These Xbox Accessories Were Handpicked and Tested Extensively — Here's What Made the Cut

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From the first to the latest version, every Xbox console has always been backed by an incredible selection of original and third-party accessories. The ecosystem has also expanded consistently with each new Xbox iteration over the years. Today, the latest Xbox Series S and Series X gaming rigs are flanked by an overwhelming selection of gear — from tiny accessories to big-ticket items.

At Best Products, we’ve always recommended spending extra to enjoy any console or gaming PC to the max. Being one of the market leaders for many years, the Xbox is no exception. Today, you can browse countless accessories for the console — from high-quality gaming controllers and headsets to small add-on bits that make a meaningful impact on your gaming experience.

Our Favorite Xbox Accessories

• Dependable Controller Storage: OtterBox Mobile Gaming Carrying Case for Xbox Controllers

• Never Run Out of Power: Microsoft Rechargeable Battery + USB-C Cable for Xbox Controllers

• A Cheap and Easy Controller Upgrade: KontrolFreek Performance Grips for Xbox Controllers

• For Gaming in Small Spaces: ARZOPA G1 Game Portable Gaming Monitor

• Best Wired Controller: RazerWolverine V2 Chroma Wired Gaming Controller

What to Consider

Compatibility

First, you should know that the accessories we selected are compatible not only with the latest Xbox Series S and Series X consoles but also with its One S and One X predecessors. Just in case, I suggest you take a look at your current gear to make sure your next accessory purchase will make an instant impact.

Accessory Type

Choosing an accessory for your Xbox can be overwhelming, even for seasoned players. If you’re shopping for an Xbox controller or gaming headset, be sure to check out our extensive guides about navigating these jampacked product categories.

On the other hand, if you want to spruce up the accessories that already come with your console, consider ordering smaller and much cheaper items like add-on grips, a versatile protective case, or a rechargeable battery.

How We Selected

I’ve been a regular user of the iconic Microsoft gaming console since 2013 when I received an Xbox One as a holiday gift. I upgraded to the 4K-capable Xbox One X a few years later and currently have the Series X as my go-to gaming platform. Naturally, I also spent the past decade constantly tinkering with Xbox accessories. For this guide, I handpicked products at various price points that stood out over the past couple of years.

Every product on this list has been extensively tested and proven to be a solid performer and good value in its respective category. I can personally vouch for every item. Find the best for your console, or treat an Xbox gamer to an amazing gift with one of these excellent accessories.

Mobile Gaming Carrying Case for Xbox Controllers

Designed by a leading smartphone and tablet accessory maker, the OtterBox mobile case will reliably protect your Xbox controller anywhere you take it. It has a tough exterior with a water-resistant finish. Its generously sized interior has a slot for your controller and additional compartments for batteries and other small accessories.

I particularly liked the low-key adjustable smartphone viewing stand that the OtterBox case features. It's great not only for streaming content but also for mobile gaming with your Xbox controller.

Compatible with all original and most third-party Xbox controllers, the case has a secure zipper closure and a convenient carrying handle. Otterbox offers protective Xbox controller shells as well.

Rechargeable Battery + USB-C Cable for Xbox Controllers

A spare Xbox controller battery ensures that you don’t interrupt your gameplay for more than a few seconds in case you run out of power — and Microsoft’s is the best worth your attention. This affordable accessory will always keep your go-to gamepad ready, and, best of all, it will put an end to dealing with disposable batteries for good.

This official Xbox accessory fits perfectly into the battery compartment of official Xbox controllers. I enjoyed being able to charge the controller while gaming. Of course, you can also power the controller up when not in use, though this takes a while.

The retail package of the rechargeable battery includes a USB-C cable. If you are not into cables, I highly recommend you order two batteries for swapping when you run out of power.

Performance Grips for Xbox Controllers

Inexpensive and made from moisture-wicking material with a honeycomb finish, these adhesive high-performance grips by KontrolFreek will instantly elevate your gameplay by making your Xbox controller significantly comfier.

In addition to improving the controller’s grip, the high-tech polymer keeps your hands cool — a lifesaver during long and intense sessions, especially ones that involve competitive online gameplay.

I spent dozens of hours gaming with the KontrolFreek grips on my controller and can confirm they made it comfier; their soft, grippy pattern is better to interact with than a bare controller’s textured plastic. I also liked the accessories’ easy installation and the distinctive look they gave the gamepad.

You can snag the KontrolFreek performance grips in black, purple, and red. The product is compatible with the original Xbox One and Series S/X controllers.

G1 Game Portable Gaming Monitor

This reasonably priced portable gaming monitor is great for on-the-go Xbox gamers who take their console during travels. The impressively thin 15.6-inch Arzopa G1 Game mobile display is also great for space-starved gamers. Living in a small one-bedroom apartment, I spent many hours gaming on an Xbox Series S without usurping my household’s big-screen TV.

My favorite bit about the monitor was that I could get Full HD gameplay — at a smooth 120 Hz on an Xbox Series S — by tweaking my console’s settings and powering up the monitor via a cheap third-party USB-C adapter. Having an onboard audio jack for connecting a small speaker to complete my miniature gaming station was also neat. The product’s picture quality is solid, considering how affordable it is.

The retail package of the Arzopa G1 Game includes a snap-on case with a built-in kickstand. The accessory maker offers an optional metal stand with adjustable height and angles worth spending an extra $20 on. Tons of reliable third-party stands are also available.

Wolverine V2 Chroma Wired Gaming Controller

The Wolverine V2 Chroma is hands down the best third-party gaming controller for your Xbox — not to mention a superb alternative to a wireless option. The accessory has an ergonomic design, proprietary buttons with exceptional tactility, and trigger switches with adjustable sensitivity. As its name suggests, the product also features the tech giant’s signature Chroma customizable lighting.

