DualShock 4 is a major upgrade to the PS5 DualSense. There are good reasons why Sony didn't just call it DualShock 5. DualSense is a revolutionary line that offers a more ergonomic design and features such as adaptive triggers and tactile feedback to improve your immersion. This is Sony's next major step, and it speaks volumes about what they have in store for the PS5 over the next few years. $70 at Amazon Pros Adaptive triggers
Improved haptic feedback
Touchpad is surrounded by light bar
New texture grips, triggers and thumbsticks
USB-C charging
Pros Symmetrical thumbstick layout and built-in microphone The DualShock 4 has a touchpad and light bar that are superior to its predecessor, but it is still a good controller. It has nothing special except the Share button which is the pioneer of content creation and sharing via social media. The battery was also not great and the design isn't very noteworthy. $65 at Amazon Pros Touchpad
Use the Share button
Built-in speakers
Pros Light bar is used in certain games. Cons Light bars can drain the battery
Grips are not comfortable to hold
Layout of thumbsticks in a symmetrical arrangement
Pressing the D-pad and face buttons feels soft to touch
Charge your phone with micro-USB
Each console generation brings a new version of controllers. Minor tweaks, major revisions and technological advances all play a role inside and outside of the hardware.
Although the DualShock controllers have seen a lot of innovation since their inception, they still look and feel very similar. The new DualSense for PS5 by Sony completely transforms the chassis' shape, giving it a modern look and improved ergonomics. While DualShock 4 & DualSense remain part of the same family, it is clear that Sony doesn't want to be content with the same old formula.
Sony is making a leap of faith in the next generation
Source: Sony
Sony has never been known to make drastic changes to its controllers. This is evident in the three images above, which include the original DualShock and DualShock 3 as well as DualShock 3 and 4. The three original DualShocks were almost identical. However, the DualShock 3's wireless compatibility and the addition of thumbsticks to the revised DualShock controller (1997) markedly changed the look of the DualShock 3. A DualShock 2 and 3 would be almost identical if they were held side-by-side. The most obvious difference is that the DualShock 3 has no analog button. Instead, it uses the PS button.
Sony's most significant departure was the DualShock 4, which featured a Share button, lightbar, and touchpad. However, the chassis kept a similar shape throughout, with minor adjustments to make it more comfortable to hold. It was easy to see that all four DualShocks belonged to the same family.
Source: Jennifer Locke / Android Central
Take a look at DualSense and you will see that Sony didn't stop there. It looks more like a controller made for the next-generation system.
The PS5 DualSense DualShock 4 is $60 MSRP (Jet Black). USB-C Yes. Share button No (Create). Haptic feedback No. Trigger layout Symmetrical or inline. Microphone Yes. Audio jack 3.5mm. Compatibility: PS5, Android, iOS 14.5 (or earlier) PS4, Android 10, iOS 13, PS5 (or later). Dimensions: 6.3inx2.6inx 4.2in. Weight 280g 210g. Release date November 12, 2012
Form factor and other features
The DualSense controller is now being compared with the Xbox One controller. This is something you can't say about the past. It is because of its ergonomic design, which alters the shape of the grips as well as the rest of it. Although it may seem minor, this is one of the most significant changes Sony has made. When it comes to a controller, ergonomics are everything. No matter how advanced the features of a controller are, it doesn't matter if the controller is difficult to hold. New textured grips, thumbsticks, and other features help to alleviate this problem.
Sony had to modify the design slightly due to the adaptive triggers. I'll explain more below. Although they look the same as the DualShock 4, a quick glance will show that the bumpers are larger.
It was important to think about how the components would fit in the hardware, without making it bulky. To place triggers and actuators, our design team collaborated closely with the hardware engineers. Designers were then able draw the outline of how the controller's exterior would look and feel. The challenge was to make the controller seem smaller than it actually is. We changed the angle of hand triggers, and made subtle changes to the grip.
As an added bonus, the buttons are now tactile. The DualShock 4's face buttons and Dpad were a little difficult to use. Sony also changed the Share button to Create, added a microphone array to the DualSense internals, and now uses USB-C charging.
Adaptive triggers
The triggers of the DualShock 4 were nothing special. DualSense has changed that. Sony has developed adaptive triggers that adjust to your game actions, adding tension and resistance layers to the triggers.
These features, combined with DualSense's enhanced haptic feedback technology provide a new level immersion that is otherwise unattainable. You will feel the impact of your actions. I can tell from personal experience that DualSense is just as revolutionary as Sony claimed. I believe adaptive triggers are a serious innovation and that more third-party developers will take advantage of them.
Placement of light bars
Although the light bar was an intriguing idea, not enough developers used it. It ended up being more of a nuisance that anything. Instead of offering new ways to play a game, the light bar was a bright light that drains battery life and can't be turned off completely. Sony didn't give up, however, because it maintained the Light Bar on the DualSense.
The light bar is now a small strip at the edge of the touchpad. It's still not possible to turn it off completely in the settings. However, it is less intrusive and doesn’t charge as much.
Bottom line
The DualSense is far better than the DualShock 4. It's clear that it's much more advanced than the DualShock 4 and Sony has spent a lot of time working with it. If only Sony could fix the thumbstick layout, DualSense would be an improvement in nearly every way.
If you look back at the past, many of the best PS4 controllers were third-party. DualSense is the best controller for PS5 but it's not surprising.
This is a major leap forward for the PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller. Sony's design team has done a great job. The DualSense appears to be everything you would expect from a controller version. Sony is moving forward with its next-generation consoles, accessories and I am eager to see what it has in store. Amazon: $69
Best Buy: $70
Walmart: $69
DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PlayStation 4 - Old hardware DualShock 4 Wireless controller It's a subpar product with janky ergonomics and dull triggers that you won’t be using in the future. Amazon: $65
Best Buy: $65
