Comparing & Contrasting PS5 DualSense Edge vs Xbox Elite Controller

Sony revealed the details of its DualSense Edge wireless controller, so it's natural to compare it to the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2.

[Jin_Sakai]

It’s a nice looking controller but they lost me at $199. It’s just too much imo. The Elite Series 2 is $155 on Amazon.

[darthv72]

...if only elite series 2 had replaceable thumb sticks if things go wrong. But at either price... NOTHING should go wrong. They should be built to be worth that level of price.

[Kados]

Hopefully they do a Series 3 with Hall Effect analogs. That would solve the drift issue completely.

[Eonjay]

I feel like if you are spending the money for a pro controller I would rather have the ability to pay 20 to replace the sticks off something breaks for whatever reason then buying a while new controller. I have yet to find a single thing I couldn't accidentally break... Besides my phone and it's gonna have to self destruct before I replace it.

[DarthZoolu]

I can pay to have the thumb sticks replaced on my elite two controller for the price difference of the two controllers

[neutralgamer1992]

1-$200 for controllers
2-$400 for expansion packs
3-Games filled with micro transactions
4-Launching games that aren't ready
5-Play it safe sequels only and even if new IP don't take risks

6- try to find the one game everyone is willing to play so the most amount of money could be generated

This is what gaming has become

[Crows90]

My points are MTX and open worlds. That's gaming nowadays.

[jznrpg]

200$ controller is totally optional and not necessary to play on PS5 that comes with a controller . I get expansion packs and MTs and the rest but an optional controller you don’t need I don’t understand the hate for it really . If they were releasing more controllers than games I would understand but PS isn’t …

[rlow1]

Add to that, we’re headed for a very probable world wide recession. But they are still nickel and dimeing us.

[Rude-ro]

If the elite was worth buying, Ie not faulty, your arguments would be correct..
now, we have to see if the PlayStation is not..
If it is not, it is automatically the better of the two.
The elite series two is still junk as still is having button latency and the r2 trigger scrapping out. Issues

[Software_Lover]

I have had no problems with my elite series 2. The back buttons have tremendously helped my finger placement fatigue.

[Jin_Sakai]

The A button wouldn’t register sometimes and the RT started squeaking badly within a week. Ended up just returning it. Sad because the controller felt great.

[crazyCoconuts]

Haven't the Scuf controllers been running at $200?

[sagapo]

Yup, from $200 up to $250…

[Deathdeliverer]

Mannnn I just can’t swing them prices for a controller. Didn’t do it for the elite, won’t do it now.

[ActualEngineer]

The xbox just feels more comfortable, having the left thumbstick in the upper left corner. I used to always own playstation consoles, but when I got my hands on a 360 controller, I was hooked ever since.

[shinoff2183]

I simply disagree. Ps controller just feels natural.

[sinspirit]

So the right analog stick is uncomfortable to you?

[JEECE]

This exactly. Your thumb is in the same location on each hand. It either feels better up or down. So either the PlayStation controller is perfect for thumb position and the Xbox controller is 50% correct, or the PlayStation controller is completely wrong for thumb position and the Xbox controller is 50% correct.

[ActualEngineer]

You see my name, notice it has the word engineer in it?! I'm an Industrial Design Engineer.

Having the thumbsticks not in a parallel arrangement both helps the brain distinguish each hand's indivifual role / function, aswell as parallelise the nature of the control, because by lowering the right thumb you put the right hand in a defensive or a contemplating position and by placing the left thumb in an upper position you have the hand pointing forward in a movement-like directional position.

ALSO if you do notice how you hold the remote while your body is resting, the weight is on your right hand which rests lower that the left hand, while the left hand is more active ... AS IT SHOULD BE since you move energetically but execute commands cautiously.

Symmetry delutes it's function if there is a reason of purpose. USE YOUR BRAIN.

[Mr_cheese]

I'm a cheese connoisseur

[sinspirit]

@ActualEngineer

Hmmm, nope. No one gets confused on left and right. Your brain already does this for you. Asymmetrical controls work in an industrial environment for safety hazards such as low light conditions or reducing a bad habit of operating controls the wrong way. Such as trying both hands on the left hand side of equipment that purposely splits them apart by function. The grips will be shaped in a way to know it's on the left or right side. The seat you are in will direct your body as well to know what is in front, and therefore left and right. In this case those controls tend to be less oftenly made as anything but a generic knob shape that your hand won't differentiate.

This already does apply to all controllers by the way. Try holding the left side of your controller with your right hand. You can differentiate it, right? Are you confused by what side is what if you go to hold the controller in the dark? Nope. The left hand is actually not more active in many games. The right analog has more precise movement most of the time while the left is normally held in one direction with no effort for accuracy.

Also, you don't make something parallel by changing the whole layout. It's less parallel because the layout is not mirrored.

Nope. I don't rest that way at all. If the controller is making you rest a certain way then this is how you know it strains your hand out more and your body is not comfortable or able to find a resting position with either hand lower than the other. This is a realistic engineering argument because an ergonomics engineer can tell you the left analog being higher but with the same hand grip means you are naturally extending your thumb north to move the stick. The natural resting motion of your thumb is more suited for a playstation analog layout.

I know you're either over-complicating or trolling but still this is how misinformation spreads, lol.

[boing1]

@ActualEngineer

If you introduce assymetry into the mix, than you're risking of alienating some people, just like ergonomic mouses only for right-handed.

[I_am_Batman]

@ActualEngineer:

I am Batman and your comment sounds more like Feng Shui than engineering to me. But that may just be, because I've used both types of controllers and never had any issue using either configuration. To be fair, that may be because I'm super intelligent (being Batman and all) and my brain manages to adapt to the seemingly impossible task of moving one thumb in a slightly different position, without rendering my hands dysfunctional.

