Sixaxis: The original PS3 controller. Wireless and motion-sensitive, but no vibration. It is slightly cheaper.
DualShock 3: The later version. Keeps Sixaxis motion controls and adds vibration back in.
We generally recommend the DualShock 3, but the Sixaxis is perfectly fine if you're on a budget.
If you're buying an original PS3 controller, you'll come across two types: the Sixaxis and the DualShock 3.
They look almost identical and both work with the PS3, but there's one major difference between them.
What is the Sixaxis?
The Sixaxis was the controller that originally launched with the PlayStation 3 in 2006.
Visually, it's basically a wireless version of the familiar DualShock 2 design from the PS2. The biggest new feature was motion sensing, allowing the controller to detect movement and rotation.
That's actually where the name comes from. Sixaxis refers to its ability to detect motion across six degrees of freedom.
What it didn't have was rumble.
Sony's previous DualShock controllers had vibration motors, but these were absent from the Sixaxis. This made the controller noticeably lighter than the DualShock controllers that came before and after it.
What is the DualShock 3?
The DualShock 3 was released in 2007 and is essentially the Sixaxis with rumble added back in.
Importantly, Sony didn't remove the motion controls. The DualShock 3 has both Sixaxis motion sensing and vibration.
You'll even see "DUALSHOCK 3" and "SIXAXIS" printed together on the top of the controller.
For the vast majority of PS3 games, the DualShock 3 is therefore the better controller. You get everything the Sixaxis can do, plus vibration.
Why Didn't the Sixaxis Have Rumble?
This is where things get a little interesting.
At the time, Sony was involved in a long-running patent dispute with Immersion, the company behind the vibration technology used in PlayStation controllers.
Sony initially suggested that vibration could interfere with the Sixaxis motion sensors, but this explanation was widely questioned. Sony and Immersion eventually settled their legal dispute in 2007, and later that year Sony announced the DualShock 3 with both motion sensing and vibration.
How Can You Tell Them Apart?
They look basically the same, but there are a two ways to tell them apart.
The simplest is the writing on the top of the controller.
A Sixaxis says:
SIXAXIS
A DualShock 3 says:
DUALSHOCK 3
SIXAXIS
The Sixaxis is also noticeably lighter when you hold one. It weighs around 137g, compared with roughly 190g for a DualShock 3, because it doesn't contain the vibration motors.
If you're buying online, though, we'd always check the writing rather than trying to judge the weight from somebody's photos!
Do Both Work With Every PS3?
Yes! Both controllers work across the PS3 family, whether you've got an original Fat, Slim or Super Slim console.
Games released before the DualShock 3 arrived will generally work perfectly well with either controller. You simply won't get vibration when using a Sixaxis.
Which One Should You Buy?
For actually playing PS3 games, we'd recommend the DualShock 3.
It has the same motion controls as the Sixaxis while adding vibration, so you're not really giving anything up.
The original Sixaxis is more interesting from a collecting perspective or if you're after something cheaper. If rumble is something you don't care about, then just grab the cheaper Sixaxis.
Here at RetroQuest, we distinguish between the two rather than simply listing both as "official PS3 controllers". They might look almost identical, but if you're buying a controller to actually use, the DualShock 3 is the one we'd choose.
