DualSense Edge review: luxurious PS5 controller comes at a cost

The PS5 controller has a dirty secret. No matter how good third-party controllers are, Sony-developed controllers are always best in class. This is not because the company makes better hardware than his PowerA, Victrix or Scuf. That’s because Sony holds a patent for DualSense’s signature feature. No matter how innovative other controllers are, you can only get haptic feedback and adaptive triggers with Sony’s official gamepad.

This makes the new DualSense Edge an inherent and perhaps unfair advantage. On paper, Sony’s new “pro” controller has more flaws than many of the competitors that beat it. All of this pales in comparison to Victrix’s excellent Pro BFG, for example. Still, if you want your PS5 controller to act like a PS5 controller, the defaults are unmatched.

I have some mixed feelings about it, but the DualSense Edge offers PlayStation fans what the PS5 has been missing since launch. A robust controller that includes several back buttons. Considering the PS5’s regular controller is already one of the best gamepads in its own right, that price tag is a poor sell.

build quality

At first glance, DualSense Edge looks almost identical to regular DualSense, which is a good thing. Sony’s standard PS5 controller employs a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” design, and the Edge embraces that device. In terms of aesthetic differences, swap the d-pad and face buttons from white to black. The touchpad gets a little makeover here, with a black textured surface. The only major difference on the front is the inclusion of his two function buttons, discreetly placed under each joystick.

The edges are careful not to clutter it up, but there are a few additional changes on the underside. Two magnetic slots for attachable rear buttons, a series of trigger locks, and popping out of the front faceplate. There is a small release button that is used for I appreciate how Edge has maintained a simple look. Feature-packed pro controllers tend to be over-designed and obtrusive. Instead, Edge feels like something you can pass to someone who’s never used Edge without causing a lot of confused stares.

Edge comes with a black and white carrying case that neatly stores all attachments. A mesh pouch holds wired cables, and the bottom compartment has slots for an extra joystick and back button. Inside the case is a QR code that, when scanned, takes you to the FAQ page and acts as a digital manual. Its packaging makes it safe and easy to carry. This is a must for a $200 controller.

While there’s a lot I admire about the overall build quality here, there’s one big caveat: battery life. Based on our tests, the DualSense Edge pales in comparison to the standard DualSense when it comes to battery. It can be used for about 6 hours with one charge. This is a few hours shorter than my DualSense duration. I understand that that extra perk might require some power, but it’s hard to accept such a noticeable drop in a model that’s supposed to be a “pro” model.

Admittedly, most people won’t be gaming for more than six hours straight, and the long cable makes it easy to play from the couch when you need to recharge. Still, users shouldn’t be making tradeoffs for tech that’s more than double the price of what comes bundled with the console.The DualSense Edge should feel like a step up in every way, but this one in particular It’s one of the key areas where it’s not.

bell and whistle

The main attraction here is the additional level of customization offered by the DualSense Edge. For those who like to tweak settings, there’s a lot to experiment with here. Just like the Xbox Elite Series 2, each trigger has 3 settings and I’ve already used them to good effect. With Forspoken, I found that casting magic spells was much easier once I moved to the middle setting, and repeated full presses could be tiring.

I’m most attracted to Sony’s approach to the back button here. The package comes with his two sets of back buttons, lever and half dome. Both slide easily in and out of the controller via magnetic slots for easy installation. What’s even more impressive is that I’ve never felt the danger of inadvertently slipping it out when I just pull it off. Both rear button designs are unobtrusive and feel perfectly placed — many controllers have a hard time nailing them — but I was particularly impressed with the Half Dome buttons. They fit perfectly under my middle finger and tuck in with a soft, satisfying click. The lever feels natural to use as well, but I hope this style of back button becomes the standard for future Sony controllers.

From there, the customization possibilities fall a little short. The only other parts included are four dome joystick caps that can replace the two standard ones that come with the controller. There are “high” and “low” versions of each, but the difference in height between the two is not very noticeable. The joystick cap doesn’t come off easily, so installation can be a little tricky at first. To replace them, you’ll need to slide the “release” button on the back of the controller to remove the faceplate. If you don’t have a nail, removing this is a bit of a hassle. If you don’t mess with it, you still won’t get it right.

