PS5 DualSense V2 controller spotted with a crucial upgrade over the original

11 January 2024 , 12:00

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We could soon be celebrating the release of a new DualSense if a BestBuy listing is to be believed (Image: Sony)

As rumours of a forthcoming PS5 Pro continue to swirl, a Canadian retail website has leaked the apparent existence of a revised PS5 DualSense controller.

For all its great AAA exclusives like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy 16, and Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut, there’s been one bugbear about the PS5 that’s ailed players since launch: controller battery life. On a full charge, the PS5 DualSense controller can last for around six hours if you’re lucky, which might be okay for casual gamers but won’t really hold up for PlayStation owners who want to keep playing all day. Fortunately, if a new store listing is to be believed, a new-and-improved PS5 DualSense V2 could be coming.

The product listing on Best Buy’s Canadian website was spotted and summed up in a Resetera thread, denoting a marked improvement in battery life. Described on the website as “PlayStation 5 V2 DualSense Wireless Controller” the gamepad looks extremely similar to the existing version of the PS5 DualSense, but the mention of “V2” indicates that an unannounced hardware revision has made its way to market.

Rather than the standard six-hour-long battery life players have come to expect from the DualSense controller, this second iteration seems to promise “exceptional 12-hour battery life” fully charged to support “long gaming sessions” – that’s over double what was possible before. Interestingly, Best Buy’s listing also includes mention of a "DualSense charging station”, which currently isn’t included with the original model DualSense and had to be purchased separately from the PS5 console.

On the up

The DualSense controller’s poor battery life has been a point of issue ever since the PS5 first launched just over three years ago. That said, it was always an easy oversight to forgive because it meant being able to enjoy amazing haptic feedback functionality in PS5 games that elected to use it. Therefore it’s not surprising to see the tech experts at Sony want to improve on this criticism. What’s more surprising is the fact that, if true, such a revision hasn’t been officially announced.

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At CA$89.99, the V2 DualSense controller is listed for the same price as the former model that is also sold in White. It could be that Sony intends to slowly replace and phase out the original DualSense controllers currently on store shelves. Even still, we’d say that such a core improvement to the way people are able to play their PS5 is worth shouting about, providing this isn’t a mistake on Best Buy’s part.

Aaron Potter