Answer: Overall, a PC offers better graphics, more upgrade options, cheaper games, and has some games that aren’t available on consoles. However, consoles are much more affordable and accessible in the long run, but the performance and the graphics usually aren’t as good, and the games tend to be a bit more expensive.

You have most definitely come across a discussion on this subject somewhere on the internet. If it’s not PlayStation vs. Xbox, then it’s PC vs. both of them, so which is better?

This is not an easy question to answer!

Both have many advantages and disadvantages, and which of the two ends up being the better choice is ultimately be very subjective, depending on both your preferences and your budget.

In this article, we will be taking a look at the most critical factors that you should keep in mind if you’re trying to decide which platform suits you better.

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Types of PCs and Consoles

PCs – Desktop vs Laptop

When we talk about “gaming PCs,” most people will immediately think of some fancy desktop setup with tons of RGB lighting, but let’s not forget that gaming laptops are a thing, too.

When comparing desktops and laptops, however, a desktop will be a better pick for gaming in the vast majority of cases. Why?

Simply because gaming laptops often feature underpowered components, as it is tough to keep a gaming laptop running cool when both the CPU and GPU are under heavy load in a cramped chassis.

Sometimes, people turn to external graphics cards. However, those usually constitute a rather hefty additional investment, and the bandwidth limitations still mean that a laptop with an external GPU won’t be as fast as a desktop with that same GPU.

Not to mention that an external GPU case might take away from the laptop’s portability, which is one of its main strengths.

In any case, a gaming desktop is far better than a gaming laptop, both when it comes to performance and value. The main reason why you might want to go with a gaming laptop is if you spend a lot of time away from home and want to have your games with you. Otherwise, a desktop setup is the better choice on every front.

Consoles

As for consoles, there are a few to choose from. The main players in this field are Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, and they all have their distinct consoles.

First, we have Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox. Then, there’s Nintendo’s Switch.

Generally speaking, the PlayStation and the Xbox pack more hardware power than Nintendo’s consoles, and they feature a wider selection of games, sharing many of them with the PC, all the while Nintendo mainly places its stock in innovation and first-party titles.

So, it’s difficult to compare the Switch to the PC, and much like its predecessors – the Wii U and the original Wii – it is a versatile console that is primarily appealing due to its innovative new features and games designed with those features in mind.

On the other hand, the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One are very similar to each other and are also similar to PC. Without going too in-depth with comparisons, the two critical distinctions between the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One are the fact that the former has more high-quality single-player exclusives while the latter has backward compatibility.

However, there’s little point in comparing them now that the 8th console generation is drawing to a close, as the PlayStation 4 is about to be succeeded by the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X is replacing the Xbox One.

The Prices

Consoles

It is the consoles which helped gaming break into the mainstream. And how did they do that? Simply by being more convenient and much cheaper than a gaming PC.

For example, the PlayStation 4 launched at $399, and the Xbox One launched at $499, which is roughly the price of a new budget gaming PC, excluding the peripherals.

Now, not only are consoles cheaper, to begin with, they are also more cost-effective in the long run. Provided that you take care of it, a console can last for an entire generation (about seven years), and you’ll be able to play all of the games released for the platform without having to worry about compatibility issues or the hardware getting outdated.

As for the prices of the upcoming 9th generation consoles, estimates say that both the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X will start at about $500, but we’ll have to wait until the final pricing is announced to be sure.

PC

Unlike consoles, which are standardized hardware platforms, PCs can be comprised of a wide variety of different components, which means that the prices can vary wildly, too.

Based on the kind of performance that they can offer and the costs involved, gaming PCs are usually divided into the following for categories:

Entry-level – These are cheap, basic PCs that are often ill-suited for gaming and will inevitably struggle to run any of the more demanding new games. Budget – Budget PCs offer reliable performance at relatively low prices and will generally be able to run even the latest AAA games, but not at maximum settings. However, they will need some upgrades every few years to avoid becoming obsolete. Mid-range – A mid-range PC quite simply offers the best balance between cost, performance, and longevity. High-end – Boasting some of the best hardware on the market, high-end PCs cost a lot but also offer excellent performance in the latest AAA games and will last a long time before needing an upgrade. Enthusiast – Finally, we have gaming PCs that push the envelope, featuring cutting-edge hardware that usually comes at extremely high prices. That said, very few people are willing and able to spend as much on a gaming PC, hence the ‘enthusiast’ moniker.

