Key takeaways
- Cheapest pick worth buying: Xbox Series S ($379 – $399).
- Bundles with a game are often the best deal during big sales.
- Pick the console your friends and favorite game series are on.
In this article
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You do not need to spend a lot to get good game consoles. These are the cheapest game consoles we would still buy in the US, sorted by typical price.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Budget picks at a glance
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S | Consider | 7.4/10 | $379 – $399 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Buy | 9.1/10 | $449 – $499 |
| PlayStation 5 Console (Slim) | Buy | 9.0/10 | $449 – $549 |
Budget picks in detail
Xbox Series S
Budget Game Pass · Verdict: Consider · Score: 7.4/10 · Typical price: $379 – $399
Why we like it: Small, digital-only Xbox.
Pros: Small and quiet · Works with Game Pass · Lower price than Series X
Cons: No disc drive · Small 512 GB storage
Buy it if you want the cheapest way into Xbox Game Pass on a 1080p or 1440p TV.
Skip it if you want 4K gaming or physical discs.
Nintendo Switch 2
Families and handheld play · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.1/10 · Typical price: $449 – $499
Why we like it: Play on the TV or on the go.
Pros: Plays at home and handheld · Larger 1080p screen · Plays most Switch 1 games · Great for local multiplayer
Cons: Games are rarely discounted · Less powerful than PS5
Buy it if you want Mario, Zelda and Pokémon, love playing on the couch and on the go, or game with kids.
Skip it if you want the best graphics for big third-party games.
PlayStation 5 Console (Slim)
Most gamers · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.0/10 · Typical price: $449 – $549
Why we like it: Biggest exclusive games and great value.
Pros: Huge library including PS4 games · Fast SSD loading · DualSense controller with haptics · Disc or digital versions
Cons: Prices rose in 2025 · 1 TB fills up quickly
Buy it if you want the console with the biggest blockbuster exclusives and a huge game library.
Skip it if you mostly play Nintendo franchises or want to play on the go.
How to save money
Bundles with a game are often the best deal during big sales.
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Where not to cut corners
Pick the console your friends and favorite game series are on.
Common mistake: Buying a console for one exclusive game you could play elsewhere.
Compare more options
Search game consoles on Amazon See top-rated game consoles on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cheap game consoles in the US?
The cheapest model we would still buy is Xbox Series S, typically $379 – $399.
Are cheap game consoles worth it?
Bundles with a game are often the best deal during big sales. Do not compromise on the basics, though. Pick the console your friends and favorite game series are on.
When are game consoles cheapest in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.