Side-by-side: PS4 gamepad vs PS3 gamepad | News | TechRadar

The DualShock 4 gamepad is better than the PS3 controller by leaps-and-bounds. It's so much better that we may like it more than the Xbox One controller and its "40 innovations" over the already time-tested Xbox 360 gamepad.
When we first grabbed the PS4 controller, the other alteration that grabbed our attention was the concave analog sticks. With divots in their center and raised rims around the top, the new right and left joysticks kept our thumbs in place during game demos.

It's difficult to discern just what the extra space between the two sticks amounts to, but that added sliver of distance makes your thumb's reach less of a strain and the controller much more comfortable this time around.
To say the PS4 controller is head-and-shoulders better than the PS3 controller would be driving right at one of its biggest improvements: the shoulder buttons.


Another reason the PlayStation 4 gamepad is more comfortable than its predecessor is because it has slightly larger handles that are more ergonomic.

Plain and simple, the DualShock 4 doesn't feel as cramped.

Take a PS3 controller in your hand and you'll notice that gripping it can be a tense experience. This is especially true with hours-on-end gameplay. Loosen that grip and that's how holding a PS4 controller feels.

Playing a PS4 game using the DualShock 4 controller is a much more relaxing experience, one that rivals what Microsoft has been doing for Xbox in more ways than One.