DualSense Edge
MSRP $200.00

“The DualSense Edge offers excellent customization options for PS5 fans, but its high price point makes it a luxury purchase.”

Pros

Strong construct high quality

Sturdy carrying case

Fantastic again buttons

Versatile set off locks

Innovative profile swapping

Cons

High worth

Short battery life

Parts really feel missing for worth

There’s a grimy secret about PS5 controllers: No matter how nice a third-party one is, a Sony-developed one is at all times going to be best-in-class. That’s not as a result of the corporate produces higher {hardware} than PowerA, Victrix, or Scuf; it’s just because Sony holds the patents for the DualSense’s signature options. No matter how progressive one other controller is, you’ll solely get haptic suggestions and adaptive triggers on an official Sony gamepad.
That places the brand new DualSense Edge at an inherent — and maybe unfair — benefit. On paper, Sony’s new “pro” controller is extra flawed than plenty of opponents that beat it to the punch. It’s costly, has a brief battery life, and comes with a restricted set of swappable elements. On all of these factors, it pales compared to, say, Victrix’s wonderful Pro BFG. And but, it’s form of unmatched by default if you’d like your PS5 controller to operate like a PS5 controller.
Though I’ve some combined emotions about it, the DualSense Edge does provide PlayStation followers one thing the PS5 has been missing since launch. It’s a sturdy controller that’s enjoyable to tinker with and contains a number of the greatest again buttons I’ve used on a gamepad. It sports activities sufficient helpful bells and whistles that it’ll possible exchange my customary DualSense, although its price ticket makes it a tough promote contemplating that the PS5’s common controller is already among the best gamepads on the market by itself.

Build high quality
At first look, the DualSense Edge appears to be like nearly equivalent to a daily DualSense … and that’s a great factor. Sony’s customary PS5 controller sports activities an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” design and the Edge takes that system. In phrases of aesthetic distinction, it swaps the D-pad and face buttons from white to black. The touchpad will get a slight makeover right here, with a black textured floor. The solely main distinction on the entrance is the inclusion of two operate buttons, that are unobtrusively positioned beneath every joystick.
There’s rather a lot that impresses me concerning the total construct high quality right here …

The bottom brings some further modifications, although the Edge is cautious to not litter it. There are two magnetic slots for attachable again buttons, a set of set off locks, and a small launch button used to pop off the entrance faceplate. I admire that the Edge retains its look easy. With a professional controller full of options, there could be a tendency to overdesign and create an eyesore. Instead, the Edge looks like one thing I may hand to somebody who’s by no means used one with out triggering plenty of confused glances.
The Edge comes bundled with a black and white carrying case that neatly holds all of its attachments. A mesh pouch homes a wired cable, whereas a backside compartment has slots for its further joysticks and again buttons. As a pleasant further contact, the within of the case includes a QR code that takes customers to an FAQ web page when scanned, performing as a digital guide. That packaging makes it secure and simple to move round, which is a should for a $200 controller.

There’s rather a lot that impresses me concerning the total construct high quality right here, however there may be one main caveat: battery life. The DualSense Edge pales compared to the usual DualSense in terms of battery, primarily based on our testing. We’ve gotten round six hours out of a single cost, which is just a few hours shy of how lengthy my DualSense lasts. Though I perceive its further perks would possibly demand some energy, it’s arduous to abdomen such a notable step down in what’s alleged to be a “pro” mannequin.
Granted, most individuals don’t play a recreation for greater than six hours straight and a prolonged cable makes it simple to play from the sofa when it wants a cost. Still, customers shouldn’t be making trade-offs with a bit of tech that’s greater than double the worth of what got here bundled with the console. The DualSense Edge ought to really feel like a step up in each manner and that is one key space the place it notably doesn’t.
The bells and whistles
The important attraction right here is the additional stage of customization the DualSense Edge offers. For those that like to tweak their settings, there’s rather a lot to experiment with right here. For occasion, I can change how far down every set off must be pressed with a set of locks. Each set off has three settings, very similar to the Xbox Elite Series 2, and I’ve already gotten some good use out of them. In Forspoken, I discovered that shifting to the center setting made it a lot simpler to fling magical spells, which may get tiring after repeated full presses.
I can’t assist however really feel like Sony is a bit of too valuable with its DualSense design right here …

I’m most enamored with Sony’s strategy to again buttons right here. The package deal comes with two units of again buttons: levers and half domes. Both simply slot out and in of the controller through magnetic slots, making them simple to put in. More spectacular is that I by no means really feel like they’re at risk of unintentionally falling out, although all I must do is pull to take away them. Both again button designs are unobtrusive and really feel completely positioned — one thing that a number of controllers wrestle to nail — however I’m particularly impressed with the half-dome buttons. They completely sit underneath my center fingers and press in with a mushy, satisfying click on. Even once I’m not utilizing them, they act as a pure resting spot for my fingers. The levers really feel simply as pure to make use of, however I’d like to see this model of again button to turn out to be customary for Sony controllers going ahead.
The customization potential will get a bit of missing from there. The solely different elements included are 4 dome joystick caps that may exchange the 2 customary ones that include the controller. There’s a “high” and “low” model of every, although the peak distinction between them isn’t too noticeable. Installing them could be a bit tough at first too, as joystick caps don’t merely pop off. To exchange them, you want to slide a “release” button on the again of the controller to pop off its entrance faceplate. If you don’t have nails, this can be a little bit of a ache to drag off. I nonetheless can’t get it proper with out some fiddling.

