As a dedicated gamer who splits my time between the frantic firefights of Apex Legends and the precision racing of Gran Turismo 7, I’ve always been curious about pro controllers. So when PlayStation announced its first-ever high-performance controller, the DualSense Edge, I had one burning question: is this ₹21,000 ($200) piece of kit a true competitive weapon, or just an expensive gimmick?
To find out, I bought one myself on launch day. I’ve now spent over 50 hours with it, putting it through its paces in every genre. This is my brutally honest verdict on who should absolutely buy this, and who should save their money.
Design and Build Quality
The premium experience starts with the included hard-shell case. It’s tough, perfectly molded, and cleverly designed with a velcro flap so you can charge the controller while it’s safely zipped inside—a brilliant touch.
Opening it up reveals the controller and its impressive array of accessories: two pairs of swappable stick caps (high and low dome), two sets of back buttons (levers and half-domes), and a beautiful 2.8-meter braided USB-C cable with a locking housing to prevent accidental disconnects.
At first glance, the Edge looks familiar, but picking it up, you immediately notice it’s slightly heavier than the standard DualSense. This extra heft gives it a more substantial, premium feel. The all-black buttons and touchpad look sleek, but the glossy black finish on the bottom grips is an immediate fingerprint magnet. A small complaint, but noticeable.
Back Buttons
Let’s be honest, the main reason you’re considering this controller is for the back buttons. The Edge comes with two styles: lever-style paddles and rounded half-domes. I personally preferred the feel of the levers, as my middle fingers rested on them more naturally.
My first two hours in Apex Legends were clumsy. I kept accidentally pressing them, throwing a punch instead of reloading. But I stuck with it, mapping ‘Jump’ to the right paddle and ‘Crouch/Slide’ to the left.
By my second day, it clicked. Being able to slide-jump around a corner while keeping my right thumb firmly on the aiming stick is, without exaggeration, a revolutionary feeling. It allows for a level of fluid movement that feels impossible with a standard controller. This is the competitive advantage you’re paying for.
Adjustable Triggers
Another headline feature is the ability to change the travel distance of the L2 and R2 triggers. There are three physical stops on the back of the controller.
- For Shooters (Call of Duty, Apex): I set the triggers to their shortest setting. This gives them a hair-trigger, “mouse-click” feel. My semi-auto weapons felt noticeably faster to fire. It’s a small but tangible improvement in reaction time.
- For Racing (Gran Turismo 7): I switched back to the full trigger length. This allowed for the nuanced throttle and brake control that a racing sim demands, letting me feather the gas through a corner perfectly.
The ability to switch on the fly is fantastic. This isn’t a gimmick; it’s a genuinely useful feature that lets you tailor the controller to the game you’re playing.
Battery Life
Here’s the controller’s biggest weakness. It’s abysmal.
My standard DualSense controller typically lasts 10-12 hours. The DualSense Edge consistently died on me around the 7-8 hour mark. More than once, it died mid-match, forcing me to scramble for the charging cable. The included long cable is a necessity because, frankly, you’ll be using it a lot. For a ($200) controller, this is a major disappointment.
The Final Verdict: Who Should Actually Buy This?
After 50+ hours, the DualSense Edge is a controller of brilliant contradictions. Its customization is world-class and can provide a real competitive advantage. Its swappable stick modules are a genius long-term solution to stick drift. But its battery life is a significant flaw for a device this expensive.
You Should Absolutely Buy This If:
- You are a serious, competitive FPS or fighting game player.
- You will take the time to learn and customize the back buttons to improve your movement and aiming.
- The thought of never having to buy a new controller due to stick drift again is highly appealing to you.
You Should Save Your Money If:
- You are a casual gamer who mostly plays single-player RPGs or story-driven games.
- You are not interested in re-learning muscle memory for back buttons.
- You value long battery life above all else. The standard DualSense is more than enough for you.
Ultimately, the PS5 DualSense Edge is a powerful, flawed, but incredible tool for a very specific type of player. It’s not an upgrade everyone needs, but for those who crave a competitive edge, it delivers.
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