Thanks for the feedback, and the sub, it's very much appreciated! I'm trying to put together the best quality content I can and hopefully it'll keep getting better! Again, thank you, I truly appreciate the support!
There is also one thing I noticed to tell if controllers are fake. The knock-offs more often than not do not support six-axis inputs at all. For games that use these, like Folklore, Toy Home or Super RubADub you cannot even play the games with the fake controllers. Maybe this is a bit quicker for some people to check first instead of opening up the case.
You’re totally right, a good majority of knock-offs don’t have Six-Axis support! I just thought it’d be interesting to compare a couple of different ones so folks could see the difference in quality in the builds. Great tip though! 😊
At this point I don't even care anymore, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find original controllers nowadays. I just wonder if they work in recovery mode. Great video btw
I work on a lot of PS3 controllers, and I agree, it definitely is getting harder to find official ones. I’m just hoping that this will help folks that are new to the system , or are just starting to collect for it, so they can avoid getting burned like a lot of us have. You bring up a really good point about these working in recovery mode. I’ll be honest, I’d never thought about testing it, so that’s something I’m going to have to do! Thanks for the feedback, and for stopping by the channel, I really appreciate it!
@@aimanrulez7339 sadly about half of them are still fake. Too many people just don't know the difference and you end up getting a relatively good fake one, that has one thing not working properly. I bought like 8 different PS3 controller, from differt sellers. all claiming to have original Sony and had 99,9 positive ratings. only 2 of the controllers actually were able to do six-axis inputs. the rest of them were just decent fake devices...
@@HalfCircleForwardI recently got a renewed ds3 from amazon and now I'm at work and get recommended this video... My paranoia has spiked considerably.
You’re welcome! That’s not cool at all! I have a stack of 6 or 7 fake ones that I’ve accumulated over time, and some of them honestly look legit. It’s getting so hard to tell the difference any more, it’s ridiculous, that’s why I put the video together, and I’m really glad it’s helping people! Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
I bought a controller that does not say Dual Shock or SONY, yet it is pretty fabulous when compared to my actual Dual Shock. I've used them both for a while now and it's hard to tell the difference. I'm sure mileage varies greatly, but I'm pretty happy with it. Also subbed, thanks for the vid.
Thanks for the support, it’s very much appreciated! I’m not going to knock all the off-brand controllers, there are definitely decent ones out there, and I think they’ve improved over time, but the ones that claim to be SONY can certainly be hit or miss, and I’ve seen some really poor quality ones!
Great video! Just wanted to point out Sony in 2010, released a firmware that disrupted usage of fake controllers. Hadn't they done that, fake ones would have given lesser problems (connectivity errors, vibration anomalies, sixasis issues and compatibility issues with GT games). Not sure if that was the right move from Sony given that there was already an acute shortage of genuine controllers back then.
That’s awesome information, thanks for sharing! I have to wonder if the third-party licensed controllers were affected by this too.. I’m going to have to do some reading now!
@@HalfCircleForward Yep it will be an interesting research. 🙂 Just for the record all controllers/joypads/steering wheels officially licensed by Sony (Power A/Logitech) were unaffected by this firmware (v 3.50). But a chronic problem with all wireless officially licensed/unlicensed controllers-the controller won't power up the console like the original Sixasis/DS3.
This is much easier way and dont need to disassembly the controller. Plug your controller via USB into a computer running Windows. The device name of the real Dualshock 3 controller in control panel->devices and printers should read as "PLAYSTATION(R) 3 Controller," While a fake reads as "PS3 GamePad."
That's true! I wanted to try and show the differences you'd see cosmetically just by looking at the controller, if you found one in the wild, and show what the differences are internally, so folks could get a feel for the quality (or lack thereof) of the components that make up these fakes, but you're 100% right, they will show up differently if you plug them into a PC. Good call!
While true that could probably only work if you're either in a public place with a trusted seller and he is willing to let you test it out with your windows laptop or you already bought the controller and he doesn't do refunds. Learning how to spot the fake without buying it first is faster in terms of the long run and to not waste money. If you can spot the fake upon looking at it you can plow through tons of fakes online and in person faster.
This test is no longer relevant, unfortunately. Having said that, I got stuck with 6 fakes last summer and they were recognized properly being plugged into my laptop. I was also surprised to find that the fakes had a sixaxis too when I heard they didn’t. It’s a really bad sign as it proves that the counterfeits have gotten more convincing in time. Eventually it will probably be necessary to open up the actual controllers in question to confirm legitimacy as the internals likely always be junk in comparison to genuine ds3s.
I think i got really lucky today. I bought a used controller off ebay 3 days ago and it just arrived today. It dosent have the vibrate in it but it's motion controls actually work.
I have an original ps3 controller that I was trying to sell on enay and they took down my auction they said it was a fake controller that is very frustrating.
Thank you for this video. It helped me identify a fake controller I purchased off eBay that came in what appeared to be official packaging. I noticed that the PS button was being wonky - came out of the box already semi-depressed, was way too easy to trigger. Also noticed that the controller would not connect wirelessly with my PS Vita TV. Upon opening it up, I found that it was missing a vibration motor, had a battery wrapped in a blue plastic wrap and had self-tapping screws. As the entire reason for buying it was to use it with the Vita TV, I'm having to return it. I honestly wouldn't mind being these controllers if 1) they were just honest up front about the fact that they aren't official and 2) they put a little effort into the build quality. But it's the dishonesty that really grinds my gears.
As an update to this, in the return request the seller tried to claim these were just manufacturing defects. That REALLY ground my gears. Like I said, it's the dishonesty of it all.
I bought a phat backwards compatible PS3 recently, and went through hell with the controllers. First controller was the one that came with the system, and it was a launch Sixaxis that had seen better days and barely worked. So i bought two more controllers, a red Dualshock 3, and a blue Dualshock 3. The blue one arrived first and I noticed something was off about it, but didn't think much of it. It synced fine to my console, but I noticed if I turned the console off while the controller was plugged in, it'd kick it back on. Bit weird but whatever. What made me realize it was fake, was when i went to play Battlefront 2 with it and it wouldn't sync in PS2 mode. I looked it up and everything said it was because it wasn't an official controller. And that's when it dawned on me it was fake. The red one came next and was actually a good controller all things considered. I tested it and it worked in PS2 mode. I just wanted another controller for playing PS2 games with friends. I bought 2 what were advertised as Dualshock 3 controllers and waited, only for them to arrive and both be sixaxis controllers and one of them didn't even work. So yeah its been fun trying to get controllers for this system.
