Game consoles before Christmas: when to buy and what to check
A console is a common Christmas present and bundle prices move during the autumn. This guide says when to buy, what to check in the box and what gets bought on top.
Updated 5 October 2026 · prices in the text are today's
When to buy
The console itself gets little cheaper during the year; bundles with a game and Black Friday deals at the end of November make the difference. The price chart on the product page shows whether the November price is really below October's.
Order by mid-December at the latest; foreign shops deliver a few days later and delivery slows before the holidays.
What is in the box
A bundle with a game pays only when you want that game; compare it with the console and the game bought separately. Games are compared in Video games.
A digital edition without a disc drive is cheaper, but then games come only from the maker's store. Games take tens of gigabytes; a smaller drive holds only a few big titles.
What gets bought on top
A second controller is the most common purchase after a console: Sony DualSense Wireless Controller (price being collected) for PlayStation 5 and PC, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller (price being collected) for Switch 2. More controllers are in Game controllers.
A standalone VR console without a computer is Meta Quest 3S 128 GB (price being collected).
Advice
We track consoles in Gaming consoles and rank them by total. Chargers, cooling and cases are accessories and never enter the console comparison.
A foreign offer shows what it means for warranty and returns. A shop without a rating is never recommended first.
Fordeal earns a commission when you buy through a link; it never changes the order of offers. Every price carries its capture time on the product page.