PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller works with Android devices

With PlayStation 5’s launch just a couple of weeks away, many journalists and YouTubers have started getting early preview units from Sony. While the actual reviews are still under embargo, a number of details about the console have already come out, including the fact that the console’s new DualSense controller is compatible with Android.

That the DualSense works with Android was confirmed by YouTuber Austin Evans, who was of the reviewers who had received an early unit of the PlayStation 5 and DualSense controller. In his unboxing video for the controller, he demonstrated how it could connect to Android devices.

The DualSense controller was connected to Austin’s Pixel 5 smartphone and was able to play a game via Microsoft’s xCloud Service—yes you’ve read that right, a Sony controller was used to play an Xbox game on a Microsoft service. That said, the DualSense’s new features such as its adaptive triggers and haptic responses were not supported.

In addition to Android, Evans was also able to connect the DualSense to a Surface Laptop and make it work. He was also able to connect it to a PlayStation 4 Pro but ended up working only as a microphone due to supposed compatibility issues. Strangely enough, he also tried to connect the DualSense controller to an Xbox Series X of all consoles but ended up only charging the controller and was not usable.

Now what would the DualSense-Android compatibility mean for the Android and PC gaming community?

Now, does the DualSense working with Android bring anything new to mobile gaming? Not a lot actually. In terms of price, the DualSense controller costs relatively expensive currently at around $70 or roughly Php 3,500 in local currency. Compare this to something like a Steelseries’ Stratus Duo wireless gaming controller which only costs $45 or about of Php 2,250. Other Android-compatible controllers, such as 8BitDo’s wireless controllers, cost around the same as well.

PS5 owners on the other hand may find this feature incredibly useful, being able to use their DualSense controller for other devices apart from the PS5, and in other platforms as well.

DualSense being compatible with Android shouldn’t come as a surprise—as PlayStation’s DualShock 4 wireless controller also came with a similar Android connectivity via Bluetooth and was able to connect to Android Devices and play certain Android games depending on compatibility.

In addition to testing the DualSens’s compatibility outside of other devices, Evans also stripped the controller apart. This allowed him to take a closer look at the controller’s rumble controllers, triggers and 1560 mAh battery in which Evans says may be of the components of the DualSense controller that could be “mildly user-serviceable” and can be potentially replaced without doing any permanent damage to the controller. However, removing the outer shell is proving quite a challenge as some of the areas of the shell actually extend to the triggers which can easily snap if not removed with care.

The DualSense controller is included in every purchase of the PlayStation 5 which will be publicly available on November 12.