The PS5 DualSense Edge is one of the most advanced controllers available, but even this premium model uses standard ALPS joystick modules, which are known to wear out over time and may develop stick drift.
Because of this, many gamers replace the stock modules with more durable alternatives such as Gulikit Hall Effect or Ginfull TMR.

In this article, we show you how to replace the joystick modules and compare ALPS vs. Gulikit vs. Ginfull TMR in detail.

Why Replace the Joysticks on a PS5 DualSense Edge?

The stock ALPS joysticks use potentiometer-based technology, meaning:

• Mechanical friction causes wear
• Higher risk of stick drift
• Precision decreases over time

Modern alternatives like Gulikit and Ginfull TMR use Hall Effect magnetic sensors, which are contactless and drift-free.

1. Joystick Types Overview

Feature	ALPS (Original)	Ginfull TMR	Gulikit TMR
Technology:	Potentiometer	Hall Effect	Hall Effect
Drift Risk:	High	Almost zero	Almost zero
Durability:	Medium	Very high	Very high
Accuracy:	Good	Very good	Excellent
Circularity:	Good (7-10%)	Very good (5-9%)	Perfect (2-5%)
Power consumption:	Low	Very Low	Very Low
Feeling:	Sony default	Crisp, direct	Smooth & linear
Price:	Low	Medium	Medium–high
Plug-and-play:	Yes	No (Calibration needed)	No (Calibration needed)
Buy it:	Aliexpress	Aliexpress	Aliexpress

2. What do you need

Replacing soldered joysticks is not an easy task and requires both the right tools and the right technique. There are many tutorials on YouTube.

You should have these tools and materials:

• A proper soldering iron or station
• Solder
• Solder flux
• Desoldering tape
• Kapton Tape
• IPA
• Hot air station (optional & not recommended)
• A soldering iron adapter for joysticks (optional but recommended)

3. How to Replace Joystick Modules on the DualSense Edge

There are currently two different models of the PlayStation Edge controller modules. The difference is easy to spot. The older model has one screw on the bottom, while the newer model has three.

To open the module with one screw, remove that screw. Then, carefully use a plastic plectrum to pry between the housing and the large silver connector on the underside. The housing should then clip open.

To open the module with three screws, we remove the three screws. Then, we need to carefully detach the plastic pin on the side with a blade, as it has melted together. It’s also unnecessary to remove it, since it’s already held in place by three screws. In some cases, you don’t even need to remove it, as it can be detached without doing so.

There are three different ways to desolder the joysticks:

1. Desoldering with a normal soldering iron.
2. Desoldering with a hot air gun.
3. Desoldering with a special soldering iron adapter.

Desoldering with a normal soldering iron

This is the most time-consuming method. You can also use a desoldering pump, but that’s difficult. It’s best to remove the two potentiometers first. Then, carefully cut off the metal feet of the housing on the top using fine wire cutters. Now you can desolder the pushbutton. Always use plenty of flux and try not to scratch the PCB. There are also many small capacitors and resistors that can be scratched off if you’re not careful.

Desoldering with a hot air gun

You can also desolder the joystick with hot air. Use some flux. However, this is risky because a microcontroller and other electronic components are located in the center of the soldering area. The button on the front can also be damaged by excessive heat. So proceed very carefully. The following solution is far better:

Desoldering with a special soldering iron adapter

This is the best and easiest method. You can now find two desoldering adapters for joysticks on AliExpress. Heat these to approximately 350°C for 10 minutes. Then add some solder to the holes of the adapter. Add some flux to the pcb solder points. Now carefully press the whole thing onto the joystick with precision. You should be able to remove the entire joystick in one go within 5 seconds.

Remove the remaining solder to clear the holes

Soldering in the new joystick

The programming bridge

To calibrate the edge modules, we need to solder a wire bridge as shown. It’s best to use Kapton tape to avoid a short circuit. The bridge must be removed after calibration.

Now, with the wire bridge attached, we can reassemble the housing to calibrate the joysticks. You should also use the caps for the edge modules that you intend to use later. This is important for circularity during calibration.

How to replace the joysticks on a normal dualsense controller

It’s very similar there. However, you have to disassemble the entire controller. There is a good tutorial for this on iFixit.com.

A programming bridge is not needed there.

How to perfectly calibrate the new joysticks

The new TMR joysticks now need to be calibrated. To do this, the modules are reinserted into the controller. The controller is then connected to a computer using a USB cable.

Now we will visit the following website to calibrate the joysticks: https://dualshock-tools.github.io

We now connect the controller. First, we can test if L3 and R3 are working. We see that the stick center is incorrect, and the circularity is also significantly off. Therefore, we need to calibrate this and then program it permanently. We can start with the first two options to pre-calibrate the joysticks. Simply follow the displayed instructions. However, fine-tuning is recommended. Select this option. Now, check the box at the bottom to display the raw numbers. Now we can adjust the stick center to determine the exact center point. This can, of course, deviate slightly. Keep in mind that this view displays a 10x magnification.

Next, we calibrate the circularity perfectly. To do this, we check all four sides (top, bottom, left, right) by repeatedly moving the joystick to its maximum position on each side. Now you check the displayed values ​​at this maximum position. One of the values ​​must always show the maximum. This is the value 1.0, which represents the maximum endpoint, or 100%. If the value there is lower than 1.0, for example, 0.95, we need to increase the range. However, a value that is too high is also not ideal. It’s best if all four sides are one or two clicks above 1. This means you set all values ​​to, for example, 0.99, and then increase the value evenly on all sides so that they are all consistently above 1.0.

This video describes the process quite well:

Now that you’ve calibrated everything properly, take a screenshot of the values. Next, click on “Program settings permanently.” This only takes a few seconds. After that, you can disconnect and reconnect the controller to check if the values ​​have actually been permanently programmed. If not, you haven’t connected the jumper wire correctly. Correct this and program it again. You can simply use the screenshot to copy the values ​​you’ve already tested.

You’re almost there! BUT IMPORTANT: Now you have to remove the wire bridge again. Removing the bridge ensures that the controller functions normally again without remaining in a special calibration mode. Then you’re done.

4. Comparison of circularity

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5. Real-World Performance: Which Joystick Is Best?

🥇 1. Gulikit Hall Effect (Top Recommendation)

Perfect for:

• Players who want zero drift
• First-person shooters (FPS)
• Long-term durability
• Smooth and silent
• Excellent precision
• Best overall value

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🥈 2. Ginfull TMR

Perfect for:

• Competitive players
• Users who want sharper movement control
• Very-precise
• Solid, direct resistance – Slightly stiffer feel

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🥉 3. ALPS (Original Sony)

Perfect for:

• Players who want the exact Sony feel
• Budget-conscious users
• Authentic PS5 experience
  – Drift risk because of mechanical wear

5. Conclusion

Replacing the soldered joysticks in the modules of the PS5 DualSense Edge is not easy, but can drastically improve controller performance and lifespan.

If you want the best long-term and drift-free experience, Gulikit Hall Effect (TMR) is the top choice.
A more affordable but still strong alternative are the Ginfull TMR.
The original ALPS modules work fine, but they’re the least durable option.

PS: The old hall effect sticks are usually not very good because the jitter is quite high. Therefore, TMR is essential.