I’ve said it more than once around these parts: I shouldn’t be allowed near money. The combination of spending money on gaming-focused technology and then living off the cheapest microwave meals is not a lifestyle I would recommend to anyone living like, you know, a real adult. This is a roundabout way of saying that I’m a lifelong PlayStation fan who willingly purchased not one, but two DualSense Edge controllers. And now I may never touch any of those $199 gamepads again.
Enter the Nacon Revolución 5 Pro. This officially licensed Sony controller is a brilliant peripheral that I’ve gradually become obsessed with over the past few weeks. For my money, it beats the Edge in a couple of key areas, although it’s hard to deny that the father of the DualSense has the edge in some scenarios. (Also, forgive me for patting myself on the back for not using an easy pun at the end of that last sentence.)
In terms of the sheer number of parts you get with the Revolution 5 Pro compared to the DualSense Edge, there’s no doubt that Nacon’s gamepad takes the lead. Like Sony’s premium controller, you get a nice padded case and three sets of adjustable sticks of different heights. As is the case with the Edge, I’ve found myself choosing the default sticks rather than the alternative taller and shorter equivalents, but they’re still a good option if I want to change things up.
No matter which set you choose, they all have Hall effect sensors, meaning stick drift will never be an issue. And yes, I’m currently shaking my head in disapproval thinking about the Joy-Cons. The Big N really needs to up its control game with the much-rumored Nintendo Switch 2.
Getting back to what Nacon includes in the box, hoo-boy, there’s a lot going on. In addition to the replaceable joysticks, you also get an additional D-pad (I prefer the more natural circular ornament) and joystick protectors that help reduce travel distance. The most unique aspect of the Revolution 5 Pro? Well, actually that’s something I didn’t even realize existed until Nacon kindly lent me a review unit: check weights.
The weight of the world
These cylindrical metal trims can be inserted into the removable textured rear grips on the back of the 5 Pro. Nacon gives you the option of installing a set of 10g, 14g, or 16g weights, and my little gloves appreciate the extra weight they provide. They give this gamepad a high end. As someone who likes controllers to bring control, I’ve naturally been playing with the big 16g ones inserted into the back of the Pro.
One of the other major design elements I love about the Nacon controller is its super chunky face buttons. As I mentioned above, I have two DualSense Edge pads (and also a couple of regular DualSenses that I never use), and every single Sony controller I’ve had since the launch of the PS5 in 2020 has gotten contamination in my eyes due to Front buttons that stick too easily. The problem is caused by a buildup of dirt under each inlet, and while you can easily solve this problem by applying some isopropyl alcohol to a stuck button with a Q-tip, it’s still irritating. My first Edge had this issue right out of the box with its X button, but so far, it’s not something I’ve encountered after using the Revolution 5 Pro heavily for several weeks.
Another area where I feel Nacon’s effort has the edge (damn) over Sony’s $199 gamepad is in the trigger department. Don’t get me wrong, I like L2 and R2 on Edge. However, I prefer the slightly snappier feel of the Revolution 5 Pro’s rear triggers. Like Sony’s official offering, the Nacon pad also had adjustable trigger stops to reduce travel, a useful feature if you’re playing a fast-paced shooter like Doom Eternal, although it only has a duo of these compared to the three levels you get with the DualSense Edge.
Let the Revolution begin
My absolute favorite feature of the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro? It is an amazing PC gamepad. Despite being marketed primarily as a PS5 peripheral, I found it to be a more reliable controller when playing top Steam games, mainly because I can rely on it to pair stably over Bluetooth on my Windows 11 mega rig. While the DualSense Edge can provide good PC experiences if you pe into the Steam controller customization menus, I’ve seen its connection drop so many times that I’m only comfortable connecting it via a USB-C cable after a year of possession. two of them.
The Revolution 5 Pro also has another PC and laptop-specific card up its sleeve that the Edge can’t match. That would be the one expected to be called Revolution 5 Pro app which allows you to easily remap each input on the controller, including the four handy buttons you’ll find on the back of this expensive pad. For context, the DualSense Edge only has two, in the form of LB and RB inputs. The main selling point of this software? It allows you to easily create custom controller profiles without having to delve into tedious Steam menus per game.
There are a couple of major drawbacks to the Revolution 5 Pro if you plan to use it exclusively on a PS5. Chief among them is the lack of adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Personally, I don’t mind losing the former feature, as I think even the best PS5 games, outside of the wonderful action of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, typically try too hard to create overbearing friction on the trigger. There’s also no built-in speaker on the 5 Pro, which will be a problem for gamers who play a lot of multiplayer titles, although you can fix this by plugging a headset into its 3.5mm jack.
Can I universally recommend the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro at its current price for people who only play PS5 games? Probably not. However, if you play on both Sony’s console and one of the best gaming PCs, that’s something I can get behind much more easily.
The highest praise I can give the Revolution 5 Pro? When Nacon asks for this review unit to be returned, I will definitely be paying for one myself. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a $2 microwave pizza to heat up.
- I just found my favorite PC gaming controller – there’s just one problem
- Unlock this PS5 controller trick to make it a better gamepad for PC
- How to replace the analog sticks on your DualSense Edge PS5 controller
