How to pair and connect your PS5 controller with Apple devices

As spotted by MacRumors and later confirmed by Apple, those running the freshly-released iOS 16.4 can now pair their controller. iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, and tvOS 16.4 were rolled out on March 27th.

Follow these steps outlined by Apple to pair your controller:

1. Make sure that your controller is turned off.
2. Press and hold the PS button and the Create (or Share) button at the same time until the light bar begins to flash. The controller is now in pairing mode, which makes it discoverable by your Apple device.
3. Open Bluetooth settings on your Apple device, then select the controller from the list of nearby devices.
   • iPhone, iPad: Connect Bluetooth devices
   • Apple TV: Connect Bluetooth devices
   • Mac: Connect Bluetooth devices
4. If the controller pairs but doesn’t connect, press the PS button on the controller.

Apple now supports three PlayStation controllers: DualShock 4, the standard DualSense, and DualSense Edge.

As a reminder, players can now wirelessly update DualSense, DualSense Edge, and PSVR 2 Sense controllers.

The post PS5 Controller DualSense Edge Gets iOS Support appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

New PS5 hall effect controller to fix stick drift issues

In response to a question on Twitter, GuliKit confirmed that it intends to make a PS5 hall effect controller with paddles:

Yes, we will do this. https://t.co/V2Oizf8vLh

— GuliKit (@GuliKitDesign) March 2, 2023

As for replacement hall effect analog sticks for the DualSense Edge, GuliKit is also planning on selling those:

Will do first for Dual Sense Edge because that is easier for its modular design. https://t.co/OTYoD25yAI

— GuliKit (@GuliKitDesign) January 23, 2023

Existing DualSense Edge owners will, in theory, be able to swap out the stock analog sticks with the new hall effect joysticks, once they can be bought.

Though there’s no estimated release date on when these hall effect products will become available, it’s likely that the DualSense Edge kit will be released first, as GuliKit has confirmed that making them is easier “for its modular design.”

GuliKit is no stranger to hall effect tech, as it sells hall effect joysticks for Nintendo Switch and Xbox.

For those happy with the standard DualSense controller, there is going to be a limited-edition LeBron James version. As for the DualSense Edge, it’s now being sold in more retailers.

The post PS5 Hall Effect Controller by GuliKit To Stop All Stick Drift appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

The best DualSense Edge deals

As Sony’s customizable DualSense Edge PS5 controller has only just become available at US retailers, the price is almost identical between all outlets. Walmart is marginally cheaper at $199, with other retailers plucking for $199.99. Your choice of retailer is most likely going to come down to availability and delivery options.

• Amazon – $199.99 with free delivery by March 2
• Best Buy – $199.99 with free delivery by February 28
• GameStop – $199.99 with free 1-3 day shipping
• Walmart – $199.00 with free delivery by February 25

Both Amazon and GameStop are also selling the replacement stick modules individually:

• Amazon – $19.99 each
• GameStop – $19.99 each

Our review found that DualSense Edge is “easily the best gaming controller Sony has ever put out”, although there are problems with its short battery life. There are alternative third-party options for a customizable PS5 controller, including the PDP Victrix Pro, SCUF Reflex Pro, and TCP Ultimate, although they compromise on adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, or price. Make sure to do your research before taking the plunge!

The post DualSense Edge PS5 Pro Controller Now Available at More Retailers appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Just a little déjá vu

Up until now, Sony has only offered a single official controller for the PS5. The original DualSense was quite an upgrade from the DualShock 4, as it sported all the tech from that controller with new innovative additions such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. The DualSense Edge keeps all of that delicious tech and adds customization as the cherry on top. From the triggers to the analog sticks, and inclusive of such functionality as remapping buttons, all the standard trappings of a modern “pro” controller are here, and we’ll spend some time explaining each.

The DualSense Edge arrives in a hard plastic carrying case, which means you can easily travel with this or a standard DualSense in tow, confident in the knowledge that it’ll be safe from all but the most extreme bumps and bangs as a travel companion.

The case is secured with two zippers, each of which sport the PS logo – a common motif of Sony’s is to include either that or the iconic face buttons on a lot of different surfaces, in subtle ways that deftly avoid being too garish or flashy while not detracting from the overall premium look and feel of the product. A Velcro-held opening on the back even allows for the controller to be charged while remaining in the case, another thoughtful inclusion that shows the kinds of use cases Sony’s team thought of while developing this premium controller.

One potential issue that we noticed here, however, is that the enclosed space of the case does cause the controller to heat up a bit more than usual while charging, which may impact the battery over the life of the device, though this is pure speculation at this point.