Bro you just saved me money. I threw out the original used controller then got a fake sixaxis sealed with no vibration motor and i was just about to order another sealed dualshock 3..... i guess they are all fake... i will be using the ps5 controller for now then.
For anyone else who's watching this video, this information is spot on. There are LOADS of fake PS3 controllers being sold on the internet (eBay is just one example) as genuine new controllers and they're completely bogus. I just opened up a "new Sony" PS3 controller I purchased and it had almost shot for shot the same differences as the fake showed in the video.
You're right, the fakes are pretty much everywhere now. I think the time that we could find new OEM controllers easily has long since passed. That's not to say there aren't some out there still, but it's time to proceed with caution, especially on the online stores. Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it!
@@HalfCircleForward Yeah, I've bought two so far and both of them are fakes. Even PS4 controllers I don't understand why Sony isn't making those still when they still produce the console. Feels like a complete disregard to existing Playstation users, and trying to force them to buy a PS5.
Ive been using fake ones for almost 4 years. My dad bought me used ps3 without controllers and controllers bought from ebay. They were working pretty well first 2 months but after that i have to play wired because controllers are not working properly like when playing ani fps game aiming is pain. Its hard to explain like this, you have to try it.
I've heard a lot of people using the fake controllers and not really having any issues other than SixAxis either working poorly, or not at all. I think the biggest concern now is that the market is so flooded with the knock-offs that folks are out there paying a premium for something they assume is official, and it's not. The sad thing is that a lot of them are so good now, most people will never know! Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
I bought one off ebay around 4 years ago myself, not had much use, dug it out to play this week got terrible sideways play on the left stick makes playing very hard
You're probably talking about the dead zones on the analog stick. They dont respond until you push them far enough huh? This is a common theme across all fake ps3 controllers. The deadzones are too high.
To be honest, I can’t think that I’ve come across any knock-off PS2 controllers, but I’ll keep my eye out, and if I do, I’ll be sure to put something together for them! Thanks for the suggestion!
Genuine Dualshock Sixaxis controllers use hall effect sensors for the analog sticks that use four conductors each. If you look at the fakes where the analog sticks attach to the boards, you can see they use standard potentiometers for the x and y sensors that only use 3 conductors each. They are also prone to develop stick-drift.
I can identify the fake by just looking at the Select button, the left side end of the button should be around the middle first "E" letter, not close to the "S".
That’s a great question! I did try to do that on one, but the layout of the fake shell was all over the place, so the internals wouldn’t fit straight in. You’d probably be able to make it all fit, but it’d need some customization work done, and I didn’t really feel up to it. The main thing to keep in mind would be making sure everything was sitting in the right positions, the controllers are packed pretty tight. It could be a fun project if you’re up for it!
@@HalfCircleForward you still have the controller? I have the same and i want to fix the vibration. Which 2 pin using the motor? Can you make a clear picture about it?
Sadly, it’s long gone.. I’ll try to take a look and see if I got some other footage of it when it was opened up that I didn’t use in the final video to see if I can give you a good description of how it’s wired up.
Well that's definitely not right, unless it was one of the early SixAxis controllers they put out before they implemented Dual Shock into the controller. Take a look at the top of your controller, and if it just says SixAxis, there's a good chance you have one of the early official controllers!
@@HalfCircleForward It didn't say just Sixaxis, and it had many of the other signs that the fake controllers had. Triggers were attached to the shell of the controller, self screw in screws, etc. There was also tape covering the Sony logo on the front and the serial number on the back, so it had been opened before. I also did some testing with emulators and other software to see if it had the pressure sensitive buttons that Dualshock 3s usually have, and it did not.
Can someone explain whether ALL the PS3 authentic controllers were creaky in the hands and cheap feeling? My 2000 series Slim came with one and it was always really noisy to use in addition to the button presses.
The thing that tells me always it's fake is the feeling of the plastic it's more mate than the original and the edges ar sharper and most of the time the tip of the "P" in ps logo on home button has more radius original is sharper
Thank you very much for taking the time to create this video as well as highlighting the key differences to look out for between determining a genuine official OME PS3 controller and a counterfeit one. 😆👍👍🎮 I for one will absolutely be returning to this video as a point of reference in the very foreseeable future as a means of verifying any and all PS3 controllers that I end up purchasing in terms of weeding out the wheat from the chaff so to speak. ☺👌 Cheers to you, my man! 🍻
mine was delievered yesterday it was mint condition ds3 ( original ) thank god i dont have to buy fake ones because they break easily and fakes does not have motion control.
A very informative and well put together video. Have had my 'official' controller for a good while now and it's been great, but today went a bought a copy of Heavy Rain and the sixaxis function needed to play the game isn't working at all. Looks like I'm in the market for an official ps3 controller now.
I bought a new 'Dualshock 3' awhile back, and it's definitely the model with the shiny silver label on the back. It's completely functional as far as I can tell, but I was immediately suspicious of it because it feels cheap, and the analog sticks are very stiff. The trouble is that it came in official looking packaging from an eBay seller in North America, and I don't know if there's a way to identify a knockoff just by a picture of said packaging. There are a million similar listings still around for ~$20, so I have to assume they're all fakes. However, like I said the controller does seem to work well enough, and $20 isn't a terrible price for a brand new 3rd party controller. I just wish it was easier to figure out which ones are the real deal so I could get a new OEM one.
The newer ones that I've been seeing are certainly functional, but I have to question the overall build quality and how long they'll last. It's insanely frustrating to see the ones that are packaged like the official controllers, especially when they're to the point that they're almost indistinguishable. New OEM ones are definitely getting harder to come by, but if you look out for the ones in the sealed plastic blister packs rather than the blue card/plastic packaging, you're more likely to be looking at an OEM controller, but defiantly inspect it closely, I've seen some knock-offs in that type of packaging too!
@@HalfCircleForward Thanks for the tip. I'll do some research on the other packaging. I definitely don't have high hopes for my current knock off pad to last, but it's only getting light use at the moment. The news of the PS3 digital store shutting down soon rekindled my interest in hunting down an official controller.
Hi, great video! I have the blue battery version and I can’t figure out how to put back together the L2/R2 buttons when reassembling, can you give me a hand?
