Game Consoles comparison
Compare game consoles — CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, max resolution and refresh, disc drive, VR.
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Best game consoles right now
What matters when comparing game consoles
This game consoles page covers 18 products and compares the measurable fields that most often separate one model from another: ram, storage, max refresh, max resolution, ray tracing. Use the filters to narrow the field, open a product page for the complete readout, and use a head-to-head page when two models are close enough that a category-wide rank is not enough.
How to read the ranking
Mars Score is a normalized category score, not a laboratory replacement and not a claim that the highest-ranked product is right for every buyer. A high score indicates broad strength across the weighted fields; a lower score can still be the better choice when one specific requirement matters more than the average.
Read the scoring methodology →Popular game consoles comparisons
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Brands in game consoles
How to choose a game console in 2026
The Mars Score for consoles weights graphics performance (30%), library + exclusives (25%), storage + IO (20%) and ergonomics + features (25%). The current generation — PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X, Switch 2 — separates more clearly on library than on raw silicon.
Library is the decision, not the hardware
PS5 and PS5 Pro own Spider-Man, God of War, Demon's Souls, Returnal, FFXVI / FFVII Rebirth, and Bloodborne. Xbox owns Halo, Forza, Starfield, and the entire Game Pass back catalog at no extra cost. Switch 2 owns Mario, Zelda, Smash, Pokémon, and the entire portable Nintendo library. Buy the console whose exclusives you actually play; the hardware difference is real but secondary.
PS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X
PS5 Pro pulls ahead in GPU performance (gpu, max_resolution) and adds PSSR upscaling. Xbox Series X has more raw CPU clock and a slight memory bandwidth edge. Real-world: PS5 Pro hits stable 4K-60 in more titles, Xbox Series X loads textures slightly faster. Both ship HDMI 2.1 with VRR (has_vrr).
Switch 2: docked vs handheld
Switch 2 pairs Nvidia Ampere-class silicon with DLSS for docked 4K, handheld 1080p / 120 Hz. The library bridges the original Switch catalog plus exclusives — and the form factor is uniquely flexible.
Disc drive: optional and increasingly rare
PS5 Pro ships disc-less by default; the slim PS5 has an optional add-on drive. Xbox Series X retains a disc drive; Series S is digital-only. If you buy used games, value the disc drive accordingly (has_disc_drive).
Storage: expandable matters
Console SSDs fill up fast. PS5 uses M.2 NVMe with strict speed minimums; Xbox uses proprietary expansion cards. Both are expensive per GB. Plan for expandable_storage from day one (storage_gb).
How vsMars scores game consoles
Graphics performance and library are nearly equally weighted because either alone is a deal-breaker. See the formula on the methodology page and curated picks on best game consoles. For deeper context on console + TV pairings, see our TVs category.
Frequently asked
How many game consoles are catalogued on vsMars?+
18 game consoles from 7 brands are catalogued in this category, each with a complete spec sheet and a transparent Mars Score.
How are game consoles ranked?+
Each game console is scored by the category-specific Mars Score formula — a weighted average of normalized specs with the weights published on the methodology page. No editorial hand-tuning.
Which game console has the highest Mars Score right now?+
PlayStation 5 Pro leads the game consoles category with a Mars Score of 81.0.
Can I compare two game consoles side by side?+
Yes — pick any two game consoles from the category list and the comparison page renders side-by-side specs, advantages on each side, and a Mars Score verdict.