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Sony DualSense (Black) — Controller · 2020
Sony

Sony DualSense (Black)

Controller · 2020

88
/ 100
From $69
VS
Sony DualSense (Black) wins by 2
Xbox Series X — 52 CU RDNA 2 · 12.15 TFLOPS · 4K 120 Hz
Microsoft

Xbox Series X

52 CU RDNA 2 · 12.15 TFLOPS · 4K 120 Hz

86
/ 100
From $499
Specdex verdict

Sony DualSense (Black) takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sony DualSense (Black) lands at 88 and Xbox Series X at 86. That puts Sony DualSense (Black) ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sony DualSense (Black) if…

  • ✓Hall-effect sticks (select SKUs)
  • ✓Hot-swap triggers (elite tier)
  • ✓Cross-platform compatibility

Pick Xbox Series X if…

  • ✓12.155 TFLOPS GPU (52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz)
  • ✓Game Pass library + Quick Resume
  • ✓4K up to 120 Hz output
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Performance

Tie

Compared on the performance sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Features

Xbox Series X

Compared on the features sub-score

Xbox Series X leads on features (88 vs 86).

Games

Sony DualSense (Black)

Compared on the games sub-score

Sony DualSense (Black) leads on games (86 vs 84).

Value for money

Sony DualSense (Black)

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sony DualSense (Black) more score per dollar ($69 vs $499).

Sony DualSense (Black) 88
vs
86 Xbox Series X

Score breakdown

Sony DualSense (Black)
88
performance 88
games 86
features 86
value 82
Xbox Series X
86
performance 88
games 84
features 88
value 86

Specs side-by-side

Sony DualSense (Black) versus Xbox Series X — full spec comparison
Spec Sony DualSense (Black) Xbox Series X
Type
Controller
—
Color
Black
—
Release year
2020
—
CPU
—
Custom AMD Zen 2 8C @ 3.8 GHz (3.6 GHz with SMT)
GPU
—
Custom RDNA 2, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz, 12.155 TFLOPS
RAM
—
16 GB GDDR6
Storage
—
1 TB custom NVMe SSD
Dimensions
—
301 × 151 × 151 mm
Weight
—
4.45 kg
Output
—
4K up to 120 Hz, 8 K capable

Sony DualSense (Black)

Pros
  • +Hall-effect sticks (select SKUs)
  • +Hot-swap triggers (elite tier)
  • +Cross-platform compatibility
Cons
  • −Battery replacement paid on some
  • −Software dependency
  • −Stick drift still possible (non-Hall)

Xbox Series X

Pros
  • +12.155 TFLOPS GPU (52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz)
  • +Game Pass library + Quick Resume
  • +4K up to 120 Hz output
Cons
  • −Few Xbox-exclusive system sellers
  • −Dashboard UX ageing
  • −Storage expansion cards pricey

FAQ: Sony DualSense (Black) vs Xbox Series X

Which is better, Sony DualSense (Black) or Xbox Series X? +

Sony DualSense (Black) scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sony DualSense (Black) worth the price? +

At $69, Sony DualSense (Black) delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in performance.

Is Xbox Series X worth the price? +

At $499, Xbox Series X delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in performance.

Does Sony DualSense (Black) or Xbox Series X last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for features, Sony DualSense (Black) or Xbox Series X? +

Xbox Series X — leads on features (88 vs 86). Compared on the features sub-score.

Which is better for games, Sony DualSense (Black) or Xbox Series X? +

Sony DualSense (Black) — leads on games (86 vs 84). Compared on the games sub-score.