The best PS5 controllers don't offer as much choice as we see on competing consoles, but there's still plenty worth recommending if you're in the market for a new gamepad. Better still, this is an excellent time of year to be shopping for one, as the Black Friday PS5 controller deals will be taking place later this month.
Unlike most of the best PC controllers and best Xbox controllers, Sony's DualSense and premium DualSense Edge comtrollers have a rather unique ace up their sleeves. They feature bespoke haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that you won't find anywhere else. Some PC games even support this feature, making Sony's official PS5 controllers excellent choices for desktop play too. You will definitely find haptic support in PlayStation Studios games ported to PC, for example, such as Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered and Horizon Forbidden West.
We've tested and reviewed every PS5 controller in this list; across TechRadar Gaming, we have a team of experts who test each to a granular degree, across a range of genres. As a result, you can be safe in the knowledge that our hand-picked guide will have a PS5 controller that suits your budget and preferences.
The Quick List
Best overall
The DualSense is our top pick for the best PS5 controller for its aggressive point point, suite of bespoke features, and native compatibility with the console.
Best pro
The DualSense Edge retains all the features of the original model but adds enhanced functionality such as extra sticks, D-pads, and remappable buttons geared towards high-level play.
Best versatile
The Victrix Pro BFG features a modularity unlike any other PS5 controller on the market as you have the ability to swap out the sticks, D-pads, and buttons out to suit different genres.
Best custom
There's nothing better on the market than the Scuf Reflex Pro if you want to add further customization to your DualSense controller. It also features pro-level features, too.
Best for accessibility
The PlayStation Access is the PS5's official accessibility controller, allowing disabled players or those with particular requirements a better means to play their favorite games.
Best fight stick
With its arcade-quality stick and buttons, the Nacon Daija is the perfect companion to some of the best fighting games available on the platform.
Best PS5 controllers in 2024
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Best overall PS5 controller
✅ You want all the leading PS5 controller features: The DualSense features haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, a touchpad, and gyro controls as the most advanced OEM pad on the market.
❌ You want a PS5 controller with good battery life: All the bells and whistles come at a price as the DualSense only averages around 4-8 hours on a single charge.
The DualSense Wireless Controller takes the top spot as the best PS5 controller right now. It offers excellent build quality and features even higher-end alternatives don’t. We’ve been using this particular controller now for over three years to great success because of the genuinely innovative inclusions of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, which both first and third-party game developers are utilizing in exciting ways.
Extra features aside, the DualSense is just an incredibly well-designed gamepad to have in your hands. A little curvier than the DualShock 4 that shipped with the PS4, this makes for a controller that’s more comfortable to use for long play sessions. Every aspect of the controller, such as the face buttons, the D-pad, and those all-star triggers, feels great to the touch.
Where the DualSense is let down by the battery life. All these extra bells and whistles come at a cost: you can expect anywhere from four to eight hours of use between charges. We often found ourselves reaching for the included USB-C cable when going the distance in longer titles such as God of War Raganrok and Ghost of Tsushima.
- Read more: DualSense Wireless Controller review
Best pro PS5 controller
✅ You want an official pro controller: Unlike other pro-level PS5 controllers, the DualSense Edge retains everything from the DualSense while adding remappable buttons, trigger stops, and improved sticks.
❌ You want good value for money: With its steep asking price and worse battery life than the original, the DualSense Edge could be too expensive for some.
While the DualSense Edge is only a slight improvement over the stock model, what’s offered here with this upgraded version is more likely to appeal to hardcore gamers. Priced at $199.99 / £209.99 / AU$339.95, this gamepad isn’t meant to replace the standard PS5 controller.
The biggest upgrade with the DualSense Edge is in the build quality and aesthetic tweaks. It’s down to the redesigned triggers, touchpad, and slightly heavier chassis. It feels like a premium product while offering the extra functionality you should expect from a controller that’s more than double the cost of a standard DualSense.
We particularly enjoyed the adjustable trigger stops, rear paddles, and function buttons which made a real difference in games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Returnal. Depending on how you play on your PS5, you’ll either notice these additions as game changers or nice extras.
The one thing that the DualSense Edge doesn’t address is the battery life. You can expect anywhere from six to eight hours, depending on what features you’re using. We found that the controller averaged just over seven hours before going flat when utilizing everything that the Edge could do.
