It’s hard to imagine the average kid (or adult kid for that matter) discovering a brand new game console under a tree on Christmas morning and becoming disillusioned. However, it can be a little tricky for a non-gaming donor to determine which of the many game consoles you should buy.
Therefore, we will try to keep it as simple as possible and help you avoid disappointments at Christmas.
Asking the Right Questions
Everyone is different, so some people will gravitate towards one or another game console. Take time to talk about what games this person likes to play, what game consoles they already have (if any) and what their friends are playing.
If someone is passionate about games, it won’t take them long to talk about it. Don’t worry about what it is, just pay attention to what they care about.
Fake Keyboards
An entire industry is built around making cheap knockoffs to trick non-game buyers into giving up their hard-earned money. Just because one console looks a bit like the other doesn’t mean they have something in common.
Always buy your game console from a reputable buyer and make sure it is properly branded. If the console is suspiciously cheap, your alarms should already be ringing.
PS4 Slim & Xbox One S
These are the two main leaders in consoles. PlayStation 4 (PS4) is manufactured by Sony and Xbox One is manufactured by Microsoft. The PS4 Slim and Xbox One S are the current entry-level models. They have replaced the original versions of these consoles and are quieter, more compact and less energy efficient.
Don’t worry about the technical differences between these game consoles. When it comes to choosing between the two, only two things matter.
First, are there games that your gifted person wants to play that are exclusive to a particular console. A simple visit to the game’s Wikipedia site under the “Platforms” section will show you if the games you want are exclusive or not.
Another important factor is what consoles their friends are playing with. Massively multiplayer online games are incredibly popular, but in general, you cannot play with different brands. Now the situation is changing, but now in most online games, players can only play together on one platform.
If you buy your Xbox donor and their friends all use Playstation 4 consoles, they are left out.
PS4 Pro, Xbox One X
You can see much more expensive consoles on sale under the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X brands. These are premium, updated versions of the base PS4 and Xbox One consoles we discussed in the previous segment.
Games work and look better on these game consoles, so if the price difference isn’t important to you, premium consoles are worth the extra money.
However they play the same games as the base models. Game developers ensure that their games run well on both. So it’s not a choice between “bad†and “goodâ€. Instead, it is a choice between good and better. If you need more information, check out our article on these elite consoles
The upgraded versions of these game consoles will truly be a great gift for anyone who currently owns the base model of each respective product. The best gifts are those that the giver wanted but would never justify the purchase for themselves. The premium console versions are just such a purchase.
Nintendo Switch & Switch Lite
Finally, we come to the latest addition to this generation of game consoles. Nintendo Switch comes in two versions Simple Switch is a large, portable console with detachable controllers. It comes with a dedicated “docking station” that allows you to connect it to your TV and use it like a traditional console.
Switch Lite, on the other hand, is a portable device with no parts required to connect to a TV.
The same games can be played on both consoles, with a few exceptions that depend on TV connectivity and the larger switch’s removable controllers. For the most part, however, both consoles offer the same game library.
We assume that most kids will appreciate the smaller Switch Lite if they don’t have a TV of their own or long enough access to a family TV that the higher price on the larger Switch is worth it. This is a true laptop, fits better with small hands and comes in great colors. If the family already has a Switch used as a home console, Switch Lite is the obvious choice.
However, if you are buying a switch not for an individual, but for a family, the standard switch will suit you. Just make sure you choose an updated model that has cooler, less power hungry components.
The Switch is a hugely popular console, and it’s not just for people who are fans of (admittedly great) Nintendo games. However, it lacks most of the trendy AAA games that can be found on Xbox One or PS4.
Rather, it gets random (cleverly stripped down) versions of these games, with a lot of great first-person exclusives, as well as great ports of games from older game consoles that were never portable. Take this into account before deciding if the Switch is the right console.
Older Game Consoles
The consoles listed above are from the current generation, and the next generation slot machines are likely to be released long after Christmas 2019. However, you can still get great deals on refurbished (or even new!) Older consoles. This includes consoles such as the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii U.
Young gamers are almost certainly not the right fit for these 10 year old game consoles. That being said, older players who may or may not have missed their previous generation consoles may love one of these consoles.
Because a good gift is something that a person cannot justify buying for himself. The same goes for players with limited money, who can find it easy to quickly build a large library of previous generation games that can be bought for a one-digit price in the used games market.
For laptops, the Nintendo 3DS is still a great choice and can be bought with it at a bargain price. It is more compact than the Switch Lite and has one of the best exclusive gaming libraries of any console. In fact, we highly recommend purchasing one of the latest “New 2DS” models, which is the best version of the 3DS family. It just doesn’t have a 3D screen.
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