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console setupPATCH 2026.10.17

Best PS5 Accessories for a New Console Setup: What You Actually Need

By VGSources Team 10 min read

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The best PS5 accessories depend on how the console will be used, not on a universal bundle. Check the console package first, then buy only for a clear need: a second DualSense for local multiplayer or backup, a charging station for two-controller convenience, an M.2 SSD when internal storage is insufficient, and a Media Remote when the PS5 is also a streaming device. None of these is mandatory for every new owner.

Which PS5 accessories are worth buying first?

Start with the job you need an accessory to do. PlayStation describes its accessories range as a way to build a setup with controllers, headsets and other equipment for PS5 or PS4 consoles, but the useful choice varies with your household, storage library and media habits.

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Accessory Problem it solves Buy it when Is it required?
Extra DualSense wireless controller A second player needs to join, or you want a spare while one controller charges. You play local multiplayer or want backup hardware. Optional; first check how many controllers came with the console.
DualSense charging station Keeps two controllers docked in one dedicated place. Your household regularly uses two DualSense controllers. Optional; a DualSense can charge over USB.
Internal M.2 SSD Adds internal game-storage capacity. Your installed games no longer fit comfortably on the console. Optional; compatibility must be confirmed for the exact console and drive.
Media Remote Provides navigation and playback controls without picking up a game controller. You use streaming or other media apps on the PS5 often. Optional; it is for media control, not gameplay.

This is a needs-based guide, not a laboratory ranking. The documented functions show what each accessory does, but they do not establish one product as universally best.

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Check the PS5 bundle before spending money

New-console packages do not all contain the same accessories. Before ordering anything, open the box contents for your exact edition and region and count the controllers, cables and other equipment already supplied. A second controller is unnecessary if the bundle already includes two and nobody needs a spare. Likewise, an accessory that duplicates an included cable can wait.

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  • Confirm whether the package contains one or two DualSense controllers.
  • Keep the supplied USB charging cable accessible; the controller manual documents USB charging and first-time pairing.
  • Note the console model before considering an M.2 SSD, because storage requirements depend on the particular PS5 hardware.
  • Decide whether the PS5 will be a primary media player or mainly a game console.

Write down the unresolved need before shopping. “We need another player,” “we need a place to charge two controllers,” “we need more internal capacity,” and “we want remote media navigation” lead to four different purchases.

Extra DualSense controller: the multiplayer and backup choice

When a second controller earns its place

Buy an additional DualSense when another person will play locally, or when you want a spare controller available while the primary one is charging. PlayStation identifies DualSense as the PS5 controller, so it is the straightforward way to add local control to a PS5 setup.

Do not treat a second controller as an automatic new-owner requirement. If you play alone, rarely use couch multiplayer and are comfortable charging over USB, the included controller may be sufficient. Check the bundle before paying for another unit.

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Pairing the controller for first use

The first-use instructions are simple and apply to a new or unpaired DualSense:

  1. Turn on the PS5.
  2. Connect the controller to the console with a USB cable.
  3. Press the PS button on the controller.

After the console recognizes it, disconnect the cable if you want to use the controller wirelessly. Keep the cable available for charging; USB remains the documented charging method even when no charging station is installed.

What an extra controller does not solve

A second controller adds another input device; it does not expand storage, replace a media remote or create a charging system by itself. If two controllers are used every day, consider whether leaving both on a desk with USB cables is acceptable. That question determines whether a charging station is useful, not whether the second controller was a good purchase.

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DualSense charging station: convenience for two controllers

What the station provides

PlayStation says its DualSense charging station docks up to two DualSense or DualSense Edge wireless controllers. The dedicated cradle gives a household one place to return both controllers instead of managing separate cables after every session.

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The station is most useful when two controllers are in regular rotation, when several people share the console, or when you want a visible “put it here when finished” habit. It can also reduce desk clutter, but that is a convenience benefit rather than a new PS5 capability.

Do you need one?

