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- Strong customization options
- Good audio offerings
- Respectable battery life
- It’s too expensive
- Lacks key PS5 features
- Spongey D-pad and buttons
The Nacon Revolution 5 Pro is the latest PS5 controller aimed at a more hardware gaming audience. Armed with a better battery life than the standard DualSense and a strong level of customization, it has a lot to bring to the table. However, its high price tag and lacking of key functionality of its competitors, especially in such a saturated market, means it cannot be considered one of the best PS5 controllers available. Let’s get into exactly why this is.
Nacon Revolution 5 Pro price and availability
The Nacon Revolution 5 Pro is available now in countries such as the US and the UK with an MSRP of $199.99 / £199.99 respectively. You can pick up the company’s latest gamepad in two colorways, either black or white, from established retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy as well as through Nacon directly, too. That positions the Revolution 5 Pro as one of the more expensive options for the PS5 console in comparison to its competition.
It’s significantly more expensive than the similarly kitted-out Victrix Pro BFG controller that sells for $179.99 / £159.99, and is price-matched with Sony’s DualSense Edge at $199.99 / £209. However, it’s a touch cheaper than the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro which is available for $249.99 / £249.99. Let’s get into whether it’s worth spending nearly three times the cost of the standard DualSense PS5 controller.
Nacon Revolution 5 Pro
Compatibility
PS5, PS4, PC
Features
Hall Effect Sticks, Remappable Buttons, Trigger Stops, Asymmetric Layout, Weights set.
MSRP
$199 / £199.99
Nacon Revolution 5 Pro design and features
What immediately stands out about the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro as opposed to a standard DualSense or DualShock 4 controller is the choice of an asymmetric stick layout. This is typically something we see more commonly with Xbox controllers rather than PlayStation pads which are typically in-line. It’s something we also saw with the previous generation gamepad, the Revolution Unlimited Pro for PS4, and it’s good to see a winning formula return here as well.
What can immediately be praised is the decision to opt for Hall effect sticks and triggers and this means a use of magnets instead of circuitry, effectively eliminating any potential drift. It’s been a trend in recent years for manufacturers to go for this and it was done for the better here. There are also other expected pro-level features such as trigger stops, multiple points of connectivity with USB-C, Bluetooth, and a 2.4 GHz dongle, as well as dedicated Bluetooth audio for paring with your console.
As with the older Revolution Unlimited Pro, the 5 Pro features an accessories kit which includes three sets of weights, three stick sizes, stick heads, and an external microphone jack. This means you have the option to set the pad’s exact feel for playing online games (with a lighter feel) or going all in on the heft for the immersion of a single player experience. However, there’s a massive caveat here, and that’s the fact that this PS5 controller lacks the leading haptic feedback in PS5 games. There are two motors for rumble which work on PC and PS4 titles, but you won’t be getting the same level of sophistication as with the OEM controller. You’re also missing out on adaptive triggers, which is a majorly disappointing as well.
Nacon Revolution 5 Pro performance
Using the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro on PS5 is a good, albeit unexceptional experience. For the bulk of my testing I chose to stick to console as this is the what most people will strive for. Immediately, the sticks are great and benefit from the Hall Effect technology, with the asymmetric layout being nice and smooth. I had absolutely no issues with connectivity either, simply plugging it in via USB-C or hooking up via the included dongle, and it worked natively as with other third-party pads.
The battery life is a touch better than what you’ll get out of the standard DualSense which should be expected given the far higher price tag and lack of battery draining features. In my testing, I noted around 10-12 hours at a push, where I was reaching for the braided USB-C lead less often than with some of the other PS5 pro controllers available in my home. With that said, I was quickly missing out on the functionality of Sony’s OEM pad, with the rumble being a considerable step down and the lack of adaptive triggers making the games feel a little lifeless.
Onto the good things about this gamepad, though. The Nacon Revolution 5 Pro’s different weights set and stick toppers are a good way of setting up for different titles. For the bulk of my play testing with my review unit, I stuck to a heavier feel in the hand which added a premium edge, but the lightness with no weights was especially good when getting into the combat challenges in Batman: Arkham Knight and running around in Horizon Forbidden West. It works well for the most part, even if it isn’t necessarily a very high-tech offering.
What I absolutely hated about the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro is the D-pad which, no matter which option I switched to, felt spongey and unresponsive. In my testing with Tekken 8 and Mortal Kombat 1, I was dropping combos and a little more sluggish than usual, and I quickly found myself missing the more responsive D-pad of the DualSense or the D-pad available on my Scuf Reflex Pro and Victrix BFG Pro. While some may like the quiet membrane operation, I wasn’t a fan. I wasn’t exactly expecting the microswitch D-pad of the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro (which is $50 / £50 more) but something nicer than the stock offering should have been a given.
Things weren’t much better when switching to playing on PC, as the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro paled in comparison to my Scuf Envision Pro which retails for the same $199.99 / £199.99 MSRP. The latter controller has microswitch D-pad and buttons which feel considerably better. It’s admittedly a hard sell even compared to the feel of a standard Xbox Wireless Controller on PC ($60 / £50) in terms of battery life and functionality.
Should you buy the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro?
The Nacon Revolution 5 Pro has a lot going for it on paper, however, its high price tag and missing features make it a bitter pill to swallow when compared to fierce competition. It’s priced the same as the official DualSense Edge, which adds better implementation of the same features without gutting the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and costs considerably more than other similar level third-party offerings such as the Victrix Pro BFG which has better value for money.
As a PC controller, there are many better options as well, including that of the standard Xbox controller for a fraction of the price, or just using the base DualSense with PS5-supported titles when plugged in. The trigger stops aren’t as good as the competition, the D-pad leaves a lot to be considered, and that price tag is a serious misfire. Your money is better spent on an alternative, and you’ll find appropriate links below.
Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Gaming Controller
Connectivity
USB-C, 2.4 GHz Wireless
Buttons
R1, R2, 4 x face buttons, D-pad, Clutch Triggers
Compatibility
PC, PS5, PS4
Features
Customizable buttons, fightpad module, tournament lock mode, LED
DualSense Edge Wireless Controller
Compatibility
PS5, PC
Button
Standard PlayStation layout, 2 x Function keys, 2 x Interchangeable paddles, 2 x Trigger sensitivity slider
Connectivity
Wireless, Wired
Ports
USB-C (Power, data)
Weight
Approx 325g
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