The Short Version
Every console costs more in 2026 than it did a year ago, and waiting for a price drop has not paid off once this year. Here is where we land at current prices, checked against Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo's own stores in October 2026.
- Best for most people: PS5 Digital at $599.00, or the disc model at $649.00 if you buy physical games. It has the strongest exclusive library and runs Grand Theft Auto VI on day one.
- Cheapest way into GTA VI: Xbox Series S at $499.99. Mind the storage: the 512GB model fills up fast, so plan on the 1TB model at $599.99 or a storage card.
- Best for families and handheld play: Nintendo Switch 2 at $499.99, or $549.99 with Mario Kart World. Nintendo's games are only on Nintendo hardware, but GTA VI is not coming to it.
- Most power: PS5 Pro at $899.00, sold out at most US retailers since mid-September. Don't pay a scalper; our PS5 Pro article explains how to get one at list price.
- Already have a gaming PC? Then the question is which upgrades matter, not which console to add. The PC guide covers it.
Each guide above goes deeper: which model fits you, the games worth owning first, and the accessories worth buying. Prices change, so every guide carries the date we last checked.