The battle between the PS5 DualSense and the Xbox Series X controller has never been fiercer. Maybe you are platform dependent or want to have it on PC. Here’s everything you need to know.
Two years after launch, the battle between PS5 and Xbox Series X rages on. Exclusive games, high-value services, and console specs draw a lot of attention when deciding which console to pick up. But it’s important not to underestimate the importance of each console’s controller.
A controller can have a significant impact on your gaming experience, so it’s worth paying attention to whether the console you choose has one that suits you. Interestingly, both Microsoft and Sony dealt with the controller problem differently in their next-gen consoles.
While Microsoft opted to refine its existing design, Sony went a bit further by ditching the DualShock name for DualSense, which introduces new and exciting immersive features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Either way, it all helps to make the best PS5 games and the best Xbox Series X games.
Want to know how two controllers stack up against each other? We put the PS5 DualSense controller and the Xbox Wireless Controller head to head for an in-depth comparison of the two latest generation gamepads. If you want to know how the consoles stack up, check out our PS5 vs Xbox Series X guide.
PS5 DualSense controller vs Xbox Series X controller: price
While the prices of the Xbox Series X and PS5 consoles are almost the same, the controllers differ slightly. The PS5 DualSense controller costs $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$95.85, while the Xbox Wireless Controller standalone price is $59.99 / £54.99 / AU$74.99.
However, it’s worth it that you can use all your existing Xbox One accessories on Xbox Series X|S, including older controllers. The same can’t be said for the PS5, which only lets you use the DualShock 4 when you’re playing a PS4 game thanks to backwards compatibility, while the DualSense can’t be used with the PS4 console at all.
PS5 DualSense controller vs. Xbox Series X controller: design
The two companies have taken different approaches to controller designs in this generation. Sony ditched the traditional DualShock design, but Microsoft doubled down on its current design in subtle but important ways.
The immediate change you’ll notice with the PS5 DualSense controller is the white color scheme – which was limited to limited edition PlayStation controllers in the past – while the controller’s central aspect remains black. While the analog sticks are in the same place, the face buttons are now transparent, giving the controller a more luxurious look.
Otherwise, the touchpad will return, and the light bar embedded in it since the mid-cycle version of the Dualshock 4 is now positioned around the touchpad itself. The “Share” button has been replaced with a “Create” button, which Sony says it uses to “pioneer new ways for players to create epic gameplay that can be shared with the world.”
The controller is now charged via the USB-C connector, unlike the previous micro-USB. USB-C is becoming the new standard, meaning you’ll be able to charge your controller with the same cable you use for many Android phones, the latest iPad Pros, MacBooks, or Nintendo Switch.
This USB-C port is also found on the Xbox Series X controller, although the changes introduced by Microsoft are much more conservative. First, a new “Share” button has been added to the center of the controller, which hopefully means we’ll no longer be digging through menus in the heat of battle to grab a clip.
The D-pad has also been replaced with a hybrid plate-style input that takes inspiration from the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. This allows for more control over the complex inputs found in a fighting game. There are also new textured trigger grips to help prevent players from slipping in those tense battle royale matches. The overall outline of the controller has also been minimized, making smaller hands feel more comfortable when holding it.
PS5 DualSense Controller vs. Xbox Series X Controller: Features
The Xbox Series X controller has a cool feature under the hood. It consists in sending information from the controller to the console (and TV via HDMI) more often, which allows actions to be matched to the frames on the screen. This reduces response time by milliseconds and is part of what the company calls Dynamic Latency Input.
The controller runs on the same Xbox Wireless Radio infrastructure as the Xbox One, while still offering Bluetooth compatibility with Bluetooth Low Energy pairing to switch devices instantly. This can be very helpful if you plan to stream via Xbox Cloud Gaming to other devices you have.
Sony DualSense offers much more technology aimed at the player. The DualSense has its own built-in microphone, so you can chat with friends online without using a headset. In addition, it also offers Bluetooth connectivity, headlined by haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
Built into the game’s triggers and body, this technology allows players to feel in-game actions such as drawing a bowstring or driving through thick mud. It is extremely impressive and can provide a truly amazing experience that makes games more immersive. It’s obviously up to developers to implement this technology, but expect Sony’s own studios to implement it on a regular basis.
One downside to the DualSense that we noticed is that while it has a lot of great features, it also has pretty average battery life. It can’t compete with an Xbox Series X controller that can use AA batteries or a play and charge pack.