Buying guide — phones and electronics

How to choose a gaming console

A console is chosen by its games and by who will play on it, not by processor figures. Before comparing consoles, know the games your household wants, where they will play, and the ongoing costs after purchase.

Published 2026-10-19

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Start with the games, not the console

Each maker has games that only come out on its own consoles, and your children's friends often play on one particular console so they can play together online. Write down five games the players in your home want and check which consoles they come out on. That alone settles half the decision. Then ask: will anyone play away from home or while travelling? And is there already a capable PC at home that could replace a separate console?

What actually makes the difference

• Disc or digital edition. A digital edition buys games from the store only; a disc edition lets you buy, sell and lend used discs. If there is an active used-disc market around you, the drive can save money over time.
• Storage. Modern games are large, and internal storage fills after a few of them. Check how storage expands on this exact console, and what can be played from an external drive versus only stored on it, on the maker's support page.
• Subscriptions. Online multiplayer on most consoles needs a paid subscription, and some subscriptions add a monthly game library. Count the subscription in the yearly cost, not the console price alone.
• The TV and HDMI. Features such as 4K at 120 frames per second, variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM) depend on HDMI 2.1 features in the TV or monitor, as the HDMI Forum explains. If your TV lacks them, you will not see the benefit. See the TV guide before paying for performance you will not see.
• Internet. Downloads and updates are large, and online play depends on a stable connection more than a fast one. An Ethernet cable is steadier than Wi-Fi where possible.
• An extra controller. A second controller for local multiplayer is a cost many forget. Know its battery life and how it charges.
• Headset. For online play at night without disturbing the household, a headset with a microphone helps. See the wireless headphones guide for what works with the console.

Children and parental controls

The General Authority for Media Regulation (GMedia) applies an age rating to games in the Kingdom, and the age band appears on the box or store page. Read it before buying. The major consoles offer parental controls: PlayStation's family app lets you set play time for each child, a monthly spending limit, and approve requests for extra time, and Nintendo's parental controls app sets a daily play limit that can suspend the game when time is up. Create a child account for each child from the start, and do not save a bank card on an account children use without a spending limit.

What matters in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

• Account and store. Top-up cards and digital wallets are usually tied to the account's country. Create the account in your country so local top-up cards and payment methods work and local prices and offers appear.
• Arabic. Many games support Arabic text or dubbing, and some do not. Check a game's languages on its store page, especially for children's games.
• Regional version and warranty. Buy the version made for the region from a seller who provides the warranty inside the Kingdom. A privately imported console may not be accepted by the local agent and may come with a plug other than the Kingdom's type G.
• Heat and ventilation. Consoles pull air in and push it out to stay cool. Do not shut them in a closed cabinet, leave space around the vents, and clean the dust regularly. A hot room and built-up dust make the fan louder and the console hotter.

Common mistakes

• Buying the most powerful console when all the children's friends play on a different one.
• Creating the account in another country, then finding local top-up cards do not work on it.
• Leaving a bank card saved on the children's account with no spending limit.
• Putting the console inside a closed TV cabinet, so it runs hot and its fan gets loud.
• Forgetting the subscription and the second controller when comparing cost.

Before you pay

• List the games wanted and confirm which console they come out on.
• Decide: home or handheld, disc or digital.
• Check which HDMI 2.1 features your TV supports.
• Count the subscription, a second controller and extra storage in the cost.
• Create child accounts and set time and spending from day one.
• Buy the regional version with an in-Kingdom warranty.

Current products are on the Products page and codes on the Coupons page.

Limits of this guide

• This is a criteria guide, not a laboratory test. WESH has not tested any product itself and reports no measurements.
• No price appears here. Price, availability, shipping and tax are set by the merchant at checkout.
• Specifications change between revisions and markets. Check the merchant product page and the manufacturer spec sheet before buying.
• WESH gives no medical or engineering recommendation and does not warrant that a product suits your case.

Brand names are the property of their owners and are used to identify a category, not to imply endorsement or partnership.

More guides in the WESH guide; current products on the Products page and codes on the Coupons page.