DualSense Edge review: Is the PS5 Pro controller worth the price?

Sony’s DualSense Edge is the company’s first attempt at a ‘Pro’ controller like Xbox’s Elite and other third-party options, but does it impress you?

Pro controllers have been around for a while. Ever since modders started adding buttons to pads, they use different height sticks, buttons, etc. First-party companies started taking cues with the arrival of the Xbox Elite controller in 2015. Since then, however, Sony has been tight-lipped about its premium options for its pro-style controllers, until now.

DualSense Edge is chock-full of extra features for your console. Unlike others, it manages to keep its iconic DualSense design without all sorts of button splatters on the top, back and sides. As the competition heats up, does Sony’s product stand out?

Main Specifications

• connectivity: USB-C, Wireless
• compatibility: PS5, PC
• battery life: Six hours
• price: $200
• Features: 2 rear buttons, 2 function buttons, customizable stick heights, customizable stick caps, 3-point trigger stops

In the box: DualSense Edge controller, carrying case, locking USB-A to USB-C charging cable, 2 convex stick caps, 2 convex stick caps, cable, 2 circular back buttons, 2 paddle back buttons.

design

The DualSense Edge may not look too different from the regular DualSense, but it’s finished with a glossy black aesthetic, featuring black buttons instead of the usual white face buttons. The central portion of the controller also has a piano black finish, and the touchpad is slightly larger than the standard DualSense and has a black finish with the iconic PlayStation button design.

The only gripe with the design is the glossy piano black finish on the central portion of the controller.Under certain types of light, it looks grayer than the rest of the black plastic on the controller.For a $200 product is quite unfortunate.

The L1 and R1 buttons are exactly like the original DualSense, while the L2 and R2 buttons are slightly textured for better grip.

There’s a little more interesting stuff on the back, where you’ll find three dip switch selectors for the trigger-stop function that’s thick and satisfying to adjust, as well as holes for entering circular or paddle-style rear buttons. The back button is metal and magnetic, making it very easy to install. Normally, paddle-style buttons feel a bit jarring, but Sony’s circular buttons are very satisfying in comparison and were the ones I chose to primarily use throughout my time with the DualSense Edge.

There’s a release button for the USB-C wired locking mechanism on the back, a nice little addition for pro players to keep their Type-C connection from disconnecting during a match.

funky features

Dexert

Back on the front of the controller, there are also two function keys that can be changed in software. These are located on the bottom of the controller and are relatively easy to overlook. They’re a nice touch and we’ve never tried too hard to get to them.

But the stick is also disappointing. Instead of reaching for Hall-sensing alternatives, Sony has opted to stick with the ALPS stick. What this means, according to iFixit, is that after about 400 hours of play, the potential for stick degradation and stick drift is very high.

Split open the DualSense Edge and easily swap sticks via the magnetic module. There’s even space in the carry case, but that’s just a stopgap measure for long-term problems, and if he’s spending $200 on a controller, you should expect quality parts as well. Fortunately, grikit We are working on a third party module to fix this.

Features

Dexert

DualSense Edge’s true performance lies in its compatibility with PlayStation hardware. When paired with the console, you can adjust stick sensitivity and deadzones, as well as remap the rear buttons. In addition to swapping profiles, you can also map function buttons such as audio splitting and party chat.

There are several sensitivity curves that can be applied, ranging from accurate to rapid to digital style input. I popped with Precise for the majority of my testing. You can remap the entire controller if you want, but most of the time it’s just the default settings. I just mapped the back button to the face button I normally use so I don’t have to take my hand off the right stick.

Buttons can be easily remapped using the PS5 context menu. It only takes a few minutes to understand. Saving profiles and swapping between them also went without a hitch. It’s impressive that Sony has extended support so deep into their own software, making configuring the DualSense Edge more intuitive out of the box than competitors such as the Victrix Pro BFG.

Many controllers opt for the four back buttons, but I never felt like I was missing anything with the two buttons I was given. What we missed was the Victrix Pro BFG’s ability to swap out the directional pad and stick to a specific game. The DualSense Edge may look great, but when it comes to pure hardware, it’s not the most fully featured controller for the PS5.

game performance

Dexert

With a fully customized DualSense Edge, we headed to Fortnite to see how the controller worked in real-world gaming scenarios. Marvel’s Ghost has made the back button very useful for reloading while navigating the map as his rider. The trigger stop feature worked well for picking out distant targets thanks to the “precise” stick movement option I set. before that particular profile.

Adding haptic triggers comes in handy in God of War when you set your controller to the longest trigger stop mode. Create a wide range of button combinations.

battery charging

We found that the DualSense Edge’s battery life only lasted about 6 hours in normal use. This is slightly shorter than his normal DualSense battery. This is very disappointing, and I wish the controller had a larger battery so it could be used more.

Moreover, the case does not have any charging function. The Xbox Elite series comes with a case that wirelessly charges the controller, but you have to tear the Velcro strap on the back of the case and plug the cable directly into the controller. That would have been nice extra trimming, but obviously, $200 can’t stretch that far.

should you buy it?

DualSense Edge is an expensive controller. We may be taking it for granted, but for $200 you get all the features of a standard DualSense with four extra buttons and some hardware features, but retains great software support. doing.

However, for that price, you can opt for the Victrix Pro BFG instead. This is an overall preference over the DualSense Edge.The controller has great software, and the circular back button is a truly innovative touch in the stagnant paddle-and-button market, but it’s only half-delivered I don’t recommend spending $200 on something that feels like an unfinished idea.

We wished the hardware itself had higher quality parts and more customization options. This means there is no way to customize it and you have to deal with convex shapes. Combine that with relatively paltry battery life and a potentiometer-based stick that degrades over time, and you get a package that feels premium until you delve deeper into the details.

This isn’t a bad controller by any means, but it’s a hard pill to swallow for $200. I think Sony’s hardware design wizard could have done a little better when it came to designing a controller made for power users and pro-his gamers. No matter how beautiful and sophisticated the software is, the hardware and price just don’t match.