$200 DualSense Edge has worse battery life than your normal PS5 controller

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The new controller goes bigger on features, but not on battery

DualSense Edge
(Image credit: PlayStation)

The new PS5 DualSense Edge controller will have a shorter battery lifespan than the PS5's standard DualSense controller.

This comes from our sister site Techradar, which was able to confirm the new detail with Sony earlier today on December 20. Sony confirmed in a statement to the outlet that the DualSense Edge's "operating time is moderately shorter than the original DualSense wireless controller" because the company has included "many more features."

Simply put, the DualSense Edge controller has more stuff packed into the same size controller shell as the standard DualSense controller. As such, Sony has less room to work with for a battery and seemingly more stuff draining it, hence why the controller's battery life will ultimately be shorter than its older counterpart.

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"We wanted to strike a good balance between wireless operating time and delivering robust, high-performance features," Sony's statement continues. "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."

While it's a fair point that a wired connection will preserve battery life – just plug it in, duh – this news likely won't sit well with PS5 customers. The standard DualSense model has gained a notoriety over the past two years for having a relatively short battery life, and considering the DualSense Edge is retailing for a premium $200/£210, plenty of consumers might have understandably expected an improved battery from Sony.

Check out our own DualSense Edge hands-on for what we made of the PS5's flashy new controller when we played it for ourselves. 

Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.