PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller

PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller

The providence of Sony’s DualSense controller is clear the instant you see it—this controller looks like an evolution of the older DualShock controllers Sony has used for the last 20 years. The grips extend downward from the main body of the controller, tapering more so than on the DualShock 4 and earlier iterations. On the right side, you have the standard Sony buttons: square, circle, x, and triangle. Opposite that is the d-pad. The directional arrows are all separated, which makes them very tactile and easy to press, but this design isn’t as good for fighting games or anything else where diagonal d-pad input is used.

Sony’s controller uses symmetrical thumbsticks as opposed to the offset sticks you see on all Xbox-style controllers. In the middle, you have a large clickable trackpad, which is sadly almost useless on PC. You also get a share button and menu/pause button on the face. Plus, there’s a tiny speaker dead center on the DualSense, which can add atmospheric sounds to your gameplay experience.

On the top edge, the DualSense looks more like your traditional game controller. Looks can be deceiving, though. There’s a single USB-C port, which will link your controller to a computer as well as recharge the integrated battery. You still have to pay extra to get rechargeable battery packs for the Xbox controller, but neither comes with a USB-C cable.

The shoulder buttons work as you’d expect, but the triggers are something special. Developers can change the amount of resistance for the triggers, making them feel different when performing different activities in the game. While you can’t tell just by looking at the exterior, the DualSense has enormous vibration motors in the grips. This allows the controller to create advanced haptic experiences, again, depending on developer support.
The matte plastic exterior is smoother than the Xbox controller, but it’s still sufficiently stable with the longer grips. Aesthetically, it’s an attractive piece of technology if you like the PlayStation 5’s look. There are no exposed screws, and many of the plastic seams are integrated with the design language to form PS5-style negative space and lighting bars. It’s a gamepad from the future.

ony DualSense: Features and hands-on experience

Many gamers are entrenched in their controller layout preferences. If you’ve been using Xbox-style controllers for years, there might be a learning curve with the DualSense. Xbox fans shouldn’t discount this one, though. The DualSense weighs in at 281 grams, about the same as the current-gen Xbox controller. However, we found the DualSense to be more comfortable in the hand during long gaming sessions. The Xbox controller feels a bit chunky by comparison.

The buttons on the face are all tactile and easy to press, although the pause button is very flat and can be hard to find by feel. The thumbsticks have a grippy rubberized texture and just the right amount of resistance. It takes less force to click the sticks on Sony’s controller compared to Microsoft’s, but it’s not so little that you’ll do it by accident.