Sure! So the trick to these ones is that the R2/L2 buttons are actually mounted to the back piece of the shell, rather than the main board, so what you have to do is seat the buttons in the back of the shell then bring the front shell in at a 45 degree angle, making sure that the springs are in the right position then close the shell together from the top down. I’ll be honest, it’s fiddly, but you’ll get it! Hope that helps, and thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
Giovanni Turrina Did the springs come off the buttons or are they still attached? It’s a bit more fiddly if they came off, but you can still get everything back together. Let me know and I’ll see if I can walk you through it.!
My film came loose and both r2 triggers popped out. Do you know how to put the film back into the black housing that fits the r2 buttons? I can't get the film in the black housing that holds the r2 button.
If it’s an official controller, what you need to do is pull off the R2 button, which is held in by two little clips (though it sounds like yours are already out), then remove the rubber pads just by pulling them backwards, that’ll expose the area where the film sits. Slide the film in from the front and it’ll lock into place (it’s a bit fiddly, but just push it into place). Once that’s done, just reassemble and you’re all set! Hope that helps!
Okay I understand how it can be frustrating how they are identical fakes but what would you rate them as a controller in general? I have no choice but to order one because it is impossible to find an actual official controller. Also nice video very informative
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback! To be honest, they're hit and miss. I've had quite a few of the knock-off controllers come in lots that I've bought, and some of them are actually pretty good, feel pretty much exactly the same as an OEM controller and function pretty much as you'd expect it to, except without the SIxAxis gyro function. On the other end of the spectrum, I've had ones that are just terrible, the analog sticks were plasticky and unresponsive and the build quality was awful, you could tell immediately something wasn't right. Since all the ones I got were used, I'd guess that the really bad ones were probably older, and the better ones were a newer build, but it's hard to say. I'd probably recommend checking out eBay for refurbished OEM controllers, there's a few folks that sell them on there, or, if you want to bite the bullet on one of the knock-offs, buy one from somewhere that has a decent return policy, just so you have the option to return it if you're not happy with it. Hope that helps, and thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
To be fair, I don’t have a problem with off-brand controllers, and some have pretty good build quality, I’m just not a fan of dishonest companies trying to sell off-branded controllers as OEM. Glad your friend got one that lasted a while at least!
Great video!, Is there any chance that the pads on your original controller had been replaced? Because on the PS2 controllers i remember that the original pads don't have the black conductive graphite dots, since the membrane gets pressed against graphite dots that are placed in the white plastic skeleton of the controller (That's how the pressure sensitive buttons work). Another thing is that some original controllers will have the sticker style of the third controller. But the letters on the fake are much taller and look kinda skinny compared to an original that has a more centered and consistent text.
It’s hard to say with that particular controller, but I have seen a number of different styles for the d-pad/button membranes, usually with the different revisions of the controller. You’re right about the sticker, some of them are really close to the original!
Just bought a modded ps3. Came with two fake controllers but guy was just trying to make a living so I didnt want to nag him how I couldn't get what I wanted. So here I am. All I want is to get AUTHENTIC ps3 controllers made from sony.
It’s so sad, they’re literally everywhere right now. I’ve got bitten a couple of times in lots that I’ve bought, but like yours, I don’t think they were in there knowingly, but it sucks either way.
I’ve seen so many variations on the fakes, I could do a 3 hour video on them! I picked ones for the video that I’ve seen most often, and you can usually tell just by looking at the board they used. Sony won’t glue anything in place, or have any black epoxy on the board, though I have seen a couple of older official controllers with heat shrink wrapped batteries, but they’re few and far between. Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
I think what is frustrating is the real ones are definitely harder to find. I think one of the things I realized if its a fake. I played Metal Gear Solid 2 VR recently. The main way you could probably tell if its a fake. Is the pressure sensitive buttons. I don't have an official one on me, but I'm pretty sure only the official one will have the pressure sensitive buttons. Because at least the one I got, is pretty bad. I mean I was having as much trouble with slightly pressing the buttons on the one I have compared to the Hyperkin controller I have. Which people were telling me that DualShock 3 controllers have pressure sensitive buttons(this includes the triggers, face buttons, I think even the analog sticks as well). If that isn't present I think its safe to say that its not a real one. I realized for the most part it isn't a huge deal if a controller has the pressure sensitive buttons, but at least in the case of MGS2 VR it was kind of necessary. At least the game became very frustrating without the pressure sensitive buttons for a particular part of the game.
That's a really good point, and something I don't ever really think about to be honest, the pressure sensitive face buttons can play an integral part in the overall experience of a game, and it's definitely important that they work correctly. I think I've been using them for so long now, it's just "normal." Good call!
@@HalfCircleForward Yeah, while not all buttons are pressure sensitive on the PS5 dualsense controller(from what I've been told anyways) the controller being able to have some part of the game play seems to be something consistent with the Playstation controllers. Going back to even the DualShock 2 controller where the pressure sensitive buttons were started apparently. Not so much now, but its interesting to notice how Sony has always done something interesting to controllers in that way.
Hey! Thank u for ur video. I am looking for a controller (yes in oct 22) and I want to know if I am buying good (original) stuff. One thing I can't verify is if Sony made the models which number ends with a tiny A1 or A2 letters. First models were CECHZCU (no small letters at the end). Anyway. Thanks again!
You’re very welcome, I’m glad you found the video helpful! The A1 and A2 markings were part of the later releases of the controllers, and I believe denote the master board revision. Hope that helps!
LOL These things are all over the place any more! 😆 I've seen a bunch of variations recently, especially with the battery, some have the hard shells, but most still have the heat-shrinked version. It's pretty uncommon to see them with the machine screws though, most of the ones I've had still have the self-tapping screws!
The only way to know you're getting a real, brand new controller is to buy the ones that come in the blister packaging similar to the dualshock 2 packaging. That's the originally packaging they came in until they changed to the cardboard packaging. Unfortunately, they go for about $150-200 right now
Thank you so much for this! I didn't think to look up more than model numbers but after I received a supposed new in box dualshock 3 from Ebay I could tell as soon as I held it something was off. After finding your video I started taking it apart, and sure enough the screws were self tapping, the triggers were attached to the bottom shell, and the whole thing barely held itself together at all, but it gets worse! IT ONLY HAD ONE RUMBLE MOTOR! I mean talk about cheap garbage... I'm currently in the process of getting a refund.
