Chroma Teal Offers Fresh Grip on PlayStation’s Signature DualSense Controller

Sony’s new DualSense controller, known as Chroma Teal, priced at $59.99 (down from $79.99), offers a deep dark blue green that is as oceanic as it gets, and it appears to capture light in a way that few other peripherals can. This new version keeps all of the original design elements while wrapping them in a finish that changes color depending on where the light is coming from; it looks very different when held up under a desk lamp and warms up to a sort of verdant edge than when held out in the daylight and cools down to a lovely forest pond kind of tone.

The DualSense controller’s strength, however, is its design; it was created to sit in the palm of a wide range of hand sizes without forcing you to stretch out at odd angles. The curved backs comfortably cradle your fingers, and the weight distribution ensures that the device remains balanced even during an intense gaming session. Sony has also upgraded the D-pad this time, making diagonal inputs in fights and platformers seem much smoother. The analog sticks feature slight ridges that allow for a lot of precision control, and with each tilt, you gain confidence that you can manage whatever the game throws at you.

Add in a 19-hour battery life via USB-C, and you’ve got a gadget that can simply keep going during those extended gaming sessions without needing to be recharged. Haptic feedback, on the other hand, elevates the overall experience by allowing you to feel what’s occurring on the screen rather of just receiving vibrations. The actuators adjust in intensity on the fly to keep it feeling realistic, and adaptive triggers add a layer of immersion by changing the resistance of the triggers as you play to mimic real-world scenarios such as drawing a bowstring or squeezing a trigger in a shooter.

These features function perfectly in PS5 games, but the controller can also be connected to PCs via Bluetooth for even more versatility. The setup process takes few seconds; simply plug it in and your selections will be remembered. Sony includes a USB cable, although a longer one would be preferable for individuals that game from their couch.

Aesthetically, the Chroma Teal stands out for its even application of the teal finish, which covers the central touchpad and surrounding accents without any of those unsightly seams that may look so cheap. The PS button glows up in a corresponding metallic tint during loading windows, which just attracts the attention. The light bar effects that filter through the translucent parts also produce a beautiful teal glow that corresponds to in-game alerts. The controller’s materials feel like you’d expect from a high-end device, with a mix of durable plastic and comfortable rubber that can survive the knocks and bumps of everyday life.

If you want to customize the controller even further, the software includes a few easy menus for remapping buttons and adjusting the intensity of the triggers. You can also connect a headphone to the controller via the 3.5mm socket, and the audio comes through clearly and without any ugly latency spikes. For nights in with your friends, the built-in microphone picks up voices well, and they’ve even included noise cancellation to assist reduce background conversation.

Finally, built-in charging docks from third parties simply attach onto the controller with magnets, keeping it propped up and visible on your shelf. The teal controller looks especially good with games like Horizon or Subnautica, which are both ocean-themed and feature environments that complement the color.