Pros
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Extremely customizable
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Familiar layout
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Feels great to use
Cons
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Dismal battery life
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Expensive
The battery life might be shorter, but I can’t go back to playing with the regular DualSense.
About the Sony DualSense Edge:
Credit:
Reviewed / Sony
The Sony DualSense Edge has adjustable trigger lengths. You can manually set the travel distance of your left and right triggers for an optimal experience with whatever you’re playing.
- Price: $200
- Connectivity: Bluetooth (wireless), detachable 9.1 foot braided USB Type-C to Type-A cable
- Compatibility: PlayStation 5, PC (wired-only), Mac, iOS mobile devices
- Dimensions: 0.39 x 0.39 x 0.5 inches
- Weight: 2.75 Pounds
- Battery: 1,050mAh battery, 5-10 hour battery life (rated), 4-5 hour battery life (tested)
- Extra Buttons: 2x half dome back buttons, 2x lever back buttons
- Joystick caps: 2x standard caps (attached to controller), 2x high dome caps, 2x low dome caps
- Special Features: Included carrying case, protective connector housing, Sony-logo embossed touchpad
Familiarity is the first thing that sets in after holding the DualSense Edge for the first time. It feels like your average PS5 DualSense controller, albeit with a tad more weight. The noticeable additions the Edge brings are the set of function buttons right below the thumbsticks, the two back button sockets, and the adjustable trigger stops.
The controller allows you to create custom profiles with personalized button remapping and thumbstick sensitivity. You press the function buttons below the thumbsticks to change between profiles, and can do so as you play any game uninterrupted with a quick prompted shortcut.
You can also customize the trigger stops on the back of the controller to set just how far you can pull on the triggers. The adaptive triggers still apply if you have the stops set to regular pull depth.
One of the profiles I created was in Resident Evil: Village, where making the thumbstick input slower to make the character walk when tilting the stick made for better atmospheric immersion. Another, for competitive FPS games like Call of Duty: Warzone and Star Wars: Battlefront II, was set to the “quick” preset option for thumbstick sensitivity input in order to create a fast-moving character. These can be edited into most games within their respective settings menus, but having a dedicated profile will reduce your visit to the settings screens.
The mappable back buttons are completely optional, but they also offer intriguing additions to the controller experience. For instance, I disabled L3 and R3 and mapped them to the new back buttons across all games. You also have the option of applying half dome back buttons or full lever buttons for better reach.
Another highlight of DualSense Edge is the interchangeable thumbstick modules. You don’t need any tools to switch them, simply toggling a tiny switch on the back removes the new casing protecting the sticks. Pull down the lever on the side and you’re ready to change the caps. The packaging comes with two extra sets, on top of the standard PS4/PS5 style caps, that will remind most seasoned gamers of the PS2 and PS3 era.
Probably the biggest advantage is that you can just order new stick modules for $20 instead of having to buy a brand-new controller if your thumbsticks ever get damaged. Unfortunately, Sony hasn’t included magnetic Hall Effect sticks, so they’ll still wear down and potentially drift over time.
The DualSense Edge also comes with a protective plastic carrying case that allows for the USB connector to go through and charge the controller while it’s stored inside, as well as a lockable connector to prevent the USB cable from being pulled out by accident.
The biggest drawback is the battery life. It felt abysmally short with only 4 to 5 hours of playtime before it completely died and needed recharging, shorter than a regular DualSense’s roughly 7-hour life cycle and a lot less than the 5-10 hours per charge Sony promises. Thankfully, with the included 9.1-foot-long USB cable, you will at least have a reasonable distance between you and the PS5 if you want to charge it while you play. That’s when the lockable connector housing comes in handy.
Should you buy the DualSense Edge?
Yes, if you can overlook the cost
Credit:
Reviewed / Edgar Ortiz
The Sony DualSense Edge wireless controller’s two swappable sets of back buttons can be configured to any other button input.
The DualSense Edge puts comfort and personalization first to let players craft their own experience with any game they play. There is no shortage of options to tailor a truly unique control scheme that fits everyone’s needs and preferences across different games and genres. I fell in love with the back buttons and hope it is something that becomes a mainstay in future generations of PlayStation controllers.
When it comes to other pro-tier PS5 controllers, competition for the DualSense Edge is almost non-existent given the level of support buying a first-party product ensures. But if you want to experiment with comparably priced alternatives with possible longer battery lives and deeper customization, you could always try out the Scuff Reflex Pro or the Hex Gaming Rival Pro.
Short battery life aside, the price may need justifying for some. If you don’t consider yourself a pro or avid gamer, a lot of the features like swappable thumbsticks may seem redundant. But, take it from someone who was won over by all the DualSense Edge had to offer: I can’t go back to playing with the regular DualSense.
Sony DualSense Edge
The Sony DualSense Edge controller allows you to create custom profiles with personalized button remapping and thumb stick sensitivity.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Meet the tester
Edgar Ortiz
Digital Producer / Tech Writer
Las Vegas-based digital producer and tech writer.
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