Checklist · 10 picks · 4 categories
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New PS5, same old problem: big games eat the built-in storage fast, and party chat needs a real mic.
So the two real essentials here are an NVMe SSD and a decent headset. Both come from TechRadar, which installed and benchmarked the drives in a PS5 and picked headsets for every budget, including the official Pulse Elite. Then the nice-to-haves from GamesRadar+ and TechRadar: a pro controller if you want back buttons and swappable sticks, Sony's charging station so a pad is always ready, and the PlayStation Portal for playing when someone else has the TV. Each card shows the drawback its outlet called out, like a drive with no DRAM, a controller with no rumble or a headset that clamps hard at first.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you play on a Switch; the Cozy Gaming Setup list has the Switch 2 cases, controllers and screen protector.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Nov 1, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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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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Best controllermid 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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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corsair HS35 v3 | budget | $50-100 | party chat on a budget | 1 outlet |
| PlayStation Pulse Elite | mid | $150-200 | PS5 and PlayStation Portal players | 1 outlet |
| Turtle Beach Stealth Pro 2 | splurge | $300-500 | hearing every footstep | 1 outlet |
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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splurge 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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Top pickbudget 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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mid pick · 8-inch screen
Best for playing PS5 in another room
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 · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Get one that has it. TechRadar says you absolutely need a heatsink on a PS5 SSD and recommends buying one with it already installed. It says the Samsung 990 Pro runs hot when pushed, so buy the version with a PS5-compatible heatsink, and the Lexar NM790 comes with one that fits out of the box.
You can store PS5 games on an external SSD, but not run them from it, says GamesRadar+. To add playable space, you need an internal NVMe drive like the ones here.
Not necessarily. TechRadar still names the standard DualSense that comes with the console its best PS5 controller overall. The pro pads here are for back buttons and swappable parts, and GamesRadar+ notes the Victrix gives up rumble and haptics to get them.