Out of all the PS5 accessories, there’s one item you should sort out on day one: headphones. Not because you need them, but because regular Bluetooth headphones don’t work on PS5, and a lot of people only find that out once they’re home. The rest of the lineup can wait, and some of it you shouldn’t buy at all. This article splits accessories into three piles – buy now, buy when you need it, and don’t buy.
What Sony sells for the PS5 and when it makes sense
| Item | What it’s for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Wired or USB headphones | audio and chat, 3D audio works too | buy now |
| Second DualSense controller | two-player gaming, swapping while charging | buy now if you play with someone |
| Disc drive for the Digital Edition | discs and Blu-ray movies | only when needed, and only for the right model |
| DualSense Charging Station | dock for two controllers | only when needed |
| Vertical Stand | standing the console upright | only if you want the console upright |
| Internal M.2 SSD | storage expansion | only when you run out of space |
| Console covers | color and looks | purely cosmetic |
| Media Remote | controlling movies and streaming services | only for a home theater setup |
| HD Camera | showing the player on stream | only for creators |
| Bluetooth headphones | – | don’t buy, they don’t work |
The overview is based on the accessories page on playstation.com, checked as of 13 August 2026. Prices are deliberately left out, because retailer prices differ a lot – for a sense of the costs around the console, see the article on how much the PS5 costs and what’s included.
Bluetooth headphones don’t work on PS5
Sony put it in black and white in the official PS5 FAQ: third-party wireless headsets that use Bluetooth won’t be supported on PS5, while most USB and analog headsets will be. It’s not a fault with your console or a bad pairing. The console simply doesn’t accept Bluetooth audio.
There are three ways that do work:
- 3.5mm jack, including the one on the DualSense controller. The cheapest and most reliable option: plug inexpensive headphones into the controller and you’re done.
- USB-A, the classic rectangular port.
- USB-C.
For all three, Sony explicitly states that 3D audio works as well, so you don’t lose anything this way. For wireless audio, Sony has its own PlayStation Link standard, which its Pulse lineup is built on – the Pulse Explore, Pulse Elite and the Pulse Elevate speakers.
You can work around it with a third-party USB Bluetooth transmitter. You plug it into the console’s port, and the headphones pair with it instead of the PS5. It works, but it’s outside Sony’s support, so if something doesn’t behave, there’s nobody to contact. By the way, Sony never says why it doesn’t support Bluetooth audio – the explanations about latency come from the media, not from the manufacturer.
Stand and covers: one is practical, the other is decoration
The console works just as well horizontally as vertically; Sony doesn’t list either position as the correct one. The difference is that lying flat, the console doesn’t need anything extra, while for the upright position Sony sells a separate Vertical Stand, and its own guide describes the attachment separately for the original CFI-1000 model group and for the newer series. Before you order the stand, look at the label on your console and check the model – a PS5 stand isn’t a universal piece of plastic.
PS5 covers are a different category. Sony offers them in several colors, and all they do is make the console look different. What you pay for is the look.
The Digital Edition disc drive only fits some models
This is the most expensive mistake in the whole accessories lineup. For the Disc Drive for PS5, Sony states that it’s meant for the PS5 Pro and for the PS5 Digital Edition from the CFI-2000 and CFI-2100 model groups, which retailers call “slim”. On the original bulky Digital Edition from the first years of sales, meaning CFI-1000, CFI-1100 and CFI-1200, the drive doesn’t fit. If you bought the digital version back then planning to add discs later, you’re out of luck.
The second thing that surprises people: during the initial setup, the drive needs an internet connection to pair with the console. So it’s not a part you plug in and use offline.
Once the drive does fit, it plays PS5 and PS4 games on Blu-ray, plus movies on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, regular Blu-ray and DVD. When choosing a new console, it’s one of the main factors, and it’s covered in the article on which PS5 edition to buy.
Charging station, remote and camera
The PS5 charging station docks up to two DualSense or DualSense Edge controllers. What it doesn’t do is charge faster – in its FAQ, Sony gives roughly three hours both for charging through the console and through the station. So what you’re paying for is a tidy desk and a controller that’s always charged, not saved time. With two controllers it makes sense; with one, it’s just furniture.
The Media Remote is a remote control for movies, music and streaming services, so it makes sense where the console also serves as a media player. The HD Camera captures the player while sharing gameplay, which makes it a tool for content creators.
You’ll run out of storage sooner than you expect
Sony’s answer to storage expansion is an internal M.2 SSD that slides into a slot right inside the console. It’s not a first purchase, because as long as your games fit, there’s nothing to deal with. Once you start deleting one game to make room for another, it’s time.
Watch out with the newest digital consoles. In the revision of the CFI-2100 model group, a variant appeared with 825 GB instead of a terabyte for the same price. Sony never announced this change; it follows from product listings and from Sony’s own online store. The disc versions aren’t affected. If you’re moving from an older console and wondering what to do with your library, the process is described in the guide to transferring games and data from PS4 to PS5.
Depends on what you play
Three items can’t be recommended across the board, because their value depends entirely on what you actually play.
- A racing wheel makes sense for racing sims, and keep in mind that only some games support it. The models Sony lists as compatible, and what you need to connect them, are covered in the article on the PS5 racing wheel.
- PlayStation VR2 is a standalone platform, not an add-on to your screen. The details are in the article PlayStation VR2: is it worth it? and, for PC owners, in the overview of what works on PC and what doesn’t.
- PlayStation Portal streams games from the console over your home Wi-Fi and now also from the cloud, which requires a Premium subscription – the tiers are covered in the article on PS Plus and the device itself in PlayStation Portal: who is it for.
What not to buy
- Bluetooth headphones for gaming. They won’t pair with the PS5, and no setting will fix that.
- A disc drive for the bulky Digital Edition. It doesn’t fit, and returning it will cost you time.
- A third-party controller, if the feel of the game matters to you. No licensed model has haptic feedback or adaptive triggers; the details are in the article on which PS5 controller to choose.
- A stand ordered without checking the model. Sony splits the attachment guide by the console’s model group, so check the label on the console before you look at the price.
FAQ
No. In its official FAQ, Sony states that third-party wireless headsets using Bluetooth won’t be supported on PS5. You can connect audio through the 3.5mm jack on the controller, via USB-A or USB-C, and 3D audio works with all three.
No. Both the horizontal and vertical positions are fine. Lying flat, the console doesn’t need anything extra; upright, it needs Sony’s separate Vertical Stand. Before buying the stand, check your console’s model group, as Sony’s guide splits them.
It makes sense if you have two controllers and want them charged and within reach. Don’t expect faster charging – Sony gives roughly three hours both when charging from the station and directly from the console. With a single controller, the console cable is enough.
No. Sony lists it only for the PS5 Pro and for digital consoles from the CFI-2000 and CFI-2100 model groups. It won’t fit the original bulky Digital Edition. On top of that, during initial setup the drive needs an internet connection to pair.
Headphones with a jack or USB, because the console doesn’t support Bluetooth. Get a second controller right away if you play with someone. The stand, covers, camera and remote can wait until you find out how you actually use the console at home.
More articles about Sony consoles are in the PlayStation section on Gamers Together, including the comparison of PS5 and PS5 Pro. Accessory prices shift from week to week, so always take the exact amount from the store, not from an article. Information checked as of 13 August 2026.