Once the faceplate is off, you want to elevate a metallic stage to launch the stick module, permitting you to pop a cap on and off. Doing so disconnects the controller from the PS5, although, so it’s a little bit of a ache to naturally pull this off in recreation if, say, you need to experiment with a unique stick top mid Call of Duty match. I’ve gotten the cling of it and might swap a stick shortly, but it surely’s a bit extra of a trouble than different comparable controllers I’ve used.
That’s about all you possibly can mess around with by way of {hardware} customization, which feels missing once I take a look at different controllers I’ve sitting round. For occasion, the Edge solely has two again buttons whereas controllers just like the Elite Series 2 have 4. The Pro BFG comes with two fewer joystick caps, but it surely does embrace a a lot taller “sniper stick” in addition to a set of hexagonal stick gates that give me plenty of mix-and-match potential. Here, I merely have the choice to map two further buttons and make a extra delicate change to my stick format. Personally, I choose the usual caps that include the DualSense and haven’t felt the urge to exchange them after testing, however everybody’s mileage will fluctuate there.

I can’t assist however really feel like Sony is a bit of too valuable with its DualSense design right here, clashing with the thought of a high-level controller constructed to present gamers extra company. For instance, a number of gamepads at this worth vary include totally different D-pad types that may be swapped out and in. The Pro BFG contains a typical D-pad, an eight-directional one, and even its personal authentic design. That’s not the case right here, as Sony sticks to its four-directional face button format. I’m simply left questioning if that’s for a sensible motive or if Sony is maybe a bit of too protecting over the DualSense’s aesthetic.
This would possibly all sound like a nitpick, however as soon as once more, we’re speaking a few controller that retails for the worth of a Nintendo Switch Lite. If it appears like my expectations are excessive, it’s as a result of the bar for a product like that is. I simply don’t really feel like I’ve an excessive amount of to play with on the entrance finish, which is a part of the enchantment of one thing like this. The wonderful again buttons do make this a worthwhile funding for individuals who swear by them, however I do really feel like most gamers may persist with the already premium-feeling DualSense and never be lacking an excessive amount of.
Backend customization
Though I’m a bit of let down by the elements included, the DualSense Edge shines in terms of its backend customization. When pairing one to a PS5, you’ll be capable of alter a collection of features through the console. That will get as particular as tooling round with set off and stick deadzone, the form of high-level tweaks that’ll actually enchantment to the form of customers who really want one thing like this.
Its greatest characteristic, although, comes within the type of its button profiles. Via the settings menu, customers can change each single button on their controller and put it aside to a profile. Want to make just a few profiles that includes totally different again button mappings? Create as many as you need. Want to throw your face buttons in your triggers and bumpers? Weird, however go forward! I mapped L3 to a again button, as an example, whereas taking part in One Piece Odyssey so I didn’t should press a follow toggle the sport’s auto-run operate. Once mapped, gamers can retailer as much as 4 profiles on the gamepad which will be seamlessly triggered by holding down a operate button and urgent a face button.
The again buttons and profiles are sufficient to notably enhance my expertise in sure video games.

Here’s an instance of how clean that every one is in observe. I created two separate profiles whereas taking part in Forspoken. One was my fight format, which mapped a bumper to every again button. L1 and R1 open up Frey’s radial spell menu within the recreation, which is normally a ache, however felt far more pure on the half domes. I created one other exploration-focused profile although, which maps the parkour and merchandise pick-up buttons to the again as a substitute. That would enable me to run extra freely, specializing in my stick actions. When I run right into a pack of enemies whereas exploring, I merely press operate and circle to immediately swap to my assault setup. When I’m carried out, I simply as simply press operate and X to swap again.
That stage of management is in the end what wins me over with the DualSense Edge, regardless of its flaws. A great professional controller is all about providing gamers flexibility and that’s precisely what I really feel once I flip between profiles on the fly. While I’d like to tinker with extra buttons and elements, the truth is that the essential DualSense design is already prime of its class; there’s not a lot I’d need to change about it even when I may. The again buttons and profiles are sufficient to notably enhance my expertise in sure video games.

That feeling is most actually a luxurious although, and one which’s arduous to completely justify at $200. If the Edge retailed for $50 much less, it will be a no brainer buy for anybody who makes use of their PS5 weekly. It’s simply robust to broadly suggest when it’s a step down in battery life and when its frontend customization is outclassed by cheaper, extra progressive third-party fashions.
Though even in any case of these criticisms, I return to my first thought: you can not get adaptive triggers or haptic suggestions on any of these controllers. The DualSense Edge is, in some methods, the one professional PS5 controller. If it doesn’t sound well worth the worth, it most likely isn’t for you. But when you’re itching for an Elite Series 2 equal on PS5, this stands uncontested amongst a panorama of third-party gamepads pressured to make up for misplaced options with area of interest enhancements.

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