I know my 5 ps3 dualshock3 sixaxis controller are original because I bought them in 2007 and are still in mint condition. But i love playing my ps3 slim console games with the Wingman XE2 adapter and ps5 dualsense controller. The best way to play.
Thanks man, this video helped me identify my fake I just paid $45 bucks for from my local game store. I’m taking it back today. It was having trouble holding a charge . The ps logo is blurry and the sticker on the back is way different. Can’t believe I didn’t notice in the store. It just felt and looked so brand new I guess
I check if the battery is 500mA as the first filter before buying. No sure if all dualshock 3 revisions share the same battery but If it's less than that I don't even risk
I don't think this is true. I have an early model DS3 that came with my phat Ps3 and the back says 300ma. I haven't opened it to see what the battery actually is but it's def a legit controller. The later models used 500mah.
I have 3 original ps3 controllers and all of them have 4pin analog potentiometers, so I'm wondering if the 4pin analog potentiometer is definitely a sign of original controller? Is there originals with 3pin analog potentiometer as well?
Your best bet would likely be eBay at this point, I would think. Try to look for a good quality used on or a refurbished one and make sure it’s listed as an official controller, that way, you’ll be covered if it does show up and it’s a knock-off. Hope that helps!
Second time I've picked up a fake from ebay. Thumbsticks were horrendous. I didn't want to buy an expensive and unreliable controller, but I may have to now. I guess there won't be any brand new DS3s around anymore. I still like them!
Official controllers are definitely getting harder to come by. I’d recommend liking for “refurbished” controllers on eBay. If you go with refurbished, as long as the seller is good and they actually did a full tear down on the controller, you can be pretty confident that they’re official. If it turn out that it’s listed as official and it’s not, at least you have the eBay buyer protection to cover you. Hope that helps and good luck! 😊
@@HalfCircleForward I have been tempted by the Elite series 2, but the amount of complaints they have is staggering. I am swaying towards the Wolverine Ultimate now. The DS3 controllers were reliable and comfortable for me and I've been using them since the PS1 days. The ebay seller had 100% feedback score of over 1000! He'd better be very sorry or he's gonna lose his rating for it. I believe he knew it was fake.
I don't stray too far from the beaten path when it comes to my controllers, usually sticking with OEM, but the Wolverine does look nice, I just wish it were wireless! Hopefully the seller of your DS3 takes care of you, worst case scenario, you could open a case, eBay will look after you!
Hi, does anyone know the logic behind the controller serial numbers? For example if two controllers that have the exact same model number and same color, one serial number may start with letters like "ZR..." and the other serial number may start with numbers like "93...".
Actually Sony's own method of making contact between the transparent circuitry film and the PCB is a flawed design that is prone to causing serious issues after heavy use. The contact site being right underneath the left analog stick, after a year or 2 of heavy use, pushing the left analog stick in, in order to, for instance, run in a CoD game, will cause the contact joints to cross-touch, causing the controller to send random button presses with every L-stick press.
You’re absolutely right, and I’ve had way too many controllers fail because of this one design flaw. I still can’t believe that was determined to be the best design, though it probably comes down to cost, and if they’ve built a controller that will fail, they’ll end up selling more.. I’ll take off my conspiracy theorist’s hat now!
at least we can save the controller, its not like it becomes E-waste, but still it sucks that every original controller its doomed to fail by a flawed design even if you don't use it. in case someone is wondering how, i fixed my dualshock 3 using a piece of paper fondled as many times as i could to press the pcb against the circuity film and no longer goes crazy every time i press L2 or l3 or r3 ;D
Thats why the L2 button stop working correctly make ps3 turn on always or doing something like push and push continuosly make me I want to crush this controller...
That’s a great question! For the most part, the official controllers and the fakes use a similar conductive film which make up the circuit within the controller. If you’re having issues with ghost button presses, most of the time it’s caused by this film not getting a good connection to the circuit board. All you need to do is open up the controller and look for where the film is wrapped over the top of the PCB (you’ll see a piece of foam behind it), then clean the connections with a little rubbing alcohol. You can also put a small piece of paper behind it where the foam is, so when you put it back together the film makes a better connection to the PCB, and that should do the trick. I hope that helps, that was pretty complicated to try and explain! 😊
No worries! The PCB is the main circuit board, so when you open up the controller, you’ll want to look for the connection points that the conductive film presses onto to make the connection. The only issue you may run into is if the conductive film is connected directly to the PCB, which I’ve seen just a handful of times.
*WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET AFFORDABLE CONTROLLERS WITH ANALOG SHOULDER BUTTONS???!?!* Leave me feedback on generic controllers with analog shoulder buttons. Please. My old old old afterglow controller is shorting out and I can't enjoy the new video card because of it. All who read this.
Are you looking for controllers for the PC? I’ve always had really good luck with Logitech’s controllers. They’re sturdy and pretty reasonably priced. Let me know and I’ll see what I can come up with!
Looking at some off brand eBay switch and PS4 Xbox controllers but as always the postings show very little of the shoulder buttons. And yes, PC ready controllers.
I've been doing a bit of research to see what options are out there, but I'll be honest, I'm not having too much luck. The feedback I'm seeing on a lot of the cheaper off-brand controllers is really hit-or-miss, so I couldn't say confidently which ones would be solid or not. Logitech does have a few different controllers that support analog triggers, but they're all around the $40 mark. I've got Logitech controllers for both my PS2 and original Xbox, which are still going strong, so I can certainly say they'll last (mine are pushing 18 years old), so if you're willing to spend a little more, it'll probably be a solid investment. I'll keep digging to see if I can come up with some cheaper options though!
I’ve seen that happen on OEM controllers, but it’s not very common. On the fakes it happens more regularly. Sadly it’s just part of wear and tear and the quality of paint they use for the text.
I bought a used PS3 slim in 2017 and it came with some really cheap third party controller. It didn't even vibrate. So I went looking for PS3 controllers and found out about the issue with fakes. I just bought two used controllers. All the new ones are fake though you could get a fake one used as well. But buying one used is the only way to get real PS3 controller. It might be better to just get a PS4 controller because I have heard they will work as well. I know they work with RPCS3.
