Do Dualshock 4 Defects Show the Real Quality of the Controller?

The Dualshock 4 is a very well-built controller compared to the Dualshock 3, and even arguably the Xbox One controller. Unfortunately though, as pointed out on reddit, there are some flaws.

[GreenRanger]

The only problem I have had with the DualShock 4 is the rubber covering the top of the sticks has came apart.

[Digital_Anomaly]

Did you have it replaced? The old rubber covering has been changed and those ones are under warranty so get on it!! Just gotta pay to have it shipped back to Sony. I had a new controller within just over a week and no problems since!

[Bubbamilk]

Happened to me too so thanks for the info on that..very helpful.

I just wish I had 2 controllers so don't have to go a week without my ps4, and damn controllers are expensive.

Love how the dual shock 4 feels in my hands. I could feel the rubber giving out early on tho so glad to hear they fixed it

[nirwanda]

I bought some kontrol freaks thumb stick covers for mine after the rubber started coming off, but they kept coming off, so I moulded some of this putty stuff that turns into metal and they haven't budged since.
Really happy with them now.

[BG11579]

Helpful added! Didn't know that.

[XBLSkull]

I have synchronization issues with the controller frequently, also the battery is pathetic.

[sinjonezp]

Yea, I had the same issue with the rubber covering on the DS4. On one of my sticks, i had issues with the left trigger. It was getting stuck, but fixed it. I know a few people who had the original DS4 controllers would change out the thumb pads to new ones or the xbox one analog sticks. Its worth it to change it because the originals were terrible. The DS4 is a great controller with just a few hiccups that im sure are corrected now.

[nirwanda]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Car...
This is the stuff I only needed a small blob and it held completely solidly since, but you have to be careful we're you place them as the plastic arms that hold them in place catch the raised up bit where the dpad is.

[choujij]

I have used both of mine a lot since launch day on PS4 and PC. Both have been great. Also, charging is a breeze for me since I alternate between the two.

[Skate-AK]

@nirwanda

Dude I am pretty sure that stuff is really bad for your skin to be touching.

[taylork37]

I love the improved ergonomics of the controller.

My only problems are:

- The brightness on LED lights (which im assuming will be fixed through software)

- The shorter battery life. If the main contributor to the shorter battery life is the LED lighting, than I think they really need to get that fixed.

[xHeavYx]

You may know already, but you can dim the DS4 light
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[SmielmaN]

You can dim the controller from settings on the xmb.

[XtraTrstrL]

They need to just start making the newer controllers with a 2000mAh battery, rather than the 1000 they currently ship with. That should take care of the battery life issue. I have Grip-Itz on my 2 DS4s to combat the early rubber wear and tear. Hopefully it's true that the new models have a different material that doesn't wear down quite as quickly. Those are the only 2 issues really, other than that - it's a massive improvement over the DS3s.

[mochachino]

Dimming doesn't help much. The DS4 battery life is terrible.

And I can confirm that the new controllers have a new rubber...it's more like the rubber on the DS3 - stronger but less grippy.

[harrisk954]

I'm starting to notice a little "clickiness" on R1. Feels a little "sticky" but it is not affecting anything. I just feel it when I depress it all the way, especially when playing Diablo.

[dumahim]

The 1 buttons will stick a bit if you press down on the edge. I found if I make sure I press in the center of the button, I have no problems.

[MeliMel]

I was gonna say samething. My R1 seems to stick every now and then. I replaced my thumb grips with Kontrol freaks as well (awesome grips btw). And the battery life. I believe the new DS4 are out. Those should be wag better.

[NexGen]

There's a super easy fix for L1 and r1 sticking. No need to take the controller apart either. Check it out on youtube....fixed it for me for good, took 5 mins.

[dumahim]

I noticed last night while playing Destiny, it seems like the light is flickering a little bit. Looking at the light itself, it seems fine. But if I hold the light up to something, it appears to have an unsteady flicker to it.

[system22]

i had the same problem.... well and i really do think the battery is subpar. i'm sure the next rev will address it though.

