These PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X accessories will up your game

The holiday season is fast approaching and maybe, just maybe, if you’re lucky, you might be in for some trouble. playstation 5 either xbox series x For yourself or a loved one after two years of waiting. As we all know, though, no console is complete without some bomb accessories.

Even if you get one of these $500 consoles And buy some $60 to $70 games, you may want to set aside a little more cash for the various doo-dads and dongles that make console gaming easier. Everything from headsets to keyboards and rechargeable batteries will save you time and, in some cases, money in the long run if you invest in them early enough.

If you or anyone else is getting a PS5 or Xbox Series X this holiday season, these are accessories you need to seriously consider.

step up your controller game

Both consoles obviously come with a standard controller, and both of those controllers are great. But you can do better than “great”. It’s time to become elite with xbox elite controller series 2which retails at $180.

It’s an official Microsoft product that looks a lot like the regular Xbox Series X controller, but offers a whole lot more. Individual parts like the thumbsticks can be swapped out for more comfortable versions depending on your tastes, and the four customizable paddle buttons on the back can take your playing to the next level. You can adjust trigger tension, remap buttons, and save your preferences in a series of controller profiles.

Yes, there is also a PlayStation version of this controller, though you will have to wait a while before it gets into your hands. The DualSense Edge is an official Sony product with many of the same features, like controller profiles and swappable parts, but it doesn’t launch until January 26. that said, you can always pre order it for $200 and call it a gift.

for the trash talker in your life

Voice chatting with the housemates is a big part of modern gaming. what’s the point of hanging in there FortniteVersion of the Metaverse without talking to anyone? To do this, you will need a good quality headset, and there is no dearth of these in the market.

For PS5, I’m using the official $100 sony pulse 3d wireless headset Ever since the console launched and I haven’t had any complaints. You just plug the USB dongle into the console, power it on, and everything works smoothly. It’s comfortable, the sound quality is solid, and it has a built-in mic for coordinating with teammates. Not only is it a quality product, but it’s also relatively affordable.

is also an officer xbox wireless headset For the same price, though I haven’t used it so I can’t personally vouch for it. The reviews are solid, however, and you can’t beat the convenience of voice chatting without having to deal with wires.

Bonus: For the Active Listener in Your Life

Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, having a reliable headset can really enhance your gaming experience. ASTRO Gaming A10 Gaming Headset There’s an integrated unidirectional boom microphone that allows you to communicate clearly, and the flip-to-mute functionality will save you teammates from listening to any convoy with you rooms, 32mm dynamic drivers let you hear your gaming environment with clarity and precision.

because 1TB is not enough

The Xbox Series X and PS5 both come with 1TB of onboard storage, which sounds great until you install three big games and suddenly find that half your storage is already eaten up. Both consoles support expandable storage in slightly different ways, but they both have one thing in common: You’ll need to clear out some cache.

We’ll start with the Xbox, which is the easier of the two, though not necessarily the cheaper. seagate creates an expansion card It fits neatly into a small slot on the Series X console itself, so installation isn’t an issue. The point here is that it’s only $140 for 512GB of additional storage, $220 for 1TB, and $400 for 2TB. I guess it’s the price of convenience.

PlayStation 5 storage expansion is a bit more complicated. You need a special type of external solid state drive (or SSD) with the “M.2” designation. but our friends IGN Here’s a handy list of compatible SSDs (IGN is owned by Mashable’s publisher, Ziff Davis), such as 1TB Cricial P5 Plus for $160. Once you have the device in hand, Sony’s website has a tutorial for adding storage to the PS5, a process that involves prying open a plate on the back of the console with a Phillips head screwdriver. This He Demanding, but it’s not as simple as simply slotting the card into the console.

battery? seriously?

The default PS5 controller charges via USB-C because it’s the year 2022 and it makes sense. Unfortunately, the Xbox hasn’t caught up with the times yet and the regular Series X controller is still powered by AA batteries. No, I’m not kidding.

There’s a quick fix for this, thankfully. Microsoft sells $25 rechargeable battery (via USB-C). Pop it in the battery hole and you’ll never need to buy AAs again. Nothing much to say about this. It’s that simple.

final fantasy xiv hive rise

This Excellent General, but some console games generally provide keyboard and mouse support for text chat. final fantasy xiv, one of my very favorite video games (and sadly not yet available on Xbox), is one of them. If you play that or something with text chat and want to communicate with friends more easily, there are some console-compatible keyboards.

Budget-minded customers who don’t need a mouse with a keyboard can opt for the Logitech G613, which reviews indicate will work with both the PS5 and Series X. it is available on Amazon for just $73, Repaired and made like new. If you want something more fancy that involves a mouse, then razor turret It is said to work with both the console and the Ring, which costs $250.

Buying a new gaming console always comes with a hidden cost of accessories, but some of these devices will improve your life tremendously. Seriously, if nothing else, you need a rechargeable controller battery for Xbox. Buy that and you’ll thank me later.