When comparing Xbox 360 Wired Controller vs DualShock 4 Controller, the Slant community recommends DualShock 4 Controller for most people. In the question“What are the best PC gaming controllers?” DualShock 4 Controller is ranked 1st while Xbox 360 Wired Controller is ranked 2nd.
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Pros
Pro Feels comfortable
The controller is very comfortable to hold and allows you to play for hours without tiring your hands. The controller's shape is well-designed, the buttons are well positioned and not slippery. This is one of the reasons, the Xbox 360 controller has been the first go-to for many experienced gamers.
Compared to the wireless option, this controller is lighter and less bulky, since it doesn't have a battery pack at the back of the controller. On the contrary, since it's wired, it does have a limited range. This means you can not move very far from the screen.
Pro Always available and underpriced on the second-hand market
There is a large supply of these Xbox 360 controllers on the second-hand market. This is an easy way to get them for a much lower price, especially since many people don't care about price they sell it at or just aren't aware of the value of this controller.
Pro Player number indicator
The controller has a green LED circle around the home button, which shows what number player you are from 1 to 4. This can save you from confusion while focused on gameplay.
Pro Convenient plug-and-play controller
It's a convenient plug-and-play controller. There's rarely any hassle - the controller tends to always work without problems. You never have to change batteries either, which saves you from another headache.
Pro Force feedback
The controller has a strong force feedback, which adds to the gaming experience. Since the controller is wired, the vibration is stronger than on the wireless option. In addition to Xbox, many games on PC can also make use of this feature.
Pro Almost instant response time
Since the controller is wired, it has a lower response time compared to wireless options. Though the difference is usually just a few milliseconds, then in competitive gaming every millisecond of reaction time counts.
Pro Native support with Steam
Pro Multi-touch trackpad
The upper-middle section of the controller features a multi-touch pad that allows you to click it as well. This can help navigation on a PC because you can use it just like a laptop's trackpad
Pro Separate D-pad
This is a huge advantage in many games. Separate directions on the D-pad lets a player make sharp controls without any mistakes!
Pro Game compatibility is increasing
Some recent games will work with the PS4 controller without the need of an app/driver to emulate the XBox controller, and you will see PS4 button prompts on the screen (cross, square, circle, triangle, etc.). Some example games are: The Division (Ubisoft), Rocket League and Paragon (Epic Games / Early Access).
Pro Can be used either wired or wireless
The controller has a microUSB port on the back for charging or connecting. It can also be used wirelessly over Bluetooth.
Pro Built-in battery
Doesn't require purchase of batteries. Recharges over microUSB.
Pro Full audio available
With both a headphone jack as well as built-in speakers, the DualShock PS4 controller offers flexible audio experiences so you don't have to be tethered to your desktop at all when you game.
Pro Great ergonomics
Compared to other controllers, especially Xbox. Dualshock is the most comfortable for long gaming sessions.
Pro App available that offers many functions
In order to get easy wireless support as well as button mapping and loading of profiles the user can install a third party app called DS4Windows. While this is an extra step, the features it offers are worthwhile for anyone looking to get full compatibility with the controller.
Cons
Con A-B / X-Y buttons are swapped compared to SNES controllers
The A-B and X-Y buttons are swapped on this controller, compared to SNES controllers. Swapped controls can be confusing if you mainly play SNES(Super Nitendo Entertainment System) games.
Con Need to buy an extra USB receiver
The controller needs an extra cable to convert the old connection to USB, if you plan to use it on anything else than an Xbox. The cable costs under $20, but can be found for much less.
Con Headset input is not standard
The headset input on the controller is 2.5mm, instead of the most common 3.5mm. Your headphones probably use a 3.5mm jack and you will need an adapter to use them with this remote.
Con Best compatibility requires an app on Windows
Out of the box support may not be that great with the PS4 controller on PC. Buttons may need to be mapped in order for the controller to work as intended. Only games with DirectInput support will work out of the box. This means the user will need to install button mapping software or some other app that allow gaming profiles to be loaded easily to get a similar experience to using an XBox controller.
Please note this only applies to Windows, which requires a wrapper such as DS4Windows for XInput support (and thus vibration and touchpad support). Linux supports all of the controller's features natively since kernel version 3.15.
Con Short battery life
Battery lasts 7-8 hours before needing a recharge.
Con Wireless receiver is not included and expensive
To avoid common Bluetooth issues (like distance and input lag) and to support Xinput the controller requires a wireless receiver that must be bought separately
Con Most games have XBOX button indicators on UI, not PS4
Most games with controller support that include prompts on the UI for which buttons to press will show XBOX layout. Very, very few show button prompts for PS4.
Con May be too small for those with big hands
The PS4 controller has a smaller profile when compared to the Xbox controllers, which means it may not be as comfortable to hold for those that have large hands and are used to a larger controller.