Do you need a new PlayStation controller? Unlike Xboxes, Sony consoles have access to very few third-party controllers. These are the different controllers you can use on PS5 and PS4.
The 2 best controllers for PlayStation
The essential classic
- beautiful and ergonomic
- Android and iOS compatibility
- Very successful adaptive triggers and haptic feedback
the alternative
8 /10
- ultra-high customization
- configurable palettes
- heavier
Released in December 2020, the PlayStation 5 has been a hot commodity for two years and has even seen its price rise. But if you’re lucky enough to have been able to get your hands on a PS5, or if you still play games on your PS4 or PS4 Pro, you may need a second controller to play with others. You may also simply want to use a controller with different ergonomics. That is why we have put together a selection of available controllers for you, with their advantages and disadvantages, as well as charging stands.
Do you also play on PC? Specifically, we have a guide to the best controllers for PC. If you’re more of a mobile gaming fan, check out our recommendations for controllers to choose from on a smartphone. Finally, if you finally go over to the green side, you can check out our selection of controllers for Xbox consoles.
- beautiful and ergonomic
- Android and iOS compatibility
- Very successful adaptive triggers and haptic feedback
Available in €69 in Cdiscount
The DualSense controller is still a safe bet if you need an additional controller. Sold for around 70 euros, it is available in various colors, including purple, burgundy or sky blue. Other than that, customization is not possible.
The build quality is there, and Sony has used a textured plastic that is quite nice under the skin. The PS5’s controller is bulkier and heavier than the PS4’s, and that’s a good thing. In the hand, the ergonomics are good.
The new PS5 controller has adaptive triggers, giving you more sensitivity in-game. Sony has stayed true to the historical shape of its controllers, with symmetrical joysticks placed centrally. A microphone, speaker and headphone jack are included to facilitate multiplayer. Instead of conventional vibration motors, Sony has integrated haptic feedback that offers more finesse in the sensations, which in particular allows a better immersion in the sensations in game.
Finally, note that Sony has introduced a new “Pro” controller that could be compared to the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller. This is the DualSense Edge. This is already shown at a price of 240 euros and the first comments about the battery are quite disappointing.
Please note that the controller is compatible with Apple, Mac and iPhone devices. You can also use it on a Bluetooth-enabled Android smartphone.
where to buy the
Sony PlayStation DualSense at the best price?
And the new official DualSense Edge controller?
We would have liked to recommend the DualSense Edge, the new “Pro” version of the DualSense, as an Elite Series on Xbox… but it’s impossible. The quality is simply not there, and the controller offers very few differences and improvements from the classic version, all at a prohibitive price of 240 euros… It is simply not worth the cut. If you still want to know more, read our full review of the DualSense Edge.
8 /10
- ultra-high customization
- configurable palettes
- heavier
The Scuf Reflex is a good alternative to the official controller, as long as you have the budget. We’d rather recommend it as a replacement for the original DualSense if you’re looking for something more customised.
The Scuf Reflex is a more “pro” controller, in particular thanks to the presence of four paddles on the back, which are removable and reconfigurable. These will be especially useful for FPS. The triggers, like those of the DualSense, are adaptive. It’s a bit bulkier and a bit heavier than the original (300 grams vs. 282), and the materials chosen give a good quality feel, with the plastic perhaps nicer for those with slightly sweaty palms. It charges via USB-C and of course has a jack port.
If it is an excellent controller, it has a major flaw: it is overrated, with a starting price of 219 euros. And the more you customize it, the higher the grade will go, even for discrete color additions. The driver can thus easily see his price increase by 100 euros. We did the test, if you customize everything that is possible to customize, with the most expensive options, your Scuf Reflex will cost you no less than 418 euros, that is, the price of a good mid-range smartphone.
However, this customization is very interesting since you can, for example, choose the shape of your joysticks, between concave and convex. It is also possible to add grips on the handles. In either case, you are sure to have a controller in your image.
It works via Bluetooth or wired, on PS5 and PC (Windows 7 and later or macOS Monterey and later). It can’t be used on a PS4 though – for Sony’s old console you’ll need to choose the Impact Pro or Infinity4PS Pro model.
A controller to recommend to regular players who want the best to play on their favorite console.
To find out more, find our complete test of the Scuf Reflex.
Wired Nacon for PS4
If you own a PS4 or PS4 Pro, you can use controllers other than the official DualShock controller. So it is possible to get wired controllers for almost half the price.
Nacon is a well established and recognized manufacturer of console controllers. With this version of the PS4 controller, it takes the form of the official controller… all for 39 euros. Like the DualShock, it has a touchpad and a vibration motor.
If you prefer Xbox controllers and their ergonomics, Nacon also offers a PS4 controller with asymmetrical joysticks.
Keep in mind that there are controllers from other manufacturers that are even cheaper (around 25 euros) but we do not recommend them especially, since they can present inopportune disconnection problems.
A charging stand for your controllers
If you have multiple controllers, you can make your life easier by using a charging stand. Sony offers a station that will be able to simultaneously charge two controllers that simply clip together. It simply plugs into the mains, freeing up USB ports on the console. Controllers have a charge indicator.
If you prefer to save your euros, you can also opt for a charging station from a third-party manufacturer. The latter works on exactly the same principle, except that it has two charging indicators. The small LEDs glow red when the controller is charging and turn blue when the battery is full.
Learn more about PlayStation 4 and 5 controllers
How to choose your controller?
Big question. The preference for this or that controller is very personal. It will depend on the tastes of each one: some, for example, prefer symmetrical joysticks like the DualSense, while others will feel more comfortable with a controller with asymmetrical joysticks like the Xbox controllers. The weight can also play a lot. In addition, it can also depend on the size of your hands. Finally, if you are an avid gamer, or even a professional, and particularly practice FPS, the paddles on the back of the controller will allow you to perform many more actions simultaneously.
The same is true for certain parameters: some will prefer the freedom of wireless controllers, even if it means having to monitor battery level, while others will prefer not to worry about it and will choose a wired controller directly.
Why are there so few third-party controllers for PlayStation consoles?
On this point, Sony clearly differs from Microsoft. Where the Redmond company licenses its without concern to other companies to produce controllers compatible with its consoles, Sony is particularly cautious on this point. It’s simple, Sony does not license third-party manufacturers for the PS5. Scuf controllers are supported as they are in fact stripped down and then rebuilt and custom DualSense controllers. Scuf remarkably retains the original motherboard.
However, it is not impossible, as for the PS4, that Sony ends up granting licenses to certain manufacturers, little by little.
How to connect a controller on a PS5 / on a PS4?
Up to four controllers can be connected simultaneously to a PS5 or PS4. To connect a new controller, simply plug it in via your USB cable and press the PS button to turn it on.
Regarding the Scuf Reflex, there is no software to configure it. It behaves like a classic DualSense controller, so just connect it to the PS5 with its cable. The configuration of the pallets is done on the joystick. Three profiles are possible, and you can switch from one to the other using a button on the back of the pad. So select a profile, then press a paddle and the button on the front panel you want it to match, to memorize the key. It is even possible to modify the mapping keys during the game, or simply to change profiles by simply pressing said button.
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