You’re right about buying used/refurbished, the chances are a lot smaller that you’ll get a fake. I’ve seen some new old stock controllers kicking around online from reputable sellers, but they are EXPENSIVE! The ~$20 “new” controllers are pretty much guaranteed to be knock-offs at this point, unless you get really, really lucky!
@@HalfCircleForward I went to ebay back then and it was flooded with fake PS3 controllers. They weren't all selling for $20 either. I saw some going for $50 or $60. I decided I would just buy a used one and hope for the best. If it was fake, I could at least get the store I ordered it from to take it back and send me a real one.
@@wulfone5961 That’s a smart move! At least you’ve got some back-up with seller protection, it’s just a shame that we all have to rely on that just to get a legitimate controller!
Only good video with teardown to spot fake controller. But, why you don't remove joystick pat from top of digital and show us 6 axis controller. People say, original have 6 axis. Last night a remove and replace digital control at same like that last one with my old H series from PS2 and make improvement. Old start to creaks.
That’s a good call-out! When I was putting this together I didn’t think to point out the Sixaxis sensor, though you can see it between the analog sticks on the official controller, and obviously this is missing on the fakes. Great catch!
That’s definitely unusual, I’ve opened up about a hundred DS3 over the past couple of years and they’ve all had the same type of screws, but Sony was constantly revising them, so there may be a variation I’ve not seen. Thanks for sharing the info!
I had a MOC white one, with 1:1 branding. You could easily tell its fake because the red Player light ("1-4") shine through the white plastic 🤣.plus some sharp edges and a weird stain spot
For some reason I see fake white controllers a lot more that I do any other color, but you’re right, the quality of the plastic is usually a big giveaway!
The light shining through doesn't always indicate a fake, I have a legitimate last-revision controller with the narrow circuit board where the light faintly shines through the red plastic since it seems sony thinned the casing on the newest ones. The sharp edges/stain though, yeah that's not right.
I have a question I'm real iffy on buying this controller it's suppose to be a ps3 dual shock wireless controller but it says on the box double shock ps111 that's how it's printed on the box exactly and it doesn't say sony anywhere on it Its "unbranded" whatever that means and the buttons are red yellow green and blue something in my gut is telling me it's fake but i thought id see what you guys think. Please can someone let me know if it's fake i don't want to spend 20 bucks if it's not real.
It’s definitely not an official OEM Sony controller, but it doesn’t sound like they’re trying to pass it off as one, so essentially, it’s just a third-party controller. As to what the quality will be, it’s hard to say, but some third party controller are actually pretty good! Hope that helps, give me a shout if you have any more questions.
@@HalfCircleForward thank you for responding i appritiate it. The guy selling it to me is really nice i already purchased a ps3 and a ps4 console from him. My debt card wouldn't let me purchase a ps3 controller on amazon or anywhere else but ebay and all the ones i saw looked fake to me so this guy was nice enough to purchase one from amazon and put it for sale on his page on ebay for me to buy. I would've asked him about this but i don't think you're suppose to do stuff like that and i didn't want to get him in trouble since he's being so nice doing this when he didn't have to. It doesn't say sony anywhere on it so i got concerned and it said double shock not dual shock wich I've never heard of. Ty again for being so helpful. If i have anymore questions I'll know who to ask. Thanks again for your help. It does say sixaxs on it if that means anything
You’re welcome! As long as they’re not trying to sell you a controller as a Sony branded product, they’re not doing anything wrong. The issue arises when the listing says that it’s an official controller and it’s not, or has Sony branding, and it’s not a controller manufactured by Sony, that’s when they’re fake.
@@HalfCircleForward ok thank you so much. I feel much better now. No he's not doing anything wrong i knew that. I just thought maybe he got scammed and i would've felt terrible since he went out of his way to do this for me i didn't even ask him to he offered. I never saw ps3 controllers with colored buttons either so that threw me off as well. All i can do now is purchase it and hope for the best. Ty again for being so helpful. Have a good rest of your day/night.
Thanks for this video! Helped a lot because I don't have a PS3 controller yet some games require them and I know I have a better chance to find a PS3 controller. I want to make sure I get a legit one though.
Has anyone ever seen an official dualshock 3 controller that doesn't require soldering for the analog sticks? Because I actually have two of them and my other two offical ones they have to be soldered. 😁
Quick tip of you're looking for controllers online. Search for an actual serial number version of a controller you want to buy, make sure the seller shows pictures of the back label. And if its a sixaxis controller, make sure the seller confirms the sixaxis works. 👌
I've seen a few that didn't have the branding, and a few "P3" on the PS button, they're certainly not officially licensed, but at least they're a little more noticeable than the ones that are obviously trying to pass themselves off as official.
I have to say I was pretty impressed with the quality of the board and engineering on some of the copies I looked at. Those were similar but didn't have a ps logo on them and so on but still for the price you get them for second hand it's a steal :p I got one for 2 bucks and it works very well. It also won't have the issues the plastic pcb's has so that's a plus.
That’s true, if you’re only spending a couple of bucks, it’s not a bad deal, it’s more a concern for when they’re trying to pass them off as original and charge a pretty penny for them.
I recommend the wired easySMX, it has no dead spots on the joysticks and it is also compatible for pc. The best decision I made and I don't regret it Greetings.
They're actually the build that I've seen the least of! I think they're a newer version that's being produced, since most of the ones I've seen have the dodgy blue battery pack in them. It's be interesting to see which versions other folks have seen recently too!
you can easily tell a controlle if its fake or not is by just using a USB charger, original ps3 controller will not charge on any standard USB charger, while the fake ones will charge regardless where you plug it. fake controller : it charge on every USB charger you can put on it original controller : you can only charge it using a PS3, a PC, a USB port on your Router, another game console with USB port etc.... as long as its not a standalone USB charger/power bank that you use to charge your phone.
I bought a white DS3 with internals like the one with the blue battery you have. Bought it from a legit official online store that sells consoles, video games, other electronics, TVs etc. I filed a claim with them but the owner himself swore it was legit!! The DS3 doesn't have pressure-sensitive buttons and pairs to the PS3 slower than normal. Is it fake? Who knows... It could be that the last of the DS3 that sony made were simply crap... Windows 10 reads it as Official controller...
I’ve seen a bunch of knock-off white controllers out there recently, even more so than the black ones. It definitely sounds a bit fishy and I feel that the seller you got yours from may have picked them up genuinely not knowing. Hard to say though!