Razer’s excellent switches and customizable backlighting made the Wolverine Chroma V2 my go-to controller for months. These features made me reach for the controller before gaming sessions, choosing it over wireless rivals that cost more.

Another bit we like about the Wolverine V2 is its customizable front-facing buttons, located right by its bumper and trigger switches. You can order the gadget in black or white.

Kishi V2 Pro Mobile Gaming Controller Xbox Edition

The all-new Razer Kishi V2 Pro controller is the best for Xbox cloud gaming on your smartphone. The USB-C accessory has a full set of Xbox controls and a pair of action buttons. Placed alongside the controller’s bumpers and triggers, the latter switches are also customizable via a companion app.

I’ve been a fan of Razer Kishi controllers since I put the first generation through its paces in 2020. The second iteration brought a sleeker design and the brand’s proprietary switches incredible tactility, and the V2 Pro became an instant favorite of mine by bringing welcome improvements headlined by a built-in standard audio jack — a bit sorely missing in the older versions.

I liked using wired earbuds and headphones on the V2 Pro — the sonic experience was as instantaneous as the responses I got from its buttons.

Installing the Razer Kishi V2 Pro is easy, and the expandable controller can fit just about any USB-C-equipped smartphone.

Recon Cloud Hybrid Gaming Controller

By sharing tech with the brand’s excellent gaming headsets, the reasonably priced Turtle Beach Recon Cloud Xbox controller will instantly elevate your in-game sonic experience.

In addition to high-quality switches, texture triggers, bumpers, and a set of mappable quick-action buttons, this Xbox accessory has an elaborate panel with game and chat volume controls and equalizer presets.

Best of all, the Recon controller gives you access to Superhuman Hearing — a signature feature of Turtle Beach gaming cans that will literally give you an edge over your opponents — by plugging in your favorite wired headset. During my testing, this functionality made a difference during online gaming stints, allowing me to hear footsteps better and faster.

The controller is designed to link to an Xbox via a wired connection. In Bluetooth mode, the Recon Cloud is perfect for mobile gaming. Its retail package even includes a smartphone clip.

C50 Storage Expansion Card (512 GB)

The latest blockbuster games can require over 100GB of storage space for installation, making the WD_BLACK C50 expansion card a must-have for Xbox Series S and Series X owners. Designed to slot into the gaming consoles’ proprietary storage expansion slot, the nifty accessory makes storage upgrades easy and effortless.

In addition to the high-tech design and super easy installation, I was very impressed by the uncompromising performance of the WD_BLACK C50 during gameplay. The expansion drive utilized the same architecture as the integrated memory of the latest Xbox iterations, so there was no need to sacrifice speed for convenience. It even supports the console’s quick resume feature for seamlessly switching between games.

And starting well below $100 for a version with 512 GB capacity, the WD_BLACK C50 expansion card is reasonably priced, too. You can order the product with up to 1 TB of storage.

Arctis Nova Wired Gaming Headset

The Arctis Nova 1 by SteelSeries is the best budget-friendly headset I experienced on my Xbox console. Costing just a tad north of $50, the wired cans went beyond my expectations by offering a surprisingly elegant design, exceptional comfort, and consistently great sound. Remarkably, the latter includes support for immersive spatial audio — a feature I didn’t expect at this price point.

Upon unboxing the Arctis Nova 1, my first impression was that the headphones looked way more premium than the price suggested. I also couldn’t help but marvel at the genius of its retractable microphone setup: The high-quality accessory was completely out of sight when I didn’t need it and miles ahead of the ungainly foldable or removable microphones that others have.

The cans’ audio fidelity belied their price, too, prompting me to use them while listening to my go-to workday playlists. Overall, the design and performance of the Arctis Nova 1 make the product great for any usage scenario — from remote work to competitive gameplay.

Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller

Even though it’s been available for years, the Xbox Elite Series 2 is still the ultimate Xbox controller. Its sleek design, outstanding ergonomics, class-leading performance, and generous set of bundled swappable thumbsticks, D-pads, and paddles set it apart from all premium rivals. So does the included storage case for the controller and its accessories.

The hardware mentioned above is very easy to swap — the process took me a minute or two while I evaluated the Series 2. The controller and its buttons are customizable via an Xbox app. This versatility allowed me to easily tailor the gamepad to my liking for specific titles — from Starfield to Forza Motorsport.

Overall, the Elite Series 2 controller is a must-have for serious Xbox or PC gamers. If swapping paddles and thumbsticks is not your thing, I have good news: Microsoft offers a cheaper Elite Series 2 Core controller with the same design and performance.

65-Inch QM8 4K Smart TV

The TCL QM8 is the best big-screen sidekick for the latest Xbox gaming consoles, especially the monstrously powerful Series X. Thanks to a feature dubbed Game Accelerator, the TV supports incredibly smooth 4K gameplay with variable refresh rates of up to 240 Hz. This allows the TV to deliver a visual experience that can keep up with the Xbox hardware.

Combined with a big, bright mini-LED display panel with thousands of local dimming zones for uncompromising contrast, Game Accelerator made first-person gaming titles like Doom Eternal and Starfield even more captivating. The TV’s surprisingly immersive sound, with powerful bass from an integrated subwoofer, also complemented the immersive gameplay proficiently, making a case for not using a soundbar or a headset on many occasions during my testing.

Unsurprisingly, the TCL QM8 is also fantastic for usage scenarios that don’t involve console gaming. Its picture quality and peak brightness are the best for the money.

It has futureproof Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, a Google TV platform with access to all streaming services, and support for all HDR standards, among many other highlights. The TCL is available up to a ginormous 98-inch screen size; each iteration will get you the best value for your money.

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