Best PS4 accessories buying guide

With over 100 million units sold since its debut in 2013 and a collection of critically acclaimed exclusives and first-party titles, the PlayStation 4 has lived an impressive life. Sony’s commitment to this generation is apparent, from the 4K-ready PS4 Pro console down to the upgraded DualShock 4 controllers.

Speaking of PS4 accessories, though, when picking out headsets, extra controllers, and other quality of life improvements, there’s practically an avalanche of options spanning from $200 controllers to $10 hunks of plastic.

Whether you’ve just picked up a new PS4 or are just looking to upgrade your current gear, this guide will help you sort through the junk and point you to the good stuff.

Note: All prices listed in this guide are suggested retail prices, which may not be current. Check retailer listings for the most up-to-date information.

Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

PS4 controllers

Unless you’re willing to spend over $100 on a tournament-quality gamepad (we’ll get to that later) Sony’s own DualShock 4 controller is really all you need. The PS4 system includes a controller, but you’ll probably want at least one more. Not only is it a necessity for local multiplayer games, but it’s also handy to have a spare when the battery inevitably dies in the middle of a game.

PS4 controller charging

As we alluded to above, there’s nothing worse than your controller dying in the middle of a game. One way to cut down on that eventuality is by investing in a charging station for your controllers. If you’re diligent about making sure that’s where your controllers live whenever they’re not in use, it should prevent you from getting that flashing low battery icon outside of all-day gaming marathons.

There are plenty of charging stations specifically designed for DualShock 4 controllers, and while any one of them should get the job done, we do have two recommendations, depending on your setup.

PowerA’s officially licensed charging station is especially sleek. It’s ideal if you’ve already got your entertainment system set up the way you want it, since it’s small and inconspicuous enough that you probably won’t have too much trouble finding a spot for it under your TV.

Of course, if you do end up marathoning a game and draining your controller(s), a micro USB cord that reaches all the way to your couch means you won’t have to choose between waiting a few hours for a gamepad to charge up and sitting on the floor in front of the TV.

If you don’t want to spend a bunch of money on a high-end controller but still want some customization options, consider picking up some thumbstick caps. KontrolFreek makes a bunch of options that snap onto the DualShock 4’s analog sticks, which add both texture for gripping and height for range of movement.

Charlie Hall/Polygon

PS4 headsets

Far and away our favorite PS4 headset is the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. For multiple years, it’s topped our list of best PS4 headsets, thanks to its “superb sound quality and a host of useful features.” Those features come with a hefty price tag though, and the Arctis Pro Wireless is rarely on sale for less than $300.

PS4 storage

All new PlayStation 4 models come with a standard 1 TB of internal memory. However, if you’re running out of space, it’s pretty easy to swap out the PS4’s hard drive for something with extra space.

Any hard drive that fits Sony’s specifications will do, but we recommend an SSHD like Seagate’s Firecuda. The hybrid style, which combines an SSD with an HDD, strikes a good balance between speed and capacity.

Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

PSVR accessories and bundles

Virtual reality is slowly becoming more mainstream, and PlayStation’s VR headset is one of the most accessible options. The price point is at the lower end of the spectrum for VR, and the setup process is pretty painless (there are a lot of wires to wrangle, though.)

If you’re interesting in adding VR to your PS4 setup, there are a bunch of bundles available with different combinations of VR games. Most bundles only include two games (and the PS VR demo disc) but for Black Friday 2019, Sony released a “Mega Pack bundle” with five games. It’s still available as of this writing, and is the best value you can get in a PS VR bundle.

Finally, you’ll need a place to store all this new hardware. A stand to charge your headset while not in use is handy, especially if it also has slots to charge up your collection of controllers.