Electronics & Gadgets Blog
Unlock the Full Potential of Your Xbox Series X, The Ultimate Guide to Accessories
by Samuel Kalenga on Sep 24, 2024
With its powerful processor, immersive graphics and blistering fast speeds, the Xbox Series X is a hub of electric gaming entertainment with more textures and detail in every graphic, games that run at 120 frames per second, and vast new lands to explore. Of course, to truly unlock your gaming experience, you need to pair your Xbox Series X with a combination of accessories. From super hearing headsets that put you right at the centre of the action to controllers with thumbsticks and triggers that give you an edge in multiplayer competition, the possibilities are open to take your Xbox Series X life to the next level.
Essential Xbox Series X Accessories:
Upgrade your Xbox Series X with these accessories – whether you’re a casual or a serious gamer, you need them for the ultimate experience.1. Xbox Series X Headset: Immerse Yourself in Sound
Picture the battlefield before you, the whizz of explosions surrounding you, the voices of your friends urging you on. This is your new Xbox Series X headset – and we mean ‘headset’, because without a great one, you’re losing out on half of everything great about gaming. As you’re shopping for the best Xbox Series X headset, make sure it has features to take your game to the next level.
- Spatial audio: Makes your soundscape sound more real and ‘living’, giving you a better sense of the world of the game and your position in it. Sounds will seem to appear from (and disappear into) different places, giving you a more considered sense of direction, and how to locate people and objects. Say you’re playing a first-person shooter. You’ll find the footstep location of an enemy you hear in an axial corridor coming from the right; or, you’ll discover that the bullet you heard ricochet off a glass door was fired from the room on your back left.
- Low latency: The holy grail of seeing and hearing is low latency, because it makes everything feel more natural when audio and video line up perfectly. Latency is the time delay between your input action and the resulting waveform being amplified in your headphones. If your input action triggers a sound event that occurs half a second later, it can lead to frustrating lag or ‘mushiness’ where actions feel too slow to be effective. Never underestimate the value of low latency! On a system with low latency, you’ll respond faster and more accurately to in-game events. Many ‘first-person shooters’ employ the necessary technology.
- Comfortable design: For long gaming sessions, ergonomics can be a big deal, so you definitely want your headset to fold and build in ways that won’t make your ears or head sweat. Lightweight materials and adjustable earcups are nice features that can help you avoid ear fatigue and headaches. A comfortable headset will also permit you to wear it a little longer without distraction.
- Clear microphone: If you’re looking to chat with friends online for games or for simple communications, a clear mic is a must. Ensure that the headset has a sound-cancelling microphone so that your teammates can hear you as best as they can, even in noisy environments. This will prevent communication issues from arising in the middle of a game so that your team is more coordinated.
Popular choices for Xbox Series X headsets include:
- Xbox Wireless Headset The official headset is a clear choice for Xbox Series X gamers, with high-quality audio, comfortable wireless design, and a great microphone. The build and active cooling system ensures great bass audio, allowing users to experience sound across multiple directions. A quick-access functionality to mute the mic and adjust the volume can be done on the headset itself. For those who enjoy the official Xbox design and integration scheme, this is a great choice.
- SteelSeries Arctis 9X: A wireless headset with great sound, comfort, and (detachable) clear mic that is great for competitive play on Xbox. Originally bought for first-person shooters because the low latency and clear audio allows for great sound cues in the game, such as where gunshots are coming from. Since it’s wireless, also great for listening to music.
- Astro A50 Wireless Headset 5 (Dolby Atmos ready) High-end headset with amazing sound, extremely detailed and immersive. It’s comfortable and the microphone is also powerful. The Dolby Atmos adds a lot of life to the audio experience, truly making it a surround sound situation where you feel more in the game. Adds a lot to the experience and feels luxurious and sexy.
2. Xbox Series X Controller: Mastering the Controls
Arguably the best controller of them all is the one that comes standard with an Xbox Series X. It’s already razor sharp, perfectly responsive, and performs like a dream. Still, any of the upgraded options are worth exploring. Improved controls make all the difference when it comes to winning competitive games, or at least scratching that perfect personal tracking experience.
- Xbox Wireless Controller: The standard controller has a textured grip and the ergonomics of the controller are better than the Original Controller because it feels good to use and is easy to handle.The new texture of the grip helps you control the speed of your game better without slipping. The controller is more comfortable. Also the textured grip helps you keep the controller steady when you are playing a game quickly. It is more ergonomic to use this controller because the edges are smoother which makes it more comfortable holding. You can play games without hurting your wrists.Overall you can feel a difference between the two as the original controller is smoother.
- Xbox Series X Controller with Paddles If you think about it, a controller is basically two linked input devices (two joysticks), so adding any extra input can change the game. Just like most happy marriages, it’s about balance. Paddles on the back of the controller are a popular addition, allowing you to customise what they do and letting you perform much faster reflexes and moves. If online competition is your jam, a controller with paddles could very well be the last piece in your puzzle.
- Xbox Carbon Black Controller: This controller has a sleek and stylish look with a premium finish. It’s the perfect controller for the gamer who values aesthetics and style in their gaming accessories. Traditional gaming accessories often come with cheap and flimsy plastic finishes, but the carbon black finish of this controller makes it look like a premium device and adds a sophisticated pop to any gaming setup.
- Pulse Red Xbox Controller: This amazing looking Pulse Red Xbox Controller in a bold and eye-popping color of red is sure to bring some stylish fun in your gaming life. Now galvanize your game collection with this stunning pulse red Xbox Controller and take complete charge of your game console – packed with 360 friendly features to game with twice as much fun. Designed with a luminous colour of red, this controller is sure to be a talking point among your gamer pals.
3. Xbox Series X Controller Charger: Never Miss a Beat
The last thing anyone ever wants is to die on a video game just because your controller battery died. Thankfully, there’s an Xbox Series X controller charger in town, and it will make sure you’re never sidelined from the fun.- Xbox Play and Charge Kit: This is an official charging cable that clips into your controller. It’s simple, easy and reliable to use (like the original Xbox controller itself), making it a convenient ‘no-galvanizing’ deal that can’t be beaten. It goes straight into the controller, and keeps your controllers charged at a fantastic price.
- Third-party charging stations: With several charging slots to accommodate multiple controllers, having a base charging station can be a great money-saver and time-saver if you have multiple controllers to charge up at the same time. These are usually accompanied by charging status LEDs and some might even have a slot for storing your controllers.
4. Xbox Series X Remote: Navigate Your Entertainment
For controlling the menus, the apps you stream and your movies, a dedicated remote is essential. It is the best way to control everything on your console.- Xbox Series X Media Remote: An official remote with dedicated buttons for streaming services, volume, and more, so you can control your entertainment with a dedicated remote.Like, it’s a remote. It has a dedicated button for each streaming service and a big ‘volume’ control. You press the button for whatever streaming service you want to watch, and press the volume control to change it. Easy.
5. Xbox Series X Stand: Keep Your Console Organized
Protect your console and organise it at the same time with a stand. Stands are both practical and functional, while also helping your gaming rig to look clean and crisp.- Vertical stands: Allow placement of your console vertically taking less space in your gaming set-up with better cooling and more airflow around the console and are a great stand to use if you are limited on desk space or are living in an entertainment unit. This will give an awesome futuristic look to your set up.
- Horizontal stands Horizontal stands provide a solid foundation for your console. They are ideal to display your console (perhaps on a shelf or desk), and are often designed to fit the look and feel of the Xbox Series X. Your console can stay upright thanks to a solid foundation and won’t be pushed or dragged by accident. Another additional benefit is you get to display your console and its design.
