PS5 vs Xbox vs Switch 2: console prices this holiday, after 2026's price rises

If a games console is on your holiday list this year, expect to pay a lot more than you would have two years ago. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have all raised US prices in 2026, on top of the rises in 2025, and the cheapest new PS5 now costs $599.99.

We've compared the current US list prices of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, the bundles on offer and what each costs in its first year once you add the online subscription you'll need for most online play. Prices come from Sony's, Microsoft's and Nintendo's own announcements and stores, checked on October 27, 2026. Xbox's store wouldn't show us prices, so the current Xbox prices are based on Microsoft's announced increases, as reported by Pure Xbox. Stores may sell for less than list price, especially around Black Friday.

At a glance

• Cheapest current-generation console: Nintendo Switch 2 at $499.99, or the Xbox Series S 512GB at $499.99.
• Cheapest PS5: the Digital Edition at $599.99, with the disc version at $649.99.
• Most expensive: PS5 Pro at $899.99, matched by the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition, due November 13.
• Price rises this year: PS5 up $100 to $150 from April 2, Xbox up $100 to $150 from August 1, and Switch 2 up $50 from September 1.
• One price cut: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate dropped from $29.99 to $22.99 a month in April.

Console prices compared

Why prices have gone up

The rises came in two waves. In 2025, Sony added $50 to every PS5 model from August 21, Microsoft raised Xbox prices worldwide in May and again in the US in October, and Nintendo raised prices on the original Switch from August 3. Those rises were widely linked to US tariffs, although the companies' own announcements pointed to the economic environment rather than tariffs by name.

The 2026 rises have a different cause. Microsoft's June 25 announcement says memory and storage prices have risen more than 2.5 times, and it expects them to double again by fall 2027. Sony cited "continued pressures in the global economic landscape" for its April increase, and Nintendo cited "changes in market conditions" when it raised the Switch 2 price. None of the 2026 announcements mentions tariffs.

PlayStation 5

Since April 2, the PS5 costs $649.99 with a disc drive, the Digital Edition $599.99 and the PS5 Pro $899.99, up $100, $100 and $150. That's $150 more for the standard PS5 than before the August 2025 rise. The PlayStation Portal remote player also went up, to $249.99. Sony's PlayStation Store sale running until November 4 covers games, not consoles.

Xbox Series X|S

From August 1, Microsoft added $100 to its 512GB consoles and $150 to its 1TB models, taking the Series S 512GB to $499.99 and the Series X with a disc drive to $799.99. The 2TB Galaxy Black Series X is being discontinued. For the holidays, Microsoft has the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition, a translucent green 1TB console for Xbox's 25th anniversary, at $899.99 from November 13, limited to one per customer. Microsoft says Certified Refurbished consoles at its own store are up to $100 off.

Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch

The Switch 2 went from $449.99 to $499.99 on September 1. Nintendo now sells it in two bundles: with Mario Kart World for $549.99, and with Nintendo Switch Sports Resort for $529.99, on sale since October 22. Nintendo said in May that the original Switch's US prices aren't changing this time, and its store lists the Switch OLED at $399.99 and the Switch Lite at $229.99.

What the online subscription adds

You'll need a subscription to play most games online on all three, and the higher tiers add a library of games to download.

Xbox's website didn't show us prices for the Game Pass Essential and Premium tiers, so they're not included. From November, Xbox cloud gaming has monthly hour limits: 15 hours on Ultimate, 10 on Premium and 5 on Essential, with extra hours sold separately. Microsoft also changed Game Pass in April so that new Call of Duty games join about a year after launch rather than on day one.

Which to choose

• Switch 2 if you want the lowest total cost and Nintendo's games, or to play away from the TV. The Mario Kart World bundle saves buying the game separately.
• PS5 Digital if you want PlayStation exclusives and buy games digitally. Get the disc version if you want to buy secondhand games.
• Xbox Series S if you'd rather pay monthly for a big library through Game Pass than buy games one at a time.
• PS5 Pro or Xbox Series X only if you have a TV that shows off the extra power.

How to save

1. Watch the big stores' Black Friday sales for console bundles and gift cards with consoles, but compare the total with list price.
2. Look at refurbished. Microsoft's Certified Refurbished consoles are up to $100 off.
3. Pay for subscriptions yearly if you'll keep them. PS Plus Essential costs $79.99 a year against $131.88 for 12 monthly payments.
4. Choose a family plan if several people play on separate accounts.
5. Buy from the stores' own websites or well-known retailers. Cheap consoles are a favorite bait for fake stores.

FAQs

Will console prices go down for Black Friday?

None of the three companies had announced Black Friday console deals when we checked. Retailers sometimes discount bundles or add gift cards, so it's worth comparing in late November.

Do I need a subscription to play online?

For most online multiplayer games, yes, on all three. Free-to-play games such as Fortnite don't need one.

Will my old games work?

Switch 2 plays most Switch games, the PS5 plays most PS4 games, and Xbox Series X|S plays many older Xbox games. Check the company's list for specific titles.

Sources: PlayStation Blog: price changes (March 27, 2026), PlayStation Blog: US price changes (August 20, 2025), PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Blog: Planet of the Deals, Xbox Wire: console price update (June 25, 2026), Pure Xbox: new Xbox prices (August 2026), Xbox Wire: Xbox 25th anniversary collection, Xbox Wire: Game Pass update (April 21, 2026), Xbox Wire: cloud gaming changes, Nintendo: Switch 2 price revision, Nintendo: Switch pricing update (August 2025), Nintendo: Switch 2 bundles, Nintendo Store: Switch 2, Nintendo Store: Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch Online