(Pocket-lint) – The PS5 is finally upon us – Sony’s console is out at long last, although you might be finding that it goes in and out of stock as retailers keep up with demand.
The console is an absolute stunner, and we’re loving our time with it, but whenever a new console comes out there are also going to be a host of little extras that you could pick up to enrich your experience. We’ve gathered some of the very best for you right here.
All the gear on this list has been tested rigorously, each in different ways since they largely fall into different categories, with the end result that we’re satisfied that everything we’ve selected will improve your time with your PS5 measurably.
Our top pick is the Sony DualSense. Other great options include Steelseries Arctis 9, DualSense Charging Station, KontrolFreek Thumbsticks, the PS5 Media Remote and the Sony PS5 HD Camera.
The best PS5 accessory to buy today
PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller
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For
- First-party reliability
- Amazing haptics
- Really comfortable to hold
Against
- The only option for controllers at the moment
Sony’s new controller looks absolutely lovely with the new white-dominated colour scheme, and brings some great innovations to the table, too, not least an upgraded haptic feedback engine that makes unsubtle rumble a thing of the past.
Getting an extra one of these on board for your new PS5 is a must to make sure you can host couch co-op sessions straight away.
Other great PS5 accessories
Here are a selection of other impressive accessories for your PlayStation 5.
Steelseries Arctis 9 headset
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For
- Amazing sound
- Great connection strength
- Super comfortable
Against
- Merely solid battery life
- Big dongle
The Steelseries Arctis 9 is the headset we keep coming back to – when we’re not testing anything else, it’s our default choice ahead of some options that cost quite a lot more.
It’s got unrivalled comfort to offer, but also absolutely superb sound and a really great retractable microphone, too. It might not be the cheapest option, but we’re pretty much besotted with it.
DualSense Charging Station
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For
- Makes charging a doddle
- Has room for two controllers
Against
- Not USB powered so needs a plug
If you’ve got a couple of controllers, being able to keep them nice and charged without having to worry about fussy cables can be a god-send, making this charging station easy to recommend.
It’ll house two controllers at once to make sure you’re never caught short without any power.
KontrolFreek Thumbsticks
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For
- Plenty of designs
- Added control on your sticks
- Affordable
Against
- Won’t be to everyone’s tastes
If you find that DualSense’s sticks aren’t quite right for your hands, or that your fingers keep slipping off, thumbstick caps could be a great answer.
KontrolFreek are the biggest name in this area for good reason, with loads of types and heights of stick to pick from. We’re big fans of the Galaxy version for its grippiness, but the Omni type is also really nice.
Sony PS5 Media Remote
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For
- Great for controlling media
- Easy shortcuts
Against
If you have people in your home who can’t be bothered with a controller if they’re just trying to use the PS5 to stream a movie or some TV, this media remote is a perfect fit.
It’ll ensure that you’ve got easy media controls and shortcuts to your favourite services.
Sony PS5 HD Camera
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For
- Unlocks some cool features
- A gateway into streaming
Against
- Could feel invasive
- Almost no games use it
Whether you want to record clips of you reacting to your own gameplay or use PlayStation VR on your new console, this latest-generation camera is the perfect tool for you.
Background-removal tools make it easy to crop in on yourself, and while not everyone will need it, this is a great shortcut for those who love to share their clips and highlights.
Other products we considered
The Pocket-lint editorial team spends hours testing and researching hundreds of products before recommending our best picks for you. We consider a range of factors when it comes to putting together our best guides including physically testing the products ourselves, consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. Many of the devices we consider don’t make our final best guides.
These are the products we considered that ultimately didn’t make our top 5:
How to choose an accessory for your PS5
Choosing the right accessories for your PS5 can be a little bit of a struggle – not least in knowing when to stop! Here are some questions that could help you work out what you should be looking to pick up.
What don’t you like about the PS5?
It’s a broad question, but when it comes to accessories we think this is the key. After using and getting used to the PS5, what annoys you or needs fixing? There’s probably an accessory that can help, after all. You can revamp your console’s looks with skins and wraps, you can get easier charging stations for its controllers.
You can control the console using a remote, or get it extra cooling with a stand. There are myriad options, so we’d advise you to stop and have a think about what could benefit you the most.
Do you have a headset?
With a bit more precision, we think that a headset is arguably the single biggest upgrade you can give your console (other than perhaps a hugely expensive new TV). It can immediately change how you experience your favourite games, giving you reliable and immersive audio and putting you on a level playing field with other gamers in multiplayer.
If you’re used to gaming using loudspeakers, just trust us. Even an affordable headset could make a huge difference.
Do you need an extra controller?
This one’s a pretty straightforward one. If you are the only person who ever plays your console, you might not need another gamepad. However, if you want to play coop games, or you like being able to swap between two controllers to make sure one’s always fully charged, getting another DualSense could be really sensible.
More about this story
Every product in this list has been tested in real-life situations, just as you would use it in your day-to-day life.
We’ve tested out a wide range of accessories for the PS5, using them for at least a number of weeks to see how they fit into our game-playing lives, and to establish whether they really bring much of a benefit to Sony’s console.
Since there are a variety of categories covered by the word “accessory”, that might mean wearing headsets, testing controllers, and making use of more miscellaneous accessories like chargers and add-ons.
We aren’t interested in pointless number crunching or extraneous details – we just want to provide an easy to understand review that gives you an idea of what it’s going to be like to use. And don’t for a second think that the products aren’t tested fully because the reviews are concise.
We’ve been covering tech since 2003, and, in many cases, have not only reviewed the product in question, but the previous generations, too – right back to the first model on the market. There is also plenty of models we’ve considered that didn’t make the cut in each of our buyer’s guides.
Writing by Max Freeman-Mills. Originally published on .