Choosing the Right PS5 Controller: DualSense vs. DualSense Edge
The PS5 boasts two excellent first-party controllers: the standard DualSense and the premium DualSense Edge. This comparison will help you decide which best suits your needs, considering price, features, and your gaming style.
DualSense Controller Price Comparison
The most significant difference is price. The standard DualSense, included with every PS5, retails for $69.99 (though sales often offer discounts). The DualSense Edge, however, commands a higher price of $199, comparable to other high-end controllers like the Xbox Elite Series 2. This premium reflects its enhanced features and included accessories.
Specs and Features: Shared and Unique
Both controllers share core features: haptic feedback for precise vibrations, and adaptive triggers simulating in-game actions. They also maintain a similar shape and button layout, ensuring a familiar feel. Both include the standard PlayStation thumbsticks, face buttons, D-pad, touchpad, integrated speakers, headphone jack, and microphone.
DualSense Edge: Customization Reigns Supreme
The DualSense Edge excels in customization. It offers interchangeable thumbsticks and back buttons, allowing personalized control schemes. Replaceable thumbstick modules mitigate stick drift, a common controller issue. Up to four customizable profiles, accessed via function buttons, allow remapping of every button for optimized gameplay. The ease of profile creation and editing is a major advantage.
DualSense: Familiar Comfort and Extended Playtime
The standard DualSense provides a comfortable and familiar experience with its longer battery life—approximately 10 hours compared to the DualSense Edge's 5 hours. This extended playtime is ideal for marathon gaming sessions. It also comes in a wider array of colors and special editions.
Which Controller Should You Choose?
The DualSense Edge is a superior controller in most aspects except battery life. Its customizable features, particularly interchangeable buttons and thumbsticks, provide a competitive advantage in multiplayer games and shooters. The replaceable thumbstick modules alone might justify the higher cost for players prone to stick drift.
However, for casual gamers or those who prioritize single-player experiences and longer battery life, the standard DualSense is the better option. Its longer battery life and diverse color options cater to a broader range of preferences. The DualSense Edge's white color scheme might not appeal to everyone.
What Matters Most in a PS5 Controller?
What features are most important to you?