Oh man, that’s not cool at all! I’m so sorry to hear that! Did you try and return it? You should be covered by the buyer protection at the very least, and should easily be able to open a case if the seller gives you any static.
@@HalfCircleForward I already submitted the request. I'm waiting for a response. I have already had a look inside and compared to my legitimate controller. The thing that made me suspicious is that the 6axis function doesn't work. Thanks for responding though.
You're not wrong! Some of the packaging that these controllers use are way off too. In these situations, the old adage "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" definitely comes into play!
The fake ones are really convincing and it’s pretty tough to spot some of the good ones. The saving grace is that for the most part, the controllers actually work, but I hate the feeling that I got burned by picking up a knock-off. Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
@@HalfCircleForward I have 3 controllers: 1 is genuine for sure, the other 2 are fakes :/ I realised that they have way bigger thumb sticks deadzone and are less precise than original ds3. I have when you buy "original" and get crap like this...
@@qbs2k609 it’s insanely frustrating, especially now they’ve gotten to the point that they look almost identical. I’ve worked on hundreds of these, and I can spot a knock-off pretty easily, but I’ve been caught off a couple of times recently too. Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate it!
I for one would definitely be interested in seeing a breakdown of an official oem PS4 controller and a fake one at some point in the foreseeable future. 🎮🪛✅❌
The production quality is insane for 489 subs (now 490), it feels like I'm watching a channel with a million subs. Keep up the good work M8!
Thanks for the feedback, and the sub, it's very much appreciated! I'm trying to put together the best quality content I can and hopefully it'll keep getting better! Again, thank you, I truly appreciate the support!
There is also one thing I noticed to tell if controllers are fake.
The knock-offs more often than not do not support six-axis inputs at all.
For games that use these, like Folklore, Toy Home or Super RubADub you cannot even play the games with the fake controllers.
Maybe this is a bit quicker for some people to check first instead of opening up the case.
You’re totally right, a good majority of knock-offs don’t have Six-Axis support! I just thought it’d be interesting to compare a couple of different ones so folks could see the difference in quality in the builds. Great tip though! 😊
Yep , got ripped off . Damn Chinese .
Where can u get official controllers .
You can only pick up a controller from ebay and inspect it by yourself before you buy it...
@@tjmiller421 A limited edition one for example. They tend to be original. That's how i got one ( MLB the show edition)
At this point I don't even care anymore, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find original controllers nowadays. I just wonder if they work in recovery mode. Great video btw
I work on a lot of PS3 controllers, and I agree, it definitely is getting harder to find official ones. I’m just hoping that this will help folks that are new to the system , or are just starting to collect for it, so they can avoid getting burned like a lot of us have. You bring up a really good point about these working in recovery mode. I’ll be honest, I’d never thought about testing it, so that’s something I’m going to have to do! Thanks for the feedback, and for stopping by the channel, I really appreciate it!
You can find on eBay easily just make sure you read the reviews before buying
@@aimanrulez7339 sadly about half of them are still fake.
Too many people just don't know the difference and you end up getting a relatively good fake one, that has one thing not working properly.
I bought like 8 different PS3 controller, from differt sellers.
all claiming to have original Sony and had 99,9 positive ratings.
only 2 of the controllers actually were able to do six-axis inputs.
the rest of them were just decent fake devices...
@@HalfCircleForwardI recently got a renewed ds3 from amazon and now I'm at work and get recommended this video...
My paranoia has spiked considerably.
Thanks for this! Fake DS3s are everywhere, I'm like scared to buy any online after being burned 3 times so I am stuck using my old launch Sixaxis.
You’re welcome! That’s not cool at all! I have a stack of 6 or 7 fake ones that I’ve accumulated over time, and some of them honestly look legit. It’s getting so hard to tell the difference any more, it’s ridiculous, that’s why I put the video together, and I’m really glad it’s helping people! Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
I bought a controller that does not say Dual Shock or SONY, yet it is pretty fabulous when compared to my actual Dual Shock. I've used them both for a while now and it's hard to tell the difference. I'm sure mileage varies greatly, but I'm pretty happy with it. Also subbed, thanks for the vid.
Thanks for the support, it’s very much appreciated! I’m not going to knock all the off-brand controllers, there are definitely decent ones out there, and I think they’ve improved over time, but the ones that claim to be SONY can certainly be hit or miss, and I’ve seen some really poor quality ones!
Great video! Just wanted to point out Sony in 2010, released a firmware that disrupted usage of fake controllers. Hadn't they done that, fake ones would have given lesser problems (connectivity errors, vibration anomalies, sixasis issues and compatibility issues with GT games). Not sure if that was the right move from Sony given that there was already an acute shortage of genuine controllers back then.
That’s awesome information, thanks for sharing! I have to wonder if the third-party licensed controllers were affected by this too.. I’m going to have to do some reading now!
@@HalfCircleForward Yep it will be an interesting research. 🙂 Just for the record all controllers/joypads/steering wheels officially licensed by Sony (Power A/Logitech) were unaffected by this firmware (v 3.50). But a chronic problem with all wireless officially licensed/unlicensed controllers-the controller won't power up the console like the original Sixasis/DS3.
Sony stopped making PS3 controller years ago. It is not a bad thing that there are alternative if their are decently usable.
This is much easier way and dont need to disassembly the controller.
Plug your controller via USB into a computer running Windows.
The device name of the real Dualshock 3 controller in control panel->devices and printers should read as "PLAYSTATION(R) 3 Controller,"
While a fake reads as "PS3 GamePad."
That's true! I wanted to try and show the differences you'd see cosmetically just by looking at the controller, if you found one in the wild, and show what the differences are internally, so folks could get a feel for the quality (or lack thereof) of the components that make up these fakes, but you're 100% right, they will show up differently if you plug them into a PC. Good call!
While true that could probably only work if you're either in a public place with a trusted seller and he is willing to let you test it out with your windows laptop or you already bought the controller and he doesn't do refunds. Learning how to spot the fake without buying it first is faster in terms of the long run and to not waste money. If you can spot the fake upon looking at it you can plow through tons of fakes online and in person faster.
This test is no longer relevant, unfortunately. Having said that, I got stuck with 6 fakes last summer and they were recognized properly being plugged into my laptop. I was also surprised to find that the fakes had a sixaxis too when I heard they didn’t. It’s a really bad sign as it proves that the counterfeits have gotten more convincing in time. Eventually it will probably be necessary to open up the actual controllers in question to confirm legitimacy as the internals likely always be junk in comparison to genuine ds3s.
