If you own a PlayStation 5 then you're probably in awe of its controller. The PS5 DualSense comes with a raft of awesome features not seen on a joypad before. However, it is lacking in certain areas.
So, in this article, we list the positives and negatives of the DualSense controller...
The Good Things About the PS5 DualSense Controller
The PS5's native controller has plenty to shout about in terms of cool features. Many of them put the controller way ahead of its peers. Here are some of our favorite features of the DualSense.
1. The DualSense Has Adaptive Trigger Buttons
One of the breakthrough features of the DualSense controller is the adaptive trigger buttons. These are the R2 and L2 buttons on the pad, and they're a lot different to the shoulder buttons on the DualShock 4 controller, or any of the previous PlayStation controllers for that matter.
The adaptive triggers allow you to "feel" aspects of your game. So, the left trigger will offer resistance to emulate raising a weapon, for example. Likewise, the right trigger button will then feel like you're actually squeezing a gun's trigger.
2. The DualSense Has Innovative Aesthetic Qualities
Have you ever looked closely at the rear of your DualSense's grips? If not, we suggest you do. If you can focus on the tiny pattern, you'll notice Sony textured it with thousands of PlayStation symbols. 40,000 to be exact...
Sony literally broke the mold (or rather, improved it) by machining it with a 3D laser cutter. The shapes are only a handful of microns high, yet thanks to the innovative molding method, some shapes are even on top of one another in layers.
3. You Can Change the DualSense Faceplate
Not content with the black faceplate on the front of the controller? Well, you can, theoretically, change it. You just need to find a replacement for the existing one.
Brands like Decor Evolve are offering custom DualSense plates, although how long that lasts is another matter.
For whatever reason, lots of people want to customize the appearance of their console and its accessories. Of course, you can get many skins and stickers to enrobe your DualSense with, but these can be prone to peeling. A solid replacement is a more hard wearing option.
4. The DualSense Boasts Haptic Feedback
Haptic feedback is one of the standout features of the DualSense controller, alongside the adaptive triggers. Again, this allows a player to "feel" the game, immersing them further into the experience.
The DualSense's haptic feedback motors are in the grips, and they translate occurrences on screen into vibrations in the handles.
So, if you are running across a hard, tiled floor in Control: Ultimate Edition, then the pad will vibrate with each footstep, placing you in the shoes of Jesse Faden and allowing you to feel her footfall.
5. There Is a Microphone Built-In to the DualSense
No headset? No problem. You can still chat to your friends in-game as the DualSense has a built-in microphone up front. Don't want to chat? No worries! You can turn the mic off with a press of the button.
Of course, using a gaming headset is the preferred method of communicating with friends and other gamers, and there are plenty of headsets out there. Some can be quite expensive, though.
However, Sony has recognized this. Especially good when you've just splashed out $499 on a new console. An extra $100 or so is going to be hard to swallow when you would probably prefer spending the cash on another DualSense. A built-in mic makes perfect sense.
6. You Have Content Creation at Your Fingertips
While the "Share" button from the DualShock 4 may have disappeared, that doesn't mean you can't create cool gaming content for your friends and followers. "Create" being the operative term, as that is the button you press to craft content.
Tapping the Create button allows you to take screenshots, or edit and share video of your ridiculously accurate long shots in Call of Duty, or a crazy glitch you just found in the latest entry to the FIFA game series.
Having this option allows gaming content creators to share their latest feats easily and, more important, instantly.
The Bad Things About the PS5 DualSense Controller
Unfortunately, as innovative as it is, the DualSense isn't perfect. While it has all the features listed above, it does come with a few downfalls, too. Here's what we don't like about the PS5 controller.
1. The DualSense Battery Life Isn't Great
OK, so it is an improvement on the battery life of the DualShock 4, but the DualSense battery life still isn't great. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to save battery on your DualSense, so this is a minor gripe.
Despite a claim of 10-12 hours battery, the DualSense provides half of that, giving you around 4-5 hours of solid gaming (which is precisely why it might be more sensible to buy a spare controller instead of a headset, as mentioned above).
This is still better than the fairly woeful battery life that the DualShock 4 possessed, though.
2. DualSense "Drift" Is Cropping Up
You'll probably know all about Nintendo's continued woes with Joy-Con drift. This "drift" means that the thumb-sticks on the Joy-Con register movement on screen, with no user input. So, for example, a character might move around the screen without you touching the controls.
Unfortunately, PS5 owners have also started complaining of a similar drift effect with their DualSense controllers. This defect became the subject of a class action lawsuit brought against Sony.
This is likely to be a worry that concerns most, if not all, PS5 owners. The last thing you want is a $70 controller suddenly giving up the ghost not long after you bought it. This worry could hamper your experience. This writer knows it hampers his.
3. There Is No Dedicated Pairing Button
While you don't really need a dedicated pairing button, the DualSense requires you to use a specific button combination in order to enter pairing mode. OK, this might not be a massive issue, but a dedicated button would be nice.
There are many reasons that you might need to put your DualSense into pairing mode (not least to pair it with the PS5). Given that you can use the controller across multiple platforms, you'd think Sony would've considered this and added a pairing button. Xbox has one!
4. The DualSense Is Fairly Heavy
OK, so we know why the DualSense is a chunky device; all the gizmos inside the belly of the beast take up a lot of room. While things like adaptive triggers and haptic feedback are great, the components that allow these features add weight to the controller.
The DualShock 4 weighed in at 210 grams (7.4 ounces) where the DualSense tips the scales at a portly 280 grams (9.87 ounces). This doesn't seem like much, but that extra weight adds to gamer fatigue when you're in the middle of a lengthy session.
What Do You Think of the DualSense?
Love it or hate it, Sony has really added some fantastic features with the DualSense. Building on what everyone loved about the DualShock 4, it has developed a controller with enough pros to outweigh the cons.
Not only is the DualSense great for controlling PS5 games, you can use it across a wide range of other platforms, too, including iOS, Android, and PC. There is even footage of it working with a Nintendo Switch.
As long as Sony takes this DualSense drift issue seriously and resolves it quickly, then we still have a contender for one of the best game controllers out there.