Console shopping is less about comparing hardware specs than PC shopping is — the games available on a platform usually matter more than small performance differences between consoles.
Exclusive games are the real differentiator
Console hardware differences between major competitors are often smaller in practice than the marketing suggests — the more decisive factor for most buyers is which platform has the specific games and franchises they actually want to play, since some titles remain exclusive to one console family for a meaningful period, or permanently. It's worth checking which platform has the specific games you're excited about before assuming a spec sheet comparison settles the decision.
The subscription cost isn't in the console's price
Online multiplayer for most major consoles requires a paid subscription, separate from the console's upfront cost — an ongoing expense worth factoring into the real cost of ownership, not just the one-time purchase price. Some of these subscriptions also bundle in a rotating library of included games, which can be a genuine value add depending on how much you'd use it, but isn't the same thing as owning those games outright.
Digital vs. disc versions
Disc-based consoles allow buying, lending, reselling, and trading in physical games, and can play existing game discs you might already own. Digital-only consoles are typically cheaper upfront and remove the need for physical media entirely, but every game purchase is permanent and tied to your account, with no resale or lending option — worth considering if you tend to buy games used or resell games you've finished.
Storage fills up faster than it used to
Modern game install sizes have grown substantially, and many consoles ship with less usable storage than the advertised number once the operating system is accounted for. It's common to need an external or upgraded internal drive well before expecting to, especially with several large modern titles installed at once — checking realistic storage needs against what a console actually ships with is worth doing before assuming the base storage will be enough long-term.
The one thing people forget
Check what accessories are actually included versus sold separately — a second controller, a headset, or additional storage are commonly not included in the base console price, and can add a meaningful amount to the real total cost of a complete, ready-to-use setup.