DualSense Wireless Controller – Astro Bot Limited Edition

Well, there's honestly not much to say. Steam has native support for Xbox One, DualShock 4, and Switch Pro Controllers, so they will most likely, eventually, also develop for the DualSense. I'm not sure when that will be, but I trust Steam with that, since they had done an absolutely PERFECT job for the previous three. Connecting it to PC was insanely easy, just hold SELECT and PS buttons for 3 seconds until the lights flash rapidly, intermittently, and select the controller as a Bluetooth Device on Windows. It did not work immediately on Steam, I had to go into Big Picture (obviously) and configure it from there. What I did was register it as a generic controller by inputting each key for each action. It was honestly pretty simple, since Steam also shows you a ... MoreWell, there's honestly not much to say. Steam has native support for Xbox One, DualShock 4, and Switch Pro Controllers, so they will most likely, eventually, also develop for the DualSense. I'm not sure when that will be, but I trust Steam with that, since they had done an absolutely PERFECT job for the previous three. Connecting it to PC was insanely easy, just hold SELECT and PS buttons for 3 seconds until the lights flash rapidly, intermittently, and select the controller as a Bluetooth Device on Windows. It did not work immediately on Steam, I had to go into Big Picture (obviously) and configure it from there. What I did was register it as a generic controller by inputting each key for each action. It was honestly pretty simple, since Steam also shows you a picture of a controller and a green light for the current key you need to map. After mapping the keys, I played some Dead Cells, and the experience was pretty flawless. The controller feels GREAT in my hand. It feels like an Xbox One controller... but with the DS4 layout. It has some satisfying heaviness to it. Not that much, but you can definitely feel a good "fullness" in your hand when you compare it to a DS4. The shoulder, and especially trigger buttons feel better, too, since they are a bit larger now. I do have a problem with the SELECT and START keys... they are really stiff. If you have a DS4 with those keys being stiff... oh yeah, these are even stiffer. Still clickable, but very stuff. Perhaps they will become less stiff over the time the more I use the controller, but we'll see. However, some things are not customizable yet, like the DS4 is, such as changing the little light, or its color, and the touchpad. and its clicks. There's also a new button on the DualSense, which is the Mute Mic button as far as I know, and that's not mappable, either. Again, Steam will most likely develop native support for the DualSense also, but for now, it works just like an Xbox Controller, and that's enough for me for now. I have not tested the battery life yet, and I have no charged it yet, it already came with some charge (not sure if 50% or 100%). So far I'd say I'm satisfied, and I'll update my review if anything happens (whether good or bad). Original Review November 3rd - EDIT 5/30/2021: Yup, this controller now has full native Steam Support, and dare I say much better than the DS4 even. Literally everything, EVERYTHING about it is customizable. The touch pad, the lighting, the mic button, anything you would want. It even shows the DualSense button shapes in Steam Big Picture. Connecting takes literally ONE SECOND only. Turn on, and connected, insanely simple. 100% recommend, at least for Steam, idk about PlayStation, but I hate PlayStation anyway, so yeah, for PC players, this is THE controller to get in my opinion, as much as I dislike Sony

Absolute Masterpiece

Where do I even start?Well, let me begin by sharing that I always found PlayStation better than Xbox and that was primarily because Sony has always done a better job than Microsoft when it comes to its exclusives. But I also consider myself PlayStation-centric and a genuinely enthusiastic supporter but not someone who is completely biased and is a blind fanboy. The one constant problem area for me with PlayStation was its controller. While Sony constantly did its best to upgrade its controller, in particular, its features with every next generation console, I personally feel they never quite got the design right as we advanced along. That’s where Xbox did a great job especially with the Xbox one controller, which was bigger, heavier and sturdier in contrast to ... MoreWhere do I even start?Well, let me begin by sharing that I always found PlayStation better than Xbox and that was primarily because Sony has always done a better job than Microsoft when it comes to its exclusives. But I also consider myself PlayStation-centric and a genuinely enthusiastic supporter but not someone who is completely biased and is a blind fanboy. The one constant problem area for me with PlayStation was its controller. While Sony constantly did its best to upgrade its controller, in particular, its features with every next generation console, I personally feel they never quite got the design right as we advanced along. That’s where Xbox did a great job especially with the Xbox one controller, which was bigger, heavier and sturdier in contrast to Dualshock 4 which was smaller, lighter and of course needed more care. Xbox one controller had offset analog sticks as opposed to the symmetrical design of Dualshock 4, the preference of which I guess could vary from one gamer to another but yet looked classy. But times have changes now. With the evolution of consoles, Sony has finally listened to its fans and transformed the look of its controller. I was excited with the two-tone design, bulkier body and textured grip of the original Dualsense that comes with the console and just as I noticed that Sony didn’t color its trademark geometric shaped buttons, I started picturing just how good the black variant would look when it comes out eventually. It took a while for me to get my hands on this one and I have to say that it looks way more stylish and attractive than the original one. Also, not that the light-bar isn’t conspicuous on the original one because it is white but we all know that light glows and shines more prominently with the black background and when it does, it looks magnificent and majestic. It is no different with this spectacular midnight black controller. It has matte finish on its front body and touchpad and high gloss finish on its D-pad and Action buttons, a combination, which, in my opinion sometimes also looks like a prop from heavy budget sci-fi movie. I don’t think I even have to talk about the kind of immersive experience adaptive triggers, haptic feedback and its speaker provide as all PS5 owners would know that by now. However, if you ask for recommendation on this variant of Dualsense, I feel every hardcore PlayStation fan should buy this one as they won’t regret it.Absolute masterpiece.

