Without a doubt, the electronics market has long penetrated all areas of human activity. This is especially true for the entertainment industry. So, for example, today you can play video games not only at home in front of the TV or in a specialized gaming club, but also take the console with you on the road. Moreover, now thanks to VR / AR systems you can become a part of this virtual world. In order to understand the variety of models available on the market, the editors of the site "bestx.htgetrid.com/en/" present to your attention a rating of the best game consoles for 2020.
Content
History of game consoles
Now each of us imagine what a game console or, more precisely, a game console is. It is characterized by excellent color reproduction, an amazingly realistic game world, a gripping storyline and other delights for which they are so loved.
However, some 50 years ago, game consoles contained only one game at all. Nevertheless, such devices sold just like a bang. And one cannot even say that they were inexpensive, quite the opposite.
Seventies
It all started in the distant 70s. The first prefix is officially considered to be the invention of Ralph Baer, which is called "Brown Box", which reflects the appearance of the prefix: a brown box. But this console is not widely used. Rather, it can be called a prototype TV set-top box for games.
And the first mass production was acquired by the device “Magnavox Odyssey”. Magnavox has taken inspiration from the development of the ability to play games while sitting in front of the TV, and released a gaming platform for home use. A little later, the company began to appear more advanced consoles: Odyssey 100, Odyssey 200, 300, 400, 500, 2000 and others.
The gaming industry would not have developed further without proper competition. And it was mainly Atari consoles that imposed this competition on Magnavox. It was between these two "gaming giants" of their time that a fierce battle for leadership unfolded. Popular models from these companies were diluted with products from other companies such as Coleco, Fairchild, RCA, etc.
The last thing to know about the gaming industry of the seventies is that now famous in 2020, the manufacturer of game consoles Nintendo, at the end of the decade, is releasing its first series of consoles.
Eighties
These times are rightfully considered the "golden age" of video games. Technological advances have allowed console companies to refine their models with much more innovation than in the past decade. One of these innovations is the cartridge system, that is, when games do not remain embedded in devices, but are located on special cards (cartridges).
Also important is the emergence and spread of new genres of video games such as RPGs, brawls and adventures. The whole world owes the eighties, because it was then that such famous games as Mario, Pac-Man, Final Fantasy, etc. appeared.
This time, neither Atari, Odyssey, nor Coleco (released the last console in 1982) were able to compete with Nintendo and Sega.As a result, in the rating of quality products in the gaming area, for the most part, only these 2 companies remained.
Nineties
The period when all games gradually began to be translated into 3D, since the era of CDs - CDs - came, because there was much more "space" on the discs. Despite this, Nintendo still distributed its games on cartridges. However, this did not prevent them from staying afloat.
Specifications have grown, and the quality of picture, sound and the like has also improved. The best manufacturers have given their best strength to the development of their consoles, which is why consumers have no doubt always won.
In 1994, Sony was pleased with the first set-top box. Today's famous SonyPlaystation line did not immediately stand out from a number of other console manufacturers. Well, in 1995 Nintendo introduced the Virtual Boy helmet, which, in fact, is the progenitor of virtual reality glasses.
Gradually with the development of the world wide web, information began to be transferred from CDs and DVDs to hard drives. Indeed, why store on disks what you can get from the Internet?
In response to a somewhat similar aforementioned question, Sega released the Dreamcast model, with internet access support. This made it possible to play online with other participants.
Zero
The zero ones were remembered by several high-profile events at once. Here's a quick summary of what happened:
- PlayStation launch;
- Nintendo finally switched to discs;
- The first console from Microsoft - Xbox saw the light;
- Apart from these three companies, perhaps no more new ones appeared;
- It is Sony, Nintendo and Xbox that have been sharing the victory podium each year since that time.
Nowadays
As mentioned above, other manufacturers of game consoles no longer represented anything worthy. But this, fortunately, does not mean that having crowded out all competitors, the leaders have ceased to amaze.
