Sony DualSense controller review: A gamepad from the future

Price When Reviewed

$69

Best Prices Today: Sony DualSense controller

The providence of Sony’s DualSense controller is clear the immediate you see it– this controller appears like an advancement of the older DualShock controllers Sony has actually utilized for the last 20 years. The grips extend downward from the primary body of the controller, tapering more so than on the DualShock 4 and earlier versions. On the best side, you have the basic Sony buttons: square, circle, x, and triangle. Reverse that is the d-pad. The directional arrows are all separated, that makes them really tactile and simple to press, however this style isn’t as great for battling video games or anything else where diagonal d-pad input is utilized.

Sony’s controller utilizes in proportion thumbsticks rather than the balanced out sticks you see on all Xbox-style controllers. In the middle, you have a big clickable trackpad, which is regretfully nearly worthless on PC. You likewise get a share button and menu/pause button on the face. Plus, there’s a small speaker dead center on the DualSense, which can include climatic noises to your gameplay experience.

On the leading edge, the DualSense looks more like your conventional video game controller. Looks can be tricking. There’s a single USB-C port, which will connect your controller to a computer system along with charge the incorporated battery. You still need to pay additional to get rechargeable battery packs for the Xbox controller, however neither includes a USB-C cable television.

The shoulder buttons work as you ‘d anticipate, however the triggers are something unique. Designers can alter the quantity of resistance for the triggers, making them feel various when carrying out various activities in the video game. While you can’t inform simply by taking a look at the outside, the DualSense has massive vibration motors in the grips. This enables the controller to produce sophisticated haptic experiences, once again, depending upon designer assistance.

The matte plastic outside is smoother than the Xbox controller, however it’s still adequately steady with the longer grips. Visually, it’s an appealing piece of innovation if you like the PlayStation 5’s appearance. There are no exposed screws, and a number of the plastic joints are incorporated with the style language to form PS5-style unfavorable area and lighting bars. It’s a gamepad from the future.

Sony DualSense: Features and hands-on experience

Many players are entrenched in their controller design choices. If you’ve been utilizing Xbox-style controllers for many years, there may be a knowing curve with the DualSense. Xbox fans should not discount this one. The DualSense weighs in at 281 grams, about the like the current-gen Xbox controller. We discovered the DualSense to be more comfy in the hand throughout long video gaming sessions. The Xbox controller feels a bit chunky by contrast.

The buttons on the face are all tactile and simple to press, although the time out button is really flat and can be tough to discover by feel. The thumbsticks have a grippy rubberized texture and simply the correct amount of resistance. It takes less force to click the sticks on Sony’s controller compared to Microsoft’s, however it’s not so little that you’ll do it by mishap.

Ryan Whitwam/ Foundry

The controller’s distinct hardware works wirelessly with the PS5, however on PC, you’ll need to utilize a USB-C cable television to get appropriate assistance in DualSense-optimized video games. When a video game supports the DualSense, it truly raises the experience. Returnal utilizes the DualSense’s haptics to communicate details about your character’s status and the environment. If you attempt to utilize your alt-fire prior to it’s charged, the controller provides you an angry-feeling vibration in the trigger area. In locations where it’s drizzling, the sophisticated haptics can even mimic the sensation of raindrops striking the controller. Integrated with the speaker, the DualSense produces a far more immersive experience.

The adaptive triggers are a lot more excellent than the haptics. Without change, the triggers are smooth and simple to press, with about the very same travel as the Xbox controller. Games can increase the resistance to make in-game activities feel more genuine, however the trigger modification can likewise be practical. Returning to Returnal, the designers developed a two-stop button out of the left trigger. Depress it to the very first stop, and your character goes for increased accuracy. Press past the tactile bump, and you trigger alt-fire mode. It’s very cool and beneficial in a hectic title like Returnal

In cordless mode, we’re balancing around 8 hours of gameplay per charge, which is far except the 25 to 30 hours you get with the Xbox controller. Given, the DualSense does a lot more, however the boosted haptics and activates just operate in choose video games and over a wired connection. That makes cordless mode on PC underwhelming.

Sony DualSense: Compatibility

Naturally, the DualSense works finest with the PS5. The trackpad, adaptive triggers, and haptics are used in practically all video games, and you can play wirelessly. Linking the DualSense to a PC over Bluetooth fasts and simple, however it will just be found as a generic video game controller. Steam lets you map Xbox manages onto to DualSense, so all controller-optimized video games will a minimum of comprehend it as an input gadget.

There have to do with 30 overall video games on PC that support DualSense haptics and/or adaptive triggers. The majority of them are PlayStation ports like Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered and the abovementioned Returnal In all other PC video games, the DualSense works like a routine controller without any unique functions. It’s a quite comfy one.

If you’re playing a video game without DualSense assistance, you can play wirelessly and not lose anything. You need to stick to wired input for DualSense-supporting video games. We would like to see Sony open the DualSense experience over Bluetooth for PCs. In the meantime, the third-party DualSenseX software application can make the controller better on Windows, however it takes a great deal of playing to get it working properly.

Ryan Whitwam/ Foundry

Should you purchase a Sony DualSense?

The DualSense is a really outstanding gamepad, weding software and hardware to allow more immersive gameplay. As a piece of hardware, the DualSense is far remarkable to the present Xbox offerings. It’s more comfy, the buttons feel much better, and functions like adaptive triggers are innovative. Sony’s accurate, immersive haptics are on a various level compared to other controllers, which simply rumble at differing strengths. It’s like comparing iPhone haptics to any other phone– there is no contrast.

We like that Sony’s controller includes an integrated rechargeable battery, however the battery life might be much better. At about 8 hours per charge, you ‘d succeed to get a charging dock so you do not forget to energize the gamepad when you’re not playing. You’ll likewise require to supply your own USB-C cable television, as the controller does not featured one.

However, you’ll just get the very best experience on the PlayStation 5. Just a handful of PC video games support the controller’s innovative functions, and they all need a wired connection. Over Bluetooth, the DualSense is simply a generic controller. The Sony DualSense is the exceptional controller that PC players are worthy of. Unfortunately, the assistance isn’t there.