The best PS5 accessories to buy right now
Here are the best PS5 accessories to get you started with your next-gen console
1. Best controller
2. Best camera
3. Best first-party headset
4. Best SSD
5. Best charger
6. Best remote
7. Best third-party headset
8. Best earbuds
9. Best external storage
10. Best VR headset
11. Best subscription
12. How to choose
The best PS5 accessories are the ideal way to augment your gaming experience and get even more out of Sony's flagship gaming console. Whether you've had your PS5 since launch, or you've only just upgraded now that the current generation is kicking into gear, these essential accessories will take your PS5 gaming to the next level.
Of course, the PS5 does come with everything you need out of the box, but the extra gear listed down below is a great way to take your experience from good to great. It might be a tough pill to swallow if you've just invested $499 on the console, but these additional peripherals offer seriously good value for money. So, let's dive into the very best PS5 accessories that money can buy right now from headsets to VR.
The best PS5 accessories you can buy today
Why you can trust Tom's Guide
Best PS5 controller
1. PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller is your portal to everything that PS5 has to offer. It's a substantial upgrade upon the PS4's DualShock 4 controller, packing slick new design and a set of next-generation features that add additional immersion.
The DualSense utilizes haptic feedback to offer physical sensations that correspond with what you're doing in-game. Similarly, the controller's adaptive triggers offer varying levels of tension when pressed down. It can feel like drawing a bowstring back or firing a powerful volley of bullets. Plus, there's a built-in microphone and headset jack as well as a grippy texture that makes the controller feel great to hold.
While you'll get a DualSense out of the box when you buy a PS5, it's always good to pick up an extra controller handy for multiplayer games. Plus, Sony has released loads of different colorways, so you can grab one in a hue that suits your tastes.
That said, if you'd prefer something with a little more customizability you can always upgrade to the DualSense Edge. It comes with a more premium design, customization software, additional back buttons and more. The downside is that it's more expensive, and the battery life isn't nearly as good.
Best PS5 camera
2. PlayStation HD Camera
Specifications
Reasons to buy
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If you plan on streaming to Twitch or YouTube directly from your PS5, this HD Camera is a must-have. This more than capable camera comes with a built-in stand that makes it super easy to position on top of your television, and its aesthetic mirrors the PS5 with the same monochromatic color scheme. Plus, setup is a breeze as it's immediately compatible with the system as a piece of streaming equipment.
It comes with special background removal tools to ensure you can cut out what's around you when you stream as well, as well as the option to broadcast via picture-in-picture. It can even crop out or replace your background.
This is the best camera newcomers to the world of live streaming can add to their PS5 arsenal and makes sharing your gameplay with the whole world a total breeze.
Best first-party headset
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
A headset can be an instrumental part of any gaming setup, and the PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is looking like Sony's best one yet. This is the official PlayStation headset from Sony, and is engineered to work with the PlayStation 5's 3D Audio capabilities. Plus, like the rest of the first crop of PS5 accessories, it looks just like the actual system.
With plush earcups and an adjustable headstrap, it's designed for long gaming sessions, equipped with hidden noise-cancelling microphones. You can adjust audio and chat settings straight from the headset, and use this attractive headset for up to 12 hours wirelessly with its rechargeable battery, and even take it to your PS4 should you need a headset that makes sense on that system as well. It can even be used with PSVR, if you so desire.
If you're looking for an alternative option that still comes from PlayStation's parent company Sony, be sure to consider the Sony Inzone H5 gaming headset. It's an excellent choice for PS5, and packs a comfortable fit, a slick (PS5-appropriate) design and an extremely rich audio experience. Plus, the cans deliver fantastic 3D spatial audio. The Sony Inzone H5s cost $149, making them a great midrange pick.
Best PS5 SSD
4. WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Now that Sony has updated the PS5 to offer SSD expansion, you're not limited to the console's base 825GB hard drive anymore. The trick is just making sure you pick an SSD with the right specs to let you store and play PS5 games.
