The Best PS5 Controllers

PS5 controllers are a special piece of tech thanks to the enhanced features like the adaptive triggers and the best options build on that by adding useful extras. That being said, everyone’s tastes are probably a little different when it comes to games. This is why not everyone will feel there is a single best option that fits everyone’s needs when it comes to the best PS5 controllers.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a list of the best PS5 controllers you can buy right now to play with on the new console. Should you have one or end up getting one soon. You can also use PS5 controllers with platforms like Android and PC. So even if you don’t have a PS5 yet these are still great options for games elsewhere.

Keep in mind that there will eventually be more PS5 controllers that hit the market in the future. So this list may fill out even more as those options pop up.

Sony DualSense

The classic. The tried-and-true DualSense is the stock controller you get with the PS5, and it’s a great option if you don’t want or need any extra features. It’s comfortable to hold for all-day gaming sessions and is one of the best PS5 controllers because of its simplicity compared to some of the other options. Thanks to the adaptive triggers and advanced haptics, games come alive in a way you’ve probably never felt before.

It also comes in a variety of colors now so you can tailor your experience a little more with your favorite. This is also one of the most affordable PS5 controllers you’ll find on this list. While you will get one with a PS5, it doesn’t hurt to have a spare so you can always keep one charged.

The regular DualSense controller is also likely one of the lightest controllers you’ll be able to get for use with the PS5. That alone might be worth it to some players to stick with the regular controller. Plus, there’s the added benefit that it will cost a lot less than all of the pro options with extra features.

Buy at Amazon

SCUF Reflex FPS

Ready to ramp things up for your favorite FPS games on PS5? Then you need the SCUF Reflex FPS. This is the DualSense modded with some extras that heighten your shooter game to new levels. With the FPS model of the Reflex, you lose the adaptive triggers and the haptics. In place of the adaptive triggers, SCUF has implemented the Instant Triggers that feel like a short mouse click for quicker firing time.

And with the haptics, SCUF has removed these so vibrations don’t mess with your accuracy. You also get the performance grip and the four removable rear paddles that can be remapped. It’s pricey, but well worth it if you play shooters on PS5. The Reflex FPS model also has back paddle buttons that you can remove. These are easy enough to take off and put back on when you want. That said, they’re a little more finicky to work with than the DualSense Edge back paddles.

Either way, you can still remove them and that’s a good thing. SCUF also gives you four total back paddles, and you’ll only get two with the DualSense Edge. So there’s another benefit to this controller. Even if it does cost more.

Another really neat detail is that you can customize this controller with various designs. Like the one you see on the model I have. SCUF has plenty of these available so be sure to go through all the options. You can also swap out the faceplates, although there are only a handful of color options for this, unlike the wide variety of designs for the main part of the controller. The faceplate is the part that surrounds the thumbsticks.

One feature that I don’t feel is appreciated enough is the thumbstick height. With the SCUF Reflex, you can swap out the thumbstick caps. You get options for different heights and you get domed and concaved options.

Buy at SCUF

HEX Gaming Phantom Pro

Similar to the SCUF Reflex series, the HEX Gaming Phantom Pro is a modded DualSense. It adds things like hair triggers for mouse click-like trigger pulls, grips on the back, remappable rear paddles, and swappable thumbsticks with different heights and ergonomic thumb grip designs.

You can also get this controller without the hair triggers so you keep the adaptive trigger feature that Sony designed. And you can customize it with different colors and styles to make it more unique.

We’ve used this one in quite a few gaming sessions for games like Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, Warframe, and Black Myth: Wukong. And it’s awesome in those types of games. What’s nice is that you can still get the adaptive triggers with this controller. The little switch on the back lets you swap between the adaptive triggers for games that make use of the feature, or the short-trip digital triggers for FPS games and such.

The controller also comes with 8 interchangeable analog stick options. Which is quite a lot and one of the things that adds a lot of value to this controller over the others. You can store up to 6 different profiles as well. This is great if you play a lot of different games and have different controls mapped to the buttons on the back for each of those games. What really helps set this controller apart from most options is that it comes with Hall Effect thumbsticks.

These are going to help prevent stick drift which can be a major pain in any game type. It’ll also help you avoid costly repairs or full controller replacements.

 Buy at Amazon

Sony DualSense Edge

Sony’s DualSense Edge has become our favorite PS5 controller to date for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s made by Sony and still features not only the adaptive triggers and advanced haptics but also the trigger locks. The trigger locks are a must-have feature if you’re playing games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Rainbow Six Siege, and other shooters.

With this engaged, they feel more like a mouse click because they have a faster response time. To put it another way, you don’t have to press on the trigger as much to press it to its lowest point. You also have easily removable back paddles with this controller. They connect with magnets too. Which makes it even simpler to slip them in or remove them when you want.

This is probably one of the best parts of this controller. How easy it is to take these paddles off if you don’t want them. You’re not forced to use them and quite honestly, you might not want them for every single game anyway. Sony packages two sets of these buttons with the controller as well. Giving you an option to use whichever ones suit you best.