[Palitera]

I have 2 controllers.
One has this issue (rubber torn apart) and the r1 sticking when pressed.
The other is unusable. It randomly goes down when I put right, up when left. Forumers don't know how to solve.

To send the 2nd for technical assistance here there are two options"
Paying the price of the controller in international shipping or paying the price of the controller to an overpriced technical assistance.

They have indeed very bad quality.

And to the "learn to use it" fanboys, as a comparison, my 2 5 years old PS3 controllers are still doing fine".

[ProSid]

For the r1 sticky button, i believe there is some stick white stuff in there. If you just take apart the r1 button and clean that stuff, it shouldnt stick anymore.

[Palitera]

Haha

Funny and helpful.

Umbasa!

PS: I don't like opening the controllers because I feel like they always get a little less tight after that. This is the least problematic issue of these and I already googled the solution, so I'll live with it for now. Tks anyway.

[kizzle32]

Got my console on release at midnight and my thumb sticks have held up well. I don't play religiously or anything but I do play a pretty good amount. I have ZERO issues with my DS4, battery life aside, its my favorite controller of all time.

[nucky64]

agreed - had mine since early march and no problems...and I work my dual sticks hard playing a lot of resogun.

[MasterCornholio]

My left thumbstick is peeling slightly but not enough to cause me to freak out over it. I'm planning on buying a secondary controller soon though for coop in Diablo 3.

Overall I'm pretty impressed with the controller especially with how ergonomic it is.

Oh and I love the triggers. Much better than the DS3s in my opinion.

[SmielmaN]

Same here on all points kizzle. I actually just bought the glacier white ds4, love that pearly white! Lol

[zsquaresoff]

What defects? Have had mine now for almost a year, no problems what so ever.

The only problem is that the battery drains out pretty fast.

[Bubbamilk]

Some have battery life issues and others have the rubber tearing on their left analog stick. U may have gotten lucky but my left stick ripped a couple months ago. Apparently it's only the launch consoles cause mine was and I could feel it getting brittle a couple months in advance.

Nothing like that crazy rhino skin on the ds3. Like the tailgate of a truck. That stuff was invincible. U could probably take a razor blade to it and it would only scratch it maybe

[Toon_Link]

Triggers break very easy as well. On the ds4 they used plastic hinges and plastic rod, on ds3 the rod was metal. I love the feel of my ds4 but I've been very good to my controllers and one has a broken trigger and the other has a wonky track pad. I do have two small children so I can't say 100% it's never been mistreated but I never had any trouble with my ds3 and the kids.

[Yomiro]

I have that problem with one of my DS4, the left analog stick moving to the bottom right.

[DigitalHope]

Ive had 2 controllers and both have had the same 2 issues.

The grip on the left stick coming off and my R2 trigger snapping its hinge on the left hinge where the spring sits.

If you remove the little peice of plastic that breaks you can still use the trigger but it pulls to the right a bit.

[CrowGoblin]

I swapped my dualshock4 thumbsticks out for xbox one thumbsticks off eBay for £3.45 they are exact same fitting, quite easy to change over, and a whole lot better than the stock ds4's

[jmc8888]

Right trigger went out on mine. Sent it in February 6th. Didn't get one back until late June.

Had to call them over and over again. Then of course you have to be transferred to people who only work certain limited hours.

Had I not bought a 2nd controller I would have been screwed.

Sony really screwed up in my case, and didn't even offer anything for holding my controller hostage for 4+ months.

[DragoonsScaleLegends]

Yeah you were screwed. I feel sony rushed the PS4 but we can always look towards it's bright future ahead. Since it is selling so good it will allow them to improve it better and all the great games in the works are a plus too.

[TheFallenAngel]

The only problem I had with mine was the rubber of the controller. But that was the launch controller. I have another one and it hasn't done that and I've had it for months already.

[elazz]

Have played a lot and have not detected any issues. The controller is great in my opinion. (Bought my console in June)

[Angerfist]

Dualshock 4 is an indestructible piece of art.

[SynestheticRoar]

No problems here. Got grips, and name covers for the lights. Works fine.