The first thing you’ll notice about the DualSense Edge is that it looks more or less like the original. This is by design, as it means all accessories for the regular DualSense will work with the Edge, such as the official controller charging station. The speaker, microphone, headphone jack, and standard buttons are all in the same spot, so there’s nothing to get reacquainted with in terms of picking the Edge up to play games in the way you are used to. You could, in fact, use the DualSense Edge as-is out of the box without any customization. This would, of course, be a waste of paying a premium for this controller, but the point is that you could!

They’ve changed something

What has changed in terms of overall aesthetics is the color scheme. While the controller is still mostly white, the touchpad and face buttons are now black, with small PlayStation face buttons printed on the touchpad, and white lettering on the face buttons. A

removable black-colored plastic plate also covers the lower portion of the controller, and below that are two function buttons (more on those in a bit). Turning the controller on reveals a few other visible tweaks to the DualSense formula. The diffuse plastic that the LEDs on either side of the controller shine through has been shaped to be a tad longer, giving the light a slightly longer and more styled appearance.

The player indicator LEDs below the touchpad have also been altered, and now have a hard edge and appear pill-shaped. The microphone mute button and LED, alongside the PS button, appear unchanged.

Included alongside the DualSense Edge is a 2.8 meter (9.1 foot)-long USB-A to USB-C charging/data cable. It’s a premium, braided cable that is noticeably heavier in the hand than other cords of the same length. Naturally, the PS logo is embossed on the USB-C end to help you know that you grabbed the right cord. Its length ensures that most setups should have no issues playing on a wired connection, which many gamers considering this controller will want to do to remove any extra input lag.

While we’re on the topic of connectivity, a rather unique piece of this kit is the included cable lock. It’s a small cage-like mechanism that you open up, and lay the USB-C end of the cord inside. Closing it snaps the cord into place, and a locking slider prevents the cord from coming loose and being removed from the controller.

This does not prevent the USB-A portion of the cord from being yanked from the PS5 console, however, but perhaps the thinking here is that smaller tugs during intense gaming moments won’t result in a sudden, round-losing disconnection. This is an interesting inclusion which might provide more peace of mind than anything.

Plenty of combinations to choose from

Now, as far as physical customization goes, the DualSense Edge includes two sets of paddle triggers and three sets of joystick tops including the default style which comes pre-installed. Looking at the paddles first, these are installed around the back lower half of the controller, in holes labeled “LB” and “RB.” One set is the more traditional paddle shape, while the other set are in the shape of little half-domes. All four are made of metal and feel hefty and durable.

The reason why you’d choose one design over another seems to be the ease with which the paddle can be depressed – the half-domes offer less leverage and thus require a bit more force in order to actuate, so it would make sense to install these if you have a game’s ultimate move mapped to a paddle to avoid accidentally triggering the action while moving the controller or adjusting your grip. You can, of course, also mix and match these paddles to suit the game you’re playing.

As mentioned, the DualSense Edge comes with standard joystick tops pre-installed, along with two additional sets. These extra sets are dome-shaped and come in short and tall versions. They resemble the joystick tops as seen in earlier DualShock controllers.

I quickly became comfortable with having the standard top installed on the left stick and the taller dome on the right stick. This allows for more precise movements with the right stick, which is helpful in first-person shooters and other games where camera control is key to victory. Regardless of which sticks are used, installation is dead simple: pulling on the joystick pops the top off, and swapping in a new one is done with a satisfying click to confirm everything is in order.

Moving to the backside of the controller, up top are levers for each trigger to adjust their travel distance. Shortening this means you can perform quicker actions because the trigger is covering less distance than usual for a full activation. However, moving these sliders to anything other than the default automatically disables the adaptive trigger mechanism for that trigger – a welcome feature for competitive gamers who wouldn’t want any sort of resistance to get in the way of them performing an action anyway.

Of note here is that the L2 and R2 triggers feature more of those adorable mini PlayStation face button icons on their bottom half, for extra grip. This grip style is also featured along the inside grip of the controller (in addition to the grip which the standard DualSense also shares), which all adds up to a controller less likely to slip from your grip.

Happily repair friendly

Now we must touch upon the biggest physical change on the DualSense Edge controller – the joystick modules themselves. A release latch can be found on the bottom of the backside of the controller, and when engaged unlocks the black faceplate on the front of the unit. Once that is removed and a lever is raised, each joystick module can be removed entirely, to be replaced or cleaned if needed.

Sony sells replacement joystick modules for around $20 USD each. This does mean that replacing both sticks will set you back $40, which isn’t much cheaper than a standard DualSense. However, that’s still a whole lot less expensive than replacing the entire controller, and user-replaceable parts are a consumer-friendly inclusion that is appreciated, especially at this price point.

