Haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, built-in microphone, signature comfort, these are the promises of any PlayStation DualSense Controller. But the latest Hyper Pop collection that Sony released just six weeks ago does this and more. Priced at ₹7,490, this new generation of DualSense Controllers comes in three colours: Techno Red, Remix Green, and Rhythm Blue.
I have been trying the Techno Red variant for the past three weeks, and here is my review of the PS DualSense Controller Techno Red model CFI-ZCT2W13X.
First impressions
The latest controller comes in a nifty paper box that makes for a satisfying unboxing. And it looks gloriously stylish.
The first things you notice are the glossy handles and the design and texture that run throughout the controller.
I use a regulation white PlayStation 5, with a standard white controller. My secondary controller is the Ice Blue variant. Both now give me a good 6-8 hours of battery, and hold comfortably in my hands.
So, apart from the killer red looks, my priority was to see how the new Hyperpop controller held up in these respects.
Popping the Hyperpop
My previous controllers have all been matte finish. And if you are a gamer, you know why that matters. Glossy controllers have a penchant for slipping.
But I do not know what voodoo the PlayStation design team pulled, but the glossy Hyperpop controllers are surprisingly better to hold. They actually give you more grip! And I got to know this when I took it to my replay of Witcher III: The Wild Hunt (the PS5 upgrade version), and the latest Housemarque epic, SAROS.
The controller felt just right! And the Techno Red looks perfectly paired with all the bloody villains I was slaying on screen...
Games like SAROS demand half and full button presses from your R2 and L2 buttons, and this was a great way to test all my controllers. Surprisingly, the Hyperpop one stood its ground with the OG White, but my Ice Blue one was the controller that gave me more trouble.
Of course, texture-wise, I still preferred the OG one, but the grip more than made up for it. This is truly a personal take, since I am not that much into touching glossy things.
The 1,560 mAh battery packed more punch. Since the new one uses version 2 tech, it holds more juice, giving me an average of 8-10 hours of charge during my gaming. It is, however, a bit on the heavier side, adding a few grams over the first-gen OG DualSense Controllers, weighing a little over 280 grams.
The shell also feels sturdier than the plasticy feel of the Icy Blue one, and the anti-slip feature kept surprising me. However, not everything is that hunky dory. If you are someone who has a problem with fingerprints on your devices, you have your work cut out for you while cleaning—this thing is a fingerprint magnet!
Apart from this, I really don't have many cons to list. The Hyperpop DualSense Controller is just a variant with a better hold and a more epic look. If you are into collecting controllers and want one that stands out, go for it. But if you are a gamer who is happy with the controllers you have, I see no reason for getting this one for more money other than a little bit of vanity and maybe bragging rights. All in all, this is more of a cosmetic upgrade rather than a technical one.
But we did totally use most of our review time doing swanky photoshoots because it was a glorious piece of equipment from the forge of the PlayStation smiths.