Friday, July 31, 2020
It's back to school season, and if you're heading back to a uni or college dorm this summer, or just staying put at home, there's a range of accessories out there that are sure to please Xbox fans. Here are some of our favorite gizmos and gadgets compatible with Microsoft's Xbox console.
Text 'em up
Gamers Digital Xbox Chatpad
When inputting messages on Xbox, using the joystick can be a bit of a chore. You can hook up a USB keyboard, but they're not the most portable. Say hi to the Xbox One Chatpad, a cheap and cheerful QWERTY keyboard that fits right into the base of your Xbox One controller.
Charge 'em up
Panasonic Eneloop Charge Kit
Whether you need AA batteries for your Xbox One controller or your TV remote, the Eneloop rechargeables are the most economic option on the market. Chargeable to full in minutes and able to retain a charge after dozens of refills, the Eneloop Pro charge kit will save you lots of money over time.
Official rechargeables
Xbox Play and Charge Kit
If you don't need AA batteries for the sake of versatility, you can pick up an official Xbox Play and Charge kit for pretty cheap. The official solution is the most reliable in my experience, despite being a bit more expensive than some of the other options out there. In terms of saving over time, this is probably your best option.
Keep it tidy
Nylon Cable Ties
If you're both working and playing from the confines of a tiny campus dorm, keeping your playspace tidy is an underrated boon psychologically for productivity. Nylon cable ties are robust and hard-wearing, able to keep your unruly Xbox or PC cables neatly packed together.
Hooks for days
Avantree Universal Hanger
This is a product I absolutely adore. I have several of them set up around my desk, for holding various controllers, headsets, and for wrapping cables that needn't be fixed down. The silicon hangers are pretty much universal — I'm using one for an Xbox controller, a Turtle Beach headset, and also a PlayStation 4 controller. They attach with powerful 3M adhesive and can be used on any smooth surface. Great for storage and tidiness.
Store all the things
Seagate USB HDD
You don't need to use a branded Xbox HDD to store games on Xbox One. You can use one of these cheaper non-branded USB storage options instead. With this Seagate 2TB HDD, you can store dozens of games, and easily take them with you between college and home if you have multiple consoles.
Back to school, with some gaming
As a student, you probably don't have an unlimited budget for Xbox One accessories. That's alright since all of these gizmos collectively cost less than $120. You can spruce up your gaming setup, so when there's some downtime, you can kick back and relax.
Perhaps my favorite product on this list is the Avantree Universal Hanger. The soft silicone ensures that your devices are well protected as they hang, and they're affordable and hard-wearing, with incredibly strong adhesive, fit for any office space.
I also strongly recommend Panasonic's Eneloop Pro charger kit. You'll always be able to keep two AAs charged up and ready to go to swap into your controller, and even if you're using all four at once, they charge up to full in mere minutes. I've been re-using the same set of four batteries for around a year now, and they still retain most of the original charge owing to the Eneloop technology.
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