Sony · Updated June 2026
DualSense Wireless Controller: price, specs & release date
The DualSense Wireless Controller costs $69.99, #3 cheapest of 9 gaming controllers (median $179.99). It earns a Bronze Deskmark — 24/100 pay-blind standing, #7 of 9 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Adaptive triggers and haptic feedback deliver genuinely immersive, innovative gameplay; Comfortable, sturdy, well-textured grip that stays comfortable over long sessions.
- Skip if Battery life is short/disappointing (~8-10 hours per charge) is a dealbreaker.
DualSense Wireless Controller, released 2020-11. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: playstation.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
Is the DualSense Wireless Controller a good buy?
At $70, the DualSense Wireless Controller is #3 cheapest of the 9 gaming controllers we track, where the median is $179.99. On the spec sheet, its back paddle buttons of 0 is the lowest of the 9, its battery life hours of 12 is below the median of the 9, and its weight grams of 280 is below the median of the 7.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 2
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 1
- Outlets on recordall tested
- 2
Two independent labs measured this product across 1 physical metric — battery. With a second lab on record, each figure comes from more than one independent hands-on source — a measure of how much evidence exists, not a rating of the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the DualSense Wireless Controller
Both whitelisted hands-on reviews (PCWorld, TechRadar) rate the standard DualSense highly, praising its adaptive triggers, haptics and comfortable grip as genuinely innovative. Both flag mediocre battery life as the main weakness; PCWorld also warns PC support is limited. No RTINGS lab data; Edge-model reviews were excluded.
Consistently praised
- Adaptive triggers and haptic feedback deliver genuinely immersive, innovative gameplay · 2 sources
- Comfortable, sturdy, well-textured grip that stays comfortable over long sessions · 2 sources
- Improved/tactile face buttons plus a built-in audio feature (speaker per PCWorld, mic per TechRadar) add value · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- Battery life is short/disappointing (~8-10 hours per charge) · 2 sources
- Limited feature support on PC — generic controller over Bluetooth, advanced features need a wired connection
Where reviewers disagree Both agree battery life is the main flaw but their observed figures differ: PCWorld measured ~8 hours testing wirelessly on PC, while TechRadar observed ~9-10 hours on PS5. PCWorld is PC-focused and stresses limited PC support; TechRadar reviews it purely as a PS5 pad and doesn't raise that concern.
The sources (2)
Battery life (wireless gameplay per charge): ~8 hours
The adaptive triggers are even more impressive than the haptics.
As a piece of hardware, the DualSense is far superior to the current Xbox offerings.
In wireless mode, we're averaging around eight hours of gameplay per charge, which is far short of the 25 to 30 hours you get with the Xbox controller.
Battery life (gameplay before recharge): ~9-10 hours
Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are a revelation
the DualSense is an absolute joy to use
the battery life is slightly disappointing, with Sony's PS5 controller only providing around nine to 10 hours of play before you'll need to pop in the charging cable
Specifications
| Price (US) | $69.99 Launch MSRP; current retail may vary by colorway |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sony |
| Released | 2020-11 |
| Connection type | Bluetooth 5.1 + USB-C wired |
| Platform compatibility | PS5, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Battery life hours | 12 |
| Weight grams | 280 |
| Rumble haptics | Yes |
| Adaptive triggers | Yes |
| Trigger stops | No |
| Back paddle buttons | 0 |
| Hall effect sticks | No |
| Audio jack35mm | Yes |
| Charging interface | USB-C |
Source: playstation.com (verified 2026-06-26) · corroborated by pushsquare.com. Weight 280g from Sony official documentation. Launch price $69.99 confirmed via multiple retail sources. Battery 12h advertised spec. USB-C charging and 3.5mm headset jack confirmed. Adaptive triggers and haptic feedback confirmed. No trigger stops or back paddles on standard DualSense. No hall effect sticks.
Is the DualSense Wireless Controller worth it vs cheaper gaming controllers?
DualSense Wireless Controller against its closest cheaper and pricier gaming controllers on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 9 ranked →
| Product | Price | Connection type | Platform compatibility | Battery life hours | Weight grams | Rumble haptics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DualSense Wireless Controller this | $69.99 | Bluetooth 5.1 + USB-C wired | PS5, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | 12 | 280 | Yes |
| Xbox Wireless Controller | $59.99 | Xbox Wireless + Bluetooth + USB-C wired | Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows, Android, iOS | 40 | 287 | Yes |
| Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core | $129.99 | Xbox Wireless + Bluetooth + USB-C wired | Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows | 40 | — | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the DualSense Wireless Controller?
Both whitelisted hands-on reviews (PCWorld, TechRadar) rate the standard DualSense highly, praising its adaptive triggers, haptics and comfortable grip as genuinely innovative. Both flag mediocre battery life as the main weakness; PCWorld also warns PC support is limited. No RTINGS lab data; Edge-model reviews were excluded. Praised: Adaptive triggers and haptic feedback deliver genuinely immersive, innovative gameplay; Comfortable, sturdy, well-textured grip that stays comfortable over long sessions; Improved/tactile face buttons plus a built-in audio feature (speaker per PCWorld, mic per TechRadar) add value. Flagged: Battery life is short/disappointing (~8-10 hours per charge); Limited feature support on PC — generic controller over Bluetooth, advanced features need a wired connection. (From 2 tester reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
How much does the DualSense Wireless Controller cost?
The DualSense Wireless Controller has a US price of $69.99 (Launch MSRP; current retail may vary by colorway), as of 2026-06-26.
How does the DualSense Wireless Controller compare on price?
At $70, the DualSense Wireless Controller is #3 cheapest of the 9 gaming controllers we track, where the median is $179.99.
When was the DualSense Wireless Controller released?
The DualSense Wireless Controller was released 2020-11.
What are the DualSense Wireless Controller's key specs?
DualSense Wireless Controller (Sony): connectionType Bluetooth 5.1 + USB-C wired, platformCompatibility PS5, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, batteryLifeHours 12, weightGrams 280, rumbleHaptics Yes. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-26.
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