Level Up Your Game With the Best PS5 Controllers for Sony PlayStation Fans

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The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller surprised everyone when it was unveiled ahead of the console’s launch in 2020. Capturing what made previous PS controllers so natural yet cramming in revolutionary tech and a fresh design, it’s unmistakably a huge leap forwards in functionality and looks. It’s thrown down the gauntlet at rival console manufacturers, challenging them to keep up with Sony and innovate how we play.

You already get one DualSense bundled with your PS5, so why should you stray from this if you need a backup controller? Well, as good as it is, it’s still not perfect, particularly with people who need more specific uses or want to get around some of its issues. Plus, there’s more than a few third-party controllers waiting in the wings to lay claim as the best PS5 controller.

Let’s explore why the PS5 DualSense controller is so loved and take a look at other worthy alternatives to help you get the most out of Sony’s current console.

The Best PS5 Controllers

• Best Overall: Sony DualSense

• Best for Competitive Play: Sony DualSense Edge

• Best for Customization: Victrix Pro BFG

• Best for FPS Games: Reflex FPS PS5 Controller

• Best for Fighting Games: Hori Fighting Commander OCTA

The DualSense Is Still King

Despite the stick drift potential, the so-so battery life, and the fragile feel of the frame, I adore the PS5 controller—as does nearly every gamer in the Popular Mechanics office. I always thought Sony could do very little to improve upon the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller (aside from the shocking battery life). I was wrong.

The Japanese giant took the DualSense in a whole new direction, with longer, comfier handle prongs, translucent buttons, and a two-tone design that emulates the PS5’s look. It also comes in various colors and metallic shades, and if you look closely, you’ll spot 40,000 tiny PlayStation icons painstakingly molded onto the controller’s underside. It’s a cool Easter egg that nods to the brand’s long history with the circle, x, square, and triangle buttons.

This PlayStation controller is elegant and striking, and though it’s fairly hefty at 9.9 ounces, the weight is justified because of the advanced features, of which there are plenty.

Microphone and Speaker

Firstly, its onboard mic is super useful, though there’s now no excuse not to warn your teammates about getting squished by the dropship on Helldivers 2. Like its predecessor, the DualSense also carries a speaker, and although it’ll struggle to blow your full-sized speakers out of the water, it adds another layer of immersion.

In Resident Evil 4 Remake, our spin-kicking protagonist Leon Kennedy gets regular calls on his communicator, and the dialogue outputs via the speaker with an authentic radio-esque crackle. Weapon reloads also sound out on the DualSense, letting you hear shotgun shells loading close to you as if it’s you doing it. It’s a simple but neat trick that helps make you feel like you’re part of the game.

Haptics

Haptic feedback is another DualSense feature. Though controller feedback is decades old now—it launched on the Nintendo 64’s joypad with the optional Rumble Pak—haptics feel smarter and amped up. Every impact and reverberation is accurate and tactile on the senses.

This was never more apparent during Ghost of Tsushima, where I was astonished at the sensation of my character’s horse trotting on a village’s stone steps. It was exactly how I’d imagined going over stone slabs would feel through horseshoes (even though my only equine experience is limited to riding a donkey on the U.K. seaside at the age of 7. Weapons feel as if they’re accurately represented too. I must have spent much of my time in Control loitering in the Oldest House, simply enjoying the tactile reverberations of my Service Weapon and its many forms.

Adaptive Triggers

Adaptive triggers round out the DualSense’s standout features. The L2 and R2 triggers now offer different levels of resistance, so you can feel the pull of a rifle trigger just before squeezing off a round. In Spider-Man 2, you can fire your webshooters with a satisfying pull of the triggers, accompanied by a satisfying “thwip.” And in Horizon Forbidden West, feeling the gradual tension of drawing Aloy’s bow before loosing an arrow into a gigantic Slaughterspine feels super immersive and natural.

Compatibility

If all that wasn’t enough, the DualSense is compatible for use as a controller on PC, Mac, iOS and Android.

It’s because of these features that it feels like a truly next-gen controller. I can’t wait for what Sony has in store for a future interaction of this already iconic pad. Earlier this year, IGN reported that a DualSense version 2 controller with improved battery life had been leaked by a (now deleted) Best Buy Canada shop page, but confirmed details are light.

Other PS5 Controller Features to Consider

Button-mapping is handy for esports or competitive play where every millisecond counts, and even the smallest input delay can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

Controllers with button-mapping functionality let the user program custom buttons on their controllers. This includes the DualSense Edge, which features rear paddle buttons for players who detest clicking on those stiff L3 and R3 sticks. The Edge also features adjustable triggers, allowing you to get that first shot off faster than it takes to fully depress the trigger, giving you the drop on unsuspecting foes.

The Victrix Pro BFG is another example, and it’s the master of customization. Its modular design lets you switch from the traditional PlayStation setup (with both joysticks in the inside lower position) to an asymmetrical layout (such as that of an Xbox controller).