No. The DualSense can be charged by connecting it to the PS5 with USB, as described in the controller instructions. A station therefore adds docking and organization; it is not a prerequisite for charging or wireless play.

Choose the dock when the time saved by avoiding cable handling matters more than the extra hardware. If you own one controller and already charge it reliably by USB, spend the money elsewhere.

Planning a two-controller setup

  • Count the controllers you actually intend to keep charged; the station’s stated capacity is up to two DualSense or DualSense Edge controllers.
  • Place the dock where both players naturally return controllers after use.
  • Retain a USB charging option for situations in which a controller is needed away from the dock.
  • Do not buy the station solely because it looks like part of a complete setup; its value comes from repeated two-controller use.

Internal M.2 SSD: add capacity only when you need it

Why storage expansion is conditional

Modern games can consume substantial space, but the decision to add an internal M.2 drive should follow your installed-library habits. If you routinely uninstall games to make room, or you want several large titles available without redownloading, expansion may justify the cost and installation work. If the built-in capacity is adequate, an SSD is an avoidable purchase.

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PlayStation’s accessories overview names the officially licensed WD_BLACK SN850P as an expansion option and describes capacity of up to 8TB as a product capability claim. Treat that figure as specific to the named product and the conditions of the current PlayStation listing, not as a promise that every M.2 drive or every console supports 8TB.

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Compatibility checks before purchase

The available product overview does not provide the complete compatibility specification. Before ordering, open the current PlayStation storage-expansion guidance for your console and verify all of the following against the exact SSD listing:

  • Your PS5 model and hardware revision.
  • The drive’s supported dimensions and physical fit.
  • The required performance or sequential-read speed.
  • Whether a heatsink is required and whether the chosen drive includes one that fits.
  • The supported capacity range for that console and software version.

Do not assume that an M.2 label alone makes a drive suitable. Requirements can rule out a drive even when its connector appears correct. Recheck the official requirements immediately before purchase because product lineups and compatibility guidance can change.

Installing expansion storage safely

Use the current PlayStation installation instructions linked from the accessories and support pages for the exact console model. A safe preparation sequence is:

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  1. Record the PS5 model number and confirm that the planned drive meets the current official dimensions, speed, capacity and heatsink requirements.
  2. Back up important saves and close games before shutting the console down completely.
  3. Disconnect power and follow the console-specific instructions for opening the expansion bay; do not force a panel or improvise a mounting method.
  4. Install the M.2 drive and its approved heatsink arrangement exactly as shown in the current guide.
  5. Reassemble the console, reconnect power and follow the on-screen formatting or setup prompt.
  6. Confirm that the new storage appears in the console’s storage settings before moving or downloading a large game library.

If the console does not detect the drive, power it down and recheck seating, mounting and heatsink clearance against the official instructions. Avoid repeated trial-and-error with an unverified drive; compatibility, not formatting alone, is often the issue.

Media Remote: for PS5 streaming and playback

What it controls

PlayStation Support describes the Media Remote as a way to navigate the PS5 and access media and apps without a wireless controller. The documented controls include directional and selection buttons, TV volume and power controls, and playback functions. That makes it useful when the console doubles as an entertainment hub and you do not want to handle a gamepad for every menu action.

Who should buy it

Choose the remote if you regularly watch streaming services or other media apps through the PS5, share the console with non-gamers, or want familiar playback controls for television use. It is less useful for an owner who launches games only and rarely opens media apps.

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Important compatibility boundary

The Media Remote is a PS5 accessory and is not compatible with PS4. Do not buy it for a PS4 system or assume that its TV controls make it a universal replacement for every television remote. Its value is the combination of PS5 navigation and playback buttons in a media-focused device.

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Remote versus controller

A DualSense can navigate the console, but the Media Remote is designed to stay in a living-room media setup. The choice is about frequency and convenience: use the controller when gaming is the main activity; add the remote when media navigation is common enough that picking up a controller feels unnecessary.

