Katarzyna Petru
Sony has quietly launched a refreshed version of the DualSense controller (version V2 – CFI-ZCT2W). Without fanfare, without a conference, without a press release. At first glance, it looks like the same pad we have known since the release of the PS5. However, its actual capabilities have changed enough that many gamers are referring to it as a "new generation of the DualSense". And it's hard to disagree with that.
15 hours of battery life. Yes, you read that right.
So far, the biggest drawback of the DualSense has been obvious – the battery. With full use of haptics, triggers, the speaker, and the microphone, older versions could drain in 4–6 hours. Meanwhile, the latest independent test by Modyfikator89 shows a result that sounds like a joke:
over 15 hours of continuous use with all functions of the controller active.
This is not a mistake. This result was achieved in a long, simulated session, covering Astro’s Playroom, Fortnite, Darksiders II, and several other games that constantly engage the full capabilities of the DualSense. The tester had to almost “trick” the controller to maintain a steady load, as manually checking power consumption became too tedious. And even with a very conservative assumption – subtracting 20% for margin of error – we're still talking about around 12 hours of actual gaming. This is absolutely unprecedented in the history of the DualSense.
Five years of quiet improvements have paid off
Tests indicate that Sony has systematically optimised the controller's design over the years, progressing from models BDM-010 to BDM-060. Importantly – the battery has remained identical: 1560 mAh. The entire gain is pure engineering and improved energy efficiency. Thanks to these enhancements, the new DualSense:
lasts several times longer than the earlier versions,
even outperforms the professional DualSense Edge, which had one of the largest drawbacks in terms of battery life,
operates cooler – thermal imaging from tests shows a charging temperature of just ~26°C.
In practice: Sony has not only improved performance but also the stability and operational comfort of the controller.
Why isn't Sony boasting about this?
This is probably the most interesting element. There is no major advertising campaign, no "New DualSense 2.0". The manufacturer has introduced improvements... simply. Quietly. Gradually. So that only thorough tests reveal the scale of the changes. And the scale is really significant. If someone buys a PS5 now, they are getting a controller that, in terms of battery life, outperforms the first model by a whole era.
Is it worth buying a new DualSense?
If you make extensive use of haptic features or play for long periods without a break – yes, the difference is immense. The new DualSense V2 can finally be regarded as a fully-fledged premium controller that does not require constant wiring to the console. It's still the same great design, but under the hood – after five years of enhancements – it's a completely different piece of equipment.