Desperately needs a longer battery life

It's a great control pad for gaming. It's better than the previous generation, the DS4, in that it fits the palm of your hands better. This purchase in particular featured the Midnight Black controller and it looks really good. It's color scheme and overall design is probably Sony's finest when it comes to their entire history of controller accessories.However, as per the name of this 2 star rating, it really needs a longer battery life. A full, 100% charge on standard vibration settings only gives you about 3 or less hours of game time.It is reasonable to claim that 3 hours of gaming is more than enough for a dedicated playthrough but this is not including the fact that battery life will be shortened given enough time. This is not acceptable. IMO, the battery ... MoreIt's a great control pad for gaming. It's better than the previous generation, the DS4, in that it fits the palm of your hands better. This purchase in particular featured the Midnight Black controller and it looks really good. It's color scheme and overall design is probably Sony's finest when it comes to their entire history of controller accessories.However, as per the name of this 2 star rating, it really needs a longer battery life. A full, 100% charge on standard vibration settings only gives you about 3 or less hours of game time.It is reasonable to claim that 3 hours of gaming is more than enough for a dedicated playthrough but this is not including the fact that battery life will be shortened given enough time. This is not acceptable. IMO, the battery should have been at 70%-100% more of its given capacity. This is to ensure a fully uninterrupted gameplay session without the need to recharge the controller once per day or more.

Does not last long.

After three years the controller started getting very bad stick drift. I ended up having to replace both controllers (bought one here, other controller came with the ps5 from eb games) pretty much at the same time. I've keep them clean so it's not dirt or dust being the issue.I did notice that both of the controllers made slight cracking and popping sounds after a couple of mins of being turned off. I suspect that the controller battery expanding when being used and goes back to normal when off is possibly moving and degrading the controller over time.As someone who have ps 1 and ps 2 controllers that still works to this day, i'm not happy at all that these modern day expensive controllers become unusable at 3 years. Waste of money and more waste harming the ... MoreAfter three years the controller started getting very bad stick drift. I ended up having to replace both controllers (bought one here, other controller came with the ps5 from eb games) pretty much at the same time. I've keep them clean so it's not dirt or dust being the issue.I did notice that both of the controllers made slight cracking and popping sounds after a couple of mins of being turned off. I suspect that the controller battery expanding when being used and goes back to normal when off is possibly moving and degrading the controller over time.As someone who have ps 1 and ps 2 controllers that still works to this day, i'm not happy at all that these modern day expensive controllers become unusable at 3 years. Waste of money and more waste harming the environment. Playstation needs to do better. I really hope the new ones I got have been improved and will last much longer this time.

