DualShock 3 Review: The PS3's Definitive Controller
7/10 — Sony DualShock 3 Wireless Controller
Works with: PS3, PC (with drivers)
Pros
- Rumble is back
- Pressure-sensitive buttons
- Wireless with a rechargeable battery
- Motion sensing
Cons
- Spongy, shallow triggers
- Convex sticks are less grippy than modern pads
- Lots of fakes on the second-hand market
The DualShock 3 arrived a year into the PS3’s life and fixed the Sixaxis’s biggest omission by restoring rumble. It became the console’s standard controller.
Design and features
It’s almost identical to the Sixaxis, with the same wireless design, rechargeable battery, motion sensing and PS button, but adds rumble and keeps the pressure-sensitive face buttons. Its L2 and R2 triggers are still spongy and shallow, and the convex sticks feel slippery compared with modern pads.
Buying one today
Genuine DualShock 3s are no longer made, and many second-hand listings are fakes with poor build quality. Buy from a reputable seller, and check the battery holds a charge.
Verdict
The DualShock 3 is the definitive PS3 controller. Its triggers haven’t aged well, but it’s comfortable and reliable, and the best way to play PS3 games.
