While the PS4's DualShock 4 controllers have been praised for being a huge improvement over the PS3's controllers, they haven't completely escaped criticism. One point of contention among fans has been the DualShock 4's battery life, usually lasting only four to five hours depending on player settings. However, if the latest PlayStation 5 leak is to be believed, the upcoming DualSense controller will have a much better battery life than the DualShock 4's.
This rumor stems from a Reddit user named viper_on_fire, who allegedly posted a photo of the DualSense controller and then quickly deleted it from the site. Another Reddit user, blursedpersona, claims to have spoken to viper_on_fire about the PS5 DualSense controller and learned some interesting details about it in the process. Apparently, the DualSense battery life is about three to four hours longer than the DualShock 4's, meaning fans can expect charges lasting seven to eight hours on average instead.
The Reddit post offers some additional details about what fans can expect from the PS5 DualSense controller. The d-pad and face buttons are said to be comparable to the DualShock 4, but the touchpad is "more responsive" and "clicky." However, L1 and R1 don't "click" like they do on the DualShock 4, and instead behave more like triggers. L2 and R2, meanwhile, "felt harder to push down than normal." As far as comfort, viper_on_fire apparently holds the DualSense controller in high regard, ranking it above the DualShock 4 and even the famously comfortable Xbox One controller.
One reason why the DualShock 4 battery life is not that great is due to the lightbar, but the PS5 DualSense controller is ditching that in favor of a more subtle "lightstrip," which was reportedly "much dimmer," and could explain why the new controller has a better battery life. Unfortunately, viper_on_fire was unable to test out the controller's other unique features, like the haptic feedback and microphone, so fans will just have to wait on more details about how those work.
Even though the DualSense controller apparently has a better battery life than the DualShock 4, it's still bringing a number of innovations and new features to the table. All of the DualSense controller's new capabilities are expected to be showcased in Astro's Playroom, the PS5's built-in platformer game, so fans can get an idea of its capabilities and what they will mean for video games.
Of course, fans should take all of this information with a grain of salt, and withhold judgment on the PS5 DualSense controller until they are able to try it themselves. Unfortunately, Sony still hasn't revealed the PS5 release date, but industry insiders expect more information on that front will be revealed at some point later this month. So if those rumors are true, fans should have a much better idea of when exactly they will be able to try the DualSense controller for themselves.