Excellent

To preface, I own multiple consoles: a Gamecube, a Wii, a PS2, an Xbox 360, a PS4, and an Xbox One. These days, I'm a PC gamer, but (more often than not) I find myself using Steam Link with my Apple TV so that I can stay in the living room with my wife, since she likes to watch me game and it means I don't have to be set up in a room away from her for hours at a time. This thing is PERFECT for that, as it has Bluetooth capability out of the box, and it appears to be strong enough that I've never had any connectivity issues (except with the Steam Deck, but that's more of a Deck issue I think).But this controller gets better than just that: similar to Nintendo's Joycons, this controller has a VERY nice haptic feedback setup, allowing for "textured" vibration and ... MoreTo preface, I own multiple consoles: a Gamecube, a Wii, a PS2, an Xbox 360, a PS4, and an Xbox One. These days, I'm a PC gamer, but (more often than not) I find myself using Steam Link with my Apple TV so that I can stay in the living room with my wife, since she likes to watch me game and it means I don't have to be set up in a room away from her for hours at a time. This thing is PERFECT for that, as it has Bluetooth capability out of the box, and it appears to be strong enough that I've never had any connectivity issues (except with the Steam Deck, but that's more of a Deck issue I think).But this controller gets better than just that: similar to Nintendo's Joycons, this controller has a VERY nice haptic feedback setup, allowing for "textured" vibration and feedback that typical rumble motors can't quite achieve. It also features Sony's proprietary "adaptive triggers," which are AMAZING when implemented well. Unfortunately, both haptics and adaptive triggers are only supported by a handful of games, and (usually) only when plugged in with a cable directly to the PC, but when it works, it completely changes the feel of gaming with a gamepad.Finally, while I HATED the PS4's controller for its cheap plastic feel, weak joysticks, lack of ergonomics, and terrible build quality, the DualSense feels like it's built like a brick house. Even compared to Xbox's BEEFY controllers, this thing holds its own, and has a premium feel that was sorely lacking in the Dualshock 4's design. I can't praise this controller enough, it's absolutely worth the cost.

Good controller but suffers from durability/drift

This review is for the midnight black.Definitely, a leap in gaming technology over the Dual Shocks. Great haptic feedback, adaptive triggers along with the built-in speaker and microphone makes for a great gaming combination that really puts you into the game.You feel every swing, bullet, raindrop, even the mush of walking in sand. The gamepad gives you a detailed level of force feedback.I like the trigger feedback that was lacking on the Dual Shocks. It really brings a new sense to the game that you didn’t know you missed until you experience it on this gamepad.You can use the mic to chat or in some cases, such as in Astro’s playroom, use it as part of the game play.It is slightly thicker and bigger than the Dualshocks, but feels like a sturdy controller. ... MoreThis review is for the midnight black.Definitely, a leap in gaming technology over the Dual Shocks. Great haptic feedback, adaptive triggers along with the built-in speaker and microphone makes for a great gaming combination that really puts you into the game.You feel every swing, bullet, raindrop, even the mush of walking in sand. The gamepad gives you a detailed level of force feedback.I like the trigger feedback that was lacking on the Dual Shocks. It really brings a new sense to the game that you didn’t know you missed until you experience it on this gamepad.You can use the mic to chat or in some cases, such as in Astro’s playroom, use it as part of the game play.It is slightly thicker and bigger than the Dualshocks, but feels like a sturdy controller. Definitely a big step up over the PS3 controllers that feel flimsy in comparison now. The controller is comfortable to hold and use.I like the Dual sense white that came with my system, but I wanted a second one and prefer the black color. Unfortunately, this black controller had nothing but issues. It had a severe stick drift and appeared to be defective straight out of the box, so I returned it.The gamepad is pricy, but is a big step forward in technology, if the game takes advantage of the features, that makes games even more immersive and fun to play. Unfortunately, these seem more fragile than previous generations and this controller had very severe stick drift, which seems to be a common issue with these Dual sense, although oddly the white one out of the console box, has had no issues. So, if you get one that isn’t defective, then these controllers work great. But this one didn’t work well at all.1 stars

Great buy!

Probably the best controller I have used in terms of comfort! However, like many controllers, stick drift happens (yes even on xbox controllers)They are however not built to last like the PS 4 controllers. Once they fall for whatever reason they are never the same. The PS4 controllers could sustain a few accidental falls given the height and angle etc. These feel like if they fall you're basically in for a replacement not too long after.The actual Bluetooth capabilities for this remote are great, I use it on PC every time I have a gaming session. The design is awesome, feels great in your hands, buttons feel great as I like the tactile feel. The sticks have been improved from the PS4 version and that is pretty nice in terms of slippage etc.Would recommend the ... MoreProbably the best controller I have used in terms of comfort! However, like many controllers, stick drift happens (yes even on xbox controllers)They are however not built to last like the PS 4 controllers. Once they fall for whatever reason they are never the same. The PS4 controllers could sustain a few accidental falls given the height and angle etc. These feel like if they fall you're basically in for a replacement not too long after.The actual Bluetooth capabilities for this remote are great, I use it on PC every time I have a gaming session. The design is awesome, feels great in your hands, buttons feel great as I like the tactile feel. The sticks have been improved from the PS4 version and that is pretty nice in terms of slippage etc.Would recommend the insurance as you end up rebuying it every time you replace it. However you spend between 14-20 bucks each time rather than 70+

Great find at Best Buy.