Another really great feature is the cable lock. This is a small housing that fits around the USB-C connection of the cable. This is the side you plug into the controller itself. You lock the housing around the cable, plug the cable into the controller, and then you can push a little switch on the housing to lock the cable into the controller. Sony added this so the cable can’t be yanked out. And it’s perfect for things like tournaments.

The best reason to buy one of these, however, is the replaceable thumbsticks. Most PS5 controllers aren’t going to have Hall Effect thumbsticks, so there’s a chance of stick drift happening. If you happen to get stick drift on the DualSense Edge, you can just replace the entire thumbstick module. It pops right out and you don’t even have to take the controller completely apart. And to top things off, you get a really nice hardshell case with the controller. This is so you have a safe place to store everything during travel.

Buy at Amazon

Sony DualShock 4

If you play a lot of backward-compatible titles on your PS5, then you can’t go wrong with the DualShock 4. This is still one of the best game controllers ever made and that makes it a great option for all of the PS4 titles on PS5.

And there’s such a large list of options for colors that it can sometimes make your head spin trying to pick one. While it doesn’t offer any special trigger features, or additional buttons or paddles on the back, it’s a solid controller that’s comfortable and just feels good to hold.

Buy at Amazon

SCUF Reflex Pro

The SCUF Reflex Pro is the one you go for if you want the removable paddles on the back, but don’t want to get rid of the adaptive triggers or haptics. While you could easily use this in FPS games, we feel the FPS model is better for those. While this is the option for any other game.

It’s essentially the same in every way as the FPS model, but keeps the adaptive triggers and haptics. It also starts at a little bit lower of a price so you save money going with this model. That is if you don’t want the instant triggers.

Also, all three SCUF Reflex models support the swappable face plates if you want to customize things a little bit in the style department. Lastly, you get three custom controller profiles you can swap between with a single button press. So your settings are saved for your favorite games. This also comes on all three Reflex models.

Buy at SCUF

Evil Controllers Custom PS5 Controller

Rounding out this list is a custom controller from Evil Controllers. This starts at a lower price than the other modded controllers. But it can go way higher due to the amount of custom features you can select. From the color and style of the face plate, buttons, and d-pad to the rear buttons and tactile triggers.

What we like about this option compared to the SCUF and HEX Gaming controllers is that the rear buttons sit on the grips of the controller. With the other two, your rear buttons come in the form of paddles and sit higher up. The Evil Controllers shift buttons are simply a little easier to press with where they’re sitting.

You can even select features like thumb stick tension, rapid-fire mods, and macros. The price gets a little wild if you add all that stuff. But it’s definitely a cool controller for those who have the money to spend and want these extras for the PS5 gaming experience.

Buy at Evil Controllers

PDP Victrix Pro BFG

There are many good things about the Victrix Pro BFG from PDP. To start, this controller is modular. So you can swap out the button modules for different ones based on your preference. You can also change the orientation of the d-pad/thumbstick module so the thumbsticks are off-center more like an Xbox controller. If that’s the configuration you prefer.

There’s even a fight pad module for those who play fighting games using a controller. And because everything is slotted into place using screws, you can easily swap things when you no longer want to use the fight pad. Beyond the modularity, the Victrix Pro BFG also has multi-position clutch triggers. These are similar to what you’d get on the SCUF Reflex FPS model.

But they offer a little more versatility since they can be set to different positions. The controller also offers a high-performance grip and mappable back buttons. Additionally, it has profiles so you can quickly switch between preferences for different games. It can be used wirelessly or with the included cable, and it comes in a really nice carry case with a zipper enclosure for travel. Hands down, one of the best PS5 controllers you can buy and one of our favorites.

Buy at Amazon

Razer Wolverine V2 Pro

Razer’s Wolverine V2 Pro is one of the latest pro-style controllers to come out for the PS5, and it has a lot to offer those looking for a premium controller with more features. For starters, it has an 8-way microswitch dpad that feels click and hyper-responsive. The four action buttons also use Razer’s mecha tactile switches. Making them super clicky as well. Both of these are high points for the Wolverine V2 Pro. But it only gets better.

Like the Reflex, Victrix PDP Pro, Hex Gaming Phantom Pro and others, the Wolverine V2 Pro has instant triggers. Although Razer calls them HyperTriggers. The result is the same though. A trigger with a faster pull akin to a mouse click. Unlike that of the Reflex FPS though, the Wolverine V2 Pro lets you swap between the HyperTriggers and a normal trigger pull. Additionally, the controller features a high-performance grip and a low-latency connection. Or you can plug it in via USB-C and play wired.

There are some downsides of course. The controller is regularly $250 so it’s not cheap. Plus, you give up the adaptive triggers and the haptic feedback of the DualSense. All-in-all though, a really solid PS5 controller if you want something versatile for regular and more competitive gameplay.

Buy at Amazon