Checklist · 10 picks · 5 categories
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Someone with a PS5 already has the console, so this Christmas give them what makes it better.
Big games eat the built-in storage fast, and TechRadar's SSD picks all come with heatsinks: the Lexar NM790 is its best budget SSD, the Samsung 980 Pro its best overall and the Samsung 990 Pro its best high-end pick. For party chat, the Corsair HS35 v3 is TechRadar's best budget PS5 headset and the Pulse Elite its best official one. GamesRadar+ fills in the extras: Sony's station is its best for charging PS5 controllers, the PlayStation Portal its best remote player and the Victrix Pro BFG its best controller for PS5. The splurges are the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro 2, TechRadar's best overall PS5 headset, and the Scuf Omega, its best PS5 controller for pro gaming.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they play on PC or Switch; the gamer gifts page fits better.
Best charging dockbudget pick · 2 controllers
Best for two-controller households
GamesRadar+'s best charging station for PS5 controllers: it keeps two DualSense controllers charged at once without plugging into the console.
Heads up. Charges no faster than a USB cable (about three hours), and it needs a spare outlet
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best charging station for PS5 controllers.
$25-50
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Best gaming headsetbudget pick · Over-ear
Best for party chat on a budget
TechRadar's best budget PS5 headset: plush ear cups, great audio and a surprisingly clear mic for chatting with friends online.
Heads up. No volume scroll wheel, no separate mic mute button and no software to tweak the sound
1 outlet. TechRadar best budget PS5 headset.
$50-100
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mid pick · Over-ear
Best for PS5 and PlayStation Portal players
TechRadar's best official PS5 headset: planar magnetic drivers give it some of the most premium audio on PS5, and PlayStation Link connects it straight to the PlayStation Portal.
Heads up. The bulbous design won't be for everyone, it's a bit heavy, and it's not the best value at its price
1 outlet. TechRadar best official PS5 headset.
$150-200
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexar NM790 with Heatsink | budget | $100-150 | lots of storage for less | 1 outlet |
| Samsung 980 Pro with Heatsink | mid | $150-200 | a dependable all-rounder | 1 outlet |
| Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink | splurge | $200-300 | the fastest loads | 2 outlets agree |
Best nvme ssdbudget pick · 1TB to 4TB
Best for lots of storage for less
TechRadar's best budget SSD for PS5: fantastic value, great benchmark speeds and a heatsink that fits the PS5 right out of the box.
Heads up. No DRAM, so TechRadar noticed very minor stutters in the most intense games
1 outlet. TechRadar best budget SSD for PS5.
$100-150
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mid pick · 1TB or 2TB
Best for a dependable all-rounder
TechRadar's best overall SSD for PS5: excellent performance, a well-designed heatsink and strong write endurance, now with welcome price cuts.
Heads up. No longer the fastest (the 990 Pro replaced it), and other drives are still cheaper
1 outlet. TechRadar best overall SSD for PS5.
$150-200
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splurge pick · 1TB to 4TB
Best for the fastest loads
TechRadar's best high-end SSD for PS5 and GamesRadar+'s best PS5 SSD: the fastest drive on TechRadar's list, with a built-in heatsink.
Heads up. Very expensive, and it runs hot, so get the heatsink version for a PS5
2 outlets agree. TechRadar best high-end SSD for PS5. GamesRadar+ best PS5 SSD.
$200-300
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Beach Stealth Pro 2 | splurge | $300-500 | hearing every footstep | 1 outlet |
| Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller | mid | $150-200 | customizing every stick and button | 1 outlet |
| Scuf Omega | splurge | $200-300 | competitive shooters and ranked grinds | 1 outlet |
Top picksplurge pick · Over-ear
Best for hearing every footstep
TechRadar's best overall PS5 headset: detailed, immersive sound from 60mm drivers, an almost XLR-quality mic and up to 80 hours of battery across two hot-swappable batteries.
Heads up. The clamping force takes a while to adjust to, and the big earcups feel oversized if you like a slim fit
1 outlet. TechRadar best overall PS5 headset.
$300-500
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mid pick · Wireless
Best for customizing every stick and button
GamesRadar+'s best controller for PS5: a modular design lets you swap the sticks and buttons around, with great back buttons and more value than the DualSense Edge.
Heads up. No vibration (let alone haptics), it's a little light, and GamesRadar+ hit some minor pairing issues
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best controller for PS5.
$150-200
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splurge pick · Wireless
Best for competitive shooters and ranked grinds
TechRadar's best PS5 controller for pro gaming: customization is a real selling point, with satisfyingly clicky buttons and some of the best triggers in the business.
Heads up. The side buttons are way too easy to hit, and the removable parts feel flimsy for the price
1 outlet. TechRadar best PS5 controller for pro gaming.
$200-300
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Best remote playermid pick · 8-inch screen
Best for playing PS5 when someone else wants the TV
GamesRadar+'s best PS5 remote player: an 8-inch screen with full DualSense controls, so you can keep playing your PS5 games when someone else wants the TV.
Heads up. Fully relies on your PS5, and with no Bluetooth most wireless headsets won't connect
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best PS5 remote player.
$200-300
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Spot a mistake? A broken link, a wrong price range or an outdated pick: tell me at hello@allsetlist.com and I'll fix it.
A charging station or more storage. Sony's DualSense Charging Station is GamesRadar+'s best charging station for PS5 controllers and keeps two charged at once without plugging into the console, and TechRadar's best budget PS5 headset is the Corsair HS35 v3.
One with a heatsink. TechRadar says you absolutely need one on a PS5 SSD and recommends buying a drive with it already installed. Its best budget pick, the Lexar NM790, comes with one that fits out of the box. GamesRadar+ says you can store PS5 games on an external SSD but not run them from it.
USPS's recommended last send dates for December 25 in the contiguous US are December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Retailers set their own order-by dates, so check at checkout.