retrogames: Best Xbox Series X/S Accessories 2023

So, you’ve got the Xbox Series X/S, and now you’re ready to grab the best accessories to make playing even more enjoyable. There are a number of excellent gaming headsets to choose from and quite a few controllers. And for an even more immersive experience in flying, fighting, or racing games, you might want specialty controllers, like H.O.T.A.S., yokes, racing wheels, and fight sticks. These devices are much more limited and slow to be released, though there are still some solid options.

All that makes choosing reliable Xbox Series X/S accessories a tad tricky, which is why we are here to help. From controllers and headsets to storage and charging stations, we’ve put together a list of the best options while keeping in mind quality, budget, and functionality. It isn’t a massive list, but rest assured, we’ll continue to add and update products as more great ones trickle in.

TL;DR – These are our picks for the Best Xbox Series X/S Accessories:

Xbox Wireless Headset

Best Headset for Xbox Series X/S

See it on Microsoft

The Xbox Wireless Headset is built for Xbox, matching the design and coming with all the tools you need for immersive sound. For starters, pairing with the console is simple, thanks to the Xbox Wireless connectivity, leaving more USB ports free for other accessories. While the support of Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X means you’ll be placed in the center of the action and reacting to sound cues whether you’re on the battlefield in a game or listening to everything unfold in your favorite movie.

Thanks to its nifty rotating dials on the ultra-soft earcups, you get control of volume and game/chat balance, making Xbox Wireless Headset intuitive and easy to use, a boon during tense game moments. To further customize the audio to your ears, integration of the Xbox Accessories App allows you to adjust the EQ presets. Best of all is the sub $100 price tag, even if you sacrifice certain features slightly, like mic quality and battery life.

Xbox Core Controller

Best Controller for Xbox Series X/S

See it on Best Buy

The Xbox Core controller is as close to perfection as you get, offering superb value in a comfortable and familiar form factor along with a few minor improvements like a share button, textured grip, and an easier-to-use D-pad. If you are an Xbox virgin of sorts, you’ll appreciate its beautifully sculpted frame and highly responsive, satisfying to press buttons, triggers, and bumpers. You can even make it your own by visiting the Xbox Design Lab to give it personalized coats of paint that match your style.

Support of the Xbox Wireless protocol means you won’t have to jump through hoops to connect to your Xbox. And multi-device connectivity means when you need a break from gaming on the console and want to switch to a PC, you can rely on its Bluetooth connectivity. The only real place we can fault this gamepad is its seemingly archaic use of AA batteries, but a USB-C is available to skip the battery hassle altogether.

Logitech G923 TrueForce

Best Racing Wheel for Xbox Series X/S

For a steering wheel and full set of metal pedals combo that gives you a richer, more immersive racing and driving experience, grab the Logitech G923. This gear-driven wheel utilizes “TrueForce” tech in compatible games to deliver extra sensations and vibrations, like simulating the feel of engine revs. Just be prepared, as things can get a bit noisy, and it's not the most nuanced force feedback you can find.

Adding to the realism of the Logitech G923 is its programmable dual-clutch system, a premium brushed metal build, and automotive-style leather stitching around the wheel. Given it’s designed for Xbox (or PS5), the wheel features all the console controls you need for easy navigation, along with some handy extras like a 24-point selection dial and LED rev indicator lights. It’s a toy that won’t feel like a toy and is more than worth its midrange price.

MAYFLASH F500 Elite

Best Fight Stick for Xbox Series X/S

The selection of fight sticks available for the Xbox is somewhat limited, but fortunately, the tournament-grade MAYFLASH F500 Elite works perfectly with the Xbox Series X/S. It offers an authentic arcade-style feel and rocks high-end Sanwa components. You’ll get nine impressively responsive buttons, while the joystick is perfectly precise, so you’ll maintain peak performance game after game.

The MAYFLASH F500 Elite may have rather subdued looks, but it's super comfortable to use and feels secure thanks to two metal panels that help increase its weight. Another handy design feature is the easy-to-open compartment for modding out this controller to get everything to your liking. And you also aren’t limited to using your Xbox, as you’re good to game on your PS5, PC, Mac, and Switch.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick

Best Flight Stick for Xbox Series X/S

When you’re ready to take it to the skies, grab the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick. This stick offers an ergonomic, ambidextrous grip and eight axes with contactless hall effect sensors to deliver excellent precision and an immersive, realistic flying experience. More than just the stick, Turtle Beach includes a multifunction throttle and flap levers to control the engine power and activate secondary controls.

Once you get the hang of the stick and throttle, there are 27 programmable buttons and switches to figure out, including an 8-way digital POV hat and rapid-fire trigger to easily takeout enemies in games like Star Wars Squadrons. You’ll also find an integrated OLED Flight Management Display, allowing you to tune performance and swap profiles to fit your game’s needs. All this functionality is packed into a sturdy, streamlined design that won’t be a massive eyesore in your living room.

Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand

Best Controller Charger for Xbox Series X/S

There’s no sense in powering your Xbox Wireless Controller with AA batteries when you can get a rechargeable battery. But you get less play time than the 40 hours AA batteries promise. Luckily, you’ve got something like the Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox, which lets you wirelessly juice up your controller and even comes with a rechargeable battery, so you don’t need to buy one separately.

For safety, the stand offers overcharge protection to prevent overheating and short-circuiting, while a magnetic contact system ensures the controller won’t dismount or disconnect at every knock or bump. It’s also ready to charge your gamepad quickly, as your battery should be back to full in under three hours. You can even choose one of several color options to match your controller.

Seagate Storage Expansion Card

Best Storage Expansion Drive for Xbox Series X/S

The Xbox Series X comes with a 1TB internal SSD drive, and the Xbox Series S offers a 512GB drive, which is hardly enough in the gaming world, especially for hardcore gamers. Luckily, Microsoft has accounted for that by letting these consoles expand storage with memory card-style SSDs you can easily slot into the Xbox without needing a free USB port. Our favorite one of these cards is the Seagate Storage Expansion Card, expanding your port to up to 2TB.

Because it’s designed specifically for these consoles, it offers seamless integration into the Xbox Velocity Architecture, delivering fast, lag-free read and write capabilities. That lets you focus on your game rather than being distracted (or frustrated) by sluggish transfer speeds. Since it is an SSD, it isn’t cheap, with the 2TB capacity setting you back over $300, but the entry model price isn’t too bad if you’re on a budget.

Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.

Image Credit: Annalee Tsujino is a multi disciplinary designer and illustrator. Check them out on Instagram @antsu_illustrations.

retrogames

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Best Xbox Series X/S Accessories 2023