Seeing as some PS5 controllers aimed at the Esports scene strip away core DualSense functionality and cost more than this, such as with the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, we think this model is a good investment for those who will use it to its full potential.
- Read more: DualSense Edge review
Best versatile PS5 controller
✅ Modularity is essential for you: The Victrix Pro BFG features additional sticks, D-pads, and even a fight stick module meaning it has a ton of variety for competitive and casual play.
❌ You want to retain DualSense functionality: As with other third-party PS5 controllers, you won't find adaptive triggers or rumble of any kind on the Victrix Pro BFG.
If you’re after a competitive edge in some of the more demanding PS5 games then you should strongly consider the Victrix Pro BFG controller. That’s because this gamepad features not only five different levels of trigger adjustments, four remappable back paddles, and multiple sticks and D-pads to choose from but also an entire fightpad module, too.
Priced at $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$269, the Victrix Pro BFG is considerably more expensive than the standard DualSense, yes, but it does significantly undercut the competition from other first and third-party offerings. A major strength of this PS5 controller that we found in our testing was the lengthy battery life, of which you can expect up to 20 hours, and the lightweight nature of the remote itself. You’ve also got a protective carrying case and a 3m long braided USB-C cable just in case you want to bring it to all kinds of gaming tournaments with you.
The trade-off here is that you’re forgoing the DualSense functionality all together. Now, this isn’t just the case with the Victrix BFG Pro, as other officially licensed pads also aren’t using adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. But keep in mind that everything has been stripped back here to prioritize low latency and responsive gaming over more immersive features from the stock PS5 controller.
- Read more: Victrix Pro BFG review
Best custom PS5 controller
✅ You want a customized DualSense: The Scuf Reflex Pro uses the DualSense as a base and adds remappable paddles as extra buttons and a high-performance grip. You're also able to customize every detail to your liking, too.
❌ You enjoy haptic feedback: While the Scuf Reflex Pro features adaptive triggers as standard, these can be swapped out for instant-click versions, it doesn't have haptic feedback, instead just a basic rumble pack.
The main attraction of the Scuf Reflex Pro is its customization options, where you can create unique color schemes for your controller with a simple-to-use design tool. You’re paying a pretty penny for the privilege, though. With prices starting at $219.99 / £219.99 (roughly AU$315), fine-tuning your pad doesn’t come cheap.
Our review unit has a black and red color scheme with a complementing face plate and color-matched buttons, triggers, bumpers, and D-pad. There are over 25 pre-made designs to choose from and a vast array of color combinations should you want to take things in a different direction. The main thing that separates the standard Reflex from the Pro variant is the ‘high-performance grip’, which costs $19.99 / £19.99 (approximately $AU38) to add to your controller. We found that it was easily the better investment here as it feels substantially more supportive than the otherwise smooth finish of the DualSense’s chassis.
The Scuf Reflex Pro retains everything that makes the PS5 DualSense special, the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. You’re also getting remappable paddles, which you can use to free up your hands over the face buttons. Ultimately, we found these functions are ultimately secondary to the design customization. If you’ve dreamed of having a particular color combo for your PS5 controller with the extra coin to spend, this is a great start.
- Read more: Scuf Reflex Pro review
Best PS5 controller for accessibility
✅ You have accessibility needs that require something extra: With an array of implementations, button types, use cases, and flexibility on offer, the PlayStation Access controller will open doors or should you need something extra in accessibility, be it small changes or large-scale overhauls.
❌ You need a total solution from a single accessibility controller: Given that one Access controller cannot, sadly, replace one DualSense controller wholesale, it doesn’t represent a complete solution in a single unit. You can, however, add a second Access controller to achieve this but that increases the cost.
Previously known as Project Leonardo, the PlayStation Access controller marks Sony's first official foray into the realm of accessibility-friendly gamepads. The result is a controller that's potentially more accommodating to disabled players than the standard DualSense Wireless Controller. And it comes packed with a range of modules including sets of buttons and tags to help aid players that may require more specific tools.
Coming in at $89.99 / £79.99, the PlayStation Access is unfortunately more expensive than the DualSense. This represents a bit more of a barrier to entry for those on a budget; especially so if you require two Access controllers during play.
