Between PlayStation and Xbox, which controller has the better face buttons?

[Deleted member 16908]

PlayStation face buttons (cross, circle, square, triangle) are flat, require slightly less force to press in, and have a matte finish (up to the DualShock 4, at least).

Xbox face buttons (A, B, X, Y) are round/convex, require slightly more force to press in, and have a glossy finish.

Which do you prefer and why? I enjoy both but I'd give the edge to PlayStation because I find them much less fatiguing to mash.

 

[KOfLegend]

I'll tell you what everyone's going to vote for:

whatever they grew up with

 

[shadowsdarknes]

I never liked the way the bumpers and face buttons felt on some Xbox controllers. Great triggers though

 

[Yasuke]

I've always hated Xbox face buttons. That + my dislike of the analog stick orientation is as good a reason as any why I've never really wanted one.

Good triggers, though.

 

[Kyoufu]

I prefer the face buttons on PS controllers. Also what's up with the noise on the Xbox One controller? Shit is so clicky and loud.

 

[Guru Meditation]

I like the slightly higher resistance and the convex shape of the xbox buttons, but like the symbols of the playstation buttons. Purely for feel I'm voting xbox.

 

[Fallout-NL]

I prefer the overall shape of the 360 and One controller, but if we're talking face buttons specifically, the Playstation ones are better. They just seem easier to find.

 

[defaltoption]

I like PlayStation's symbols way more and they feel good but Xbox's feel better to press, voted PlayStation

 

[Vire]

Really the only diference for me is convex vs flat. I just prefer the flat because I can hammer them more easily.

 

[digitalrelic]

I prefer the symbols on Playstation.

I VASTLY prefer the color choice on Xbox.

Why would they make Square and Circle, which can look similar at a glance, pink and pastel red, which also look similar at a glance?

Hate the choice of colors.

 

[k0decraft]

Face buttons on DS4 are superior imo. Excellent for fighting games, 2D games, etc.

The bulbuos glossy face buttons on the Xbox controller and especially the miniature xbox copy face buttons on the Steam controller stab your thumbs after awhile.

 

[Version 3.0]

They're both fine, but I like Playstation's better.

 

[ghostcrew]

I prefer the flat face buttons on the DualShock I think.

There's not a lot in it though. They both have four identical buttons in the same spot.

 

[P A Z]

PlayStation for me.

Xbox has more travel and requires more force.

Xbox wins on triggers so it evens out.

 

[Thiago]

PlayStation symbols are iconic (ABXY means Nintendo for me) and the flat buttons are more pleasing to press.

So PlayStation 2 x 0 Xbox

 

[pillowtalk]

the flat face buttons on ps controllers doesn't feel like my thumb is being stabbed, so i'll go with that.

 

[J_ToSaveTheDay]

I actually like the jewel design and slightly mushier feedback on Xbox, although ergonomically, I actually find the Dual Shock more comfortable to hold overall.

Buttons, battery life and triggers are the places where I feel the Xbox controller wins. Dual Shock for overall feel.

 

[Wise]

Playstations is iconic

 

[gogojira]

Xbox analog sticks, PlayStation buttons.

 

[tapedeck]

PlayStation has the better buttons, both in look and feel. Xbox has better sticks, triggers an overall comfort to hold.

 

[Paper Wario]

I have never liked the spacing on the PS face buttons so i'll give my vote to Xbox

 

[Dolce]

I don't think I have a hard preference but when the DualShock had analog face buttons they were of course objectively better.

 

[Yerffej]

Really the only diference for me is convex vs flat. I just prefer the flat because I can hammer them more easily.

Click to shrink...

This. It's the only edge I give PS controllers over Xbox, personally.

 

[Deleted member 17643]

Playstation wins on face buttons, but Xbox renaming R1 and L1 to RB and LB for whatever reason helps me visualize them better in my head.

 

[Shark]

PlayStation's are iconic for a reason.

 

[Dyle]

Xbox chose the wrong button layout and are slightly more convex than they should be

 

[Digital Savior]

Overall I like Xbox controllers more. But, the buttons are too clicky. The flatter Playstation buttons might be a little bit better.

 

[Lego]

Flat buttons for me.

