Best PS5 Controllers in 2024: A Gamer’s Guide

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For most gamers, choosing the best PS5 controller is a breeze. Sony’s standard DualSense controller raised the bar for new-generation features when it launched with the console a few years back, and developers are constantly finding new ways to use them. It’s a far cry from the typical gamepads we’re used to and perfectly showcases the capabilities of the PS5.

TL;DR – Here are the top PS5 controllers:

1. Sony DualSense

2. Sony DualSense Edge

3. Victrix Pro BFG

4. Razer Wolverine V2 Pro Wireless

5. Scuf Reflex Pro

6. Nacon Revolution 5 Pro

   
   

If you’re looking for something more, there are plenty of options to choose from. When searching for the best controller, consider what you’ll be using it for. Competitive shooter or fighting game fans will likely benefit from “pro” controllers with extra buttons and back paddles that give you an edge in online battles. If that’s not your style, consider controllers that improve the DualSense’s average battery life or offer more customization options.

Don’t skimp on build quality, though. A quick internet search will reveal a ton of gamepads from unknown third-party manufacturers. They might be okay as backups, but do you really want a glorified hunk of plastic for your shiny new console? Luckily, we’ve tested a bunch, bringing you the seven best PS5 controllers.

1. Sony DualSense: The Best PS5 Controller

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Experience a familiar controller design with the addition of advanced haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

1. Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB-C

2. Battery Life: ~15 hours

3. Weight: 280g

Pros:

1. Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers

2. Top-notch Sony quality

Cons:

1. Battery life isn’t amazing

Surprised, right? The best PS5 controller is the one that came with your console. It might seem obvious, but the DualSense isn’t your average first-party gamepad. It’s packed with features that make it the perfect choice for most gamers and a truly impressive next-gen controller in its own right.

The DualSense’s innovative haptic feedback, which allows for more nuanced and tactile vibrations, has already been used to great effect by developers. Anyone who has felt the raindrops on their hands in Returnal or the pulse-quickening vibrations during cutscenes in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 can attest to that. And once you’ve experienced adaptive triggers that change resistance based on the game, you’ll have a hard time going back to a controller without them.

Of course, the superb hardware plays a big part too. The buttons and bumpers have a smooth, satisfying feel, and the entire controller is built with the kind of premium look and finish you’d expect from official Sony hardware. Aside from potential stick drift (a common issue with most first-party gamepads) and mediocre battery life, the DualSense is a fantastic controller that elegantly showcases the PS5’s capabilities and works great as a Steam Deck controller as well. The affordable price tag is another plus, allowing you to spend your savings on some awesome game deals.

2. Sony DualSense Edge: The Best PS5 Pro Controller

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Upgrade to this controller for an extra layer of customization with swappable buttons and joysticks, along with a bunch of other useful features.

1. Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB-C

2. Battery Life: ~10 hours

3. Weight: 325g

Pros:

1. Extensive customization options

2. User-friendly

Cons:

1. Disappointing battery life

Sony’s PS5 pro controller, the DualSense Edge, is the DualSense’s more powerful sibling. It boasts a ton of features that competitive multiplayer gamers will find particularly useful: two conveniently placed back paddles for your index and middle fingers, interchangeable analog stick caps in different heights, and adjustable trigger travel lengths. You can set them for short, hair-trigger bursts for fast-paced shooters or full lengths to take advantage of the adaptive functionality.

Every button can be remapped, and the dead zones of the analog sticks can be adjusted. Even more impressive is how easy it is to change these custom settings. A quick tap of the added Function buttons lets you cycle through your four custom mapping profiles or adjust them on the fly. Better yet, the joystick modules can be completely removed and replaced, meaning any potential stick drift won’t render your controller useless.

Don’t expect great battery life from the DualSense Edge. It’s even worse than the original DualSense and only lasts for about 10 hours before needing a recharge—even less if you’re playing a game that makes heavy use of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

3. Victrix Pro BFG: The Most Customizable PS5 Controller

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The PDP Victrix Pro BFG is a customizable controller with a modular design that lets you change the button layout and even features a fight pad module.

1. Connectivity: Wireless 2.4GHz, USB-C

2. Battery Life: 20 hours

3. Weight: 298g

Pros:

1. Variety of faceplate modules

2. Fight pad option

Cons:

1. No haptic feedback or adaptive triggers

If you want the ultimate in customization, you need to check out the Victrix Pro BFG. Its modular design allows you to arrange the face buttons in the traditional PlayStation layout, the offset Xbox layout, or even remove one side entirely to make room for a fight pad. Add to that five generous levels of trigger adjustments, four well-placed remappable buttons on the back, and even the handy option to remap profiles just using button shortcuts (once you’ve memorized them), and the DualSense Edge feels a bit lacking in comparison.

It’s primarily designed for competitive fighting game and shooter players who want to customize their gamepad exactly the way they want, and a Tournament Lock feature conveniently disables system buttons to avoid accidental presses. But this isn’t a next-gen controller. It doesn’t have adaptive triggers and doesn’t feature any vibrations, let alone haptic feedback. The Victrix Pro BFG is strictly for those who want a competitive edge.

