Summary
Are mid-generation consoles really needed? While refreshes were often exclusive to handheld consoles, eventually even home consoles began getting upgrades throughout their lifespans. This has become a common staple of the industry to bridge the gap between each console generation.
While some refreshers may only exist to add a few leaves to the backgrounds of your favorite games, other refreshers change the hardware’s design to be more practical in addition to the graphical enhancements. From handhelds that become more compact to consoles that fix devastating issues, here are the best mid-generation console refreshes of all time.
10The Nintendo DS Lite
Brighter Screen, Easy To Store, But More Fragile
The Nintendo DS Lite was released after the first wave of DS products. It features a much brighter screen and a more compact form while still keeping the backward compatibility of the original.
The refresh had a few drawbacks, which included a much easier-to-break top screen and having a slot on the bottom in which the Game Boy Advance games stick out. However, it could be considered a better alternative to the DSI that removed the GBA slot entirely. DS Lite also made GBA andDS gameslook richer in color due to their brightness.
9Game Boy Pocket
A Smaller Game Boy With Less Batteries
The original Game Boy had another variant called the Game Boy Pocket. While the first iteration of the handheld console promised portability, it did have its fair share of drawbacks. For starters, the device was chunkier and ate up four AA batteries.
The Game Boy Pocket, on the other hand, served as a decent upgrade. It came in a multitude of colors, used only two AAA batteries, and was smaller so it could fit in your pocket as the name suggests.
8The PlayStation 2 Slim
A PS2 That Takes Less Room
The PlayStation 2 is one ofthe best-selling consoles of all timefor good reason. Not only did Sony hit it out of the ballpark by making the console a DVD player, but it also had a great lineup of games. The slim version of the console gave the PS2 a nice upgrade before the PS3 era.
This entry includes a slimmer and easier-to-store console as well as better cooling. This resulted in a much quieter device without losing anything that made the original great.
7The New Nintendo 3DS
Enhancing The 3DS Experience
The Nintendo 3DS line of products had plenty of refreshes throughout their era. This includes the toast-looking 2DS and the supersized XL versions. The New Nintendo 3DS, on the other hand, took care of one of the major problems of the 3DS.
This problem is that games such as Pokemon Sun & Moon tend to lag due to the power needed to run them. The New Nintendo 3DS reduced this problem while also offering enhancements to some games and even having a line of exclusives.
6Game Boy Advance SP
Back Lighting Changes The Game Forever
The Game Boy Advance took handheld gaming to the next level, but there was still something missing. The Game Boy Advance SP gave the handheld a completely new look with a flip design and backlighting.
This new addition was a game changer for those late-night hours playing video games under your bedsheets. You no longer needed a light add-on or a flashlight. Being able to open and close the Game Boy Advance also made it compact for a better fit in your pocket, as well as giving the screen extra protection while being shoved into a bag or backpack.
5Xbox 360 S
The Xbox At Its Prime
The Xbox 360 was possibly the best console of its era. It had reliable online,amazing exclusives, and some of the best quality-of-life features. If you weren’t careful though, the console ran the risk of getting the red ring of death in the earlier versions of the system.
While Xbox 360 Elite is a top choice, the Xbox 360 S could be considered better for a multitude of reasons. For starters, the console was slimmer, had built-in Wi-Fi, and some models came with over 200GB of internal storage, making it perfect for installing games for better performance.
4PS4 Pro
The Jump From 1080P To 4K
The PS4 Pro is a decent enough jump in power that it warrants an upgrade from the original. It may not have been the next in line for the mainline consoles, but being able to jump from 1080P to 4K is more noticeable than what the PS5 Pro offers in comparison to the PS5.
While the original PS4 was already the slimmer choice compared to the base Xbox One, the PS4 Pro slimmed it down even more. It also had a better Wi-Fi chip making connections much faster than the base PS4.
3Nintendo Switch Lite
A Refresher With A Twist
The Nintendo Switch has not one, but two console refreshes. The first is the Nintendo Switch Lite. This version of the Switch may not be able to dock onto the TV, but it does come in a more compact size, making it perfect for handheld gaming.
The console is also very light, making it a breeze to hold up while gaming on a bed or on a couch. It’s also a cheaper alternative for those who are only interested in gaming on the go. Pixel games and retro-style indies feel right at home on this system.
2Nintendo Switch OLED
A Better Battery And Richer Colors
The Switch OLED does not upgrade the graphics in any way or even add much-needed anti-aliasing. Yet the OLED screen has been enough to mask these flaws by giving games more vibrant color palettes. The difference is very notable when you play the games in person.
The console is also slightly lighter and, despite seeming larger due to the enhanced screen size, it is roughly the same size as the original switch. If anything, the Switch OLED uses the power of Illusion to make itself seem stronger than it actually is, but it does the trick well. The dock also comes with a LAN port for faster internet speeds.
1Xbox One X
An Attempt To Save The Xbox One
If there was any Console that needed a glow up it was the Xbox One. The original system played games at a rough 900P resolution and often got stuck at 30 FPS for many games. It was a rough time for the Xbox, but the Xbox One X addressed many of the issues.
Games could now run at true 4K and in addition to this, the console could also play 4K movies. The biggest downside is that the console weighed like a ton of bricks, making it difficult to move around. However, it’s the mid-generation console that did the most to upgrade its base system.