 

[AceAlli]

The X (ecks), Circle, Square and Triangle of PS is iconic and original with a great, unique color palette. The flat buttons are more user-friendly imo. The Xbox using A/B/X/Y laid out inverse of Nintendo's A/B/X/Y is pretty unoriginal and I'm not as much of a fan of the rounder buttons. PS wins in my opinion.

 

[Letters]

The playstation wins here, I find the xbox controller better in every way except for the buttons, they just feel better to press on the playstation controller

 

[The Real Napsta]

I'll tell you what everyone's going to vote for:

whatever they grew up with

Click to shrink...

I grew up on SNES/PSX, i prefer Xbox controller and buttons.

 

[Goldenroad]

I'll tell you what everyone's going to vote for:

whatever they grew up with

Click to shrink...

LOL. There is no reality where I think the Atari 2600 has the best face buttons.

Honestly...I've never thought about it though. I like the way the XBOX controller feels ergonomically, so I guess that. The buttons are the buttons. I don't really have a preference for one over the other.

 

[shinobi602]

I don't care about letters vs shapes, but I'm not a fan of the super hard plastic of the Xbox face buttons. They're clicky and a little loud. Dualshock buttons have always felt...'softer' if that makes sense.

Both are great controllers though.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

I'm honestly kind of biased against Xbox's because I grew up on the SNES and they deliberately arranged the letter buttons BACKWARDS compared to the SNES button layout.

So Playstation for me but only because my brain will forever remember the SNES button layout and Xbox flies in the face of that. I regularly get the Xbox buttons mixed up even lately.

 

[iamandy]

PlayStation feels better to press and the button symbols are way more iconic.

 

[Dolce]

The X (ecks), Circle, Square and Triangle of PS is iconic and original with a great, unique color palette. The flat buttons are more user-friendly imo. The Xbox using A/B/X/Y laid out inverse of Nintendo's A/B/X/Y is pretty unoriginal and I'm not as much of a fan of the rounder buttons. PS wins in my opinion.

Click to shrink...

You can blame the Dreamcast for that one.

 

[Abi]

I never liked the way the bumpers and face buttons felt on some Xbox controllers. Great triggers though

Click to shrink...

I HATE the bumpers on the Xbox One controller. They improved it a little bit with the newer version, but it still doesn't feel good press.

 

[Mecha]

The PS symbols have become iconic. So I prefer them for that alone. But in practice they are the same.

 

[Cactuar]

The Sacred Symbols win everytime.

 

[McFly]

They're both pretty great. Nintendo on the other hand has always made terrible feeling face buttons.

 

[Rndom Grenadez]

PlayStation's are iconic for a reason.

Click to shrink...

The only reason they're "iconic" is because Sony has sold more.

I prefer ABXY for sure, but the best configuration and feel of any controller are the Pro controller.

 

[Siggy-P]

The buttons on the Xbox controllers always felt weird to press. I prefer the PlayStation's flat buttons.

That said though I by far prefer the placement of the analogue sticks on Xbox and the triggers.

 

[Deleted member 437]

I immediately know where the PS buttons are.

Xbox and Nintendo having the same buttons but in a different order legit fucks me up sometimes.

 

[Shark]

The only reason they're "iconic" is because Sony has sold more.

Click to shrink...

lmao, yeah that usually goes hand in hand. They sure as hell wouldn't sell ABXY merchandise or integrate it in to so much of their branding if it didn't stand out and wasn't instantly recognizable to people.

 

[TheRealTalker]

Edit: you meant pressing.

I don't like the convex idea of buttons or its texture.

 

[Jimnymebob]

DS2 with its pressure sensitive buttons specifically.
Has the DS5 brought them back, or is it just a bunch of gimmicky immersion features?

 

[topplehat]

I like both, but give an edge to the PlayStation controls because they are more unique and distinct. Nintendo/Microsoft will use the same letters and it's confusing.

 

[E.T.]

PlayStation buttons are memorable and iconic. GOAT

 

[Chettlar]

Why the fuck would someone want the playstation's mushy buttons over the snappy feedback of the xbox buttons. Like the DS4 is at least better than the DS3 but still.

 

[Tibarn]

I don't really feel any relevant difference on touch feedback, so I'm voting Xbox because they use a color selection that makes them easier to differentiate.

As I'm switching constantly between the Switch Pro, Xone and Ps4 controllers, it kind of helps to re-adjust to the controller as the visual clues are better.