Microsoft has long invested in hardware that goes beyond the basic Xbox consoles. The Xbox One generation, in particular, had some exceptionally good first-party peripherals, especially controllers. The next wave of accessories shows that Microsoft is continuing to make these investments – our colleagues at The Verge called the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, “simply the best Xbox controller you can spend your money on.”
While the next generation Xbox is still a year away, the updated Elite Wireless is now available and will be compatible with both consoles. We’ve added it to our list of the most popular Xbox One peripherals, which includes both Microsoft proprietary hardware and some quality third-party options. Regardless of whether you were an Xbox One early adopter or just received a Christmas package, this accessory is a good place to start to upgrade your setup.
Xbox One controller
Most Xbox One consoles contain a single Xbox wireless controller, with the exception of some Special Edition bundles. It is worth buying a second gamepad for local multiplayer games like Borderlands 3. If you want to customize the design of your controller, there are virtually endless color and pattern options available in the Xbox Design Lab.
Anyone looking for a premium Xbox One controller can check out Microsoft’s own Xbox Elite wireless controller. It is one of the most impressive control units on the market. It feels a bit more solid than the Xbox Wireless thanks to a steel frame and has back paddles that are life-saving when playing fast shooters.
The company released a Series 2 version in November that included a rechargeable battery, new customization options, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Microsoft also offers an adaptive controller that is specifically designed for players with limited mobility, which makes it difficult to use a standard controller. It has two large, customizable buttons and serves as the basis for attaching other peripheral devices.
Xbox One Controller is charging
The Xbox Wireless Controller is one of the few gamepads that still uses AA batteries. Microsoft also sells a rechargeable battery called the Play and Charge Kit. It’s a great upgrade that eliminates the need to search for new AA batteries every time your controller runs out of juice.
If you have two wireless controllers and would rather leave them in a charging station, PowerA makes an officially licensed controller that is suitable for both Xbox Wireless and Xbox Elite controllers. Note that the setup includes two rechargeable batteries, so you don’t have to pick up Microsoft’s Play and Charge Kit if you choose this option.
Xbox One headsets
Our favorite for the best Xbox One headset is Astros 2019 upgrade of its A50 headset. From our headphone summary:
Astro, now part of Logitech, is back this year with a brand new version of its flagship A50. The audio issues that plagued it in the past are almost gone, and battery life has improved significantly. It also includes an optical passageway and a 3.5mm input. The big selling point is the friendly toggle to the side to adjust the volume of game and voice chat audio.
If you are looking for a cheaper headset with no frills, the Kraken headset from Razer is a good choice for this price. It has a retractable noise-canceling microphone, a cooling gel in the ear pads, and the best option to add bright pink kitty ears.
Xbox One storage
The new Xbox One consoles come standard with 1 TB of storage. However, if you are using an older model, only 500 GB may be available. Either way, you’ll likely run out of space, especially if you’re playing advanced games on Xbox One X. Therefore, it is a good idea to purchase an external hard drive. While Seagate makes officially licensed game drives, we recommend a WD My Passport unless you are particularly tempted by one of Seagate’s special edition designs. WD is cheaper and does the job just as well.
Xbox One Media Remote
If your video game console is also your main entertainment center thanks to streaming service apps, it’s worth taking a media remote with you. PDP is a universal remote control specially developed to control the streaming apps and Blu-ray player on Xbox One.