Now, upgradeability is a big deal with gaming PCs, and you are mostly free to upgrade them as you see fit. Being able to sell your old components and put the money towards new ones means you won’t have to spend too much on keeping your PC up to date.

However, sometimes there are problems on this front, too, as there might be some compatibility issues, such as the way that Intel kept messing with their LGA 1151 socket these past few years and made it impossible for people to upgrade their CPU without replacing the motherboard as well.

In any case, as we’ve established, the prices of gaming PCs can vary and most of them will need to be upgraded at some point or another, which means that they ultimately end up being more expensive than consoles, both when it comes to the initial purchase and in the long run.

Games

And now, to discuss the most important aspect of any gaming platform: the games themselves.

Selection

Many developers these days develop their games primarily with consoles and console controllers in mind, and this is reflected in the PC release, too. Luckily, there aren’t any significant gaps between console and PC releases of most games these days, except for some timed exclusive titles.

At the moment, most console exclusives are first-party titles developed by the console manufacturer trying to boost their hardware sales and brand, and this is most notably the case with Sony and Nintendo.

On the other hand, there are entire genres of games that are almost absent from consoles – MMOs, MOBAs, and strategy games. On top of that, PC also has a more vibrant indie scene and, of course, mods.

Acquisition

When it comes to buying games on consoles, there are two ways to do it: get a digital copy via their respective network (PSN or Xbox Live) or buy retail physical copies.

One advantage of getting physical copies of games is that you can always resell them or get them cheaper if you buy them used, something that you can’t do with account-bound digital copies.

PC games, on the other hand, don’t get physical releases anymore. Of course, you can still find PC games in stores, but these are usually just boxes containing an activation code for what is currently the most popular platform for PC gaming – Valve’s Steam.

Of course, some big companies such as EA, Bethesda, and Ubisoft also have their platforms/launchers that aren’t necessarily connected to Steam.

However, it’s not those launchers but third-party online stores that are important, stores like Humble Bundle, GOG, or GreenManGaming. These, along with some other stores, often have better deals than Steam does, so they are good alternatives to acquiring PC games.

On top of that, there are also the so-called “grey markets” which serve as platforms for selling and reselling games, such as Kinguin.

Compatibility

As we have already mentioned, every game released for a console will work well on said console. However, there are always some exceptions where certain games are either too demanding for the aging hardware or simply aren’t optimized well enough.

PC games usually aren’t as well-optimized, and some releases could have serious issues with bugs and crashes, which is only natural when you consider that a PC could be utilizing all sorts of hardware from across several years. This makes optimization a bit more problematic than when it comes to standardized configurations used by consoles.

Something else that should also be considered is backwards compatibility. On a PC, you will be able to run most games straight out of the gate, and while some older releases won’t be running flawlessly on newer hardware, it usually doesn’t take much effort to fix.

Meanwhile, backwards compatibility has been a bit of an issue when it comes to consoles. The Xbox One was compatible with most of the older Xbox releases, while the PlayStation 4 couldn’t run any of its predecessors’ titles.

The situation is looking better on this front, now that both the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 will be backwards compatible. However, the latter will only be able to run PS4 titles, and PS3 games will only be playable via PlayStation Now.

Conclusion

And those would be all the points to consider when comparing console and PC gaming. Ultimately, it’s all very subjective, so which of these finally present better value will be up to each individual to decide for themselves.

PC Gaming

The Pros: Superior performance

Better graphics

More ways to acquire games at lower prices

More indie, strategy, MMO, and MOBA titles The Cons: More expensive

Cheaper configurations aren’t very future-proof

Console Gaming