This makes games like Call Of Duty: WWII richer and more realistic, detailing everything from flowing hair to sunrays and clothing fibers.
All Xbox One games are compatible and work on Xbox One X and Full HD display.
pros: compact size, quiet, noticeably improved graphics compared to the old Xbox One, very convenient controller, the power supply is now located inside the case, not outside.
Minuses: heats up, the power and hdmi connectors are located right above the place where hot air comes out of the cooling system. As a result, cables stuck in them operate at elevated temperatures.
1. Sony PlayStation 4 Pro
Average price - 29,990 rubles
Characteristics:
- stationary game console
- wireless controller included
- support for HD-resolution and 3D-mode
- comes with 1000 GB hard drive
- video playback
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11ac), LAN
One of the most popular game consoles has sold over 64 million copies worldwide. The Sony PlayStation 4 so far has an even better result - 100 million copies, but the Pro still has every chance of breaking this record.
The PlayStation 4 Pro model has increased the frame rate for games compared to the "regular" PS4 - up to 60 frames per second - allowing you to play 4K games at high fps. Also, the Pro version has doubled the performance of the GPU.
The system is also good for its multimedia features: Blu-ray disc playback, streaming TV, music, and more.
Compared to the Xbox One S, Xbox One X, or Nintendo Switch, the PS4 Pro has one distinct advantage: VR. PlayStation VR is an impressive introduction to virtual reality experiences in a plug and play package.
For the best experience, PlayStation VR Worlds and PlayStation Camera are required, which will cost 23 thousand rubles per set.
pros: powerful, compact, high speed Wi-Fi, you can turn on the set-top box from the joystick, the interface does not slow down.
Minuses: many games with a frame rate of no higher than 30 fps, even exclusive ones, are noisy in graphics-demanding games.
The best handheld game consoles
3. Nintendo 3DS XL
Average price - 15 990 rubles
Characteristics:
- portable game console
- support for 3D mode
- display 4.88 ″, 800 × 240 pixels.
- with 4096 MB memory card
- works on battery up to 6.5 h
- Wi-Fi (802.11b / g)
Nintendo has come a long way from its eight-bit handheld Gameboy system to the reliable and powerful Nintendo 3DS XL game console with 3D face tracking and other 3D capabilities.
This portable dual-screen system has a library of over 1,224 games and is backward compatible with Nintendo DS games. It supports both local and online multiplayer, so you can play games like Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart 7.
pros: large screen, 3D without special glasses, comfortable analog joystick, a huge number of games for all ages (including classic games of the 80s and 90s).
Minuses: screen glare, high prices for games, not easy to find on sale in Russia.
2. Sony PlayStation Portable Slim & Lite (PSP-3000)
Average price - 12,990 rubles
Characteristics:
- portable game console
- display 4.3 ″, 480 × 272 pixels.
- video playback
- works on battery up to 6 hours
- Wi-Fi (802.11b)
This is an excellent game console that has received positive reviews for its quality games and easy controls. It can be connected to a TV, allowing you to enjoy your games on the big screen.
And if you are tired of playing, then without leaving the console, you can listen to music, wander around the Internet, and even watch movies. So for a small (compared to competitors) money, you will get an excellent multifunctional device.
pros: large battery, excellent picture quality on the screen, loud speakers.
Minuses: the case is easily soiled and scratches easily appear on it, the problem is solved by buying a protective case.
1. Nintendo Switch
Average price - 19 870 rubles
Characteristics:
- portable game console
- wireless controller included
- HD resolution support
- display 6.2 ″, 1280 × 720 pixels.
- works on battery up to 6 hours
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11ac)
The manufacturer positioned the Nintendo Switch as a mobile gaming system with which you can not only play at home on your TV, but also take it with you to play, on the road or on vacation. Nintendo's innovative console makes playing on the go easy and comes with a split-screen controller that can be collapsible so you can play with your friends.
Nintendo Switch is partnering with 50 third-party publishers to develop its future games. The box has such hits as Mario Kart 8, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey, as well as ported Doom and Skyrim.
The full-featured package, including the docking station and mobile controllers Joy-Con, allows you to play with friends without buying additional accessories.
pros: loud and clear-sounding speakers, a huge number of games, including those focused on co-op, the Joy-Con can act as one gamepad split into two halves.
Minuses: no Bluetooth for connecting headphones, some games are overpriced.
The best retro gaming consoles
3. Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Average price - 9,990 rubles
Characteristics:
- stationary game console
- 2 controllers included
- features: 21 pre-installed games;
- powered by USB
The Super NES Classic, long known in Europe as Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, revives the glorious gaming era of the 1990s. It comes with 21 different games including Starfox 2, Super Mario Kart and Street Fighter II Turbo.
With the original look of a 16-bit home console (smaller only), the Super NES Classic acts as a symbol of the moment when console gaming peaked.
pros: when using, there is a pleasant feeling of nostalgia, comfortable gamepads, a simple and convenient menu.
Minuses: tight D-pad on gamepads, no power adapter included.
2. Sega Retro Genesis HD Ultra
Average price - 2,990 rubles
Characteristics:
- stationary game console
- includes 2 wireless joysticks
- features: 50 to 150 preinstalled games;
- HDMI output
If your fond childhood memories are associated with the legendary Sega console, then know that this console has been given a new lease of life without losing its classic body shape.
It comes with 50 games, two gamepads and the ability to connect to a TV. And all this for a price much lower than the competitor from Nintendo.
Thanks to the anti-aliasing technology, the picture on the screen is more comfortable for the eyes, which is clearly visible on the large screen. And thanks to the wireless joysticks, you can sit at a convenient distance for you and play for fun.
pros: compact size, stereo sound.
Minuses: Not all users who bought the 50 game version have the region switcher working, so it may not be possible to play all the games.
1. Sega Genesis Gopher 2
Average price - 3 274 rubles
Characteristics:
- portable console
- form of portable attachment: monoblock
- screen diagonal 4.3 "
- architecture: 16-bit
- media type: microSD
- memory card slot
- power supply: battery
- features: 500 games
Originally released in Japan in October 1988, Genesis was one of the best video game consoles of the 1990s and a major competitor to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Although Sega then released new consoles such as the Saturn and Dreamcast, the Genesis is the company's most famous hardware product.
And now the Sega Genesis is back refreshed, so you can hold the console that helped make video games a household item.
pros: a huge number of games, works fast, works up to 6 hours on a single battery charge.
Minuses: Buttons start to sink very quickly.
The most anticipated console 2019-2020 - Sony PlayStation 5
The next PlayStation is on its way and should be a better and more powerful game console than any PlayStation before. Its release is scheduled for late 2019 or early 2020, and the price in Russia will be about 33 thousand rubles.
Nothing is known about exclusive games yet, but expect all major Sony franchises, as well as exclusive developments such as Death Stranding and Ghosts of Tsushima.
According to the Sony system architect Mark Cerny, who leads the publication Wired, the updated game console will be based on an eight-core AMD Ryzen 3rd generation processor, created using a 7nm process technology.This will improve the performance and reduce the heating of the device.
The graphics will be responsible for the AMD Navi card with hardware support for advanced lighting, virtual cores and ray tracing.
The console will be able to run games in 4K UHD resolution at frame rates of 60 fps and higher, as well as play content in 8K resolution (but at what frequency is still unknown).