Overall, though, we're happy that Sony has created the Access controller. Many of its first-party games are also being updated with official support. In our review, we appreciated the sheer versatility offered by the Access, as well as its high-quality modules and fantastically-designed joystick.
- Read more: PlayStation Access controller review
Best PS5 controller for fighting games
✅ You want an arcade-quality experience: The Nacon Daija is about as close to arcade-level fighting game sticks as you can get for the price. It's perfect for wanting authenticity in the likes of Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken.
❌ You want something lighter: While the Nacon Daija absolutely nails the feel of an authentic arcade setup, it does also happen to be one of the heaviest PS5 fight sticks available.
If you’re looking at a new PS5 controller to get the most out of fighting games, then you should look past a traditional gamepad. The Nacon Daija is our pick for the best fight stick. We were continuously impressed with the build quality, the parts used, and the overall responsiveness when battling it out in titles such as Guilty Gear Strive and Tekken 7. It’s not cheap, though: the Daija currently retails for around $292 / £240 from its €279.90 cited MSRP.
The Nacon Daija is a controller, with a good amount of heft and size, making it stable when the fighting gets intense. We found the Daija comfortable whether used on the lap or a table. What’s particularly great about this controller is you can open it up to make repairs or any upgrades to the buttons, switches, and stick if required. Given that you’re getting top-of-the-line Sanwa-Denshi parts here, we never saw the immediate need to swap these out.
While primarily marketed at the fighting game community, the Nacon Daija is also a superstar for your arcade games. We particularly enjoyed run-throughs of titles such as Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge, and Metal Slug 3. Given the price tag, it’s certainly an investment, but if you want to take on the latest and greatest fighting games with superior input control than a gamepad, then we think it’s worth a shot.
- Read more: Nacon Daija arcade stick review
How we test the best PS5 controllers
Only two of the best PS5 controllers feature Sony's bespoke haptic feedback and adaptive trigger technology; those being its official DualSense and DualSense Edge gamepads. This already makes the pair worthy of being in this list, thanks to the high quality of these features paired with the high level of comfort and build quality they provide.
When looking elsewhere, we make sure to test the best PS5 controllers on more traditional factors. These include build quality, features that are useful during gameplay (such as remappable buttons or swappable modules) or if they're particularly well-suited to one or two specific genres, as you can see with the Nacon Daija above.
Price is also a huge consideration here. And while there aren't a great deal of budget picks for PS5 (supported gamepads here do tend to be pricier than third-party offerings on Xbox and Switch), we've endeavored to cover as broad a price spectrum as possible while still ensuring each pick meets our quality standard.
Best PS5 controllers - FAQs
Are PS5 controllers compatible with PC?
Yes! Both the DualSense and DualSense Edge have official PC support and will work straight away via a wired USB-C connection. Some games - particularly PC ports of PlayStation Studios titles - also have full haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support, so you'll be able to get that console-like experience on desktop, too.
Should I wait until Black Friday to buy a PS5 controller?
It's definitely worth holding out until Black Friday on November 29 if you're planning on picking up a new PS5 controller soon. That's because we often see official DualSense models receive otherwise rare discounts at this time of year. You can also expect big savings from the likes of Nacon, Turtle Beach and PDP.
Will PS5 controllers work on PS4?
While most third-party PS5 controllers also work on the PS4, including the Victrix Pro BFG, that isn't the case for the official DualSense or DualSense Edge. These are bespoke PS5 controllers and aren't compatible with Sony's last-gen system. As mentioned above, they do work on PC, at least.
How to choose a PS5 controller
The advantage of having a relatively limited pool of PS5 controllers to choose from, is that it's very easy to pick one that's suited to your budget and preferences. By design, the DualSense and DualSense Edge have an advantage over other gamepads in their bespoke haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support.
If you love single-player games and want some genuinely class-leading physical feedback to go along with them, we'd recommend either of these. But, only go for the Edge if you have the budget to do so, as it's Sony's pricier premium pick. The DualSense should be your first port of call, but this is admittedly because of Sony's strict third-party limitations. No other PS5 controllers can offer haptics or even turn on the console from the gamepad itself due to Sony's rules.
If you want a PS5 controller kitted out with high-end features, look no further than the Victrix BFG Pro. This modular controller lets you swap out individual parts, and features handy additions like trigger stops, remappable buttons and - crucially - excellent build quality.