The WD_BLACK SN850X is one of the best options out there right now. It's the only one to have got Sony's official stamp of approval and is now being sold as an officially licensed accessory. The drive also comes with the all-important heat sink, while offering offers solid performance and durability in a neat little package.
The WD_Black SN850X is the refreshed version of the best-selling WD_Black SN850 drive. This new version of the drive boosts read speeds to an ultra-zippy 7,300 MB/s and comes up to 4TB in size. However, such a larger SSD is likely overkill for most people. Instead, we recommend picking up a 1TB or 2TB model for the best balance of additional storage capacity at an affordable price.
Best charger
5. DualSense Charging Station
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Yes, you don't strictly need a DualSense Charging Station as the controller has a built-in USB-C port that allows you to juice it up pretty much anywhere (who doesn't have loads of spare USB-C chargers around their home in 2024?), but that's an imperfect solution, whereas a proper charging dock is a convenient way to ensure you always have controller battery when you need it most.
The DualSense's battery life isn't quite as long as we'd like, and this dock serves as a useful place to store your controller(s) in between sessions, so when you return to play again, your controller has replenished its charge. Plus, it's super simple to use, just place your depleted controller into the dock, and it'll begin charging instantly.
As this dock can charge two DualSense controllers at once, it's also a great option for families who need multiple controllers charged at once for multiplayer sessions.
Best PS5 remote
6. PS5 Media Remote
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
It's important to note that you can perform pretty much every function of the PS5 Media Remote with a DualSense controller, but its undeniable convenience factor makes it worth considering. After all, the PS5 is not just a games console, it's just as much an entertainment center as a machine capable of playing next-gen games.
If your PS5 sits at the center of your home entertainment setup, the PS5 Media Remote suddenly becomes an invaluable accessory, because the standard controller option isn't a particularly intuitive alternative. This diminutive streaming remote comes with built-in play and pause, fast forward, and reverse buttons as well as dedicated streaming service buttons for Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, and YouTube.
It's small, sleek, and matches your console just like the rest of Sony's PS5 accessories (assuming you've not put a cover on your console). Plus, you can use it to both turn on your PS5 and navigate through UI menus without having to connect a controller.
Best third-party headset
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
It might be expensive compared to some PS5 headsets, but the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 justifies its price tag with solid sound, a suite of connectivity options and a neat design. That's why it's at the top of our best PS5 headsets list.
We think it's the best overall headset for the PS5, thanks to doing pretty much everything well. There's a very stable 2.4GHz wireless connection, yet also an option to connect to the PS5 via USB-C if you don't want to use the wireless connectivity. Bluetooth supports lets you use the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 with other devices too.
And the elegant design sweetens the whole package, while an elastic headband makes it comfortable even after long gaming sessions. In short, this is definitely a PS5 headset you'll want to consider.
Best earbuds
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Looking to free yourself from a bulky headset with a plastic band? The Sony PlayStation Pulse Explore wireless earbuds might just be your next must-have accessory. These earbuds bring exceptional sound quality to the table, featuring customizable EQ settings and 3D audio profiles that enhance everything — from the battles in Elden Ring to the adrenaline-pumping races in Gran Turismo 7. Equipped with planar magnetic drivers, the Pulse Explore buds ensure you hear every detail, whether it's chatter between squadmates in an online FPS or the serene sounds of the wilderness in an open-world RPG.
Comfort is key for extended gaming sessions, and these buds fit snugly. Compatible with the PS4, PS5, PlayStation Portal, macOS, iOS, Android and Windows, multipoint connectivity allows you to seamlessly switch between devices. However, these earbuds do come with some caveats that might put off a few prospective buyers. The battery life is a big drawback, lasting only up to 5 hours per charge, but thee bulky charging case provides an additional 10 hours. Also, the placement of physical buttons is less than ideal and can lead to fiddly moments during intense gameplay.
