Nintendo Switch vs PS4 vs Xbox One: Which should you choose?

 

(Pocket-lint) - So, you want a new game system, but you don't want to go to the next generation yet. Well, aside from the allure of the Xbox Series X/S and PS5, there is still plenty of variety. And they are jam packed with gaming goodness, thanks to years of game releases and refinements.

There is the revolutionary Nintendo Switch (plus the Switch Lite), the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One S. Then there are the 4K gaming powerhouses, the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X S for those with a larger budget (which has been discontinued but is still available from many retailers).

That's why, right here, we're running through the big current-gen games consoles to see which one will suit you best.

Hardware

In hardware terms, the Nintendo Switch is dramatically different from its rivals. It has an updated Nvidia Tegra X1 architecture, similar to the chips in high-end phones and tablets, which is an ARM-based mobile computer processor, whereas PlayStation and Xbox consoles both opt for more traditional computing capacity.

While the Switch has a 6.2-inch screen, it is downsized to 5.5-inches by the Switch Lite. The major difference is that the Lite, unlike the main Switch, does not have reversible Joy-Con controls. It's also a permanent handheld - as with the main Switch, there's no dock to allow you to attach it to a TV.

On the Turn, when in docked mode and fed to a TV, games have the ability to run at 1080p 60fps, 720p 60fps on their own integrated screen when on the go. These days, most Xbox One S and conventional PS4 games run at 1080p, with some reaching 60fps.

The PS4 Pro and Xbox One X will extend the resolution at 60fps up to 4K. Both the Xbox and PlayStation consoles are also capable of graphics with a high dynamic range (HDR). This can not be matched by the Switch, nor can it really hold a proper candle to the graphical output that these consoles can handle.

Where the bigger Nintendo Switch has a distinct advantage is in portability over its immediate rivals. It doubles as both a home console and a portable gaming machine, so it is the only one that you can take with you on your travels to play the very same games on its 6.2-inch built-in screen. And the Lite is for handheld use only, as we described.

Disc drives and storage

The Xbox One S, Xbox One X, PS4 Pro and PS4 have physical disc drives, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays can also be played on the Xbox One consoles. Sony opted against adding a 4K Blu-ray deck to either PS4, also as a founding member of the Blu-ray Disc Association. Conventional 1080p Blu-rays, but not Ultra HD discs, can still be played.

Neither can be achieved by the Nintendo Switch. The Japanese corporation preferred to dispense exclusively with discs, instead of cartridge games, just like the 3DS and Nintendo consoles of yesteryear.

Games are also available through download stores, but you'll have to invest in a microSD card to store more than a few at a time, given how stingy Nintendo has been with on-board storage.

Originally, the Xbox One S was available in a 500GB format, but the 1TB edition is the regular model you'll find these days in shops. A 1TB drive is also supported on the Xbox One X.

The new PS4 is available in sizes of 500GB and 1TB, while the 1TB console is the PS4 Pro. Both Xbox and PlayStation computers, via external USB 3.0 HDDs, have the ability to increase storage via third-party hard drives. Furthermore, by swapping the internal 3.5-inch internal drives, all PS4 models can be extended.

On the other side, the Switch comes with built-in capacity of 32GB. Big-name games always take up at least half of that, especially those from Nintendo itself.

Games

Thanks to being around for several years, the Xbox One and PS4 consoles obviously win hands down when it comes to the number of games. For contrast, the Nintendo Switch is younger.

The line-up of The Switch is still really good though. This is due to much greater support from developers and publishers than the last console from Nintendo, the Wii U.0

More subjective is consistency. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey and the newly launched Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Nintendo has some bone fide triple-A games you won't find on any other platform (except for the discontinued Wii U).

Of course, both Xbox and PlayStation have exclusives of their own, from Xbox One's Forza Horizon 4 and Gears 5 to PS4's Marvel's Spider-Man and God of War.

Getting some of the same big, multi-platform games as the others is the field in which Nintendo Switch will expect to develop.

The Turn, on the other hand, is trumping its rivals in motion gaming. While the other two have largely shunned the format, with its clip-on Joy-Con controllers often serving as movement remotes, the Switch celebrates its Wii heritage. This took families back in their droves to Nintendo.

And there's Ring Fit Adventure, too, which comes with a leg brace with one of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons inserted into it. It's a fitness game designed to improve your results.

Media

Both Xbox One and PS4 consoles, as well as gaming machines, are perfect media streamers. Each has Netflix and Amazon Video applications, with both 4K HDR provided by the Xbox One S and Xbox One X - also Dolby Vision on some compatible TVs. Netflix in 4K HDR is also available on the PS4 Pro.

On the consoles, too, you can find BBC iPlayer and other terrestrial TV catch-up services. On the Xbox One, Apple TV is now available.

None of these services are available on the Nintendo Switch. It has a YouTube app, but there is no sign of Netflix or Amazon anywhere on the horizon at present.

Bundles

It's no secret that there is nothing like a great big bundle to get you the best value for cash when you're looking to pick up a new console. It's a great way to start from a little further on than square one, whether it's throwing in an extra multiplayer controller, a couple of successful games, or anything else.

The good news is that you can choose from all three of the consoles (and their variants) with great bundles, although the exact selection is changing all the time. Luckily for you, to make sure you can choose the best available, we have a feature for each one.

Conclusion

It's obvious that Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite are game consoles that are really different from other units. In several respects, for hardcore players, the Move could be used as a second, compact, console.

As seen with Ring Fit Adventure, motion gaming may also be a major draw, especially if family-oriented games are your sort of thing. This is an environment where Nintendo excelled with the Wii, and so the Xbox 360 and PS3 of the time gave something different. The same is again true.

With the key Switch substantially more expensive than the regular Xbox One S and PS4 thanks to being the newest kid on the block, the biggest obstacle is price. However, the Switch Lite more squarely suits Microsoft and Sony at prices about the price point of $200/£200.

However, if you have a 4K HDR TV, you should really consider saving those extra pennies for a PS4 Pro or Xbox One X. Games run smoother on them, and those with improved graphics are just fun to watch, let alone play.

And if you want something even more forward-looking, don't forget to consider the PS5 or Xbox Series S or X.