What Is the Cheapest New Gaming Console in 2026?
Import tariffs and surging memory prices have made gaming hardware costlier. The cheapest new console is the $230 Nintendo Switch Lite, though game prices can change the long-term picture.
Gaming hardware has grown considerably more expensive in recent years, driven by import tariffs in the US and surging memory prices. Tech outlet Engadget compared the prices of mainstream consoles on the US market to find the cheapest new device in 2026.
Rising prices
As an example, the publication cites the PlayStation 5 Pro, which launched in 2024 at $700 and now carries a list price of $900. Retailers including GameStop are asking more than $1,400. The comparison leaves out niche devices such as the Playdate and Analogue 3D, as well as generic Android handhelds.
The cheapest options
Sony and Microsoft offerings are not cheap: the discless PlayStation 5 Digital Edition costs $600, and the Xbox Series S costs $500. Neither allows buying used games, so buyers depend on discounts in online stores. Major releases usually cost $60 or $70, while the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI is priced at $80. Subscriptions such as Game Pass or PlayStation Plus add $10 to $23 per month.
The Nintendo Switch 2 starts at $500, but it can use used games on physical cartridges. The cheapest is the Switch Lite at $230. It is a variant of the 2017 Switch, cannot play Switch 2 exclusives and cannot be docked to a TV. It still has a broad catalog, including Super Mario Odyssey, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Hades, Portal and Undertale.
Handheld PCs as an alternative
Handheld gaming PCs cost more upfront: Valve's Steam Deck OLED starts at $789, and the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X costs $1,000. However, PC storefronts such as Steam and GOG often sell games for a few dollars, and new releases get discounts within a few months. Nintendo, by contrast, rarely cuts prices on older games. Free games such as Overwatch, Rocket League and Fall Guys are also available, and these devices can run productivity apps too.
As a result, the lowest upfront price is not always the cheapest in the long run for those who buy many games.