Mine says (PS3 controller)
So it fake .. right ?
I think i got really lucky today. I bought a used controller off ebay 3 days ago and it just arrived today. It dosent have the vibrate in it but it's motion controls actually work.
That’s most likely an early SixAxis came out at the PS3’s launch. They’re legit!
Phenomenonal work mate. Production quality on point aswell I thought I was watching a million sub channel .
I have an original ps3 controller that I was trying to sell on enay and they took down my auction they said it was a fake controller that is very frustrating.
Thank you for this video. It helped me identify a fake controller I purchased off eBay that came in what appeared to be official packaging. I noticed that the PS button was being wonky - came out of the box already semi-depressed, was way too easy to trigger. Also noticed that the controller would not connect wirelessly with my PS Vita TV. Upon opening it up, I found that it was missing a vibration motor, had a battery wrapped in a blue plastic wrap and had self-tapping screws. As the entire reason for buying it was to use it with the Vita TV, I'm having to return it. I honestly wouldn't mind being these controllers if 1) they were just honest up front about the fact that they aren't official and 2) they put a little effort into the build quality. But it's the dishonesty that really grinds my gears.
You’re more than welcome, glad you found it helpful! I agree, ai don’t have a problem with off-brand controllers, as long as they’re sold as such!
As an update to this, in the return request the seller tried to claim these were just manufacturing defects. That REALLY ground my gears. Like I said, it's the dishonesty of it all.
I bought a phat backwards compatible PS3 recently, and went through hell with the controllers.
First controller was the one that came with the system, and it was a launch Sixaxis that had seen better days and barely worked.
So i bought two more controllers, a red Dualshock 3, and a blue Dualshock 3.
The blue one arrived first and I noticed something was off about it, but didn't think much of it. It synced fine to my console, but I noticed if I turned the console off while the controller was plugged in, it'd kick it back on. Bit weird but whatever. What made me realize it was fake, was when i went to play Battlefront 2 with it and it wouldn't sync in PS2 mode. I looked it up and everything said it was because it wasn't an official controller. And that's when it dawned on me it was fake. The red one came next and was actually a good controller all things considered. I tested it and it worked in PS2 mode. I just wanted another controller for playing PS2 games with friends. I bought 2 what were advertised as Dualshock 3 controllers and waited, only for them to arrive and both be sixaxis controllers and one of them didn't even work. So yeah its been fun trying to get controllers for this system.
It sounds like you've experienced pretty much every issue under the sun with all the controllers you've gone through!
@@HalfCircleForward Yeah pretty much 😆
Bro you just saved me money. I threw out the original used controller then got a fake sixaxis sealed with no vibration motor and i was just about to order another sealed dualshock 3..... i guess they are all fake... i will be using the ps5 controller for now then.
For anyone else who's watching this video, this information is spot on. There are LOADS of fake PS3 controllers being sold on the internet (eBay is just one example) as genuine new controllers and they're completely bogus. I just opened up a "new Sony" PS3 controller I purchased and it had almost shot for shot the same differences as the fake showed in the video.
You're right, the fakes are pretty much everywhere now. I think the time that we could find new OEM controllers easily has long since passed. That's not to say there aren't some out there still, but it's time to proceed with caution, especially on the online stores. Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it!
@@HalfCircleForward Yeah, I've bought two so far and both of them are fakes. Even PS4 controllers I don't understand why Sony isn't making those still when they still produce the console. Feels like a complete disregard to existing Playstation users, and trying to force them to buy a PS5.
Ive been using fake ones for almost 4 years. My dad bought me used ps3 without controllers and controllers bought from ebay. They were working pretty well first 2 months but after that i have to play wired because controllers are not working properly like when playing ani fps game aiming is pain. Its hard to explain like this, you have to try it.
I've heard a lot of people using the fake controllers and not really having any issues other than SixAxis either working poorly, or not at all. I think the biggest concern now is that the market is so flooded with the knock-offs that folks are out there paying a premium for something they assume is official, and it's not. The sad thing is that a lot of them are so good now, most people will never know! Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
I bought one off ebay around 4 years ago myself, not had much use, dug it out to play this week got terrible sideways play on the left stick makes playing very hard
@@bob90347 They can certainly be very hot or miss, that’s for sure! Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
You're probably talking about the dead zones on the analog stick. They dont respond until you push them far enough huh? This is a common theme across all fake ps3 controllers. The deadzones are too high.
Awh jeez man i got the one with the blue battery cover and yes the R2 L2 just pop off right away, and its almost impossible to put it back :(
That’s not cool! ☹️ Those ones are super fiddly to get back together, but it is possible! Aggravating, but possible!
Same here
something among analog is that motion control?? 6:42
As always the first indicator that is fake are the screws, the second is the battery.
9:34 It was an insect?
Good eye! It was actually one of the springs from the shoulder buttons popping out. 😊
Completely useful in 2022. I hope that one day you can do something similar with ps2 dualshock
To be honest, I can’t think that I’ve come across any knock-off PS2 controllers, but I’ll keep my eye out, and if I do, I’ll be sure to put something together for them! Thanks for the suggestion!
Genuine Dualshock Sixaxis controllers use hall effect sensors for the analog sticks that use four conductors each. If you look at the fakes where the analog sticks attach to the boards, you can see they use standard potentiometers for the x and y sensors that only use 3 conductors each. They are also prone to develop stick-drift.
That’s really good information, thanks for sharing that!
I can identify the fake by just looking at the Select button, the left side end of the button should be around the middle first "E" letter, not close to the "S".
That’s an awesome tip! Thanks for sharing, I’ll keep an eye out for this!
@@HalfCircleForward You are welcome!
Mine is sorta close but not in middle ?
Can i put "guts" of the original controller into the fake one shell? I mean, is it possible?
That’s a great question! I did try to do that on one, but the layout of the fake shell was all over the place, so the internals wouldn’t fit straight in. You’d probably be able to make it all fit, but it’d need some customization work done, and I didn’t really feel up to it. The main thing to keep in mind would be making sure everything was sitting in the right positions, the controllers are packed pretty tight. It could be a fun project if you’re up for it!
@@HalfCircleForward Thx for the answear!
You’re more than welcome! 😊
8:56 the left motor both wire soldered to the same place? what?
