Best buys · The gaming setup

The best PS5 controller worth buying

Our pick is the PlayStation DualSense. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The PlayStation controller

PlayStation DualSense

Adaptive triggers and rumble that games actually use, and it works on a PC over Bluetooth or USB as well as on a PS5.

Buy it for
PS5 owners, and PC players who prefer the PlayStation layout.
Skip it if
You want back paddles. Look at the DualSense Edge.

What actually matters when buying a PS5 controller

  1. An official controller if you want the adaptive triggers and haptics. Most third-party pads skip them.
  2. Battery life. Play-and-charge with a long USB-C cable is the simple fix.
  3. Back paddles, if you play competitive shooters.

Either side of the pick