Best gaming consoles and VR I've got a hoard of gaming laptops, a powerful desktop and more, but the Steam Deck OLED is still my go-to gaming device. It's not for everyone -- really just gamers who have large libraries of games from the popular Steam store and whose games are listed as at least playable on the Steam Deck, if not on the Great on Deck list. The more expensive OLED version is worth the extra cost over the older LCD model -- it starts at $549 versus $399 -- for the bigger, better screen, twice as much storage, faster Wi-Fi and longer battery life.
But make sure that your giftee wants one, because once it's opened it can't be returned. Read our OLED Steam Deck review . The Editors' Choice-winning Meta Quest 3 is currently XR-pro Scott Stein's pick for the best VR headset.
It's backward compatible with the Quest 2 apps and games, plus it's got better graphics, a wider and higher-resolution display, clearer lenses, smaller controllers with better-vibrating haptics and, yes, mixed reality. Like the older model, it's totally self-contained, needs no cables or external tracking cameras, and plays a pretty diverse set of games, from shooters to puzzle games to theme-park rides. And it's not just for gaming; it can be used for fitness training, virtual theatergoing and even VR meetings.
Read our review of the Quest 3 . The smaller, cheaper Series S version of the Xbox plays all the same games, but at 1440p resolution, which lies somewhere between traditional HD and 4K. M.