While the joysticks are potentiometer-based and thus may wear out or drift after some time, the fact that the DualSense Edge has swappable joystick modules does leave open the possibility of Sony making more reliable Hall effect-powered joystick modules to be swapped in (though this is simply wishful thinking here). At the very least, it does mean there is no lengthy or costly repair needed, as a simple swap is all that’s needed to get your sticks working like new.

Also of note is that the joysticks make a slight noise when they are moved off the center point, a subtle indicator that they have been moved, and in most configurations input will be picked up as soon as this click point is reached. This is perhaps a quirk of the modular system, but also a nice tactile bit of feedback in the joysticks while playing.

At the front of these modules is a function button, and this is where everything really comes together for the DualSense Edge. The PS5’s firmware has already received an update to enable support for the DualSense Edge, and the integration is at the system level. Holding either function button brings up a pop-up menu, and from here the user can quickly swap to a custom profile, adjust various audio settings, or head into the DualSense Edge customization section. It’s here where users will spend most of their time in experimenting to get the perfect setup for their chosen games.

Intuitive button mapping and customization

The list of things able to be adjusted is quite impressive: most buttons can be re-mapped, trigger and joystick deadzones can be customized (including a live preview of how your inputs are being interpreted with the proposed settings), joystick sensitivity curves can be precisely tuned to suit certain genres or playstyles, vibration and adaptive trigger intensity can be modified, and of course, these settings can be saved into a custom named profile.

While you can create as many profiles as you want, you can only assign three for quick swapping, as the circle, cross, and square buttons can be assigned to one custom profile each – triangle is reserved to get you back to the default profile. It does feel to me that more buttons could have been utilized for profile assignment, but then the pop-up menu would’ve taken up more screen real estate, so Sony probably opted for the more concise option here.

Whenever you do a quick swap change of profiles, the controller sends a short vibration and a system notification alerts you to this change, though even this aspect can be customized for those who’d rather not see or feel any sort of alert when changing profiles.

While the DualSense Edge has a lot of thoughtful additions, one area that its predecessor was behind the rest of the industry was battery life. Here, unfortunately, things remain the same. Under most conditions, expect to see a low battery warning pop up around the sixth or so hour of uninterrupted gaming, with complete power loss about an hour later.

Of course, you can eke out extra time by disabling adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, and perhaps a tiny bit more by disabling the LEDs. But at that point, you’re pinching pennies as far as the battery budget is concerned. Competitive gamers will likely keep the DualSense Edge plugged in for most of its life, so this is not a dealbreaker per se, just compared to other high-end controllers that feature battery life measured in the dozens of hours, it’s definitely not a spec Sony will highlight any time soon.

DualSense Edge Review: The final verdict

At an MSRP of $199.99 USD, this is the kind of purchase that warrants researching what else is out there. In this price bracket, you could splurge for other third-party controllers, though each of these usually includes some caveat.

The PDP Victrix Pro is a tad cheaper than the DualSense Edge at $179.99 USD but doesn’t have adaptive triggers or haptic feedback. The SCUF Reflex Pro does include those functions, however at $249.99 you’re now spending $50 more for a controller which isn’t directly integrated into the system and isn’t as customizable in terms of functionality. Finally, the TCP Ultimate is a few dollars more, though you lose rumble functionality entirely in order to save a bit on controller weight. So, pricing on the DualSense Edge feels about right.

The DualSense Edge is easily the best gaming controller Sony has ever put out. What it lacks in battery life, it makes up for in versatility. The system-level support for this highly configurable controller is fantastic, and a reminder that sometimes opting for first-party accessories is the best option. The combination of adjustable parts and customizable inputs make for practically unlimited options that are sure to suit any game and any gamer. If you’re looking for a robust controller that should see you through this console generation or want an extra edge against the competition (excuse the pun), then this is the controller for you.

The post DualSense Edge Review appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Could the new PS5 controller colors be for DualSense Edge?

Sony has, so far, released the following DualSense colors:

• Midnight Black
• Cosmic Red
• Nova Pink
• Starlight Blue
• Galactic Purple
• Grey Camouflage

There is also the limited-edition God of War Ragnarok controller in blue and white color scheme with game imagery on the touchpad. At the time of this writing, we can only imagine what Metallic Grey and Red controllers look like, and it remains to be seen if these two colors are headed to the standard DualSense controller or the newly-released pro DualSense Edge controller.

As far as the authenticity of this leak is concerned, the Redditor didn’t mention which regional website they visited and I have been unable to replicate the screenshot they shared, but they claim that the Metallic Grey and Red color options have been in the warranty dropdown menu (part of the form that requires users to input hardware/accessory details) for “months.”

We’re marking this as a rumor until official confirmation.

