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The PlayStation 4 Slim edition launched with a brand newDualShock 4 controller, though you’d be excused for not being able to spot the difference.
In the hand, it’s practically identical to its predecessor, which was easily the best pad Sony had ever made, and up there with the best of all time - and thePS5 DualSense controlleris even better than both.
Though its analog sticks succumb to wear and tear a little too easily, the DualShock 4 is wonderfully ergonomic, with a responsive D-Pad and comfortable triggers and face buttons. A criminally-underused touchpad sits in the middle of the pad (which also houses barely-used motion control capabilities), while a light bar sits on the rear, indicating player status and used as a tracking aid for aPSVRheadset, if you’ve splashed out on one.
It’s this light bar that marks one of the notable changes to the new DualShock 4. There’s now a slight translucent strip in the touchpad, letting you see the color your controller is set to. It’s a small convenience, saving you from twisting the pad upwards to see which player color you’re set as.
A more significant addition, especially for pro gamers, is the option to switch between the controller’s Bluetooth connection and a wired USB data connection with the PS4. Previously, this USB connection would only supply charge, leaning on the Bluetooth connectivity regardless of whether it was plugged in or not.
This won’t mean much to many players, but Bluetooth introduces an infinitesimal degree of lag to your controls. For a pro gamer, that can be the difference between a win (and a pot of esports prize money) or a loss, so they’ll no doubt be very pleased. The feature should be make a welcome addition for PC gamers who want to use the DualShock 4 with their rig, as there’s now no extra Bluetooth dongle required.
Current page:DualShock 4 Pad
Gerald is Editor-in-Chief of iMore.com. Previously he was the Executive Editor for TechRadar, taking care of the site’s home cinema, gaming, smart home, entertainment and audio output. He loves gaming, but don’t expect him to play with you unless your console is hooked up to a 4K HDR screen and a 7.1 surround system. Before TechRadar, Gerald was Editor of Gizmodo UK. He is also the author of ‘Get Technology: Upgrade Your Future’, published by Aurum Press.
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