Hey there! If you‘re wondering whether you can safely use your phone charger to charge your PS5‘s DualSense controller, the short answer is yes – with some caveats.
Charging your controller incorrectly could lead to slow charging, no charging, or even permanent damage over time. As your tech-savvy friend, let me walk you through exactly what kind of charger you need to quickly and safely charge your PS5 gamepad without worry.
Charger Voltage and Amperage Matters
The key factors that determine if a charger will work properly with your DualSense controller are the voltage (V) and amperage (A) specs:
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The DualSense requires 5V USB charging at a minimum of 1.5A for optimal charging speed and safety.
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Chargers with lower amperage (less than 1.5A) may charge slowly or not at all.
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Chargers with higher voltage (over 5V) could potentially damage the controller over time by delivering too much power.
So ideally, you want a charger that provides a steady 5V USB power output at 1.5A or higher amperage. This gives the best balance of safe charging speed.
Many modern smartphone chargers fit these specs perfectly. However, you have to be careful, because some older or lower quality phone chargers may not provide enough amperage to charge properly.
For example, the old iPhone chargers with only 1A amp rating will charge the DualSense very slowly, if at all. And avoid using those super fast multi-volt chargers that can crank out 9V/12V/15V output – they overload the controller‘s power regulation circuits.
The safest bet is to use the charger that originally came with your PS5 console if available. But any good quality modern 5V/1.5A or greater USB charger from a reputable brand will work well.
Use a High Quality USB Cable
The charging cable is just as important as the charger! Always use the original high quality USB-C cable that came with your PS5 controller for charging.
Third party cables that aren‘t properly rated for USB specs can cause issues like:
- Slow charging due to power loss over thinner wires
- Intermittent charging due to loose cable connectors
- Damage to the controller or cable from short circuits
According to a study by the USB Implementers Forum, many third party USB-C cables fail to meet the USB-IF quality standards. Poor quality cables often substitute thinner, lower grade wires that can‘t deliver the full charging current efficiently.
The safest bet is sticking with the cable that came from Sony in the box. But if you need an extra charging cable, look for ones that are certified for USB-IF compliance to ensure you get optimal safe charging performance.
Avoid Using "Fast Charging" Modes
Many modern phones support fast charging standards like Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0/3.0/4.0. These fast charging techs can deliver up to 18W by cranking up voltage and amperage.
Avoid using fast charging modes to charge your PS5 controller! The DualSense was designed for standard 5V USB charging and exceeds the voltage and power delivery specs.
Fast charging modes designed for phones may be able to force charge a controller, but they could damage the internal regulation and battery charging circuits over time by overloading them. For safe charging, stick to regular 5V USB.
Allow Full Charge Cycles
To maximize your PS5 controller battery health and lifespan:
- Charge it fully from empty (about 3 hours)
- Avoid interrupted charging
- Don‘t remove it mid-charge cycle
Lithium-ion batteries perform best when you allow full charge cycles from dead empty to 100% full. Fully saturating the battery periodically helps calibrate the charge monitoring circuits for optimal lifespan.
Repeatedly interrupting the charging cycle before a full charge can confuse the battery management system over time. Let the light bar indicator turn solid white before unplugging to ensure a complete refresh.
Monitor the Indicator Light
Keep an eye on the indicator light bar on your controller when charging – it signals charging status:
- Pulsing orange – Battery is charging
- Solid white – Battery fully charged
If the light isn‘t coming on at all when connected to a charger, try a different USB cable before assuming the charger is bad. With a working cable, the light should turn on immediately when connected to any decent 5V USB charger.
Avoid Overcharging
Once the light bar shows fully charged, avoid leaving the controller plugged in indefinitely. Overcharging stresses lithium-ion batteries.
Studies show that continually topping off an already full battery brings cumulative damage that noticeably reduces maximum capacity within a few months of repeated overcharges.
Once your DualSense is fully juiced up, disconnect it from charging and switch to another controller or give the battery a break. Modern chargers stop delivering current at full charge, but it‘s still best practice to unplug fully charged batteries.
Check Battery Health
If you notice your controller battery life dropping significantly:
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Try fully charging it and using it until empty to recalibrate.
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Check battery health in Settings > Accessories > Controllers.
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The battery may need replacing if health shows less than 80%.
Expect around 500 full charging cycles before noticeable degradation, assuming you avoid overcharging and use the proper charging practices.
Charge Your PS5 Controller Safely
Now you‘ve got all the insider tips to charge your DualSense controller safely and quickly using any decent USB phone charger available.
To recap the key points:
- Use a 5V USB charger with minimum 1.5A (most modern phones)
- Optimal is the official PS5 charger (5V 2.1A)
- Avoid low amp chargers (very slow charging)
- Avoid multi-voltage fast chargers (can damage controller)
- Use the high quality USB-C cable included with controller
- Allow full 3 hour charge cycles without interruption
- Unplug when fully charged to avoid overcharging
- Check indicator light and battery health readout
Follow this advice and your PS5 controller‘s battery will keep on ticking happily for years of wireless gaming! Let me know if you have any other questions down below in the comments.
