Shop for consoles

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 32 reviews

The Bottom Line: With a smaller design, more energy-efficient operation, lower price tag, and built-in Blu-ray and multimedia capabilities, the PS3 Slim delivers a compelling package for an affordable price. Read review

Specs: Sony PlayStation 3 Slim - Game console, Blu-ray, IBM Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB XDRAM - Integrated, Charcoal black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.6 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 98 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though the new Xbox 360 certainly addresses most of the concerns we've had with the versions before it, we don't think it warrants a purchase if you already own an Xbox 360 in working order with an HDMI-out port and a hard drive. Read review

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 S - Game console, DVD, Glossy black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 33 reviews

The Bottom Line: Overall, the PlayStation Vita is the most advanced portable gaming system ever made. While the price is deceiving because of a hidden cost, gamers are getting an impressively complete package right out of the gate. A healthy launch lineup is sure to provide something for every kind of gamer, and a large selection of digital downloads is available right now. Read review

Specs: Sony PlayStation Vita - Handheld game console, Data path width=, ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore, 960 x 544, PlayStation Vita card, Flash memory card

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 1218 reviews

The Bottom Line: With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat. Read review

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 - Game console, DVD, IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz, 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 178 reviews

The Bottom Line: With a smaller design, more energy-efficient operation, lower price tag, and built-in Blu-ray and multimedia capabilities, the PS3 Slim delivers a compelling package for an affordable price. Read review

Specs: 256 MB, IBM, - Game console, Charcoal black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 44 reviews

The Bottom Line: While there's probably not enough to get owners of previous the PSP to upgrade, newcomers will find the PSP-3000 to be a solid portable gaming and multimedia device. Read review

Specs: Sony PSP 3000 - Handheld game console, UMD (Universal Media Disc), Flash memory card, 333 MHz, 64 MB - Integrated, Piano black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 195 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it's neither a must-have upgrade for existing 360 owners nor as feature-packed as the PS3, the Xbox 360 Elite's combination of top-notch gaming and digital media features make it the current game console of choice. Read review

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite System - Game console, DVD, IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz, 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated, Black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 33 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Nintendo 3DS successfully offers a glasses-free 3D experience that needs to be seen to be believed. A weaker-than-usual launch lineup and some previously inactivated online features dampened its launch, but a recent price drop and a promising holiday lineup shine a light at the end of tunnel. Read review

Specs: Cartridge, Cosmo black, - Pocket game, Nintendo 3DS

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.1 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 1317 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sony PSP elevates portable gaming to the next level, but its multimedia functionality falls short of its full potential. Read review

Specs: 32 MB - Integrated, 333 MHz, Sony PSP 1001 - Handheld game console, UMD (Universal Media Disc), Flash memory card

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 837 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you don't mind the dearth of HD graphics, the Nintendo Wii's combination of motion-sensitive controllers, included Wii Sports titles, and emphasis on fun gameplay make the ultra-affordable console hard to resist. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Wii - Game console, Flash memory card, Nintendo Wii disc, Nintendo GAMECUBE disc, IBM PowerPC, 512 MB

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: For families and lovers of casual games, the even more affordable Wii still represents the best console bundle value in terms of dollars spent, but it's also the system that's first on deck to be outdated. With the announcement of the Wii U, the Wii is a declining console. Still, its sizable and often unique back library of games is still worth playing. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Wii Mario Kart Wii Pack - Game console, Flash memory card, Nintendo Wii disc, Nintendo GAMECUBE disc, IBM PowerPC, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 76 reviews

The Bottom Line: The PSP Go is a sleek and sexy redesign, but its high price tag and some frustrating caveats mean it's not a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners--at least for now. Read review

Specs: 64 MB - Integrated, Flash memory card, 333 MHz, Black, Sony PSP Go - Handheld game console, 480 x 272

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 85 reviews

The Bottom Line: The elder statesman of next generation consoles, the PlayStation 2 has the luxury of a year's head start and many solid games. Read review

Specs: 2 x Toshiba & Sony Emotion Engine 294.9 MHz, 32-bit color / 1280 x 1024, 32 MB RDRAM (RAMBUS) - Integrated, Sony PlayStation 2 - Game console, DVD

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: With a smaller design, more energy-efficient operation, lower price tag, and built-in Blu-ray and multimedia capabilities, the PS3 Slim delivers a compelling package for an affordable price. Read review

Specs: 256 MB XDRAM - Integrated, Blu-ray, 1920 x 1080, Charcoal black, Sony PlayStation 3 Move Bundle - Game console, IBM Cell Broadband Engine

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 11 reviews

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 S - Game console, DVD, 512 MB, Matte black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 142 reviews

The Bottom Line: Even though PS2 backward compatibility has been dropped from this version, the 80GB PS3 is still a superb Blu-ray player and high-definition game console. Read review

Specs: Flash memory card, Blu-ray, Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console, Black, 1920 x 1080, Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB - Integrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 36 reviews

The Bottom Line: Even though PS2 backward compatibility has been dropped from this version, the 80GB PS3 is still a superb Blu-ray player and high-definition game console. Read review

Specs: 1920 x 1080, Blu-ray, Cell Broadband Engine, Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console, 256 MB - Integrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The Nintendo 3DS successfully offers a glasses-free 3D experience that needs to be seen to be believed. A weaker-than-usual launch lineup and some previously inactivated online features dampened its launch, but a recent price drop and a promising holiday lineup shine a light at the end of tunnel. Read review

Specs: Nintendo 3DS - Handheld game console, Flame red, Cartridge, Flash memory card

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Overall, the PlayStation Vita is the most advanced portable gaming system ever made. While the price is deceiving because of a hidden cost, gamers are getting an impressively complete package right out of the gate. A healthy launch lineup is sure to provide something for every kind of gamer, and a large selection of digital downloads is available right now. Read review

Specs: - Handheld game console, Sony PlayStation Vita 3G, PlayStation Vita card, Flash memory card, ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: Overall, the PlayStation Vita is the most advanced portable gaming system ever made. While the price is deceiving because of a hidden cost, gamers are getting an impressively complete package right out of the gate. A healthy launch lineup is sure to provide something for every kind of gamer, and a large selection of digital downloads is available right now. Read review

Specs: Sony PlayStation Vita 3G - Handheld game console, PlayStation Vita card, Flash memory card, Data path width=, ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore, 960 x 544

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 156 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sony's slimmed-down, network-ready PS2 is a welcome update to the world's most popular video game console. Read review

Specs: Sony PlayStation 2 - Game console, DVD, Toshiba & Sony Emotion Engine 294.9 MHz, 32 MB RDRAM (RAMBUS), - Integrated, Charcoal black, 1280 x 1024, 32-bit color

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: DVD, Matte black, 1920 x 1080, Microsoft Xbox 360 S - Game console

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 47 reviews

The Bottom Line: While not all previous DS owners should upgrade, the DSi is an ambitious and solidly designed portable gaming system. Read review

Specs: Nintendo DSi - Handheld game console, Flash memory card, Cartridge

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 52 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device. Read review

Specs: Sony PSP Slim & Lite - Handheld game console, Piano black, 64 MB - Integrated, UMD (Universal Media Disc), Flash memory card, 333 MHz

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 662 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Xbox is the most versatile console and perfectly complements a home-theater system. Read review

Specs: 64 MB ( 64 MB ) DDR SDRAM - Integrated, DVD, Microsoft Xbox - Game console, 32-bit color / 1920 x 1080, Intel Pentium III 733 MHz