4. Razer Wolverine V2 Pro Wireless: The Best PS5 Controller for Long Battery Life

🌟Buy from Amazon by clicking HERE🌟

Choose this pro-level controller if you want fast and responsive asymmetrical joysticks, Mecha-Tactile action buttons, and a long battery life.

1. Connectivity: Wireless 2.4GHz, USB-C

2. Battery Life: 28 hours

3. Weight: 279g

Pros:

1. Impressive battery life

2. Durable design

Cons:

1. No haptic feedback or adaptive triggers

Don’t let the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro’s awkward rectangular shape fool you, this third-party controller has some impressive tricks up its sleeve. Most importantly, it has a large battery that lasted nearly 30 hours before needing a recharge when we turned off the controller’s RGB lighting effects. That’s no small feat and far superior to the battery life of Sony’s standard DualSense.

Elsewhere, two extra buttons have been squeezed in between the usual shoulder buttons. They’re not as hard to reach as they might first appear and can be remapped along with the four rear paddles positioned on the back of the controller—though those paddles are unfortunately a bit of a stretch. Up front, while a relocated mic button has been placed in the center of the controller, it makes us wonder why more controllers haven’t adopted this useful shortcut.

You might like its asymmetrical stick style, but the Wolverine V2 Pro also deviates from the PlayStation standard in a less welcome way. It doesn’t feature adaptive triggers or haptic feedback, just standard rumble. This is an important consideration if you play a lot of Sony games that often utilize these features well.

5. Scuf Reflex Pro: The Best PS5 Controller for Demanding Gamers

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A gamepad that offers adaptive triggers and precise rumble like the DualSense, along with additional features like four manually programmable paddles on the back.

1. Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB-C

2. Battery Life: ~9 hours

3. Weight: 300g

Pros:

1. Four rear paddles

2. Lots of color options

Cons:

1. No haptic feedback

Let’s be real here: There’s not much reason to buy the Scuf Reflex Pro now that the DualSense Edge exists. With the same design and build quality as the DualSense, but with fewer customizable components, irreparable analog sticks, and nothing in terms of trigger sensitivity or remapable buttons, the Reflex Pro does little to justify the extra $10 you’ll spend over Sony’s pro controller. Oh, and it doesn’t support haptic feedback.

The two main draws of the gamepad are its rear paddles and custom skins. The Reflex Pro has four rear paddles instead of the DualSense Edge’s two, which are nicely placed at the tips of your fingers without taking up too much space. Plus, you can purchase it in a ton of beautiful color schemes and preset design templates if you want to add a bit of visual flair.

It’s comfortable, solidly built, and does almost everything you’d expect from a pro controller. But with the DualSense Edge beating it on price and offering many more features, the Scuf Reflex Pro really only serves those desperate for four rear paddles and optional color schemes.

6. Nacon Revolution 5 Pro: The Best PS5 Controller to Avoid Stick Drift

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Hall sensors in its analog sticks ensure that stick drift is not a problem with this high-quality controller.

Pros:

1. Hall sensors prevent stick drift

2. Textured, grippy design

Cons:

1. No haptic feedback or adaptive triggers

The Nacon Revolution 5 Pro’s key feature is its immunity to stick drift – an annoying mechanical issue where a controller will register inputs that aren’t being made by the player. Depending on the severity of the problem, it can make a controller almost unusable, and it has become a particular point of contention among some PS5 players who have complained that their DualSense controllers quickly fall prey to this issue.

The Revolution 5 Pro completely avoids this problem. The ingenious Hall sensors in its analog sticks, which use magnetic fields to detect inputs instead of physical contact points that are prone to wear and tear over time, are not susceptible to stick drift, so you can rest assured that your new controller won’t turn into an expensive paperweight anytime soon.

Of course, $199 is a hefty price to pay for peace of mind from a hardware issue that manufacturers should already be doing more to address. But the Revolution 5 Pro barely justifies the price tag with a standard array of pro controller additions: a wide range of sizes and alternative analog stick caps, two rear paddles that, admittedly, feel a bit too sensitive for my fingers, and trigger locks. It’s pretty standard stuff, albeit made slightly more premium by the gamepad’s textured, grippy finish. The controller also omits haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, though that might be a small price to pay if you’ve been plagued by the DualSense’s uncooperative sticks in the past.

In conclusion, we’ve presented you with a carefully curated selection of the best PS5 controllers in 2024, each one bringing you a unique and immersive gaming experience. No matter your preferences and needs, there’s a perfect controller out there to enhance your PS5 adventures.

But the discussion doesn’t stop here! We’re curious to hear what you, the passionate gamers, have to say. Which controller do you prefer? What features impress you the most? Do you have any questions or opinions you’d like to share? We invite you to interact with our blog and our gaming community. Your comments, questions, and opinions are always welcome!

We look forward to hearing from you and providing you with answers and advice to improve your PS5 gaming experience. Until next time, keep exploring the fascinating world of video games and enjoy every moment of your digital adventure!

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