The next generation of consoles has arrived, and the PlayStation 5 is already picking up steam thanks to some seriously beefed up hardware, a radical new aesthetic redesign and a controller that is most definitely a leap forward from the much-lauded DualShock 4. The DualSense has taken reviewers (and gamers) by storm, earning critical praise for what it brings to the table.
The controller isn’t perfect, however. For every major plus, there’s a slight con to go along with it, and it’s best to identify both before one decides to pull the trigger on a new PS5 and play the best launch titles. Read on to find out the best the DualSense has to offer, and where it falls short of perfection.
10 Best: More Comfortable
This is the first “DualShock” controller from Sony to feature such a radical new facelift, and it shows in everything from the aesthetics to the angled edges and dimensions. It’s a tad bigger than the DualShock 4, but the ergonomics are where the controller really brings comfort back into the mix.
It’s also heavier, but that’s not a bad thing considering the sheer pleasure of the grip. The controller fits neatly into the hands and provides superior grasp due to the elongated handles, creating a wonderful balance right across the board. It may not seem it, but this is definitely a PlayStation game-changer.
9 Worst: Microphone
Adding a microphone onto the DualSense seems like a smart move given the push for competitive play over the years. It’s also a staple of many remotes (and certain game controllers) that have come out recently, so it makes sense to have it here. The good news is that the mic is situated well, and there’s a convenient mute button to toggle it on/off and avoid embarrassing revelations.
The bad news is that the microphone is isn’t nearly as precise when it comes to pickup, and tends to grab a lot of background noise as a result. This can get a little exhausting if you happen to be on the receiving end of a noisy household. Here’s to hoping a firmware update adds some sort of a noise gate function.
8 Best: Better Looks
Let’s face it – the DualSense is gorgeous, and anyone who says otherwise needs contacts. The shift from smooth black to pearl white with black buttons and accents is a refreshing change of pace, given that the last off-color PlayStation was the greyscale original.
The DualSense stands out and grabs one’s attention with absolutely no effort. It’s futuristic, it’s cool, and it’s probably the closest PS gamers will ever get to that legendary PS3 concept controller that caused such a stir all those years ago. This is a nice move forward in terms of aesthetics.
7 Worst: Prone To Scuff
There are some downsides to the new white finish on both the PS5 and the DualSense. The latter has it rough, seeing as how the white finish and materials are more prone to pick up scuffing and dirt. Drop this baby a few times and it’s bound to leave a mark or two, or three.
There’s also no telling what will happen down the road if the paint job starts to yellow. While such things are largely the bane of yesterday’s consoles, it’s hard to predict how this gorgeous new controller is going to age over the next little while.
6 Best: Adaptive Triggers
Adaptive triggers are long overdue, and it’s high time they got implemented in the next generation of consoles. Trigger resistance is going to play a major part in the games that are soon to come down the pipe, and integrating this feature into the play experience opens up a lot of new doors.
Microsoft gave this technology a shot with the Xbox One controller and its impulse triggers, but it has since faded into the ether. Their new controller is bound to provide some competition for the DualSense. Nevertheless, Sony has promised that adaptive triggers will be a mainstay of the DualSense controller, so get ready to feel the results of that promise in the palms of your hands as you play the next big title.
5 Worst: Fussy Charging
Sony has a knack for driving customers down a particular road when it comes to add-ons and peripherals, and the DualSense is no different. It’s a demanding controller that averages about 13 hours of playtime before it needs a charge, but which mechanism you use will have an effect.
Many might expect that the standard USB-C charging port will allow them to utilize their existing charging cables and peripherals, but that might not be the case. Since USB-C draws more juice from the outlet, your charger and cable will need to be geared to handle it. Best to stick to the PS5 unless you’re sure.
4 Best: Haptic Feedback
Haptic feedback technology is spread throughout the entire DualSense, but extra emphasis was placed on the triggers in order to simulate real-time sensations designed to give the player a sense of what’s going on in game. This extra layer of interaction will prove to be instrumental in big titles and creative indie games.
Along with adaptive trigger technology, haptic feedback should take everything gamers know about traditional rumble technology and toss it out the window in favor of something truly next-gen. It may be an underrated feature of the DualSense, but it may prove to be one of the most important.
3 Worst: Battery Life
As mentioned earlier, all this technology comes at a price – namely battery charge. While 13 hours of play time is more than enough for anyone to slog through, it will necessitate that one charges the controller more often. This is a slight downside to an otherwise marvelous design.
Third party manufacturers are undoubtedly working on hot new charging cradles designed specifically for the DualSense, so one needn’t fret. There’s bound to be a solution for this small but notable little drawback.
2 Best: USB-C Connector
It’s good to see Sony adapting the USB-C connector at a time when the world is steadily relying on it as the standard. Not only does USB-C open the doors for a variety of connectivity options, but it also allows for peripherals to charge much faster than others.
Plus, it eliminates the horrendous need to deal with a drawer full of tangled USB cables with different bits, which can be tiresome. This is a great excuse to toss out the old stuff and invest in some fancy new high grade USB-C charging cables. Ironically, Microsoft has reported that the Xbox Series X will not offer USB-C connectivity, which is strange indeed.
1 Worst: Price Tag
Console controllers seem to keep going up in price by leaps and bounds, and the DualSense won’t put a stop to that any time soon. All this lovely next-gen technology and manufacturing doesn’t come cheap, so be prepared to pay a small fortune (or sell some blood) to get one.
Most vendors are selling DualSense controllers for $70 bucks, which is a lot of cheddar to plunk down. It remains to be seen if third-party controllers will manage to make some headway, but for those too attracted to the beauty of the DualSense, you’re going to have to sacrifice a sizable chunk of dough on top of an already expensive console.
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