Nowadays, all consoles have long since moved away from discs. Companies place games on online services, which, of course, is much more convenient and accessible than before. The words Full HD, 4K are no longer news, all the functionality is at its best. New items that appear at one firm will certainly become "copied" by others. Which is what happened, for example, with portable console models. The selection criteria are not only the cost of production, but also the functional diversity.
Now the new trend is the system of virtual and augmented reality. VR / AR is what the Xbox, Sony and NES are all about today.
The advantages and disadvantages of consoles versus PCs
The confrontation between gamers on both sides, perhaps, is not inferior in entertainment to the confrontation between PES and FIFA. And only true game lovers can say that they are happy with both. Nevertheless, consoles have something to brag about in front of a computer, and vice versa.
Console advantages
- Specialized games or the so-called exclusive. Here, consoles outperform personal computers, since they have many times more exclusive shooters. The PC, alas, has little to boast of in this matter.
- Game and hardware compatibility. Otherwise, optimization is one of the main advantages of the console. Buying this or that game on the console, you can be sure that it will work correctly and in full layout. This, of course, cannot be said about the computer, because there you often have to either change the game settings or look for additional drivers.
- Convenience: the console connects to the TV, the wire from the joystick extends to the sofa / chair - and you can enjoy the game. Accordingly, the overview is wider. As a result, comfort reaches its maximum. The computer requires a separate desk, the purchase of a separate specialized chair, and so on. All this results not only in financial investments, but also in a less comfortable environment for the game.
- Saving. The most budget consoles cost as just one part from the PC system unit (the comparison with a video card is most obvious). In addition, when buying a newly released set-top box, you can be sure that for the next 5 years you can forget about buying a new one. In some cases, games continue to be created on old models and much longer.The same video card on a computer becomes obsolete in just one and a half to two years.
- Consoles provide the ability to play by the company, while for a PC you need to either use another computer or at least one more display.
Disadvantages of consoles
Of course, there is also something where set-top boxes cannot beat personal computers. And, in order not to make mistakes when choosing this or that device, you need to learn about the cons of consoles:
- Weak iron. The technical characteristics of computers will always be higher, because a lot of different hardware is produced for them, which allows not only meeting the requirements of the latest gaming innovations, but also producing the best graphics.
- The single task of consoles is that they, in fact, can only be played. And even though today you can watch movies or surf the World Wide Web on some devices, computers are out of competition here. On set-top boxes, you won't be able to edit a picture, transfer a photo from one format to another (for example, from PNG to JPEG), write a post on social networks, etc.
- The limitations of game genres. In such types of games as strategy or shooters on the console it is very difficult. Therefore, game manufacturers, for the most part, simply do not pay attention to these genres. Races, fights, sports - that's what you can always play on consoles.
- Expensive games. The paradox of the capsule coffee machine level: the device itself is relatively inexpensive, while coffee capsules will have to fork out a lot. So games for consoles, as a rule, are not cheap - the average price is about 4000 rubles.
- Multiplayer or online games with other participants also cannot be attributed to the advantages of consoles. On a PC, everything looks more dynamic, richer and more immersed in the world of the game.
In order to smooth out the shortcomings of both sides, you will have to have both devices in your arsenal: both the console and the PC. Of course, not everyone can afford it, so you have to choose a more suitable option. But that's half the trouble. The main problem is which console is better to choose.
Rating of the TOP 10 best game consoles for 2020.
So, the time has come for the most interesting, namely: the rating of the TOP 10 best game consoles for 2020. It should be noted right away that the rating includes both stationary and portable options. Which one is better to buy? The choice is up to the consumer.
