As you all know, Sony released the DualSense Edge control pad for the PS5 on January 26, 2023. It is a competetitive-level control pad, like the Razer Wolverine, Nacon Revolution and Thrustmaster E-Swap Pro. The price is $199.99 US or local equivalent, $269.99 here in Canada.
I am going to assume that everyone is familiar with the DualSense, and focus on the key differences and changes on the Edge in comparison.
The differences between the DualSense and the DualSense Edge fall into both hardware and software categories, and I will start with the hardware changes. First things first, there has been a ton of screeching online about the Edge having a smaller battery than the DualSense for wireless use. There is a good reason for it, and that is that the controller, having the same exterior dimensions as a standard DualSense can't fit anything bigger. The mechanisms for the trigger stops and back buttons take space, and the DualSense Edge doesn't have anywhere else to put the battery than behind the main circuit board.
For the sake of comparison, of the other control pads in the same category, the only other wireless one is the Razer Wolverine, which is much larger, the rest are wired. The Edge has a 9-foot braided USB-A to USB-C cable included, and a locking mechanism to keep it hooked in tight. Wireless almost seems like an afterthought or a convenience feature. The battery life is indeed shorter, getting in the neighbourhood of 5 hours per charge compared to a bit over 7 for my DualSense pads. Whether this is longer or shorter than you tend to play in a single session makes this more or less of an issue, naturally. Wireless works as well as the base DualSense model.
The Edge also has interchangeable back buttons, and two different types are included, paddle-style levers that hug the handles of the pad, and a pair of half-dome buttons. The paddles are great for fast-twitch functions like sprinting in Returnal or throwing grenades in an FPS. The half-domes surprised me. I honestly only started using them for the sake of my review, but am really liking them. Due to the action of the switches for the back buttons, they end up functioning like triggers, as your fingertips push backward on them to activate. They are great as a general-purpose button for things like RPGs where you have functions you don't necessarily need to be quite as instant to trigger, but want handy. Both sets of back buttons are die-cast alloy, which is a great touch. Hopefully they bring out alloy stick tips at some point to match!
The analog sticks are modular and replaceable. If your sticks start to drip or have other problems, you can pop the black centre panel off the Edge and find a release lever for each stick. Lift the lever, slide the stick module out, slide a new one in, and you are good to go. The stick tips pop off and can be changed, with one set that is identical to the stock DualSense's sticks, with the ringed dome pattern. They also pack in rounded-tip stick tops, like the traditional DualShock sticks, with short or long stick ends on them to suit tastes. I'd honestly be surprised if there aren't third-party replacements soon, same for the back buttons.
The D-pad, L1, R1 and face buttons have a slightly more positive response. Not a click, but more defined than a stock DualSense pad gives. The L2 and R2 triggers now have a mechanical trigger stop added, with the choice of full range of motion, half-range or button-press depth. The button-press setting is ideal for games that assign functions to the triggers that don't need triggers, like turning on auto-battle in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. There are two Function buttons directly behind the analog sticks that allow you to switch button profiles on the fly and adjust audio settings. As of current system software, both buttons do the same thing.
I am going to assume that everyone is familiar with the DualSense, and focus on the key differences and changes on the Edge in comparison.
The differences between the DualSense and the DualSense Edge fall into both hardware and software categories, and I will start with the hardware changes. First things first, there has been a ton of screeching online about the Edge having a smaller battery than the DualSense for wireless use. There is a good reason for it, and that is that the controller, having the same exterior dimensions as a standard DualSense can't fit anything bigger. The mechanisms for the trigger stops and back buttons take space, and the DualSense Edge doesn't have anywhere else to put the battery than behind the main circuit board.
For the sake of comparison, of the other control pads in the same category, the only other wireless one is the Razer Wolverine, which is much larger, the rest are wired. The Edge has a 9-foot braided USB-A to USB-C cable included, and a locking mechanism to keep it hooked in tight. Wireless almost seems like an afterthought or a convenience feature. The battery life is indeed shorter, getting in the neighbourhood of 5 hours per charge compared to a bit over 7 for my DualSense pads. Whether this is longer or shorter than you tend to play in a single session makes this more or less of an issue, naturally. Wireless works as well as the base DualSense model.
The Edge also has interchangeable back buttons, and two different types are included, paddle-style levers that hug the handles of the pad, and a pair of half-dome buttons. The paddles are great for fast-twitch functions like sprinting in Returnal or throwing grenades in an FPS. The half-domes surprised me. I honestly only started using them for the sake of my review, but am really liking them. Due to the action of the switches for the back buttons, they end up functioning like triggers, as your fingertips push backward on them to activate. They are great as a general-purpose button for things like RPGs where you have functions you don't necessarily need to be quite as instant to trigger, but want handy. Both sets of back buttons are die-cast alloy, which is a great touch. Hopefully they bring out alloy stick tips at some point to match!
The analog sticks are modular and replaceable. If your sticks start to drip or have other problems, you can pop the black centre panel off the Edge and find a release lever for each stick. Lift the lever, slide the stick module out, slide a new one in, and you are good to go. The stick tips pop off and can be changed, with one set that is identical to the stock DualSense's sticks, with the ringed dome pattern. They also pack in rounded-tip stick tops, like the traditional DualShock sticks, with short or long stick ends on them to suit tastes. I'd honestly be surprised if there aren't third-party replacements soon, same for the back buttons.
The D-pad, L1, R1 and face buttons have a slightly more positive response. Not a click, but more defined than a stock DualSense pad gives. The L2 and R2 triggers now have a mechanical trigger stop added, with the choice of full range of motion, half-range or button-press depth. The button-press setting is ideal for games that assign functions to the triggers that don't need triggers, like turning on auto-battle in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. There are two Function buttons directly behind the analog sticks that allow you to switch button profiles on the fly and adjust audio settings. As of current system software, both buttons do the same thing.
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