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GEAREDGAMING

HUB 03 · Best Value

The Best Gaming Gifts for PS5 Owners

The PS5 is the fussiest console to buy accessories for, because Sony's licensing quietly rules out most of the cheap third-party gear you will see recommended.

By Stephen V.Updated How we research
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A second DualSense is the correct gift for almost every PS5 owner. It turns a single-player machine into a couch co-op machine, it is the one accessory that never goes unused, and almost nobody buys a spare for themselves. If that is over budget, the Moondrop CHU II at a fraction of the price plugs straight into the controller's headphone jack and is a genuinely startling upgrade over whatever earbuds are in the drawer. The thing to be careful about is compatibility: the PS5 rejects a lot of third-party gear that works fine on PC.

The short answer

Quick picks

#ProductBest forScorePrice
01
Sony Sony DualSense Wireless Controller
Sony DualSense Wireless Controller

In the handful of PC games that support them, its haptics and adaptive triggers are a step up nothing else here can match. Everywhere else, it's a very good ordinary pad.

Best for single-player
7.8
$74.00Amazon
02
Moondrop Moondrop CHU II
Moondrop CHU II

Absurd value. The cheapest thing here that a serious listener would defend.

The best cheap IEM for gaming
6.6
$22.99Amazon
03
SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1

The best-sounding wired headset under $50, and the comfort is the giveaway.

Best sound per dollar, wired
7.6
$49.99Amazon
04
Razer Razer Barracuda X
Razer Barracuda X

The USB-C dongle is the feature. It makes this the handheld headset.

Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Switch and phones
7.2
$79.99Amazon
05
LG LG UltraGear 32GS60QC-B
LG UltraGear 32GS60QC-B

A 32-inch, 1000R curved wall of screen, cheap for the size. The immersion is real — just know what VA costs you.

The biggest screen
7.2
$179.99Amazon
06
Sony PlayStation DualSense Edge
PlayStation DualSense Edge

The only first-party pro pad for PS5, and the only way to get back buttons without giving up adaptive triggers and haptics.

Best pro pad for PS5
7.4
$199.00Amazon

#ad · Live prices from the Amazon Product API, as of Sep 7, 2026. Where we have no verified live price, we show none — we would rather leave a gap than print a number that has rotted.

In detail

The picks, in full

01
Sony Sony DualSense Wireless Controller

Best for single-player

Sony DualSense Wireless Controller

Bluetooth · USB-CHaptics + adaptive triggersBuilt-in rechargeableBuilt-in mic
7.8/10

In the handful of PC games that support them, its haptics and adaptive triggers are a step up nothing else here can match. Everywhere else, it's a very good ordinary pad.

Build quality
8
Ergonomics
9
Features
9
Compatibility
6
Value
7

Pros

  • Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are unique in the category and genuinely excellent in the games that use them
  • Built-in rechargeable battery, a headset jack and a built-in microphone
  • A comfortable symmetrical shape a lot of players simply prefer to the offset Xbox layout

Cons

  • The haptics and adaptive triggers only fire in a limited set of PC titles, and usually need a wired USB connection or Steam's DualSense support to work at all
  • Not recognized natively by every launcher the way an Xbox pad is — some games need Steam Input or a remapper to see it correctly
  • Battery life is middling next to the Xbox pad on AA cells

Don't buy this if…

…you mostly play launchers and competitive titles that only speak 'Xbox.' Outside its supported showcase games the DualSense's headline features go unused, and an Xbox pad is the more universally compatible choice.

$74.00View on Amazon

Price as of Sep 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Sony DualSense Wireless Controller

02
Moondrop Moondrop CHU II

The best cheap IEM for gaming

Moondrop CHU II

Single dynamic driverDetachable cable3.5mmIn-ear
6.6/10

Absurd value. The cheapest thing here that a serious listener would defend.

Positional accuracy
7
Footstep clarity
8
Mic quality
0
Comfort
8
Value
10

Pros

  • Tuned close to a neutral target, which is exactly what you want for hearing detail
  • Detachable cable at this price is almost unheard of — the usual failure point becomes a $5 fix
  • Isolates properly, so quiet cues survive a noisy room

Cons

  • No microphone in the box
  • In-ear fit is personal, and the stock tips will not suit everyone

Don't buy this if…

…you need a mic and don't want a second purchase. A cheap IEM plus a clip-on mic is two things to lose.

$22.99View on Amazon

Price as of Sep 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Moondrop CHU II

03
SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1

Best sound per dollar, wired

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1

Closed back3.5mmRetractable ClearCast mic236g
7.6/10

The best-sounding wired headset under $50, and the comfort is the giveaway.

Positional accuracy
7
Footstep clarity
6
Mic quality
7
Comfort
9
Value
9

Pros

  • Inherits the Nova family's tuning and comfort at the bottom of the range
  • The retractable mic is a genuinely premium touch at this price
  • Light, and the ski-goggle band spreads weight well

Cons

  • No USB sound card in the box — you're at the mercy of your motherboard's jack
  • Closed back, narrow stage

Don't buy this if…

…you need wireless. There is no wireless version of this at this price, and the G435 is the compromise you'd be making instead.

$49.99View on Amazon

$59.9917% off

Price as of Sep 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1

04
Razer Razer Barracuda X

Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Switch and phones

Razer Barracuda X

USB-C 2.4GHz dongleBluetoothDetachable mic250g
7.2/10

The USB-C dongle is the feature. It makes this the handheld headset.

Positional accuracy
7
Footstep clarity
6
Mic quality
7
Comfort
8
Value
8

Pros

  • The USB-C dongle plugs straight into a Steam Deck, an Ally or a Switch — no adapter, no Bluetooth latency
  • This is the cleanest answer to low-latency wireless audio on a handheld that exists
  • Also does Bluetooth for a phone, and 3.5mm as a fallback

Cons

  • The dongle sticks out of the handheld and is easy to snap in a bag
  • Sound is good, not exceptional, for the money

Don't buy this if…

…it's for a desktop PC only. On a desk, the Arctis Nova 7 is the better headset and the USB-C trick buys you nothing.

