Shop for consoles

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.6 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 101 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 - Game console, DVD, Matte black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The latest PS3 slims down to its smallest size ever while retaining everything we like -- and a few things we don't -- about the PlayStation 3 gaming console. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: Despite some clever dual-screen gaming mechanics, the Wii U's lack of compelling exclusive software and an overall unpolished user experience make it tough to recommend in its current state. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Wii U - Game console, Nintendo Wii disc, Nintendo Wii U disc, IBM, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 40 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, PlayStation Vita card, Flash memory card, Data path width=, ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore, 960 x 544

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 35 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 - Game console, Blu-ray, IBM Cell Broadband Engine, Charcoal 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 - Game console, DVD, IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz, 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated, 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 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: - Game console, IBM, 256 MB, Charcoal black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 1219 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:
  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:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: Despite some clever dual-screen gaming mechanics, the Wii U's lack of compelling exclusive software and an overall unpolished user experience make it tough to recommend in its current state. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Wii U - Game console, Nintendo Wii U disc, Nintendo Wii disc, IBM, White

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 80 reviews

The Bottom Line: Now that Blu-ray has become the pre-eminent high-definition standard for discs, the Xbox 360 has yet to support it, but it still remains an excellent game console with a superior game library and online experience. 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: 8.2 (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

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 157 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: Microsoft Xbox 360 S - Game console, DVD, 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: Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console, Flash memory card, Blu-ray, Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB - Integrated, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 109 reviews

The Bottom Line: While Sony has cut a few corners to get its entry-level PlayStation 3 below $400, it's still a great game console and Blu-ray player for the money--so long as you can live without backward compatibility for PS2 games. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 436 reviews

The Bottom Line: The most affordable of the current game systems, the Nintendo GameCube offers great graphics and good performance but few extras. Read review

Specs: Nintendo GameCube - Game console, Nintendo GAMECUBE disc, IBM PowerPC "Gekko" 485 MHz, 24 KB 1T-SRAM - Integrated, Black, 32-bit color

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The latest PS3 slims down to its smallest size ever while retaining everything we like -- and a few things we don't -- about the PlayStation 3 gaming console. Read review

• 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: Sony PlayStation 3 Move Bundle - 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: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 2 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:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 250 GB S Console - Game console, DVD, Glossy black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.6 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 12 reviews

The Bottom Line: A handful of notable upgrades from the entry-level model, the 80GB PS3 is superb Blu-ray player and high-definition game console. Read review

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

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

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 - Game console, Blu-ray, IBM Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB XDRAM - Integrated, Charcoal black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition - 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: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: For families and lovers of casual games, the still-affordable Wii represents the best console bundle value of the holiday season in terms of dollars spent; however, the Wii's getting long in the tooth, and other game consoles offer more entertainment options and functionality for their higher price tags. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Wii Sports Resort Pak - Game console, Nintendo Wii disc, Nintendo GAMECUBE disc, Flash memory card, IBM PowerPC, Black