How to choose the right combination

Start with the need, not the product list

Answer these questions in order:

  1. Who will use the console? A second local player points to another DualSense; a solo player may not need one.
  2. How many controllers must stay ready? Two frequently used controllers make a charging station more valuable.
  3. Is storage the current bottleneck? Add an internal M.2 SSD only when capacity problems are real and the drive passes the current compatibility checks.
  4. Is the PS5 also a media player? Frequent app and playback use supports a Media Remote; game-only use generally does not.

Use frequency as the tie-breaker

Accessories repay their cost through repeated use. A charging station that docks two controllers every evening addresses a daily annoyance. A Media Remote used once a month may not. Storage expansion is different: it has a larger practical effect when the console’s capacity repeatedly blocks new installations, even if the drive is not touched directly after installation.

Separate necessities from convenience upgrades

  • Core function: the included DualSense and USB charging can support a single-player setup.
  • Multiplayer upgrade: an additional DualSense adds another local player or backup.
  • Organization upgrade: the charging station replaces loose USB charging with a two-controller dock.
  • Capacity upgrade: an M.2 SSD expands internal storage after compatibility is confirmed.
  • Media upgrade: the Media Remote simplifies PS5 app and playback navigation.
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Practical setup combinations

Solo gamer with a small installed library

Begin with the console’s included controller and USB charging. Add nothing until a specific problem appears. If media use becomes frequent, the Media Remote is the targeted addition; if game capacity becomes the constraint, investigate a compatible M.2 SSD.

Two people sharing the console

Prioritize a second DualSense if local multiplayer is part of the plan. A charging station becomes worthwhile when both controllers are used often and need a consistent home. The station remains optional because USB charging still works.

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Large digital library

Measure the problem by the games you repeatedly remove or postpone installing. If storage is the limiting factor, research the current M.2 requirements and select a compatible drive, such as the officially named WD_BLACK SN850P, only after checking model, dimensions, speed, heatsink and capacity support.

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Living-room media center

Keep the controller for games and add the Media Remote for streaming, app navigation and playback. Its TV volume and power controls can reduce the number of devices needed during viewing, while its PS5 compatibility keeps the recommendation specific to this console.

First-day checklist for a new PS5 setup

  1. Open the package contents and list every included controller and cable.
  2. Pair each DualSense by USB and pressing the PS button before relying on wireless play.
  3. Decide whether local multiplayer is a real use case before buying a second controller.
  4. If two controllers will be used regularly, choose between USB charging and a station that docks up to two controllers.
  5. Check available internal storage after installing the games you actually play.
  6. If expansion is needed, identify the exact PS5 model and read the current official M.2 requirements before selecting a drive.
  7. If the console is used for streaming or other apps, decide whether dedicated playback controls would improve daily use.
  8. Keep purchase records and compatibility information for any storage hardware in case the console does not recognize it.

Common buying mistakes and how to avoid them

Buying a duplicate of what is already included

Bundle contents vary, and a second controller is useful only when another player or a backup requirement exists. Count first; purchase second.

Treating a charging station as required hardware

The station is a convenience dock, not the only charging method. USB charging is documented for the DualSense, so skip the station if cables already fit your routine.

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Assuming any M.2 SSD will work

An M.2 drive must satisfy the current PlayStation requirements for the particular console. Check speed, dimensions, heatsink and supported capacity rather than relying on the connector name or a seller’s generic compatibility label.

Expecting the Media Remote to replace a game controller

The remote is designed for navigation, apps and playback. Keep a DualSense for games and interactive titles; the remote is a complementary media control.

Using a PS5 accessory with a PS4

The Media Remote is explicitly not compatible with PS4. Confirm the target console before buying accessories marketed within the broader PlayStation range.

What “best” means for this setup

There is no single best PS5 accessory bundle. The strongest setup is the smallest combination that solves the way your console is used: an extra DualSense for another local player, a two-controller dock for charging convenience, a correctly specified M.2 SSD for genuine capacity pressure, and a Media Remote for frequent media use. Start with the bundle you own, verify compatibility where hardware requirements matter, and add the next accessory only when its function will be used regularly.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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