If there is one thing kids of any age would love to have as a gift, it has to be gaming consoles.
So, if you’re a parent thinking what to buy your little one on their birthday or to cheer them up this holiday season, you might want to check out our best gaming console recommendations tailored for kids between the ages of 10 and 17.
According to a survey by SellCell, gaming consoles like Nintendo Switch are the second most popular gifts that parents choose to buy their children this holiday season.
Although smartphones top the chart at 40%, it is worth noting that as many as 30% of parents think their kids would love to get a gaming console of some sort.
So, without further ado, let’s check out Android Tipster’s best gaming consoles for kids:
1) Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch tops our list thanks to its affordable pricing, growing game choices, and remarkable portability.
For around $300, you get a dashing gaming console along with two Joy-Con controllers, which can come in handy if you’re going for a multi-player gaming experience.
If you’re planning to gift a Switch, it might be a good idea to pick a couple of games along with it.
Some recommended titles include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokemon Sword & Shield, Super Mario Maker 2, and Super Mario Odyssey. Most importantly, it also comes with parental controls that you can set accordingly to put restrictions on games, purchases, gaming time, and more.
In terms of specs, the Nintendo Switch offers a 6.2-inch LCD screen with a display resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage (expandable via microSDHC or microSDXC), 4310mAh battery, and Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth connectivity.
2) Sony PlayStation 4
If your kid is serious about gaming, you might want to get him a PlayStation 4.
Widely regarded as the best gaming console to date, this one comes with solid specs, plenty of AAA gaming titles to pick from, and a very impressive sticker price – $250.
As if that isn’t already enough, Amazon is also offering a Fortnite bundle, that gets you a PS4 Slim 1TB console, a DualShock4 wireless controller, and a code that unlocks exclusive Fortnite content.
For the uninitiated, some of the Fortnite additions include Epic Neo Versa Outfit, Epic Neo Phrenzy Back Bling, 2000 V-Bucks, and more. There is also a Pro variant of the console available for $324 in case you are looking for slightly powerful hardware and 4K HDR capabilities.
Hardware-wise, both PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro have 8GB RAM, 500GB/1TB storage, and comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
The processor inside the PS4 Slim edition is 1.6GHz 8-core AMD Jaguar coupled with 1.84 TFLOP AMD Radeon GPU, while 2.1GHz 8-core AMD Jaguar, along with 4.2 TFLOP AMD Radeon, takes care of the performance aspects of PS4 Pro.
3) Microsoft Xbox One S
The next on our recommendations list is the Xbox One S. Although Xbox doesn’t offer as many games as PlayStation consoles, the former is considered better in terms of specs and graphical capabilities.
Priced at around $185, it is so much cheaper than PS4 and comes with a 1TB all-digital console – meaning you don’t need a physical disc and can purchase and download games through their online store.
The bundle also packs download codes for popular games such as Sea of Thieves, Minecraft, and Fortnite. There is also a disc-based variant of Xbox One S available for $230 if you like it old-school.
The Xbox One S has 8GB RAM, 500GB/1TB/2TB storage, 1.75GHz 8-core Jaguar CPU, 914MHz custom GPU capable of 1.4 TFLOPS output, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
4) Microsoft Xbox One X
If you want your child to have a more powerful Xbox console with 4K gaming support, you should go for the Xbox One X.
It costs at least $200 more than the One S, bringing the price to around $280 for a 1TB Xbox One X bundle on Amazon.
It is worth noting that all Xbox One games run on both One S and One X platforms, although you might find that the latter offers better graphical performance. The One X is a must-buy Xbox console if you have a 4K TV at home. Otherwise, not so much.
The more powerful Xbox console, One X, comes with 12GB RAM, 1TB storage, 2.3GHz 8-core Jaguar “Evolved” CPU, a custom GPU clocked at 1.172GHz capable of an output of 6 TFLOPS, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
5) Nintendo Switch Lite
The list isn’t complete without Nintendo Switch Lite, a watered-down variant of the original Switch.
The Switch Lite is undoubtedly one of the best gift choices for kids out there, especially if you don’t want to spend more than $200. Available for around $199, it is one of the highest-rated gaming products on Amazon with an average rating of 4.8/5 from almost 2000 reviewers.
Unlike the Switch, the Lite variant is a handheld-focused device with built-in controls and does not support docking that lets you connect to a TV or external monitor. However, you can always connect multiple Joy-Cons wirelessly if you’re playing a multi-player game, although you have to buy them separately.
Just as the name suggests, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a lite variant of the original Switch.
It comes with a smaller 5.5-inch LCD screen, although with the same display resolution as the Switch – 1280 x 720 pixels. Other specs include Custom Nvidia Tegra processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage (expandable via microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC cards), and 3570mAh battery.
It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and USB-C as connectivity options.
Conclusion: Which gaming console should you gift your kid?
If you’re confused as to which gaming console suits your child, let us make things easier for you.
If you’re a parent of a kid aged below 13 years and don’t want to spend more than $200 on a gift, we suggest you go for the Nintendo Switch Lite. Meanwhile, if your kid is more than 13 years old, the Xbox One S would make a great choice.
If your child is a hardcore gamer, it would be a no-brainer to either go for a PS4 or an Xbox One X bundle. Choosing between the two comes down to the exclusive gaming titles available on either of the consoles.
For instance, popular games like GT: Sport, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, The Last of Us: Remasters, etc., are exclusives to PS4, while others like Gears 5, Sea of Thieves, Halo 5: Guardians, etc., are Xbox One exclusives.
If you wouldn’t mind spending $300 on a gaming console, then Nintendo Switch is the one – a powerful, on-the-go device that is also capable of docking to external monitors.
Although not as powerful as an Xbox or PlayStation, it is a fun device with a lot of customizations and a plethora of exclusive gaming titles.
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