[ActualEngineer]

Do you expect an ergonomic analysis of the grip posture and the stresses to the individual tendons, of me?! Your cns is trained to function in a certain way, at all times and under every condition. When it comes into contact with something unnatural, it can adapt and create a new neural path for it BUT there is no point in doing so since you can just leverage a better hand posture by moving the damn thunbstick in the upper left position, so that the position of the stick and the overall thumb movement express a better parallel towards the physiology of the function at hand (literally lol). What you said about industrial controllers had NOTHING to do with industrial design - industrial design is the architecture of goods consumed or used by a sentient being, but I have to say that it was a nice try in sounding credible. In the end it is the analog to the physiology that is not right when you have to extend your thumb to go right and withdraw for left, it is simply a neurological mindf**k to which your brain has been adjusted to. Also you are stressing the metacarpophalangeal joint aswell as the extensor and abductor tendons in your thumb. ALSO the upper position provides a higher level of control.

Now this is enough time I'm willing to spend, arguing with little kids in the comment section.

[Mr_cheese]

What a shame that you couldn't coherently convince people so resorted to attempting to degrade those responding to your points.

My comment was definitely in jest because of your wording however, but I raise the question of other devices. If we remove the controller for a moment and think of everything else we use two hands for including our phones, symmetry is key. Even the mighty apple hasn't tried to rebrand in the name of ergonomics and psychological use.

[Brazz]

I have to disagree. XBOX left Analogue just doesn't work for me, i like using claw grip and playstation is just better at it. Keeping your thumb in place at the analogue stick and pressing d-pad using index finger... you can't do this whit Xbox, clawgrip on Xbox is just bad!

[boing1]

I concur. I'm pretty sure they went assymetrical just because playstation already had the best symmetrical placement.

[Keltech]

@ActualEngineer I bought a Series X almost a year ago and you're wrong. Maybe if you would've said, "in my opinion," but you didn't. I play shooters with the L1/R1 to zoom and shoot. I can't do this with the Xbox controller because of the placement of the left stick, my finger always slips off the zoom button (LB).

[shinoff2183]

Hey actualengineer.

One your opinion isnt everyone elses

Two pretty sure engineers can be wrong. Wouldnt be the first time.

[ActualEngineer]

You think you have seen stuff when physicists fight, but you haven't seen jack until you see two engineers fight 😅

[GoodGuy09]

If the battery is at least 20hrs then it's a day one but they haven't said anything about it yet so...

I might as well just get that back button attachment mod on amazon at this point, I can't stand the horrid short battery on PS controllers and constantly seeing that low battery indicator every couple of gaming sessions I do...

[boing1]

Having two controllers and charging station completely negated the issue with battery for me. Charging station especially. I have the official one and dropping the controller on it is effortless.

[Destiny1080]

some out of date controller vs the latest and greatest tech on the market

do people really compare ladas to a rolls royce

[Sgt_Slaughter]

Definitely no bias in this comment, none at all

[GamingSinceForever]

These comparisons are sorta a moot point because they are reserved for the most serious of gamers that will have them both assuming they play on both systems.

[andy85]

It's expensive but people pay 1200 for a phone contract that really doesn't do much different than a cheaper phone. Personally the original Dualsense is more than good enough for me but I wouldn't think someone is stupid for buying it. It's a similar price point to the Xbox elite and less than the Scuff controllers. If it had a massive battery life I'd be tempted in a sale because I hate wires 😂😂

[z2g]

I have an elite 2 and I’ll be picking up the DS Edge as well been waiting a long time for Sony to do this. I haven’t used the Edge Yet but my take on the gen 9 latest controllers would be this: I find the haptics and dynamic triggers to be superior upgrades to any controller refresh in recent memory, but I still prefer the asymmetric layout and size of the Xbox controller in general. I think the DS controller is much cooler from a tech/immersion perspective, but ergonomically Xbox is better imo.

[Crows90]

Well on features alone the dual sense has the advantage.

[XxINFERNUSxX]

If you game on PC just buy the standard xbox controller for $49.99 and your good. For me personally it's all I need, don't need or like feedback of any kind I just want to play and that's it. And since I only use it for PC, it's only needed for a handful of games like Uncharted, GTA, etc. 🙃

[plmkoh]

All I read in your comment is need need need need need need

It's like you're recommending a desert. There's nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Being able to replace the joysticks is great, but barely worth it at $200. I’ll cave on the second iteration, after they address unforeseen issues and likely offer another color.

My main concern is that the bumpers will break after 6 months like my last 2 Elites (never again, Xbox). Hopefully the parts can take a few tumbles still, even with the additional weight.

[Hofstaderman]

I’m not paying 200 Dollars for a controller. Sony stop messing around, this is Microsoft’s thing. We want that rumoured new exclusives reveal that was allegedly postponed by the Activision merger challenge.

[Viljong]

Xbox controller have better layout and xbox have adaptive controller for disabled gamers. Playstation controller have more features and better haptics

About audio playstation have it worst. "3d audio" chip only mean sony was too cheap to get dolby atmos license. 3d audio for headsets is avaiable for xbox and pc. And xbox support the real og 3d audio which is home theatre dolby atmos. My xbox sound so much better with my eArc 7.1 dolby atmos than my ps5. Sony cheaped out audio just like they did with 30gb a sec "hdmi 2.1" port. Hardware in xbox is superioir to playstation. Better compability, better audio for headsets and specially home theatre. Better picture quality. Sony marketed their cheaped out features better.