10th place: Nintendo 3DS
The rating is opened by a portable model from the NES. At one time, this model helped the NES a lot in the market, it was very popular in the world and deservedly so. A lot of games and exclusives were made for her, of course. Therefore, what is worth paying attention to is that even today, 2020, it still remains afloat. Even if not so active, not so much.
| CPU | ARM11 CPUs, |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 2x266 MHz |
| Screen | 3.53 "and 3.02" |
| Picture | 800 * 200 and 320 * 240 |
| Battery life (autonomy) | 3-8 h |
| Weight | 230 g |
| Camera | Yes |
| Memory Cards / Flash Memory | 3DS, DSi, DS / SD |
| Wifi | Yes |
Benefits:
- Additional touch screen;
- Ability to switch to 3D mode;
- You can play old games for previous versions.
Disadvantages:
- This additional 3.02-inch touchscreen is inconvenient in that it is not always possible to get along with your fingers: for some "small things" you have to use the stylus;
- 3D does not provide high quality;
- For the Russian market at one time there were difficulties in obtaining games;
- Although the appearance is not bad, the materials from which the console is made are very unreliable.
Output:
The NES built an excellent model at one time, which gave a lot of pleasure to gamers. And although now is a completely different time, 3DS, according to buyers, is still in demand.
9th place: Xbox ONE S
Bill Gates' company produces very high quality set-top boxes. The sensational (in a positive sense) Xbox ONE was received with a bang. However, it also had its own shortcomings. Some of them have been fixed as in the ONE S. But, perhaps the most important "chip" of the set-top box is support for 4K and HDR video.
| CPU | AMD Jaguar x86-64 |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 2.1 GHz |
| Drive unit | Blu-ray / DVD |
| HDD | 1 TB |
| Picture | 4K UHD HDR |
| Gamepad | Wireless |
| Weight | 2.9 kg |
| Multiplayer | Yes |
| USB | Yes, 3.0 |
| HDMI | Yes |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Internet connection | Yes |
Benefits:
- It looks very stylish and will perfectly fit into any interior. Of course, for some users this plus will be dubious, but still;
- Despite the fact that the "iron filling" remains almost old (as in the original Xbox ONE), some things have improved, for example, the loading speed of the main interface;
- Sufficiently large amount of internal memory (2 TB);
- Possibility to connect the set-top box to a PC;
- And the most important plus is support for 4K, including from Blu-Ray discs. For lovers of the highest quality video, this is really the biggest benefit;
- Some models are sold with a second joystick included - convenient for two-player games.
Disadvantages:
If you ask what problems Xbox users have with their consoles, it is often the high cost of games and a very limited number of exclusives.
- 4K video can only be viewed on a TV that supports this video format. Otherwise, the image quality on the screen will be worse;
- Old iron. Little has changed since the Xbox ONE.
Output:
In an amicable way, many users decided to try the ONE S just for the sake of 4K video, because otherwise this is the same old Xbox ONE, and at a price it is more expensive. However, although there is no particular point in purchasing this set-top box, it sold and is being sold well. And therefore, the prefix takes only 9th place in the ranking.
8th place: Sony PlayStation Vita
Closer to the bottom of the TOP-10 place is the portable model Sony PS Vita. This is one of the decent gaming devices for those who like not to sleep on a long journey, but to play shooters or watch a movie. This is how Vita really competes with modern "heaped up" smartphones (it only yields in pixels on the camera), unless you can call it. However, they say that you can install the Skype program and make calls through it. Vita is perfect as a gift for a child, although the toy is definitely not for children.
| CPU | Cortex-A9 |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 0.8 GHz |
| Display | OLED |
| Display | 5” |
| Picture | 960*544 |
| SIM | Yes |
| Weight | 260 g |
| Battery | Li-Ion, 2200 mAh |
| Sync with PS | Yes |
| Wifi | Yes |
Benefits:
- Compactness. Even compared to the previous model, the Vita doesn't take up much space. However, it will not fit into a trouser pocket, so some kind of bag will still be needed;
- Touch screen control. And, of course, the touchpad on the back of the console;
- Support for games from other Sony consoles, not all, but most of them;
- Very attractive price for the gadget itself;
- There is a slot for reading memory cards.