$79.99View on Amazon

$99.9920% off

Price as of Sep 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Razer Barracuda X

05
LG LG UltraGear 32GS60QC-B

The biggest screen

LG UltraGear 32GS60QC-B

32" curved (1000R)2560x1440 VALG rates 180Hz / 1msHDR10 · FreeSync
7.2/10

A 32-inch, 1000R curved wall of screen, cheap for the size. The immersion is real — just know what VA costs you.

Panel quality
7
Build quality
7
Ergonomics
6
Features
8
Value
8

Pros

  • 32 inches of aggressive 1000R curve is genuinely immersive for single-player, racing and sim games
  • VA contrast makes blacks look black in a dark room — the one thing every IPS panel on this page fails at
  • 180Hz and FreeSync, so the size does not come at the cost of smoothness

Cons

  • VA panels smear on dark, fast transitions — exactly the artifact that hurts you in a competitive shooter
  • 1440p spread across 32 inches is roughly 93 pixels per inch, noticeably softer than the same resolution on a 27-inch panel
  • The 1000R curve is polarizing and works against you for spreadsheet-style desktop work

Don't buy this if…

…sharpness or competitive shooters are your priority. At 32 inches 1440p starts to look soft, and VA's dark smear is the wrong trade for fast FPS — a 27-inch IPS is the better tool.

$179.99View on Amazon

$199.9910% off

Price as of Sep 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to LG UltraGear 32GS60QC-B

06
Sony PlayStation DualSense Edge

Best pro pad for PS5

PlayStation DualSense Edge

PS5 · PCSwappable stick modulesBack buttonsAdjustable trigger travel
7.4/10

The only first-party pro pad for PS5, and the only way to get back buttons without giving up adaptive triggers and haptics.

Build quality
8
Ergonomics
8
Features
9
Compatibility
7
Value
5

Pros

  • Keeps the DualSense's adaptive triggers and haptics, which every third-party PS5 pad has to give up
  • Replaceable stick modules — when a stick drifts you swap the module rather than the whole controller
  • Per-game profiles switchable from the controller itself

Cons

  • Battery life is noticeably shorter than a standard DualSense
  • Costs well over twice a standard DualSense, and the replacement stick modules are an ongoing cost
  • Heavier in the hand than the pad it is based on

Don't buy this if…

…you have never once wished for a back button. This is a specialist tool; for almost everyone a second standard DualSense is the better use of the same money.

$199.00View on Amazon

Price as of Sep 7, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to PlayStation DualSense Edge

Why PS5 accessories are the fussiest

Sony gates PlayStation accessory support behind official licensing, so a controller that works beautifully on PC and Switch will often do nothing at all on a PS5. There is no adapter that reliably fixes this, and the ones that claim to are a support headache rather than a gift. The official PlayStation Support documentation is the place to check a specific model before you buy. In practice: if it does not say PlayStation-licensed on the box, assume it will not work.

Headsets are the happy exception. Any headset with a plain 3.5mm plug works through the DualSense's headphone jack, which is why the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 and the Moondrop CHU II are both safe picks here, and why our how to connect a headset to PS5 and Xbox guide starts with that jack. The Razer Barracuda X covers the wireless case with a USB-C dongle, and our best gaming headsets for PS5 page has the full field.

The big ones

The LG UltraGear 32GS60QC is the gift that changes how the console feels rather than how it sounds: the PS5 outputs 120Hz, and a 60Hz TV throws half of that away. If the recipient is still playing on an old set, this is the most dramatic thing on the page. Our best gaming monitors for PS5 page goes into what the console can and cannot drive.

The DualSense Edge is here for completeness and we are not going to pretend it is good value. It is the only first-party pro pad for PS5 and the only one that keeps the adaptive triggers, but it costs well over twice a standard DualSense for features most players never map. Our best controllers for PS5 page argues that case properly. As a gift, two standard DualSenses is almost always the better use of the same money.

How we picked

We do not run a testing lab

We researched published specifications, third-party lab measurements, manufacturer documentation and aggregated owner reviews, then scored each product against a published rubric. The scores are judgments from documented research — they are notmeasurements we took, because we do not have a lab and we are not going to pretend we do. Where a number came from someone else's lab, we name them and link them in Sources.

Questions

Frequently asked

Do third-party controllers work on PS5?
Only officially licensed ones. Sony gates PlayStation controller support behind licensing, so an unlicensed pad that works on PC and Switch will typically do nothing on a PS5 — and no adapter reliably fixes that. Check the box for PlayStation licensing, or check PlayStation Support for the specific model before buying.
What headsets work with a PS5?
Any headset with a 3.5mm plug works through the DualSense's headphone jack, with no licensing involved — that is the widest-compatibility route and it includes cheap wired headsets and IEMs. For wireless, you need either a USB dongle designed for PS5 or a headset that supports the console directly; plain Bluetooth headphones are not supported by the PS5 for game audio.
Is the DualSense Edge worth it as a gift?
Rarely. It is the only first-party pro controller for PS5 and it keeps the adaptive triggers that third-party pads lose, but it costs well over twice a standard DualSense and its advantages only appear if the player actually remaps back buttons. Two standard DualSenses — enabling couch co-op — is usually the better gift for the same money.

Keep reading

Related

Receipts

Sources

We do not run a testing lab, and we do not pretend to. Where a measured number came from someone else's lab, we name them and link them. Where we could not verify something, we say so on the page rather than quietly leaving it out. Read our full method.