You’re in the middle of a gaming session on your PlayStation 5; the action is at its peak, the tension at its highest… And suddenly, your controller dies, bringing your game to an abrupt end. Has this ever happened to you? The battery life of the PS5 controller, also known as DualSense, is a crucial point for avid gamers. To ensure that your intense gaming sessions aren’t interrupted by the controller’s battery life in the future, here are some useful insights and practical tips for optimizing your DualSense battery.
How long does the PS5 controller battery last?
Generally, Sony’s DualSense offers a battery life of around 6 to 12 hours, depending on usage and active features. This duration might seem short to some, making it important to understand the factors that influence energy consumption and ways to optimize it.
Why does the PS5 controller’s battery life vary?
Several factors can affect the battery life of your PS5 controller. Understanding these elements will help you better manage your DualSense’s battery life.
The PS5 controller is equipped with numerous advanced features that enhance the gaming experience but consume significant energy.
Firstly, the volume of the integrated speaker and the brightness of the LED indicators have a notable impact on battery life. The higher these settings are, the more power is consumed.
Vibrations, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers are other major innovations of the DualSense, offering unprecedented immersion in PS5 games. However, these sophisticated technologies require more energy than traditional vibrations.
AAA games and PlayStation exclusives, such as Astro Bot, Demon’s Souls, or Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, which fully utilize these features by default, may drain the battery more quickly.
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Tips to extend the PS5 controller’s battery life
Now that you know the factors influencing your controller’s battery life, here are some simple methods to optimize your DualSense battery life daily.
Disable or reduce vibrations and haptic feedback
Although these features enhance immersion, turning them off or reducing their intensity can significantly increase your PS5 controller’s battery life. You can adjust these settings in the console options, applying them to all games you play, or within the game menus if you prefer to configure options on a case-by-case basis.
Reduce adaptive trigger intensity
Like vibrations and haptic feedback, adaptive triggers consume a lot of energy. Reducing their intensity or temporarily disabling them can extend battery life. Again, you can configure these settings from the PlayStation 5 menus or in the game settings for games that utilize these features.
Lower the volume of the built-in speaker and LED brightness
Reducing the built-in speaker volume and dimming the LED brightness are two other adjustments that can prolong battery life, and they can be made in the PS5 settings.
Turn off the built-in microphone to save battery
The DualSense’s built-in microphone, though convenient, consumes energy even when not in use. Disabling it when you don’t need it can help save power.
Tip: If you don’t want to go into the console or game menus, try this! By pressing the speaker button (located below the PS button on the DualSense), you can disable all additional controller features (speakers, adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, vibrations…) at once. Simply press the same button again to reactivate them.
How to efficiently charge the PS5 controller
Efficient charging is essential to maintain good battery life for your PS5 controller. Here are some tips for optimal charging.
Optimize charging with the USB-C cable
By default, the DualSense uses a USB-C port for charging. For optimal charging, use the cable provided with the console, or any other high-quality USB-C cable. Full charging takes about 3 hours.
If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to charge a PS5 controller with a phone charger, we have a dedicated article on the topic!
Use the official DualSense charging station
The official DualSense charging station, or any equivalent accessory, is an excellent option for charging your controller between gaming sessions, ensuring you start each session with a full battery. These stations usually allow you to charge up to two controllers simultaneously, providing a convenient and elegant charging solution.
Charging in PS5 rest mode: pros and cons
The PS5’s rest mode allows you to charge your controller even when the console is in standby. It’s convenient, but keep in mind that this consumes a bit of electricity. If you want to save energy, it may be better to charge your controllers only when the console is on, or use a wall charger.
Your PS5 controller isn’t charging? Feel free to check out our guide on the subject to resolve technical issues.
The PS5 controller’s battery life is a crucial aspect of the gaming experience on PlayStation 5. By understanding the factors that influence battery life and applying these simple tips, you can significantly extend your DualSense battery life. To avoid any inconvenience, consider investing in an extra PlayStation 5 controller or a dedicated charger. This way, you’ll always have a charged controller on hand, even during long gaming sessions. At Nacon, we are committed to providing the best accessories to enhance your gaming comfort. Discover our range of products designed to improve your PS5 performance!