Disadvantages:
One of the few consoles that has a very large number of disadvantages in comparison with other devices, of course. But honor and praise Sony for the fact that they gradually fixed some of their "jambs", especially those related to games.
- Despite the big plus of the screen sensor, the touchpad on the back is not convenient for everyone;
- It won't take long to play games with a full load, because in this case the battery is not enough for a long time;
- There are few really decent games. This was especially acute at the start of Vita sales. Later, things got better;
- Expensive games. Even the simple ones are affordable. And the best ones, accordingly, are even more expensive;
- Memory cards are unique to this model. And the volume of all is quite large; Therefore, nothing prevents manufacturers from overpricing them;
- There are no such interesting "chips" as UMD for PlaystationPortable.
Output:
The console is quite good, but as practice shows Sony, alas, is not so strong in the market for portable models. However, Vita still found its audience.
7th place: Nintendo Switch
Another portable model in the ranking. Japanese engineering and entertainment thought turned out to be great. Switch can be played on the road or in front of the TV.
| Display | 6,2” |
|---|---|
| HDD | 32 GB |
| Picture | 1280*720 |
| Gamepad | Wireless |
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours |
| Memory card | MicroSD, microSDHC, microSDXC |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Battery capacity | 4310 mAh |
Benefits:
- Removable joy-con. By disconnecting them, you can "turn" the console into a game console;
- The touch screen allows you to play games not only with a gamepad, but also akin to mobile devices;
- No blocking by region. That is, you can go under another region and buy the game there (this is how you can get a discount);
- Opening hours - maximum 9 hours.
Disadvantages:
Alas, there are more cons. Even if we take into account the revolutionary nature of the model, it has been criticized more than once.
- Backlash. It appears quickly enough. It is not surprising, because if you constantly remove and put back the joycon, then this cannot be avoided. Due to this information, the maintainability of the console should be high. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
- Low power is due, for the most part, to the fact that initially the main task of the Switch is to be portable.
- High price. Of course, if you find out how much the console costs in Japan, then you might think that the price is not that high. However, after passing through all the bureaucratic stages, the price on the territory of the Russian Federation will certainly not seem low.
Output:
I would like to say thank you to NES for their ideology. And, of course, for the implementation of these ideas. Still, the price and rapid wear and tear can scare off many. As a recommendation, we can say that it is better to purchase the Lite version.
6th place: Nintendo Switch Lite
A paradoxical portable model. Paradoxical, because it is called Switch, but at the same time does not switch in any way. That is, unlike the original, Lite cannot be used in the TV version, cannot be connected to a docking station. Nevertheless, neither manufacturers nor users are confused by this fact.
Also good as a gift for children.
| Display | 5,5” |
|---|---|
| HDD | 32 GB |
| Picture | 1280*720 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Weight | 275 g |
| Memory card | MicroSD, microSDHC, microSDXC |
| Battery capacity | 3570 mAh |
| Wifi | Yes |
Benefits:
- Very lightweight. The weight of the device reaches 275 grams against almost 400 for the Nintendo Switch. This fact is especially important for a portable model, because the hands of a gamer, after all, get tired;
- Power source - Li-Ion battery;
- Duration of work. Yes, the battery volume has been reduced (to lighten the weight), however, thanks to the Tegra X1 chip from NVIDIA, the power consumption of iron has been reduced, and the battery life has been increased accordingly. Which again only plays in favor of the portable console;
- External amenities such as a D-pad (instead of 4 buttons), a smaller display (5.5 inches), built-in non-removable joycons and other small parts;
- Increased brightness. This is especially noticeable in comparison with the original Nintendo Switch model. Therefore, now you can safely play even in the sunniest weather;
- A huge number of games, including exclusive ones;
- And, of course, the issue price. The novelty (Lite was released only on September 20, 2020) costs 200 units in US currency.
Disadvantages:
Here the disadvantages will be rather relative and subjective, because some aspects should not have been expected from such a model. Well, for example, Full-HD resolution. Or to speak negatively about a portable model because it is only portable and not capable of turning into something more - this is not the case.
