by Sony PlayStation DualSense Edge is Sony’s first “professional” controller for the PlayStation line of consoles.
Similar to Microsoft’s Xbox Elite controller, the DualSense Edge features customization options not found in the standard PlayStation 5 DualSense 5 controller.
Announced in August 2022, the Edge’s reveal caused quite a stir, not only because Sony finally had the sense to make a “pro” controller, but also because it has a customization option not found in any of the its rivals in the industry: the interchangeable analog sticks.
So how does the Edge fare? Is it worth S$200 more than the standard DualSense 5 controller (S$109)? Read on to find out.
Box contents
The DualSense Edge ships with a stylish hard case, which will likely do a good job of protecting the controller while also housing its customization options if you’re packing it for travel.
In case you will find:
I’ve been using the DualSense Edge for a week now, as Sony provided me with a first unit for review.
Pros: Software
The customization part of the DualSense Edge’s software is where it really shines.
Being made exclusively for PlayStation 5 and its games, you can customize the controller in a myriad of ways that you see fit on the console.
If you play multiple games, you can also create up to three custom profiles on the controller to suit your needs.
You can map all buttons (even the face buttons) to specific actions suited to the game in question.
Apart from that, you can also adjust the sensitivity and deadzone of your analog sticks.
Just like adjusting the sensitivity of a computer mouse, this will help increase the accuracy of stick input.
For comparison, the DualSense 5 only has static sensitivity.
Games usually allow the player to change the sensitivity of the game to suit his preference. So, with the added level of customization that Edge provides, you can fine-tune your gaming input a little more.
Switching controller profiles in your PlayStation 5’s menu is also easy and very intuitive. It’s fast, and you don’t need to quit or minimize the game to access the menu.
The Edge also sports the adaptive triggers that the original DualSense 5 is known for. However, using the stop cursors (to shorten the activation of the L2 and R2 triggers), the Edge automatically disables this feature.
Using the Edge on a PC, however, simply reverts the controller to a regular DualSense 5 controller with no additional hardware or software features.
Nice to have: Interchangeable sticks and analog parts
The interchangeable analog sticks are also a nice touch.
That said, I don’t see the use of it right now, since there aren’t any custom analog sticks being made for the Edge…yet.
The only thing I could see helpful for now is replacing the analog sticks that have the dreaded stick drift.
But if that’s the case, why isn’t there any effort to redesign the analog sticks to stop this problem? I’d take a sturdier metal version of the analog stick over the swap capacity.
Speculation aside, I hope Sony is able to release more analog stick versions soon to make this feature useful.
The ability to change the analog stick caps and the addition of back buttons to the back of the controller is also nice, although these features are already expected in the world of premium game controllers.
Cons: Controller feel and battery life
I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer for such an exciting PlayStation release, but that has to be said.
I’ve used the Xbox Elite controller, and while I wouldn’t say it’s the toughest thing ever (I destroyed the triggers on my Xbox One-era Xbox Elite controller), there is a noticeable difference in toughness when you compare the controller. Standard Xbox with the Elite version.
The Elite feels much higher quality in the hand, with the body and buttons much stiffer and sturdier than the original Xbox controller.
The DualSense Edge, however, doesn’t exude “premium” pricing when you compare it to a standard DualSense 5 controller.
In fact, despite using my DualSense 5 that I’ve had with my PlayStation 5 for a good two years now, it somehow feels much better in the hand.
Buttons on the DualSense 5 feel snappier and more tactile to press, while buttons on the Edge have noticeable pre-travel and some squishy, particularly the D-Pad and face buttons.
If you’re thinking “oh maybe the DualSense 5’s buttons are broken,” no, it doesn’t work that way. The buttons will be even more prone to being “loose” and wobbly as you use them, they don’t feel tight.
Also, this may be limited to the DualSense Edge I received, as I haven’t seen it mentioned in any of the other reviews I’ve seen.
The rest of the controller is pretty standard. The finish and feel of the controller is no different from the DualSense 5.
Battery life on the Edge is another sticking point. I’m able to use my DualSense 5 for up to 12 hours of gaming, but the Edge dies at about 7 hours on my unit and I’m prompted to recharge.
This may be a trade-off for the DualSense Edge, as it has a few extra moving parts, and adding a larger capacity battery will add weight as well. Right now, the Edge is similar in weight to the standard DualSense 5.
Conclusion: Is the DualSense Edge Worth Your Money?
If you play exclusively on the PlayStation 5 and want a lot more customization options for your games, the DualSense Edge is something you might consider spending your hard-earned cash on.
If you don’t play competitive games on your PlayStation 5, or if you switch games between console and PC a lot, I wouldn’t recommend the DualSense Edge. It doesn’t feel any more “premium” than the DualSense 5.
Sure, the Edge has some customization options (that only work on the PlayStation 5), but would I pay the extra $200 for those extras without a hardware quality bump? Probably not.
If you’re looking to buy a controller exclusively for PC gaming… well, the DualSense 5 or Xbox Elite controller are much better buys.
Both have much better battery life than the DualSense Edge, while the Elite feels much more robust and the DualSense 5 is much cheaper for the same functions.
Hopefully, Sony will be able to release custom analog sticks for the Edge soon and maybe bundle them together in a controller pack to meet the different needs of PlayStation 5 users.
The Sony DualSense Edge is now on sale for S$295.90, while you can find the standard DualSense 5 for S$109.
Dominic loves technology and games. When he’s not busy water-cooling his computer parts, he does some wrestling.
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