Microsoft unofficially kicked off the “pro” controller craze several years ago with the debut of the Xbox Elite Wireless, a highly customizable gamepad aimed at serious fans of the thumb-blistering pastime. While we now have the Elite 2 — as well as plenty of third-party options — PlayStation’s entry in the increasingly competitive space arrived a bit late to the party.
Thankfully, the DualSense Edge that released earlier this year seems intent on making up for lost time. An impressive offering that retains the established, standout features of the original DualSense while significantly building on that solid foundation, Sony’s first premium gamepad is a serious contender. It’s not without drawbacks, including a budget-busting price tag, but for PS5?owners looking to level up their game, it’s hard to beat.
Sony’s first pro controller not only packs tons of customization features, but it also makes the enthusiast-aimed experience more accessible to mainstream PS5 owners.
What we liked about it
Fantastic first impression
The DualSense Edge grabs your attention right out of the gate. Housed in a sturdy case that’s not simply constructed of extra-firm foam but rather a hard plastic shell akin to what I imagine stormtrooper armor might feel like, the controller sits neatly among an admirable array of accessories and components.
These include swappable stick caps — separate from the default pair set into the peripheral — as well as four changeable back buttons, a braided USB cable and a locking mechanism to keep the wire secured when charging. Conveniently, there’s also a small flap-covered opening in the case’s rear, allowing you to juice the gamepad while it sits safely in its shell.
While the Edge will impress you before you even pick it up, it further captivates once it’s in your hands. Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice the tiniest of PlayStation symbols embedded into its surface. This Easter egg-y inclusion debuted with the original DualSense, but the Edge makes more prominent use of it, featuring the minuscule, iconic shapes not only on the hand grips but also across the touchpad and on the lower half of the L2 and R2 triggers.
The controller also sports a more balanced color scheme, with black face buttons and touchpad replacing the original’s white inputs. Of course, some of these cosmetic changes transcend simple stylistic choices to also boost tactility. Those thousands of tiny squares, triangles, Xs and Os, for example, are all textured, providing a satisfyingly stickier grip. Toss in a bit of extra heft — the Edge is about 15% weightier than its predecessor — and it’s one of the comfiest controllers my hands have ever had the pleasure of cradling, even for extended play sessions.
Enthusiast customization for the more casual crowd
Plug the Edge into your PS5, and you’re immediately treated to a seamless, intuitive onboarding experience that refreshingly doesn’t assume you already know your way around a customizable controller. Following a brief but informative tutorial, you can jump into all the expected features, from button remapping options and stick sensitivity and dead zone adjustments to trigger tweaks, vibration calibration and much more.
But whether you’re new to the pro controller game — and maybe just want to dip a toe in with a few button reassignments — or you’re ready to dive deep into every possible play style-tailoring configuration, the clean, accessible interface removes many of the barriers that can potentially make the controller-customizing experience daunting for newcomers. The software’s also thoughtfully integrated with the PS5’s settings, so you’re never fiddling with a peripheral-specific app or menus and interfaces that feel foreign to the console’s user interface.
Click, snap and pop your way to personalization
While much of your customization will be implemented digitally via the PS5, there are also plenty of practical adjustments you’ll make directly on the device. All those aforementioned parts and accessories are just begging to up your game, so the interchangeable sticks — a pair each of high- and low-dome caps — can easily be swapped or mixed and matched with the default inputs, while two trigger sliders offer a trio of pull-distance adjustments for the L2 and R2 buttons.
Once assembled, all these adjustments look and feel permanent, entirely ignoring the fact they were actually just snapped into place like Lego bricks. This satisfying, seamless construction is no more apparent than with the Edge’s back buttons. The controller comes with a pair of crescent moon-shaped and a couple of longer, lever-style buttons that add two additional inputs to the device’s backside. Featuring a fine metal finish construction and magnetic connections, these buttons are as satisfying to put in place as they are to use in-game.
On that latter note, the smaller, less obtrusive half domes are easily the best back buttons I’ve ever used on any pro-style peripheral. Their reduced size and perfect placement ensure you never hit them accidentally, even as their finger-pleasing clickiness will have you begging for any excuse to press them. That said, those accustomed to the Xbox Elite Series 2’s more elongated rear inputs will surely appreciate the Edge’s inclusion of the two larger, paddlelike buttons.
One of the Edge’s best physical customization features is also one you’ll hopefully never need to use. A tiny release switch on the gamepad’s back invites quick, easy access to the two sticks and the entire housing surrounding them. Getting under the hood, so to speak, allows you to completely remove and replace these “modules” if they ever suffer from stick drift or another controller-killing defect. While we’d hope a $200 device wouldn’t fall victim to such malfunctions, it’s still a fantastic feature that’ll save you a ton of money (Sony sells replacement modules for $20) should your sticks ever fail.
Swapping profiles is a snap
Like most pro controllers, one of the Edge’s most prominent features is the ability to change just about any button assignment — including those extra rear inputs — to cater to your particular play style. But in keeping with the rest of the device’s incredible polish and thoughtful design, this expected feature sets a new standard.