- Perhaps, there is one objective minus, but that also applies to games, not to the console. The disadvantage is that in video games, the font is not adapted to the small screen of the Switch Lite;
- Well, since NES products are less popular on the Russian market, users are faced with another problem - the high cost of products. And come to look for where to buy cheaper.
Output:
Switch Lite is very good in its segment. In general, the NES is rightfully considered the leader of the portable consoles. And Lite is proof of that.
5th place: Xbox 360
Portable models climbed high enough. But still the top part of the rating is entirely behind stationary models. And, as you might guess, there are only 2 companies here: Sony and Microsoft.
On the border of the upper half is the Xbox 360. The model is already outdated, but still working. And well suited for those who cannot afford the more expensive models of competitors or the same ONE X.
| CPU | Power PC |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 3.2 GHz |
| Drive unit | DVD / CD |
| HDD | 250 GB |
| Gamepad / controller | Wireless |
| Multiplayer | Yes |
| USB | Yes |
| HDMI | Yes |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Internet connection | Yes |
Benefits:
- The connection is good enough, allows you to play sports games without a joystick, and in general you can purchase a whole set of accessories;
- Still good quality of iron;
- Very convenient control - fits perfectly in the hands;
- Plays DVD / CD discs.
Disadvantages:
- Outdated model;
- Little exclusive. This disadvantage applies to the entire line of Microsoft;
- The high price of the console itself;
- The high price of licensed games, which is why many are trying to reflash the console. As a result, equipment is damaged.
Output:
The conclusion here is simple and clear: high-quality and working, but an old horse. It will not spoil the furrows, but, perhaps, it will no longer give the sensations that can be obtained in newer models.
4th place: PlayStation 4
It might seem odd that Sony is underrepresented in the rankings. Yes, there was only one portable model at the bottom. But now, at the top - almost all of its places.
Anticipates the three leaders of the classic - PS 4. The 4th version has made a significant step forward compared to the 3rd. Accordingly, the popularity of subsequent models is also much higher. Even the classic 4 is still selling well enough. And this is not surprising, because she has so many positive aspects.
| CPU | AMD Jaguar x86-64 |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 2.1 GHz |
| Drive unit | Blu-ray / DVD |
| HDD | 500 GB / 1 TB |
| Gamepad / controller | Wireless, DualShok |
| Multiplayer | Yes |
| USB | Yes |
| HDMI | Yes |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Internet connection | Yes |
Benefits:
- The speed of the console, everything is done instantly;
- Clear and simple connection of the entire system;
- The ability to work via Wi-fi;
- An impressive database of exclusive games;
- Extremely convenient gamepad control system: DualShok. Judging by the reviews, we can say that this is almost the best gift from Sony for users;
- The ability to interact with Sony Vita;
- Reads Blu-Ray discs.
Disadvantages:
- Makes too much noise;
- Fast discharge of DualShok;
- Small space for games on the hard disk;
- Expensive games;
- Paid subscription for online gaming;
- Control joysticks are quickly "erased".
Output:
Decent prefix. It is no coincidence that it occupied its niche in the market. Still in demand by consumers, but giving way to more advanced models.
3rd place: PlayStation 4 Slim
The PS4 modification Sone PlayStation 4 Slim climbs to the bottom step of the pedestal. The modified model, having listened to the "advice" of consumers of its products, took into account the shortcomings of the previous version.
| CPU | AMD Jaguar x86-64 |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1.6 GHz |
| Drive unit | Blu-ray / DVD |
| HDD | 500 GB |
| Picture | 4K UHD HDR |
| Gamepad / controller | Wireless, DualShok |
| Weight | 2.8 kg |
| Multiplayer | Yes |
| USB | Yes, 3.0 |
| HDMI | Yes |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Internet connection | Yes |
Benefits:
In addition to the pros that were presented for the PS4, there are several more:
- Compactness and lightness;
- Connecting a keyboard, mouse;
- Can be played through a mobile phone;
- Less noise than original model;
- DualShok can be connected via USB, which eliminates any possible delays;
- Some configurations include additional accessories.
