Now that the SONY PS5 is already on the street, we have been able to see and verify the qualities of the new generation of its controller, called DualSense , so it is inevitable to carry out this comparison in which we are going to see its characteristics compared to the controller of previous generation, the DualShock 4 for PS4 . How far has SONY technology advanced over the controller? Are the changes merely aesthetic or are we truly looking at a new generation command ? Let’s see it.
When SONY showed the new DualSense controller for the first time, it attracted a lot of attention for its futuristic design, almost Apple style, with very rounded contours and a clear color contrast in which white has been added, the only color in which the SONY moment offers its next-generation remote. But internally we also find new features and technologies, so let’s take a more in-depth look to see what this new remote control brings us, which, all said, is also sold at a price well above the original DualShock 4 from the brand.
DualSense and DualShock 4, characteristics and differences
| DualSense PS5 | DualShock 4 PS4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 160 × 66 × 106 mm | 161 x 57 x 100 mm |
| Weight | 280 g | 210 g |
| Connection | Wireless Bluetooth | Wireless Bluetooth |
| Load | Micro USB cable | USB-C cable |
| Battery | Li-ion 1560 mAh | Li-ion 1000 mAh |
| Autonomy (according to manufacturer) | 15 hours | 8 hours |
| Microphone | Incorporated | No |
| Speaker | Incorporated | Incorporated |
| Touch panel | Yes | Yes |
| Vibration | Haptic | Normal, two engines |
| Triggers | Adaptive | Normal (potentiometer on L2 and R2) |
To begin with, it should be mentioned that the DualSense is significantly larger and heavier than the DualShock 4, and contrary to what that might seem, this makes the controller feel much more comfortable in the hand, more in the style of the Xbox controller ( but keeping the symmetrical design of the joysticks) praised by all for its good ergonomics. The grips have been improved, and now instead of being a mere rough surface they have the characteristic symbols of the buttons on the console, something that gives it a touch of personality.
These details can also be seen in the texture of the joysticks, which now have two types of material to differentiate the internal part from the external one, making the internal part softer and the external one with better grip. You would have to dedicate many hours of use to the command to be able to discern if this is a change for the better or for the worse, but it is certainly a change.
The button panel and the D-Pad remain the same technically speaking, they are not buttons or mechanical or with tactile feedback, something that we would have missed in a 70-euro remote control such as the DualSense. It does change its aesthetics but, despite having a “transparent” aspect in the DualSense, they are not backlit buttons as it happens in some third-party controls.
The touchpad is now not purely rectangular but rather flares out at the top, making it slightly larger than on the DualShock 4. Also, the controller lighting is no longer just on the top of the touchpad and on the rear light bar, but extends around the perimeter of the touchpad giving a more elegant touch of color to the controller.
Technically, this is not something that matters much except battery life, since as you can imagine, more light implies greater consumption and, therefore, less battery life, although it is true that the DualSense battery is a 56% larger than that of the DualShock 4 (and that is why the controller is also partly heavier) and its estimated autonomy in optimal conditions has increased from 8 to 15 hours, almost double. It remains to be seen whether at the moment of truth this is fulfilled or not.
Of course, we have to highlight another important aspect and that is that although the DualShock 4 incorporated a speaker integrated in the control that served as a complement in some games, in the DualSense in addition to the speaker we find a microphone, something that the DualShock 4 lacks. Similarly, the PS4 controller was vibrated via two motors, one located on each of the tubular grips, while the PS5 controller had haptic 3D vibration for a more immersive gaming experience. It remains to be seen how developers take advantage of this functionality in games, since ultimately the implementation of vibration depends on them.
Last but not least, we must talk about the triggers (R2 and L2). Those of the PS4 controller are potentiometers, which allows us to control the intensity of the actions as we press it more or less. On the DualSense SONY has taken this one step further and the triggers are adaptive with resistance and haptic feedback, further enhancing immersion in games.
Is the DualSense a next-gen controller?
Technically it is undeniable that SONY has worked hard to put many improvements in the control of its next generation console, and these are evident beyond the design of the control itself. The ergonomics have changed slightly and now it is better than before, we have no doubt about that, and the improvement in terms of battery autonomy in addition to launching (although sold separately) a charging dock for controllers is something that gamers they will be very grateful, as well as the inclusion of the microphone in the command itself to avoid having to use external accessories for communication.
Other improvements such as adaptive triggers and the haptic response of both these and vibration are, in our point of view, something that does make a difference, and it will be interesting to see how manufacturers try to translate this technology into their own models. The PS5 DualSense controller is far superior to the PS4 DualShock 4 technically speaking, and answering the question, we consider that yes, it is a controller worthy of being called a next generation.