Interchangeable sticks can also solve the dreaded stick drift, where the controller registers movement on the sticks despite nothing pushing them.

How We Selected

Since destroying my thumbs on Tekken 2 on the PS1, I’ve owned every subsequent PlayStation and controller (including the PlayStation Move and ill-fated EyeToy). Therefore, I’ve got a firm grasp of what works and what should be resigned to the scrap pile.

The newest PS5 controller offers many technical innovations and customization options. However, as I research alternatives to the classic DualSense controller, I’m struck by one huge finding: There are no budget options currently available that are fully PS5 compatible. That’s likely because it’s hard to replicate the DualSense’s advanced features in cheaper imitations. Sony also seems reluctant to endorse more than a handful of third-party controllers.

Instead, these controllers, such as the Victrix Pro or Scuf Reflex FPS, have gone in the other direction, offering a wide range of perks like interchangeable sticks and customizable paddles. But they’re significantly more expensive than your base DualSense. And often, these controllers don’t pack in the full suite of functions, so you’re often paying through the nose for fewer features.

All this makes the $70 DualSense the cheapest official PS5 controller available, which is quite something. For the alternatives, I selected them based on their capabilities for specific activities, such as customization options, esports play, accessibility, and other criteria.

DualSense PS5 Wireless Controller

The DualSense is a fair jump up in price compared to previous PS controllers, but once you understand the tech involved, it’s a price worth paying. Adaptive triggers offer enhanced interactivity, while haptic feedback lets you feel every shot, drop, and boom. There’s even a touchpad, speaker, and mic, and it comes in a wide variety of colors.

However, players will know that battery life isn’t great, and there are reports of stick drift, though these are thankfully rare. That said, it’s simple, innovative, and one of the most affordable PS5 controllers out there. For most people, the original is the best.

DualSense Edge Wireless PS5 Controller

The pro-level Edge features customizable presets, adjustable trigger lengths for enhanced responsiveness, switchable profiles, and slip-resistant grips.

There are also accessories aplenty, including changeable stick caps, stick modules, a carry case, and a cable lock to ensure your USB-C doesn’t fly out during heated, inopportune moments. It’s clear Sony is aiming this towards those in the esports community who travel to tournaments and need to swap parts in and out for maximum competitiveness. And while battery life is lacking, it’s less of an issue if you’re wired up.

It’s probably too much controller for us mere mortals, but pro gamers will likely find lots to love with the premium DualSense Edge.

Victrix Pro BFG PS5 Gaming Controller

The Victrix Pro BFG lets you play your way, whether by inverting the joysticks and playing in asymmetrical style or swapping out the right stick module for a micro-button set that makes pulling off combos in Street Fighter 6 a cinch. Its bundled hex screwdriver lets you do this fairly effortlessly.

It’s also remarkably solid and robust for a third-party controller—it feels comfortable in the hands, and the buttons are responsive and offer the right sensitivity. Battery life is also far superior to the DualSense. If you’re involved in esports and need to be able to tweak your setup, this is a real contender. However, you’ll be giving up the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.

Reflex FPS PS5 Controller

Subtle and streamlined, the Scuf Reflex FPS takes the bare bones of the DualSense—including its shape and translucent buttons—and mods it within an inch of its life. The FPS variant does away with the original’s adaptive triggers and haptics, instead plumping for instant triggers for faster gunplay. There are also paddles on the rear that you can remap. Thanks to its thick, rubberized grips, it’s a very comfortable controller, so it’ll hold up well in long bouts.

However, the omission of haptic feedback does take away some game immersion. It’s also an extremely expensive controller, but if you’re constantly diving into shooters like COD: Warzone, the Reflex FPS could give you the edge in battle.

Fighting Commander OCTA PS5 Controller

The Hori Fighting Commander OCTA lets gamers maximize stringing their beat ’em up combos without investing in a pricey fight stick. It’s an extremely light yet rugged fightpad, with the traditional L1 and R1 shoulder buttons repositioned on the controller face. This means you can operate these buttons with your right-hand fingers rather than your thumb.

The biggest trade-off is that there’s no right joystick, so really, this controller is only for 2D fighting games and platformers. Still, the stiffness of the circular directional pad makes for accurate inputs, and the buttons themselves are super responsive.

Access Controller for PS5

The Access Controller helps open the door to PS5 gaming for more people. Based around a single joystick, players can modify their control scheme using an array of detachable and remappable buttons and stick caps to suit their accessibility needs.

The setup lets you play on virtually any orientation and surface, including tabletops, laps, and wheelchair trays. It’s a shame there’s no second stick, but players can pair two Access controllers together for single use, which, admittedly, gets expensive.

That said, it’s a wonderfully flexible system, and although it’s not going to be a universal solution for all, it goes some way to adapt a current-gen controller to an individual’s diverse needs, which is commendable.

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