Disadvantages:
The same applies to the cons, except for the loud noise.
- The high price does not justify small improvements;
- Heats up a lot.
Output:
A compact version that makes less noise than the original, but heats up a lot. PS 4 Slim is an intermediate model between PS4 and PS4 Pro. Buying this intermediate variation is not always justified.
2nd place: Xbox ONE X
It wouldn't be very fair to give all three seats to Sony. Americans are also hard at work in the field of game consoles. And they deservedly occupy the second line of the rating with ONE X. In pursuit of PS 4 Pro, Microsoft had to do something to keep up. Therefore, the X series was born.
| CPU | AMD Jaguar x86-64 |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 2.3 GHz |
| Drive unit | Blu-ray / DVD |
| HDD | 1 TB |
| Picture | 4K UHD HDR |
| Gamepad | Wireless |
| Multiplayer | Yes |
| USB | Yes, 3.0 |
| HDMI | Yes |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Internet connection | Yes |
Benefits:
- Powerful hardware;
- Compactness and ease of connection - everything is simple and clear;
- High-tech cooling system - "evaporation chamber";
- Supports legacy games;
- The ability to play games in 4K and HDR video.If, for example, on the S model the picture was only scaled, then on the model type X is a real 4K;
- Sufficiently high speed of the system;
- Compatible with Windows operating system;
- Ability to play Blu-Ray discs and others (support for MP3, WMA including).
Disadvantages:
- You can enjoy all the beauty of the highest resolution only on 4K TV;
- The high price of the console itself and games;
- To be honest, ONE X is not a new generation of consoles. All their power, all interface, filling - belongs to the old, albeit improved generation;
- A small amount of exclusive. This disadvantage was mentioned earlier.
Output:
In fact, even with so many pluses, these minuses prevent the Xbox ONE X from climbing to the first place in the ranking.
1st place: PlayStation 4 Pro
Finally, the leader of the "all" gaming world is Sony PlayStation 4 Pro. As the manufacturers have assured - a real machine for games.
| CPU | AMD Jaguar x86-64 |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 2.1 GHz |
| Drive unit | Blu-Ray (BD) / DVD |
| HDD | 1 TB |
| Picture | 4K UHD HDR |
| Gamepad / controller | Wireless, DualShok |
| Weight | 3.3 kg |
| Multiplayer | Yes |
| USB | Yes, 3.0 |
| HDMI | Yes |
| Wifi | Yes |
| Internet connection | Yes |
Benefits:
- Supports 4K UHD in games;
- Much less noise from the set-top box, even in comparison with Slim;
- The ability to use a helmet with VR function;
- Excellent powerful "stuffing" of the console;
- A huge community - there is always someone to play with on the network, exchange games, etc.
- SASD;
- And, of course, high speed, a wide range of exclusive games, DualShok, etc.
Disadvantages:
- Many times more expensive than the Slim series;
- To play in 4K, you need the game itself to support this resolution and, of course, the TV must be 4K-capable;
- The drive does not have 4K Blu-Ray support. Therefore, you will not be able to watch videos in this quality from disks - only online;
- You have to update it periodically to make everything work correctly.
- Fragile body material;
- And also some old cons, such as the cost of games, paid multiplayer, fast controller discharge, etc.
Output:
This model will perfectly fit into the interior and into the heart of every gamer who has the means to do so. The undisputed winner of the rating, with its own shortcomings, of course.
Summing up, it is worth noting that the game world is developing so quickly that it is difficult to even imagine what lies ahead. And it's very good that there is competition, even if only a couple of companies, but very tough. Today, thanks to the Internet, the question of what and how to choose for games can be answered fairly quickly.
Think the rating is wrong? Write your version in the comments.
