Used gaming console buying guide: PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch

Second-hand consoles are the best gaming deal in South Africa, but each of the big three has its own common problems. Here's what to check on each before you pay.

PlayStation 5

Variants

• Standard Disc Edition (2020): 825GB, plays discs + digital. The most resellable — buyers love having a disc drive.
• Digital Edition (2020): no disc drive. R1,000–R1,500 cheaper, but harder to resell.
• Slim (2023+): smaller, detachable disc drive, 1TB.
• Pro (2024): more graphics power for 4K gaming.

What to check before buying

• Liquid metal thermal paste leak: rare but catastrophic. Boot the console and check for anything dripping from the vents. Some 2020 units had this from botched repairs. Walk away if seen.
• Disc drive works: insert any PS5 disc. The motor should pull it in smoothly, no grinding.
• HDMI port physical condition: look for bent pins. HDMI is the #1 failure point — replacement is R800–R1,500.
• Fan noise: start a graphically demanding game like Spider-Man 2 or Ratchet. If it sounds like a vacuum cleaner, internal dust needs cleaning (R200–R400 at a repair shop).
• Controller drift: test the DualSense on any game menu. DS drift on the PS5 is common after 12 months heavy use. Factor in R1,400 for a replacement.
• All accessories: HDMI cable, power cable, controller, USB-C cable. Missing items = R500–R1,000 to replace.

Fair used price (2026)

• Disc Edition (2020, 18+ months old): R6,500–R8,000
• Slim Disc (2023+, 12+ months old): R8,500–R10,500
• Pro (2024+): R14,000–R17,000

Xbox Series X and Series S

Variants

• Series S: 512GB (small), digital only, 1440p native. Great budget console.
• Series X: 1TB, disc + digital, true 4K gaming.
• Series X with 2TB (2024 refresh): same internals, more storage.

What to check

• Disc reading: (Series X only) insert any Xbox disc. Should read within 20 seconds, no scratching sounds.
• Controller condition: Series controllers are more reliable than DualSense, but bumper buttons can fail on high-use units. Press LB/RB 30 times each.
• Fan operation: the Series X is cooler and quieter than PS5. If yours is loud, internal dust.
• External storage: check if the previous owner's account is signed out and the console is in a fresh state.

Storage expansion warning

Xbox Series needs Seagate Storage Expansion Cards for fast-storage games. R2,500 for 512GB, R4,800 for 1TB. Cheap USB drives work but only for older Xbox One games.

Fair used price (2026)

• Series S 512GB: R4,200–R5,500
• Series X 1TB (2020): R7,500–R9,500
• Series X 2TB (2024): R10,500–R13,000

Nintendo Switch (all variants)

Variants

• Original Switch (2017): docked to TV + handheld. OG hardware is starting to show its age.
• Switch Lite (2019): handheld-only, no TV dock. Great for travel.
• Switch OLED (2021): better screen, same internals as original. The best version of the current-gen Switch.
• Switch 2 (2025): much faster, backward compatible with Switch 1 games.

The big one: Joy-Con drift

Almost every used Joy-Con you'll find has some level of stick drift. Test before buying:

• Boot the console, go to Settings → Controllers and Sensors → Calibrate Control Sticks.
• Don't touch the sticks. If the on-screen marker moves without input, that's drift.
• Minor drift = annoyance. Significant drift = unusable in games like Zelda.
• Joy-Con replacement: R1,400–R1,800 a pair. Nintendo SA service is slow. Factor this into your price.

Other checks

• Screen condition — especially on handheld-heavy original models. Yellowed screens, pressure marks, scratches are common.
• Dock — test it works with the TV. Original docks have been known to scratch the screen, third-party hardware is sometimes better.
• Battery life — original Switches from 2017 get 2.5–4 hours. 2019+ refresh gets 4.5–9 hours. Ask which revision it is.
• Microsd expansion: check the card reader works. Most people use a 128–512GB microsd.

Fair used price (2026)

• Original Switch (2017): R2,500–R3,500
• Switch Lite: R2,000–R3,000
• Switch OLED: R4,500–R6,000
• Switch 2: R8,500–R11,000

Universal rules

1. Always meet in person and boot the console. "I'll courier it" is a scam magnet.
2. Bring your own HDMI, controller, and USB-C so you can test independently.
3. Factory reset in front of you — account removed, ready for your login.
4. Original box and power cables = 10% more than a "just the console" deal.
5. Ask if the seller kept the warranty receipt. Still-under-warranty consoles are worth 15–20% more.