[Pwnag3Inc]

I have an issue with my micro usb port. I used the Ds4 while it was plugged in charging and now the ports are loose on both controllers.
It still charges, but only when I position the controller a certain way. I am really concerned that eventually this fix will not work.
Overall though I am loving this controller. It is sturdy and easily my favorite this generation.
Fyi, I own WiiU, Xone and ps4.

[DragoonsScaleLegends]

It's the cable not the port. I had the same issue. Buy a 10ft cable off ebay for $2 they will change your life.

[Pwnag3Inc]

I tried multiple cables. It is the actual port.
The port itself is loose and can be wiggled around quite a bit.
Overall though im not gonna light a torch and take to the interwebs. I just wrote it off as a lesson learned.
Do not play with the DS4 plugged in!

[Duke19]

Build quality is great (don't have the rubber issue), but the battery life on my launch controller is terrible. Was used to my 360 and PS3 which would last for days, now the DS4 feels like hours. I basically now just play with it plugged in when I can

Didnt help that the charging cable that was included was like 2 feet at best.

[DragoonsScaleLegends]

Buy a 10ft cable off ebay for $2 they will change your life.

[Duke19]

Good call! I'm using a USB extension cable right now instead and it sucks - thats definitely worth a $2 purchase

[akurtz]

After every play time i just put my ps4 on stand by and have my controller charge. That way its always ready :)

[danny818]

the design is good the buil quality is horrible. My buddy has gone through his rubbers and the RT button broke.

[DragoonsScaleLegends]

R2 button is starting to stick but eveything else is fine. Battery life could be better but I have a 10ft cord incase I ever need to plug it in while I game. Yeah sony needs to fix some issues that it has. PS3 controller didn't wear out nearly as fast.

[respekanize91]

both my controllers were fine until i started playing FIFA this summer now i use the rubber covers on the left thumb stick. Looking to get the new white controller this weekend, hopefully FIFA wont ruin this one

[kassler]

With ten million consoles out in the wild, there gonna be many thousands that are faulty.

[OldDude]

"and even arguably the Xbox One controller."

The X1 controller is much better built. From the moment I took my PS4 out of the box the first thing I personally felt like was everything about the X1 was better built. Its a first class product starting with the way its even packaged. Compared to the X1 to me the PS4 just feels like it was made on a tight budget. If you think the DS4 is better built, you don't own an X1. The DS3 was better.

[MetaReapre]

I have to agree, the xb1 controller seems great and very well built but I honestly prefer the location of the left analog stick on the dualshock controllers than the xb controllers.

[SoapShoes]

The X1 controller feels cheap to me. Probably all that smooth plastic instead of textured like the DS4. After using the DS4 even the DS3 feels cheap now.

[OldDude]

I agree with the DS3 feels cheap as well. Funny thing is when the PS3 (and I received mine day 1) first came out I remember the DS3 being better built compared to the one made today. Maybe that's just my imagination though.

[MetaReapre]

So far so good for me, no problems with my controllers and I use it even with my pc games so they get a lot of use. Lol

[Artista]

Every Gamestop I walk into, The top of the DS4 thumbsticks are always worn out on the kiosk setup.

The same cannot be said about the XO controller.

Heck, some folks are modifying their DS4s with XO thumbsticks.

[mrdxpr2]

I have a problem with my left analock stick keeps moving forward in every game. Sucks but I still use it.

[DeadManMMX]

I bought two at launch and the r button sticks on one I am a bit disappointed. I haven't even really played with it that much.

[tigertron]

My left stick is peeling off but the right one is ok right now. Had the controller since day one.

[LightningMokey]

I have a squeaky trigger on one of my ds4 the other is fine.

[MrSwankSinatra]

My biggest issues with the DS4 is the battery life, it's atrocious.

[n4gusername]

I've broke L3 twice sprinting.

[Harmy666]

Huh? Strange, I don't own a PlayStation 4 but the only problems I've heard people having was the early controller analog rubber coming off, but Sony have resolved that now...