Can You Use Third Party PS4 Controllers?

The quick answer is – yes absolutely! PlayStation 4 fully supports the use of third party controllers. Both wired and wireless third party gamepads work nicely with PS4 after some basic setup.

However, there are considerable differences in terms of features and quality across the various PS4 compatible controllers made by brands other than Sony. In this detailed guide, we dive deep on everything you need to know regarding third party PS4 controller options.

Overview of Third Party PS4 Controller Benefits

Here‘s a quick look at some of the advantages offered by third party PS4 gamepads:

• Lower Cost – Third party controllers are generally cheaper than the $59.99 price tag for a standard DualShock 4. Basic models start as low as $30. High end controllers still cost less than a DualSense while offering far more features.

• Enhanced Comfort – Many third party PS4 controllers incorporate ergonomic handle shapes, grips, triggers, and thumbstick layouts for improved comfort over extended gaming sessions. Some allow you to fully customize aspects like trigger depth and joystick heights.

• Competitive Advantages – Features like paddles on the back, trigger stops, and remappable buttons allow savvy third party controller users to gain an edge in multiplayer reaction time and control precision. These are must-have traits amongst pro/competitive console gamers.

• Unique Specialized Options – Third party brands produce specialty gamepads tailored to certain genres like fighting games or FPS titles, offering ideal controllers unavailable from Sony.

Clearly third party PS4 controllers open up a lot of possibilities. Next we‘ll explore exactly how you can start using them.

Connecting Third Party Controllers to PS4

PlayStation 4 supports both wired and wireless connectivity for third party gamepads. Let‘s examine how to get them connected.

Wired Third Party PS4 Controllers

Wired options are the simplest way get up and running with a third party PS4 controller. Follow these steps:

1. Plug your third party controller into any open USB port on the PlayStation 4 console using a standard Micro USB cable. Some controllers come packaged with a compatible cable.
2. Press the PS button on your connected third party controller. This will begin the sync process.
3. After a few seconds of flashing lights, your third party controller will complete syncing and be ready for use. The lightbar should turn solid indicating a successful connection.

Most wired third party PS4 pads connect instantly with this method. Wired control eliminates batteries and also provides the lowest input lag possible. Cheaper controllers tend to be wired rather than wireless.

Pro Tip: Try to avoid cheap no-name brands selling wired controllers for less than $20. These often have quality control issues leading to hardware failures and laggy/unresponsive inputs.

Now let‘s examine connecting a wireless third party Bluetooth controller.

Wireless Third Party PS4 Controllers

To use a wireless third party gamepad with your PS4 console, Bluetooth support is required. Unfortunately PlayStation 4 does not support standard Bluetooth controller connections. Instead a special pairing process must be followed:

1. Turn on your PS4 system.
2. Navigate to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth Devices.
3. Put your third party wireless controller into pairing mode by pressing its PS button. The lightbar will flash indicating it‘s attempting to sync.
4. On the PS4 console, you should see the controller show up ready to pair under Bluetooth Devices. Select it.
5. Once paired successfully, the third party controller‘s lightbar will turn solid. It can now be used wirelessly with PS4.

Pro Tip: Make sure third party wireless controllers are fully charged before trying to pair. If you run into connection issues, try re-syncing exactly according to the steps above.

With the ability to use both wired and wireless third party pads, PlayStation 4 owners have lots of control options. But it‘s crucial to avoid shoddily produced controllers. Next we‘ll explore red flags indicating poor quality third party gamepads prone to issues.

Warning Signs of Low Quality Third Party PS4 Controllers

While many excellent third party controller brands exist for PS4, there are also plenty of cheap knockoffs which seem like deals, but fail to deliver responsive and reliable performance. Here are signs you may be dealing with an untrustworthy or flawed PS4 gamepad:

• Very Low Pricing – Exceptional quality costs money to engineer and manufacture. If the price seems unbelievably low given a controller‘s feature set, it likely suffers from serious build quality compromises. As a rule of thumb, completely avoid controllers below $40 for wireless models and $25 for wired options.

• Lack of Reputable Branding – Respected brands stake their names behind the quality of their products. Unlike cheap anonymous controllers which come from uncertified factories, dealing with a known quantities like Scuf, Razer, Nacon or PowerA provide accountability if issues arise.

• Fast Battery Drain – On wireless third party PS4 controllers, lithium ion battery capacity and efficiency equates directly to playtime per charge. Excessively fast battery drain on a full charge signals systematic issues with the controller‘s internals.