Priced at a relatively hefty $199, the Pulse Explore buds are an investment in quality gaming audio. If you can navigate around the battery and control quirks, they’re a solid addition to any gaming setup.
Best external storage
9. Samsung Portable SSD T5
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
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You can't play PS5 games from an external hard drive right now, but you can still transfer them to an external drive to free up space on your console — it's faster than downloading and reinstalling them from scratch.
The best PS5 external hard drive we've tested is the Samsung Portable SSD T5, because of just how fast the thing is. Copying Returnal to the drive only took seven minutes. It works great for PS4 games too, and we were able to load up Mass Effect: Andromeda from the drive in just 35 seconds, which is four seconds faster than the PS5's own internal SSD.
Best VR headset
Specifications
Reasons to buy
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If you're looking for an easy way to experience a high-end VR experience, and have a PS5 at your disposal, then look no further than the PSVR 2. This headset is a monumental improvement over the original, with a more advanced headset and controls that aren't glorified glowsticks.
It's less a sequel and more like a brand new system in itself. In it you have a 4K OLED display, 90-120Hz refresh rate, a 100-degree field of view, eye tracking, traditional head and hand tracking (through the controllers), 3D audio and the Dualsense controller's adaptive triggers.
At $549 the PSVR 2 is far from an impulse purchase, but if your're eager to try a premium VR experience without the expense of a whole new gaming system, then it's well worth checking out.
Best PS5 subscription
11. PlayStation Plus
Specifications
Reasons to buy
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If you want to get the most out of your PS5, and its games, you should consider subscribing to PS Plus. It's been revamped this generation as Sony is looking to compete with Xbox Game Pass, and now comes in three unique tiers.
The cheapest plan is PlayStation Plus Essential. This $10 a month, or $60 a year plan is essentially the same as the PS Plus that existed on PS4. That means you get the usual benefits you might be familiar with, including online play, cloud saves, two new downloadable games per month, and discounts at the PlayStation Store.
The Extra tier costs $15 a month, or $135 a year, and lets you download up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games to play at your leisure, plus all the perks of the Essential tier. The final tier is Premium, costing $18 a month of $160 a year. This has everything the other two tiers offer, with the added ability to download or stream PS1, PS2, and PSP games. PS3 games will also be available, but only to stream rather than download.
How to choose the best PS5 accessories for you
Now the PS5 is almost three years into its lifecycle, there are a lot more accessories to choose from. The console may come with everything you need out of the box, but there are plenty of ways to improve your experience. Least of all an additional DualSense controller and charging platform to enjoy a gaming session with friends.
If you need a way to experience what the PlayStation 5 has to offer in terms of audio, you can opt for products like the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset, which has a variety of uses. But third party options, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 might be more up your street.
The biggest recommendation for anyone looking to purchase any PS5 accessories at the moment is the WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD. Already one of the best PS5-conmpatible SSDs, this one now has official Sony approval and branding — making it perfect for expanding your console's storage.
It's also worth noting that the PS5 works with most major PS4 accessories, such as the DualShock 4 controller and a variety of headsets including the Turtle Beach Recon 70, specialty controllers and storage drives. Just note that PS4 controllers only work with PS4 games on PS5.
The PSVR 2 is also here, and will set you back a cool $549. It's pricey, but as we noted in our PSVR 2 review, it's a way of accessing high-end VR without all the usual fuss that comes with gaming PCs and compatible headsets. It's also a massive improvement over the original PSVR, with a brand new controller system, a gorgeous 4K display, eye-tracking and more.
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Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over 13 years for publications including Tom's Guide, MTV, Rolling Stone, CNN, Popular Science, Playboy, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, and more. She's also appeared as a panelist at video game conventions like PAX East and PAX West and has coordinated social media for companies like CNET. When she's not writing or gaming, she's looking for the next great visual novel in the vein of Saya no Uta. You can follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake.