If someone on your gift list asks for a gaming console this holiday season, they’ve probably already taken some guesswork out of your purchase decisions. You’ve already heard a dozen times why PlayStation is better than Xbox or how awesome the Nintendo Switch is because it is portable and can also be hooked up to your TV. You still have options to ponder, though, and one wrong decision or forgotten accessory can turn a new console owner’s smile into a frown in no time.
We here at MMORPG are veterans of the console-buying gauntlet that awaits you. Our console gift guide has all the answers to your questions about the different consoles available, and we know all of the accessories you will need to round out your purchase. There is one thing we won’t cover here, and that is which games to buy. Other than saying that the PS5 has more exclusives than Xbox and that the Switch is your only choice for Mario and other Nintendo franchises, most games can be found on multiple consoles, and your gamer will know which games suit them better than we would.
PlayStation 5
If you’re looking to get a PlayStation 5, you only have one major choice to make: disc or no disc. That really is the only difference between the base PS5 console ($499.99) and the PS5 Digital Edition ($399.99). Both versions use the same CPU and GPU, so one isn’t more powerful than the other. They also have the same amount of RAM and the same size SSD storage.
So, are you the type of gamer that likes to have physical copies of your games, assuming the disc actually holds the game files? If so, you will want to pick up the $499.99 PS5 Console. Otherwise, you can save $100 by going with the digital version. Of course, given the ongoing scarcity of the console, you may just have to settle for whichever version you can get your hands on.
Out of the box, the PS5 comes with a stand, power cord, HDMI cable, and one wireless DualSense controller. Hopefully, you already have a TV to connect to a PS5, and many games will also require an internet connection (all games if you go with the PS5 Digitial). That’s enough to get the PS5 up and running for one player, but you’ll need other accessories to maximize the experience.
Extra Controllers
If you want to play some couch co-op, you will need some more controllers. You can’t go wrong by picking up additional DualSense controllers; Sony really knocked it out of the park with the default controller. The DualSense has haptic feedback (it shakes), adaptive triggers (variable tension depending on what you are interacting with in-game), and a built-in microphone and headset jack. The DualSense normally runs $69.99, but it has already been seen on sale for $49.99 this holiday season. If you want to go with a third-party controller for some added customization, the HexGaming PS5 RIVAL Premium and the Scuf Reflex Pro are a couple of excellent choices. Just be prepared to dish out $200 or more.
Charging Stations
Wireless controllers mean you don’t have a bunch of cords running across your living room. You still have to charge them, though. Sony’s DualSense Charging Station ($29.99) can recharge two controllers at once, or the NexiGo Enhanced PS5 Charger ($16.99) can do the same job for almost half the price.
Additional Storage
The PS5 comes with an internal 825GB NVMe SSD drive to store your games. System files take up a chunk of that space, leaving you only 667GB to store your games. Some new games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy can take up over 150GB each, so it’s likely you’ll need more storage space sooner rather than later if you don’t want to start deleting games right away. Fortunately, the PS5 has a second NVMe spot available for extra storage. You can’t use just any SSD drive, though; you’ll need a PCIe 4.0 drive with the correct dimensions and read speeds. You can read up on the required specifications on Sony’s site or just pick one of the compatible drives listed below.
Crucial P5 Plus 1TB ($129.99) - The Crucial P5 Plus’ 6500 MB/sec transfer speeds aren’t the highest you’ll find here, but it still crushes Sony’s recommendation of 5500 MB/sec. It was going for as low as $93.99 on Cyber Monday, making it the perfect bargain buy to increase your PS5 storage space.
PNY XLR8 Gaming Kit 1TB ($114.98) - Rated at blazing fast 7500/6850MB/sec read/write speeds, that doesn’t mean a thing if the SSD drive starts to throttle due to heat. That won’t be a problem with the XLR8; its aluminum heatsink is specifically designed to fit in the PS5 (the cover can be purchased separately for $14.99) and provides 40% better cooling than a bare SSD.
ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 2TB ($169.99) - At $169.99, the XPG S70 makes moving up to a 2TB drive almost a no-brainer. The S70 is no slouch in the speed department, either. Although the drive is rated higher, the S70’s webpage states the drive will cap out at 6300 MB/sec. That’s still plenty fast.
Corsair MP600 Pro LPX 2TB ($209.99) - With a chonky heatsink that will still fit in the confined space of the PS5, the MP600 offers up to 7100 MB/sec reads and 6800 MB/sec writes, making it a great all-arounder with plenty of space to hold your games.
WD_Black SN850X 4TB ($494.99
) - Maxing out the PS5’s single drive storage capacity, the SN850X packs 4TB of storage and top-shelf speeds of 7300 MB/sec reads and 6600 MB/sec writes. It also has a hefty price tag to go along with the beefy specs, but that is to be expected for any 4TB drive.
Console Covers
Maybe the bright white exterior of the PS5 doesn’t go well with your decor, or maybe you just want to let your personality show through your PS5. Regardless of your reason, there are several options to spruce up the exterior of the PS5.
Sony Replacement Covers ($54.99) - Sony makes replacement covers in a variety of colors. They even have matching controllers.
DBrand Darkplates 2.0 ($69.05 - $105.90)- If you are looking for more options than Sony has to offer, DBrand has fought the good fight (with lawyers and everything), and their Darkplates 2.0 do more than just new color choices for your PS5. DBrands has added fan vents for better airflow and cooling. Darkplates 2.0 come in black, gray, and white. They also have several middle skin choices for a two-tone or pattern look, along with optional light strips to add a splash of color.
DOBEWINGDELOU RGB Faceplate ($59.99) - Available in black, white, blue, pink, and purple for the PS5 Disc Edition, the DOBEWINGDELOU adds RGB rings behind the fan cutouts on each side of the faceplate. Control over 400 LED effects, including music sync right from your smartphone.
Xbox Series X|S
Choosing the right Xbox for your needs isn’t as easy as picking a PS5. The Xbox Series X and Series S are specced differently from one another, so picking the right one requires more than just choosing disc or digital. The Series X is the powerhouse of the duo with slightly more powerful CPU and GPU performance than a PS5. Unlike the PS5 Digital, which is equal to its sibling minus the disc drive, the Xbox Series S suffers other hardware cuts that reduce its performance to come in at its budget-conscious price.
|
Xbox Series X |
Xbox Series S |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$499.99 |
$249.99 |
|
CPU |
8-core @ 3.8GHz |
8-core @ 3.6GHz |
|
RAM |
16GB GDDR6 |
10GB GDDR6 |
|
GPU Power |
12 TFLOPS (52 [email protected]) |
4 TFLOPS (20 [email protected]) |
|
Video Output |
True 4k @ 60fps |
1440p with 4K upscaling |
|
Storage |
1TB SSD |
512GB SSD |
|
Disc Drive |
4K Ultra-HD Blu-Ray Drive |
None |
The Series X and S share many features a gamer will be looking for - backward compatibility with all previous generation’s games (Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One), Smart Delivery, and external storage expandability. Simply put, though, the Xbox Series X delivers where it matters most - 4K video at 60fps - making it the obvious choice for all but the budget-minded gamer.
Extra Controllers
Microsoft has several console generations under its belt, and the design of the Series X|S controller has come a long way from the original Xbox controller. Even so, while picking another official Xbox Wireless Controller ($39.99), there are some alternatives that you might want to consider. Before doing that, though, don’t forget that Microsoft did us all a solid by making the Series X|S compatible with your old Xbox One controllers.
PowerA Dual Charging Station ($24.99) - If all you’re looking for in an upgraded controller is rechargeable batteries, there’s no need to purchase a whole new controller. The PowerA Charging Station comes with two 1100mAh rechargeable batteries and a dual charging dock for less than the price of a new controller.
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core ($129.99) - An upgrade to the base Xbox controller, the Elite Series 2 Core replaces the throwaway AA batteries with an internal rechargeable battery. It also features some of the same customizability options as the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller ($179.99), including a rubberized grip, adjustable-tension thumbsticks, and trigger locks.
Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma ($99.99) - Add a touch of RBG and a bunch of customization to your Xbox controller with the Wolverine V2 Chroma. The Wolverine V2 makes sure you are using all of your fingers by adding four additional triggers on the controller’s underside and two additional bumpers next to the left and right triggers. You can also customize the feel of the controller with the included interchangeable thumbstick caps and trigger stop-switches.
Additional Storage
Adding extra storage to an Xbox Series X|S is handled a little differently than the PS5. Instead of installing a second internal drive, Microsoft has opted for a proprietary external option. Manufactured by Seagate, the Series X|S Expansion Card plugs directly into the back of the console. They are pricey compared to a regular SSD drive, but there isn’t any need to open up the console to install the card, and you get the same read and write performance as the internal drive.