Once the faceplate is off, you’ll need to lift the metal spirit level to release the stick module so you can pop the cap on and off. However, doing this disconnects the controller from the PS5, so if you want to try different stick heights during a Call of Duty match, it’s a bit annoying to pull this off naturally in the game. You can quickly replace the , but it’s a little more cumbersome than other similar controllers I’ve used.

That’s about all there is to tinker with in terms of hardware customization, but it feels lacking when looking at the other controllers I’m sitting on. Controllers like 2 have four. The Pro BFG comes with two less joystick caps, but includes a much taller “sniper stick” and a set of hexagonal stick gates for a wide variety of possible combinations. Here you have the option to map two additional buttons and change the stick layout more subtly. Personally, I prefer the standard cap that comes with the DualSense and don’t need to replace it after testing, but your mileage will vary.

Sony can’t help but feel a little too precious with the DualSense design here, which clashes with the idea of ​​a high-level controller built to give players more agency. Some gamepads come with different interchangeable directional pad styles. The Pro BFG includes a standard directional pad, an 8-way directional pad, and even our own original designs. That’s not the case here, as Sony is sticking with his four-way face button layout. I’m wondering if it’s for practical reasons, or if Sony is a little too protective of the DualSense’s aesthetics.

This may sound silly, but again, we’re talking controllers priced at Nintendo Switch Lite prices. If my expectations sound high, it’s because there are hurdles for a product like this. The button will be a worthwhile investment for those who swear by it, but most players will stick with the already premium-feeling DualSense and don’t feel like missing out too much.

Customizing the backend

I’m a little disappointed with the parts included, but when it comes to backend customization, the DualSense Edge shines. Pairing one to the PS5 lets you change a range of functions via the console. This is the kind of high-level tweaking that really appeals to the kind of users who actually need something like this.

However, its best features come in the form of button profiles. Via the settings menu, the user can change all the buttons on the controller and save them to their profile. Want to create several profiles featuring different back button mappings? Create as many as you like. Want to throw your face button at the trigger or bumper? Weird, but go ahead!For example, I mapped L3 to the back button during playback One Piece Odyssey So I didn’t have to push the stick to toggle the game’s autorun feature. Once mapped, players can store up to four profiles on their gamepad and seamlessly trigger them by holding down the function button and pressing the face button.

Here’s an example where everything really goes smoothly. I created two separate profiles while playing Forspoken. One was my combat layout, where I mapped bumpers to each back button. L1 and R1 open Frey’s radial spell menu in-game. This is usually annoying, but felt more natural at Half Dome. However, I made a different exploration-focused profile that maps the parkour and item pickup buttons to the back instead. If you come across a horde of enemies while exploring, just press function + circle to instantly switch to attack settings.

That level of control is what ultimately captivates me with the DualSense Edge, despite its flaws.A good pro controller is about giving the player flexibility. That’s exactly what you feel when you switch profiles on the fly. I’d love to tinker with more buttons and parts, but the reality is that the basic DualSense design is already top of its class. There aren’t many things I want to change, even if I could. The back button and profile are enough to significantly improve your experience with certain games.

But the feeling is definitely a luxury, and at $200 it’s hard to fully justify it.If the Edge retails for $50 less, it’s an easy buy for anyone who uses the PS5 every week. It’s hard to recommend broadly when battery life is declining and front-end customization beats cheaper and more innovative third-party models.

Even after all these criticisms, I’m back to my original thoughts. You can’t get adaptive triggers or haptic feedback with these controllers.The DualSense Edge is, in some ways, the only professional PS5 controller. If you don’t think it’s worth the price, it probably isn’t for you. But if you’ve been wanting the equivalent of the Elite Series 2 on PS5, this is a moot point in a landscape of third-party gamepads forced to make up for lost functionality with niche extensions. is not.

Editor’s pick