Best Xbox accessories to improve your gaming setup

With the right Xbox accessories, you make your gaming experience a much more enjoyable one. Add in a few quality-of-life improvements, and you’ll feel much more immersed out there on the Sea of Thieves, or as you do battle against The Flood – some of these things are so handy, and you might not even have known they existed.

From controllers to headsets, there are tons of nifty accessories out there that push the Xbox Series X to new heights, and it’s already potentially the best gaming console of our time. Whether it’s the convenience of a rechargeable battery pack or the stylish charm of flashy controller skins, check out our recommendations below.

The best Xbox accessories are:

1. Razer Kraken Gaming Headset  – best headset
2. Xbox Elite controller – best controller
3. Seagate External hard drive – best for digital storage
4. Xbox controller stand  – great for storage
5. Xbox controller rechargeable battery packs  – best energy source
6. Xbox thumb grips –  best controller enhancement
7. Xbox controller skins  – best controller customization
8. Xbox console decals  – best console customization

1. Razer Kraken Gaming Headset

The best Xbox headset.

Razer Kraken headset specs:

The Razer Kraken Gaming Headset also has a place in our best PS5 headsets article, and it’s just as great an option for Xbox players too. So what makes it so special? Well, it uses immersive, 7.1 surround sound for positional audio, helping you to more deeply appreciate the soundtracks and soundscapes of your favorite games, and the convenience of the built-in microphone makes communication with other players a synch.

On top of all those impressive features, it’s also comfortable. The best sound quality in the world isn’t going to be worth it if it hurts your ears or head. It uses oval, cooling gel-infused cushions so that heat and pressure won’t build up around your ears, and as it is made from bauxite aluminum, it is both lightweight and flexible.

Admittedly, there are fancier headsets out there for anybody who’s willing to splash out a bit. However, we reckon that the Razer Kraken will be the ideal choice for the majority of gamers.

2. Xbox Elite Controller

The best Xbox controller.

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 specs:

Next up, we have the Xbox Wireless Elite Controller. A step up from your standard Xbox controller, the Elite has been designed with competitive gamers in mind, with adjustable-tension thumbsticks and paddle shapes. You can even save up to three custom profiles on the controller, so you can switch between the configurations that are best suited to different games. On top of all that, it has a rechargeable battery built in – it lasts for 40 hours and should help save you from your controller cutting out mid-game.

It’s a pricey bit of gear, but you’ll feel the difference with one of these when compared to the standard model. It’s not just all the extra features, but the fact that it’s a much more high-quality build all-round. It’s just nicer and more comfortable to hold than most other Xbox controllers. We strongly recommend adding it to your repertoire.

3. Seagate External Hard Drive

The best Xbox expansion card.

Seagate External Hard Drive specs:

Are you eyeing up the list of upcoming Xbox Series X games, and worried about your memory space, considering all the games you already have in your library? Well, it sounds like you need to get yourself a Seagate External Hard Drive, which will allow you to keep a much larger selection of games downloaded and ready to play at any moment.

These hard drives come in several different designs – some of them even have a stylish LED light on them. With sizes available up to 8TB, this could be the ideal solution to your Xbox digital storage needs. Seagate works with Microsoft directly, so you know that  its hard drives are well optimized to the task of storing and running the best Xbox Series X games.

4. Kytok Xbox controller stand

Best for storage.

Kytok Controller Stand specs:

You’ve just finished a Rare Replay marathon and played all of the thirty games in the collection. You’re tired, and you put the controller down on the floor as you get ready for bed. You go to get a glass of water, then come back in the room, forgetting the controller is on the floor. You trip on it, and fall into your television, which then collapses on you. Your baby cries in the next room, but you do not answer, because you do not hear, for you are dead.

But if you had a neat little controller stand, things would have been different. Not only will this controller stand help to make your gaming space a little tidier, but it’s also been designed to hold different types of controller. If you’re a multi-console gamer, it will make a convenient place to leave all your controllers. You can leave your headsets there as well.

5. Xbox controller rechargeable battery packs

The best energy solution for your wireless controllers.

Davlon Xbox Rechargeable battery packs specs:

Compared to PlayStation and Switch controllers, old battery-operated Xbox controllers can start to seem a bit dated. If that’s what you’re using and you’re getting annoyed with having to buy new batteries every few months, then you might want to invest in a rechargeable battery pack.

No matter what the game is, nothing ruins the mood like having your controller’s battery cut out, especially if you’re playing one of the big battle royale games and you’re about to win. With the battery pack, you can just give it a top-up each night and then you never have to worry about low controller power again.

6. AceShot Xbox Thumb grips

The best Xbox controller enhancement.

AceShot Thumb Grips specs:

Are you a pro gamer who wants to take their setup to the next level? Well, if you invest in some thumb grips (which are pretty inexpensive), you’ll find yourself with an added level of comfort and control. We’ve all had the experience of our thumb slipping ever so slightly at a moment when we need absolute precision, and some handy thumb grips can help to stop that from happening.

If you’re worried about them not looking right for your controller, the good news is that they’re available in lots of different colors, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a good one that fits your aesthetic.

7. Xbox Controller skins

Best controller customization.

While a controller stand will make your gaming setup a bit neater, Xbox controller skins can actively make it look amazing. There are tons of different options to choose from, ranging from mysterious intergalactic tones, through to things more reminiscent of urban street art. We’d be surprised if you can’t find one that suits you.

8. Xbox Console decals

Best console customization.

Taking a step up from the last entry on this list – you might not just want to get some new skins for your controller, but a whole decal for the console itself. Frequently, the console decals are sold along with controller skins as well, so if you ever wanted to have a solid gold Xbox and controller, these decals are probably the closest that fantasy will ever come to being a reality.

How we chose the best Xbox accessories

At The Loadout, we’re all seasoned gamers. From years of experience, we know what’s worth buying and what isn’t when it comes to Xbox accessories. From controllers through to headsets, we’ve tried it all and know what to recommend. For more on how we put these guides together, read our how we test page. Any other questions, check out the FAQs below:

What is the best Xbox accessory?

If you get just one Xbox accessory, we recommend going for a headset. It’ll help you to better appreciate the soundtracks of your favorite games, make it easier to communicate with your friends online, and give you an easy way to play when everyone else is in bed. Every accessory on here is worth having, but a headset will be particularly helpful.

What should every Xbox gamer have?

Every Xbox gamer should have the following:

• A headset
• A Seagate expansion
• A decent controller

We recommend the three at the start of this guide in particular, though of course, you’ll find other solid choices in our dedicated guides.

What accessories go with Xbox?

All of the accessories in this list are Xbox compatible. To be honest, any gaming accessory that you can think of is almost certainly going to have Xbox-friendly models, though we recommend always double-checking before you buy.

Check out our guides on the best VPN for Xbox and the best steering wheels for Xbox for more ideas about how to amp up your Xbox setup.