If you have a large catalog of old Xbox games that you’d like to play on the Series X|S, you’ll be happy to know that you can also attach up to three additional external USB drives. The drives can be SSD or “old-fashioned” mechanical HDDs, but they must be USB 3.0 capable with a minimum of 128GB of storage. To save the internal drive’s space for Series X|S games, games from previous Xbox generations can be played directly from an external drive. And even though you can’t play new-generation games directly from a USB drive, you can swap X|S games back and forth between the internal SSD and external drives to eliminate the need to redownload titles you haven’t played in a while.
Seagate Xbox Series X|S Expansion Card - The official Series X|S expansion card comes in 512GB ($139.99), 1TB ($199.99), and 2TB ($359.99) sizes, and is the only external device that will allow you to play X|S generation games without swapping them to the internal drive.
Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB Portable External Hard Drive ($87.99) - If you have a huge library of old-generation titles or want to download nearly every Xbox GamePass game available, then the Toshiba Canvio is an extremely cheap option. And if you don’t need 4TB of space, you can nab the 1TB version for just $48.99. The Canvio is a 5400 RPM mechanical drive, so you won’t get the performance boost of a more expensive SSD drive. Still, if 5400 RPM was good enough back when the Xbox One was cutting-edge, it should be good enough now, right?
Crucial X8 Portable SSD (1TB $79.99, 2TB $139.99) - If you like playing your older games but don’t want to be stuck with the speeds of a mechanical drive, then you’ll want to take a look at the Crucial X8. Almost 10 times faster than a 5400 RPM drive, the X8 has reads speeds up to 1050 MB/sec. The X8 is also drop-proof up to 7.5 feet, so your games will be safe even on the go.
Nintendo Switch
Leaving Microsoft and Sony to battle it out for the most powerful console, Nintendo has once again followed the beat of a different drummer with the Switch. The Switch is all about versatility and is primarily a handheld gaming platform that can also serve dual duty as a living room console when it is dropped into its dock and hooked up to your TV. As I already mentioned, the Switch is your only modern console choice for all things Mario, Zelda, Pokemon (mostly), and other great Nintendo franchises, and it’s also perfect for couch co-op and party games. And with an ever-expanding catalog of M-rated games, the Switch isn’t just for kids and families.
At first glance, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all of the different Switch bundles that are available. Most of those are simply different Joy-Con colors or added game bundles, so don’t let all the different packaging confuse things. When you strip away all of the value-added bundles, there are really only three Switch models to choose from: the Nintendo Switch, the Switch Lite, and the Switch OLED.
Nintendo Switch ($299.99) - This is the base model of the Switch that was released back in 2017. Inside the box, you’ll get the Switch itself, two Joy-Cons, a dock, and an HDMI cable and AC adapter. The most recent bundle also includes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (download) and a 3-month membership for Nintendo Switch Online.
This model had a refresh in 2019 that improved the battery life, but its outward appearance didn’t change. There are still some of the original version floating around (especially on the used market), so you’ll want to check out Pocket-lint’s guide to ensure you are getting the newer version.
Nintendo Switch Lite ($199.99) - Nintendo always finds a way to make multiple versions of its handheld consoles, and the Switch is no exception. The Switch Lite is smaller and lighter than the original and features a 5.5” screen (the original is 6.2”). The Lite also has its thumbsticks, d-pad, and buttons built into the device itself. And if you couldn’t guess by the lack of detachable joy-cons, the Switch Lite can’t be plugged into a dock; it’s a handheld device only. It does pack the same processing power and screen resolution (720p) as the original, so if you plan on only using a Switch for mobile gaming, the $100 price cut could be worth dropping the dock.
Nintendo Switch OLED ($349.99) - You’ll have to look very close to see it, but the Switch OLED is a whole 3mm wider than the original Switch. As the name suggests, the big game changer here is the switch (pun intended) to a bigger 7” OLED screen. When compared to an LED screen, the OLED has better color accuracy, higher contrast, and a wider viewing angle.
A better screen isn’t the only reason for the $50 price increase. The Switch OLED has some other upgrades as well. While the OLED still used the same processor as the other versions, it doubles the amount of internal storage to 64GB. The dock has a wider, sturdier kickstand, and also adds an ethernet port for wired internet in TV mode.
