PS5 Controller Battery Boost Might Not Mean What You Think

• The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller reportedly has a battery capacity of 1560mAh.
• That’s much higher than the 1000mAh capacity of the PS4’s DualShock 4.
• Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean the PS5 controller will survive longer on a single charge.

With all the talk of immersive haptic feedback and dynamic adaptive triggers, one of the biggest questions surrounding the PlayStation 5 (PS5) DualSense controller remains unanswered: How is its battery life?

Will Sony force gamers to contend with yet another console generation plagued by frustratingly short stints between charges? That was the most glaring flaw with the otherwise-excellent DualShock 4 controller.

PS5 Controller Boasts Beefy Battery Capacity – But What Does That Mean?

Impressions shared earlier this month by a Redditor claimed the DualSense battery life averaged up to four hours longer the DualShock 4. The information’s source didn’t do wonders for its credibility, but it was promising news for worried would-be PS5 owners.

Today, more hands-on impressions surfaced courtesy of Twitter user Galaxy666. The pseudonymous leaker, who claims to work at a company that designs and provides accessories for console manufacturers, says they landed some time with the PS5’s DualSense controller.

Galaxy666 praised the controller, claiming it has a “more pleasant and comfortable” feel than the DualShock 4. They described the haptic feedback as “magical” and lauded the adaptive triggers. They suspect the device features an intricate internal mechanical structure.

After what they described as a “short test,” Galaxy666 reported a battery capacity of “1560mA.”

If the number leaves you perplexed, you’re not alone, but it’s markedly more than the DualShock 4’s 1000mAh, which can run for 7-8 hours in the best-case scenario.

DualSense Battery Life Conundrum

In theory, an over 50% boost in battery capacity should equate to longer gaps between recharging. It may not be quite as clear cut with the DualSense, though.

Sony has made quite a song and dance about the new functionality integrated into the PS5 controllers.

Video: Sony Flaunts Its Next-Gen Controller

These next-gen features are likely to require more power. This could take quite a toll on the battery life, conceivably bringing it down to DualShock 4 lengths despite the larger capacity.

Sony may have upped the capacity simply to handle the new functionality – not to free you from your USB cable shackles.

We’ll have to wait for a genuine stress test that puts the DualSense through its paces before making a final call on this one.