I was looking far and wide High and Low for military patterned grey camouflage PlayStation 5 controller, this design was nowhere to be found. Until I went to Best Buy. They have a huge collection of electronics and I was in need of a new PlayStation 5 controller especially this particular one. I was SO Excited ! I was able to walk in, ask and be directed to the proper area and found Exactly what I wanted. The look, the feel and the availability was what was amazing. I have been enjoying numerous hours of fun with my new controller. On top of that it has the look that I was going for. Now with the combination of my new controller I feel like I can't be beat at my favorite games. Best buy came through in a clutch. Really impressed with the availability and the ... MoreI was looking far and wide High and Low for military patterned grey camouflage PlayStation 5 controller, this design was nowhere to be found. Until I went to Best Buy. They have a huge collection of electronics and I was in need of a new PlayStation 5 controller especially this particular one. I was SO Excited ! I was able to walk in, ask and be directed to the proper area and found Exactly what I wanted. The look, the feel and the availability was what was amazing. I have been enjoying numerous hours of fun with my new controller. On top of that it has the look that I was going for. Now with the combination of my new controller I feel like I can't be beat at my favorite games. Best buy came through in a clutch. Really impressed with the availability and the convenience of the whole shopping experience. I suggest if your in the market for one of these bad boys you should stop at Best Buy first. Pricing was great and the knowledge staff was on point. Thank you Best Buy you really made my day.

Looks even better up close.

These controllers really have gotten pricier from generation to generation and a lot more sophisticated, maybe unnecessarily so. Having to update the controller with the console this gen seems like asking a bit much. But when a console is designed for artistic aesthetics more than practical function, what can you expect.I'm not really sure the controllers are any better made, but with each generation Sony's controllers have a little more heft to them. I know kids seem to love the new tactile triggers. But I just regard the feature as a battery waster and turn it off, like the vibration function. It doesn't seem to add anything of value in either realism or gaming enhancement, unless the game unnecessarily limits vibration as the only clue prompt or something, ... MoreThese controllers really have gotten pricier from generation to generation and a lot more sophisticated, maybe unnecessarily so. Having to update the controller with the console this gen seems like asking a bit much. But when a console is designed for artistic aesthetics more than practical function, what can you expect.I'm not really sure the controllers are any better made, but with each generation Sony's controllers have a little more heft to them. I know kids seem to love the new tactile triggers. But I just regard the feature as a battery waster and turn it off, like the vibration function. It doesn't seem to add anything of value in either realism or gaming enhancement, unless the game unnecessarily limits vibration as the only clue prompt or something, rather than an audible cue. If only Sony would focus less on gimmicks and more on quality, their controllers might not need replacing as often. Or they need to make a more bare-boned version without all the unnecessary fluff that's all too often inconsistently used by developers anyway, if used at all.That said PS5 controller sticks seem to hold up a little longer than the PS4 did. Or maybe my nephews just aren't as hard on them as they used to be. Our white controller that came with the console started sticking or free-walking a little after 6 months. I found a few tricks to fixing it online, but wanted another backup just in case it gets worse. And Black Friday is the only time to buy a PS5 controller, if you can wait.The top of this blue controller has an almost pearlescent blue finish, which looks much nicer than previous generations or the black and white versions for the PS5. Of course, in a dark room, it doesn't really matter how nice it looks.

Wish it consistently lasted longer

As of the time I posted this review, I had purchased three of these controllers. The primary issue for the two replacements I bought before the one I recently purchased and the controller that came with the PS5 was stick drift. The controller with the PS5 lasted around 6-7 months before I ran into stick drift. My first replacement (black) lasted eight months to a year, and my most recent controller (also black) lasted two years.It's a meh-to-okay controller in terms of longevity, but it's great when it comes to actually playing games that take advantage of its advertised functions. Also, I'm sure it's just a placebo, but I feel the different colored versions of these controllers last longer. My most recent purchase of this controller is in Galactic Purple.Other ... MoreAs of the time I posted this review, I had purchased three of these controllers. The primary issue for the two replacements I bought before the one I recently purchased and the controller that came with the PS5 was stick drift. The controller with the PS5 lasted around 6-7 months before I ran into stick drift. My first replacement (black) lasted eight months to a year, and my most recent controller (also black) lasted two years.It's a meh-to-okay controller in terms of longevity, but it's great when it comes to actually playing games that take advantage of its advertised functions. Also, I'm sure it's just a placebo, but I feel the different colored versions of these controllers last longer. My most recent purchase of this controller is in Galactic Purple.Other than that, there aren't many relatively affordable options for PS5 controllers with Dualsense's features. However, I recommend looking elsewhere if you don't mind not having the whole Dualsense experience.