Essential Console Accessories 2026 (PS5, Xbox and Switch 2)
By Samuel 76 · Founder & Editor
Some links are Amazon affiliate links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you, and it never changes what we recommend. How we make money
Consoles in 2026 arrive home incomplete on purpose. The essential console accessories are not the ones that look good on the box, they are the ones that fix a real gap: the PS5 runs out of space in six months, the Xbox controller still ships without a battery, and the Switch 2 will not take the microSD cards you already own. This list works through those gaps one at a time, with what it costs to close them.
The order is deliberate. The accessories that solve a problem you will definitely hit come first, then the ones that improve the experience but can wait. If you can only buy one thing this month, buy the first item for your platform.
The five platform accessories, spec by spec
| Console | Accessory | What it is | License | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 | WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB | 2 TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD with heatsink | Officially licensed | SanDisk (WD_BLACK) |
| PS5 | OIVO stand and dual charger | Cooling stand, charges two DualSense, 907 g | Not licensed | OIVO |
| Xbox | Rechargeable battery pack (2 × 4800 mWh) | Two packs, USB-C charging | Not licensed | Our product sheet |
| Switch 2 | Samsung microSD Express 256GB | microSD Express, 256 GB | Officially licensed | Samsung |
| Switch 2 | Orzly carry case | Hard case | Not licensed | Orzly |
Figures from each maker's page and our product sheets, checked on October 13, 2026.
PS5: storage runs out sooner than you think
A big game today weighs between 80 and 150 GB. With the 667 GB an 825 GB PS5 actually gives you (about 848 GB on the 1 TB models), that is a handful of installed games and then deletions. The WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB (paid link) is the officially licensed expansion, and the licensing matters for a practical reason: it ships with the correct heatsink already fitted, so you do not have to research whether it meets Sony speed requirements. Installation is just two screws: one for the slot cover and one for the drive.
It sits in the $400 to $600 price band, which is a lot, and it is fair to say so. If the budget will not stretch, a compatible 1TB drive with a heatsink runs about half that and works fine; just make sure it claims at least 5,500 MB/s read and includes a heatsink, because the PS5 requires one.
PS5: the stand that charges the controllers and pulls heat out
The OIVO cooling stand with dual controller charger (paid link) does three jobs in the $25 to $40 price band: it holds the console vertically and stably, pulls hot air out with a three-speed fan, and charges two DualSense controllers in about two and a half hours with an LED that tells you when they are done.
The controller part is what actually changes the routine. Without a dock, each DualSense charges on a cable between sessions. With the dock you park both there and the idle one charges. Works with PS5, Slim and Pro.
Xbox: the battery Microsoft still does not include
In 2026 the Xbox controller still ships with AA batteries. If you play twenty hours a month, that is at least six pairs of AA batteries a year (Microsoft rates up to 40 hours per pair), and you have already spent more than this kit costs. The two-pack of 4800 mWh batteries (paid link) sit in the under $25 price band and includes the USB-C cable.
Two packs is the right configuration: one charges while you play on the other, so you can swap packs instead of stopping. It also charges through the controller, so there is no extra dock taking up desk space. If you buy one Xbox accessory, buy this one.
Switch 2: the microSD you already own will not work
This mistake is easy to make. The Switch 2 does not accept ordinary microSD cards: it needs microSD Express, a different standard that is faster and noticeably more expensive. Put your old Switch card in and the console simply will not use it for games. For one game coming on November 5, our Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 guide sets out what Nintendo has and has not said about storage.
The Samsung microSD Express 256GB (paid link), in the $40 to $60 price band, is the safe pick: licensed for the console and rated by Samsung at up to 800 MB/s reads, the microSD Express class Switch 2 requires. It is expensive per gigabyte next to a normal microSD, but there is no alternative here. It is the standard or nothing.
Switch 2: the case that protects the screen
The screen is what breaks and what costs money to replace. The Orzly carry case (paid link), in the under $25 price band, is a hard shell with a padded panel that rests directly against the screen, plus slots for game cards and a mesh pocket for the cable.
If the console never leaves the house, skip this. If it travels in a backpack with keys, chargers and a laptop, it is cheap insurance against a broken screen.
Orzly Carry Case for Nintendo Switch 2 with Screen Padding and Card Slots
View on Amazon (paid link)
The ones that improve the experience rather than fix it
With the basics covered, these three add to the experience. If the household also plays on PC, a decent second controller changes everything: the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C (paid link) sits in the $25 to $40 price band and works on PC and Android, per 8BitDo (not on Switch or other consoles).
For audio, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (paid link), in the $80 to $110 price band, is our pick here because Turtle Beach lists PS5, PS4, Switch and PC, so one headset covers the whole house instead of one per console.
And if you want to record or stream console gameplay, you need a capture card, because a console will not send video to a PC on its own. The AVerMedia 4K60 card with passthrough (paid link), in the $60 to $80 price band, is the reasonable entry point.
What to buy first
If you have a PS5: the stand with controller charger (paid link) (in the $25 to $40 price band) first, because you use it every day. The 2TB SSD (paid link) when storage runs out, which will be sooner than you expect.
If you have an Xbox: the rechargeable battery kit (paid link) and that is it. It is the one accessory the platform needs once 256 GB is not enough.
If you have a Switch 2: the microSD Express card (paid link) before anything else, because without it you only have the 256 GB built in, and big games fill that fast. The case (paid link) if it travels with you.
If you also play on PC, our gaming controller comparison covers pads in detail, and if you want to stream from a console, the capture card guide explains which one you need for your console. Everything in this article is in our product catalog, with its price band and a direct link to Amazon.
Accessory questions
Can I use any M.2 SSD in a PS5?
Not any. Sony requires an M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 drive with a cooling structure such as a heatsink, and recommends at least 5,500 MB/s sequential read. A drive without a heatsink may physically fit and even be detected, but it runs without the cooling Sony requires. Officially licensed models skip that whole verification step.
Does my old microSD work in the Switch 2?
Only to import the screenshots and videos from your original Switch, not for installing games or saving new captures. The Switch 2 requires microSD Express, a faster standard with different contacts. It is the incompatibility to know if you come from the original Switch.
Is a PS5 cooling stand worth it?
For temperature alone, no: the PS5 cools itself well from the factory. It is worth it for the controller charger and the stable vertical stand, which are the functions you actually use. Judging it as a charger that also ventilates is the right way to look at it.
How long do Xbox rechargeable batteries last?
A 4800 mWh pack gives 20 to 30 hours of play depending on how much rumble you use. Neither Microsoft nor the pack maker in our sheet publishes a cycle count, so we will not give you a number of years; check the warranty of the pack you buy.
From this whole list, the extra controller is the first thing I would buy; friends show up on their own when there are two.
If your controller is already drifting, Hall effect, TMR or potentiometer explains why and what fixes it. Online play also depends on the connection, so Wi-Fi 7 or an Ethernet cable is worth a read, and most of these make good gifts for gamers.
How we choose: no lab here, and we will not pretend otherwise. We went console by console and picked what fixes a real limit, checked against what Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo list as compatible: storage for the PS5, power for the Xbox controller, a microSD Express card for the Switch 2, plus stands, cases and pads from their makers spec pages. Games and subscriptions stayed out because the list covers hardware only. No brand pays to appear here.
I write every guide with the help of AI tools for research and drafting; I decide which products make the cut, check every figure against the manufacturer’s spec sheet and the price on the day I verify it, and sign the text. — Samuel