The DualSense Edge doesn’t improve battery life – it makes it worse
Yes, really
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Sonyhas confirmed theDualSenseEdge, the company’s first premium PlayStation controller, has less battery life than the DualSense.
In response to a query raised by TechRadar Gaming during arecent hands-on sessionwith the newPS5controller, Sony confirmed that, due to the new features theDualSense Edgeboasts, it would have less battery life than the standardDualSensePS5 controller due to its new features.
“The DualSense Edge wireless controller’s operating time is moderately shorter than the original DualSense wireless controller because we’ve included many more features within the same form factor and ergonomic design as the original DualSense controller,” a Sony spokesperson told TechRadar Gaming. “We wanted to strike a good balance between wireless operating time and delivering robust, high-performance features. Additionally, the longer USB braided cable is also great for competitive players who prefer playing with a wired connection to avoid wireless interference – this option preserves battery life.”
Unwelcome news
The standard DualSense PS5 controller’s battery life is one of the gamepad’s biggest weaknesses. We’ve previously questioned whether it hasgotten worse over time– and at times, have even found ourselveswishing it had lithium batteries instead.
At launch, we found three DualSense could hold around 12 hours of charge, but, over time, we’ve found that it can often konk out after just six.
One of our biggest hopes for the DualSense Edge was that it would improve upon this issue, so we’re surprised to see it’s somehow gotten even worse. While Sony doesn’t specify how many hours of battery life the Edge has, we can’t imagine it’ll be more than 12 hours at a push.
Considering theXbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2has a whopping 40 hours of battery life, we can’t help but be disappointed by this news. Especially as the gamepad has a hefty price of $199.99/£209.99/AU$339.95.
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Without official confirmation on battery life hours from Sony, we may not know exactly how long this gamepad will last until its release on January 26, 2023. But, given the gamepad’s price tag, that’s a big gamble to take unless you’re happy playing wired.
An award-winning games journalist, with seven years of experience in games journalism and a degree in journalism from City University, London, Vic brings experience from IGN, Eurogamer, The Telegraph, VG247, Dot Esports and more to the TechRadar table. You may have even heard her on the radio or speaking on a panel, as she’s previously appeared on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5, BBC Radio Ulster and more. Not only is Vic passionate about games, but she’s appeared on both panels and podcasts to discuss mental health awareness. Make sure to follow her on Twitter for more.
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