Working hand in hand with the intuitive software are a pair of Fn (or Function) buttons, located beneath the two thumbsticks. These inputs let you instantly call up the custom profiles of your three favorite button configurations — as well as the Edge’s default layout — and select them on the fly. Adjustable indicators like a quick vibration or touchpad illumination confirm the swap’s been made. Want to go deeper, configuring, testing and possibly finding a new favorite layout? The Fn buttons will effortlessly get you started on that path too.
As anyone who’s ever set up separate, tailored profiles to play, say, their favorite racing games, shooters and RPGs will attest, configuring and switching between assignments is by no means an innovative inclusion. But the Edge’s implementation of the now standard feature is so smooth, seamless and intuitive that it had me experimenting more than I typically would, even swapping between multiple profiles within the same game.
The feature impressed me most while testing Lords of the Fallen, the recently released action-RPG that invites brave players to explore a pair of parallel worlds — one occupied by the living, the other plagued by the army of the dead. When battling through the former, I’d choose my “fight” profile, with health rejuvenation and dodge rolls mapped to the back buttons so my thumbs never left the sticks.
But when in the latter realm, where I’d make frequent use of the game’s unique soul-flaying and soul-siphoning abilities, I found these morbid skills best mapped to those same back buttons. Deeper into the dark fantasy, where player-punishing bosses regularly kicked my backside, I found myself dabbling with different options that’d further benefit me on the battlefield.
Without getting into spoiler territory for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, I’ll say the superhero adventure similarly benefits from this seamless profile swapping. Given that the game gives you a pair of Spideys to play with, I couldn’t wait to set up specific profiles for when I was saving the day with Peter Parker versus Miles Morales. All this is to say, the Edge’s Fn button-fueled profile swapping had me switching between favorites far more often than I have with other peripherals’ similar features.
What we didn’t like about it
Premium quality trumps quality of life
For everything the Edge gets right, it drops the ball by not improving on the original DualSense’s battery life. Not only does this premium-priced gamepad miss the opportunity to increase its predecessor’s already underwhelming eight to 12 hours of power, but it actually scales it back with a charge that flames out significantly sooner. During my weeks of testing, I typically needed to plug back in around the four- to six-hour mark.
While I adore the controller’s many premium features, I can’t say I wouldn’t trade something like the replaceable stick modules — which no doubt added significantly to the device’s manufacturing budget — in favor of a battery that’d allow me to play untethered for more than a few hours. On the plus side, this issue is somewhat mitigated by that previously mentioned cable. At about 9 feet, the braided wire’s length is nothing to sneeze at, easily extending across the average living room.
Potentially prohibitive price
From its tanklike clamshell case to its tiny PlayStation symbols, the Edge’s every nook, cranny and surface screams premium quality. And that’s before you get into the polished hands-on experience and thoughtful software integration. But this level of quality also comes at a cost, one that’ll be hard to swallow for the average gamer who’s already broken the bank to buy a PS5.
And while the Edge packs plenty of fresh features, while also elevating some expected inclusions, it’s also lacking a few the competition can claim. In addition to its below-average battery life, it’s limited to just two back buttons. For many players (myself included), this is actually the sweet spot, as four buttons can introduce finger-fumbling clutter and, frankly, an overwhelming number of options. But for those raised on similar peripherals sporting a quartet of usable rear inputs (such as our best PC controller pick in the Elite Wireless 2), it’ll probably be difficult to lose those extra buttons.
Those hoping to use the controller with their older PlayStation 4 are out of luck as well, as the Edge is specifically designed for the PS5. The device can double as a PC gaming controller via wired connection but doesn’t support the full selection of features offered on its home console.
Bottom line
Sony’s first entry into the pro controller market smartly retains all its predecessor’s enhanced features, from haptic feedback and adaptive triggers to its immersion-ratcheting built–in speaker. But as a premium offering, the DualSense Edge significantly builds on this foundation, not only including the expected suite of digital and physical customization options but also a number of other bar-raising inclusions like replaceable stick modules.
Its stunning design and sturdy build further seal the deal, delivering a complete-package experience that’s easy on the eyes and even more satisfying in the hands. Toss in deep, accessible customization that’ll see even more casual players effortlessly setting up — and swapping between — profiles like a pro, and the Edge easily stands out as one the best pro-level gamepads I’ve tested.
Its superior quality comes at a high price, however — one that might be hard to swallow for those still on the fence about investing in their first pro controller. Skimpy battery life, a lack of PS4 compatibility and fewer back buttons than similar models only make its hefty price tag harder to digest. Those set on a PS5-style customizable controller with four back buttons might want to take a look at the Scuf Reflex, while those seeking premium features at a smaller price point can consider PDP’s Victrix Pro BFG.
All that said, my gripes are generally pretty minor, especially in the face of an impressive slate of features that easily overshadows them. If the noted nitpicks aren’t a concern — and the premium price tag won’t completely put you out — the DualSense Edge is an easy recommendation for PS5 owners looking to elevate their game.