Extra Controllers
The Switch’s Joy-cons get the job done when you are on the go, and they can be removed for some quick multiplayer matches (additional Joy-cons cost $39.99 each) while in dock mode. They aren’t perfect, though, and there are plenty of Joy-con upgrades and full-on replacement controllers available to choose from.
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller ($69.99) - The official Switch Pro controller features motion control, HD rumble, and a battery life of 40 hours per charge. There are some third-party controllers that mimic this official Nintendo controller, but why stray from the original if it’s this good?
Hori Split Pad Pro ($49.99) - If you’re looking for a Joy-con upgrade, the Hori Split Pad Pro is more ergonomic and has a quality feel. Although the black, blue, and red options are the easiest to find, other editions like the Pikachu & Charizard, Pac-Man, and Sonic versions can add some visual flair to your Switch, assuming you can find them in stock.
Additional Storage
With only 32GB or 64GB (Switch OLED) of internal storage, you will run out of space before you run out of games to install. Fortunately, with the Switch’s microSD slot, you can add up to 2TB of additional storage space. If you already have a micro SD/SDHC/SDXC card sitting around unused, you’re all set; plug it in and go. If you need to buy a card, we suggest going with a microSDXC card for its larger capacity. for the highest transfer speeds, make sure it has the UHS-I specification.
SanDisk Extreme MicroSDXC UHS-I 128GB ($19.99) - There are smaller cards available, but we suggest a minimum of 128GB, especially considering the low price of this great card. With many games requiring 10-15GB, you’ll be able to squeeze a dozen or so games on this card. And best of all, this card has been seen on sale for as low as $14.99 in the last month.
Samsung PRO Plus 256GB ($26.89) - 256GB of storage seems to be the sweet spot right now. Cards of this size are constantly on sale, and the Samsung PRO Plus 256GB is just $26.89 on Amazon at the time of writing. It’ll be a while before you fill up this beast of a card. And if that is a fear you have, the 512GB option is only $54.99.
SanDisk Ultra 1TB ($126.99) - Once you go above 256GB, prices start to skyrocket quickly, making 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB cards a choice only for gamers who want access to an extensive library of games on a single card. We did see the SanDisk Ultra 1TB on sale for $99.99 over Thanksgiving weekend, but even at $126.99, the Ultra offers decent speed (120MB/sec) and a ton of space at a price below the norm.
Carry Cases
Most gamers use the Switch on the go, making a carry case for your Switch a must-have accessory. Not only will it protect your screen from scratches (or worse), a case is a convenient way to tote around your charger, extra Joy-cons, and game cartridges.
Tomtoc Slim Switch Case ($22.99) - If your primary goal for a carry case is protecting your Switch from damage while keeping the added size and weight to a minimum, the Tomtoc Slim is a perfect minimalist choice. The hardshell case will protect your Switch from drops and is spill resistant. The case is form-fitting, so it is only useable with a classic Switch design. There is an OLED version available for a slightly higher price ($29.99), leaving Lite and OLED owners to look elsewhere.
Orzly Carry Case ($19.99) - A step up from the Tomtoc Slim, the Orzly carry case has several pockets to hold more of the accessories you’ll need for a day of mobile gaming. You’ll still have to leave your dock at home, but extra Joy-cons, cables, and 8 cartridges will all fit in the case along with the original Switch or OLED version. Showing the Switch Lite some love, Orzly has taken all of the features of the Switch/OLED case and adapted it to fit the Switch Lite.
Zadii Hard Carrying Case ($32.99) - If you are planning an extended trip and want to take all of your Switch accessories with you, the Zadii Hard Case is up to the challenge. The case’s internal padding has pre-cut slots to hold your Switch, dock, power adapter, Joy-cons, and HDMI cable. There’s even a slot for a Switch Pro controller and 21 cartridges. At 11” x 9.5” x 5.11”, the case is bulky, so be prepared to stow it in another bag if you don’t want it to be considered as your personal carry-on item.
Power Banks
One of the main issues with mobile gaming is running out of power and not having an outlet to plug into to charge up. The simplest way to extend the life of your Switch while on the go is to plug in a power bank just as you would your cell phone. There are licensed battery packs out there, like the Anker Powercore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition ($65.95 on Amazon), but any battery pack with a USB-C connector will work. If keeping a battery in your pocket and running a cable to your Switch doesn’t sound like the best power solution, you can also find packs like the Nyko Power Pak ($19.90) and the BigBlue Battery Charger Case ($39.96) that attach right to your Switch.
And that's it for this round! Let us know your recommendations in the comments below!