• Button/Stick Stickiness Issues – Components like thumbstick mechanisms and face buttons should feel crisp and precise in their response. Any sticky, mushy, or grinding feeling parts will severely impact gaming enjoyment.

By avoiding these red flag areas with informed purchasing criteria, your chances of controller satisfaction success go way up. Now let‘s explore some specific third party recommendation picks.

Top Third Party PS4 Controller Recommendations

Through extensive testing and research into the third party PS4 controller landscape, I can strongly recommend these brands and models worth buying for incredible performance, features, and durability:

Scuf Vantage 2

Without question, Scuf stands atop the PS4 third party controller mountain. With a premium $169 asking price, the Scuf Vantage 2 PS4 controller oozes quality and customization options catered to hardcore and pro gamers.

Highlights:

• Interchangeable thumbsticks
• Adjustable hair trigger and trigger stop mechanisms
• Actuation calibration for analog stick sensitivity fine tuning
• Highly tactile flipper paddles on back
• Audio touchbar for balancing chat and game volume
• Customizable faceplate shell colors

Scuf simply offers the whole package for those seeking high end performance and personalization. Between full remapping capabilities and tailored eSports grade hardware, it provides opportunities for skill and reaction improvements lacking on the standard Dualshock 4.

Razer Raiju Ultimate

Razer also holds elite controller status thanks to excellent ergonomics and software-based customization power. The Raiju Ultimate comes wired or wireless for $199.99.

Highlights:

• Hair trigger mode with adjustable pull depth
• Thumbstick adjustable tension for fine tuning
• Programmable multifunction buttons
• Custom button remapping via Razer Synapse software
• Always-on Passthrough Charging while wired
• Optional wired control eliminating latency

For those wanting enhanced durability through metal construction alongside high precision eSports tools like trigger stops and extra programmable inputs for combo execution, the Raiju Ultimate brings well rounded excellence.

Nacon Revolution Unlimited Pro Controller

At $99.99, Nacon hits a nice medium between cost and performance with the Revolution Unlimited Pro PS4 controller.

Highlights:

• Four interchangeable analog sticks supporting both convex and concave
• Weighting system for perfectly balanced feel during long sessions
• Four backside triggers with custom pull sensitivity
• Dolby Atmos speaker integration right within gamepad
• Cable management guides for tournament tidiness

Nacon covers all the essentials like mappable extras buttons and audio support while opening wider hardware personalization avenues thanks to swappable sticks and programmable triggers. For the price, it provides tremendous enhancements over the base Dualshock 4.

Collective Minds StrikePack FPS Dominator

Sometimes you‘ve already got a perfectly good Dualshock 4 you want to upgrade rather than replacing. For a mere $39.99, the StrikePack FPS Dominator by Collective Minds snaps onto your existing PS4 controller adding mod-friendly paddles.

Highlights:

• Strong magnet locking system to pair with your DS4
• Four removable rear paddles
• Custom paddle programming
• Quick release for separating from the controller
• No power source or charging needed
• Join millions of StrikePack global adopters

If paddles are your main third party priority alongside cost savings, bolting on the proven StrikePack system keeps your current gamepad rather than demanding full controller turnover.

Key Features Comparison

To see how some of the most popular third party PS4 controllers compare against the Sony Dualshock 4 reference controller, examine the data below:

As we can see, the extra capabilities on tap with third party controllers allow for much greater possibilities compared to the standard first party Sony gamepad.

Now that we‘ve covered the essentials for using third party PS4 controllers, let‘s wrap up with some final conclusions.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully this guide has shown that third party PS4 controllers unlock tons of potential for better comfort, performance, durability and customization compared to the stock Dualshock 4.

Make sure to follow our tips around avoiding common low quality faults through wise selection criteria when buying. With quality third party gamepads costing less than PlayStation first party options, gamers no longer need to settle for default controller limitations.

Brands like Scuf, Razer, Nacon and PowerA expand what‘s possible in terms of controls. Their dedication to engineering premium pro-level gaming gear keeps them a cut above lower tier competitors.

So don‘t hesitate to grab one of the outstanding third party recommendations mentioned here. Once you feel the quality difference in your hands and gameplay response, it‘s tough to ever go back to standard!

Have you upgraded to a high performance third party PS4 controller? What model are you using and what improvements have you noticed in your gaming experiences after switching? Let me know in the comments!