The post New DualSense Colors Incoming – Rumor appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

How do the two DualSense batteries compare?

Check out the battery size difference/ pic.twitter.com/oAOS7yWbiM

— Budd's Controllers (@buddscontroller) January 26, 2023

The DualSense Edge battery has a capacity of 1050mAh/3.9Wh, approximately 33% less than the original DualSense battery capacity of 1560mAh/5.9Wh, as shown in a teardown video from Budd’s Controllers. The image above also shows how it is much smaller physically than the original battery.

The smaller battery size means that the Edge controller’s battery life is “moderately shorter” when compared to the DualSense. Sony has said this is because the Edge has “many more features” within it. To be fair, the image does suggest that they wouldn’t have been able to fit in a bigger battery because of this.

The Edge controller allows for replaceable hardware, different controller profiles, and swappable button configurations, as well as all of the usual Dualsense features like adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Sony has even suggested some recommended button layouts for games like God of War Ragnarok and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.

The post DualSense Edge Battery Size is ‘Tiny’ Compared to Original PS5 Controller appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

DualSense Edge settings recommendations for FPS and action games

For FPS games like Call of Duty, here’s the profile Mizuno suggests:

• Swap out right stick cap with the High Dome stick cap and pair it with the Precise stick sensitivity preset curve for smoother, more precise aiming.
• Set the stop sliders on both the L2 and R2 buttons to the Short or Medium setting for quicker reaction to enemy encounters.
• Map the back buttons to actions like jumping or swapping loadouts in order to keep thumbs on sticks.
• Use the Fn buttons to adjust the audio balance between the game and chat to alternate between callouts and listening for the enemy team’s movements.

For action games like God of War Ragnarok, Mizuno recommends the following settings:

• The Quick preset curve is the preferred stick sensitivity setting for the left and right sticks for fast camera adjustments, movement, and aiming. Swap to a Dynamic preset curve to aim carefully and turn quickly.
• Swap to the Half Dome back buttons to quickly dodge or recall axe while simultaneously moving around the map and keeping an eye on enemies.

PlayStation LifeStyle is currently reviewing the DualSense Edge so stay tuned for our thoughts.

The post DualSense Edge Team Offers Call of Duty, God of War Ragnarok Setting Recommendations appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

How to replace DualSense Edge stick modules

DualSense Edge has been designed to make it easy for players to replace stick modules. This means that there’s no need for any tools or equipment. Simply remove the controller cover and install the new modules with a snap, as shown in the video below:

It’ll only be a matter of time before third-party replacements like hall effect sticks become available so players shouldn’t find it difficult to customize the controller to their liking.

DualSense Edge’s stick sensitivity can be fine-tuned along with its triggers. Sony has promised a ton of hardware and software customization options, including multiple profiles, on-controller user interface, button remapping, and more.

The box comes with the following contents (video here):

• DualSense Edge wireless controller
• USB braided cable
• 2 Standard caps
• 2 High dome caps
• 2 Low dome caps
• 2 Half dome back buttons
• 2 Lever back buttons
• Connector housing
• Carrying case

Stick modules are not included but, as mentioned above, they don’t cost a lot.

The post DualSense Edge Stick Modules Can Be Replaced, Here’s How appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

PS5 system update 22.02-06.50.00 also improves system performance

No PS5 system software update would be complete without the good ol’ “system performance” improvements. Sony rarely ever explains what it has improved unless it’s a major update, leaving players to figure out what changes have been made.

For now, these are the complete patch notes available via the system:

• This system software update improves system performance.
• The DualSense Edge wireless controller is now supported.

It’s unclear if the update is available in all regions at the time of this writing or not but it’s begun rolling out in Asia and Europe at least. Looking at the official PlayStation webpage for PS5 firmware updates, we found no mention of this update or any patch notes. We’re assuming Sony will update the page when the West Coast wakes up.

If there’s anything else to add to the above, we’ll make sure to update the article and keep our readers posted. For now, enjoy the small download.

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How long is the DualSense Edge controller battery life?

Sony hasn’t given a figure for how long the battery life will be for the DualSense Edge but told The Verge it will be “moderately shorter” than the DualSense. The battery life of the original DualSense controller is around 12-15 hours depending on whether features like haptic feedback and the speaker are being used.

Sony’s full statement explained the reason for the shorter battery life is that the Edge has “many more features” within that will help to drain the battery life. The company has tried to “strike a good balance between wireless operating time and delivering robust, high-performance features” but will be providing a longer USB braided cable for a wired connection to the PS5 console if players need to preserve battery life.

If you’re not put off by this, today’s deeper look went into the controller’s design process and hardware aspects ready for its release on January 26, 2023.

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