They’re in separate pads, but it’s super, super close! It definitely does look like they’re on the same pad though! Great spot! 😊
@@HalfCircleForward you still have the controller? I have the same and i want to fix the vibration. Which 2 pin using the motor? Can you make a clear picture
about it?
Sadly, it’s long gone.. I’ll try to take a look and see if I got some other footage of it when it was opened up that I didn’t use in the final video to see if I can give you a good description of how it’s wired up.
One I got was even missing one of the rumble motors... Thanks for the video!
Well that's definitely not right, unless it was one of the early SixAxis controllers they put out before they implemented Dual Shock into the controller. Take a look at the top of your controller, and if it just says SixAxis, there's a good chance you have one of the early official controllers!
@@HalfCircleForward It didn't say just Sixaxis, and it had many of the other signs that the fake controllers had. Triggers were attached to the shell of the controller, self screw in screws, etc. There was also tape covering the Sony logo on the front and the serial number on the back, so it had been opened before. I also did some testing with emulators and other software to see if it had the pressure sensitive buttons that Dualshock 3s usually have, and it did not.
That’s not cool at all! ☹️
Can you also do ds1 and ds2? I am planning to start a collection and I want to be sure. Thanks
Can someone explain whether ALL the PS3 authentic controllers were creaky in the hands and cheap feeling? My 2000 series Slim came with one and it was always really noisy to use in addition to the button presses.
The thing that tells me always it's fake is the feeling of the plastic it's more mate than the original and the edges ar sharper and most of the time the tip of the "P" in ps logo on home button has more radius original is sharper
They're really good tips, thanks for sharing! 😊
Thank you very much for taking the time to create this video as well as highlighting the key differences to look out for between determining a genuine official OME PS3 controller and a counterfeit one. 😆👍👍🎮
I for one will absolutely be returning to this video as a point of reference in the very foreseeable future as a means of verifying any and all PS3 controllers that I end up purchasing in terms of weeding out the wheat from the chaff so to speak. ☺👌
Cheers to you, my man! 🍻
You’re welcome! Glad you found the video helpful, and thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
mine was delievered yesterday it was mint condition ds3 ( original ) thank god i dont have to buy fake ones because they break easily and fakes does not have motion control.
Where did you buy it? Its 100% real?
where did u get the original ds3 from?
A very informative and well put together video. Have had my 'official' controller for a good while now and it's been great, but today went a bought a copy of Heavy Rain and the sixaxis function needed to play the game isn't working at all. Looks like I'm in the market for an official ps3 controller now.
PS4 controllers work on PS3. Wouldn't that be a better option?
Are the CE brand and Li-ion original or what?
I bought a new 'Dualshock 3' awhile back, and it's definitely the model with the shiny silver label on the back. It's completely functional as far as I can tell, but I was immediately suspicious of it because it feels cheap, and the analog sticks are very stiff. The trouble is that it came in official looking packaging from an eBay seller in North America, and I don't know if there's a way to identify a knockoff just by a picture of said packaging. There are a million similar listings still around for ~$20, so I have to assume they're all fakes.
However, like I said the controller does seem to work well enough, and $20 isn't a terrible price for a brand new 3rd party controller. I just wish it was easier to figure out which ones are the real deal so I could get a new OEM one.
The newer ones that I've been seeing are certainly functional, but I have to question the overall build quality and how long they'll last. It's insanely frustrating to see the ones that are packaged like the official controllers, especially when they're to the point that they're almost indistinguishable. New OEM ones are definitely getting harder to come by, but if you look out for the ones in the sealed plastic blister packs rather than the blue card/plastic packaging, you're more likely to be looking at an OEM controller, but defiantly inspect it closely, I've seen some knock-offs in that type of packaging too!
@@HalfCircleForward Thanks for the tip. I'll do some research on the other packaging. I definitely don't have high hopes for my current knock off pad to last, but it's only getting light use at the moment. The news of the PS3 digital store shutting down soon rekindled my interest in hunting down an official controller.
@@rojovision You’re welcome! 😊
Thank U so much. I was wondering how I couldn't find ANYTHING on these ANYWHERE
You’re more than welcome! 😊
Hi, great video! I have the blue battery version and I can’t figure out how to put back together the L2/R2 buttons when reassembling, can you give me a hand?
Sure! So the trick to these ones is that the R2/L2 buttons are actually mounted to the back piece of the shell, rather than the main board, so what you have to do is seat the buttons in the back of the shell then bring the front shell in at a 45 degree angle, making sure that the springs are in the right position then close the shell together from the top down. I’ll be honest, it’s fiddly, but you’ll get it! Hope that helps, and thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
Giovanni Turrina Did the springs come off the buttons or are they still attached? It’s a bit more fiddly if they came off, but you can still get everything back together. Let me know and I’ll see if I can walk you through it.!
I got the same one and the triggers became really loose after I reassembled it
My film came loose and both r2 triggers popped out. Do you know how to put the film back into the black housing that fits the r2 buttons? I can't get the film in the black housing that holds the r2 button.
If it’s an official controller, what you need to do is pull off the R2 button, which is held in by two little clips (though it sounds like yours are already out), then remove the rubber pads just by pulling them backwards, that’ll expose the area where the film sits. Slide the film in from the front and it’ll lock into place (it’s a bit fiddly, but just push it into place). Once that’s done, just reassemble and you’re all set! Hope that helps!
Okay I understand how it can be frustrating how they are identical fakes but what would you rate them as a controller in general? I have no choice but to order one because it is impossible to find an actual official controller. Also nice video very informative
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback! To be honest, they're hit and miss. I've had quite a few of the knock-off controllers come in lots that I've bought, and some of them are actually pretty good, feel pretty much exactly the same as an OEM controller and function pretty much as you'd expect it to, except without the SIxAxis gyro function.
On the other end of the spectrum, I've had ones that are just terrible, the analog sticks were plasticky and unresponsive and the build quality was awful, you could tell immediately something wasn't right.
Since all the ones I got were used, I'd guess that the really bad ones were probably older, and the better ones were a newer build, but it's hard to say. I'd probably recommend checking out eBay for refurbished OEM controllers, there's a few folks that sell them on there, or, if you want to bite the bullet on one of the knock-offs, buy one from somewhere that has a decent return policy, just so you have the option to return it if you're not happy with it.
Hope that helps, and thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
Finally able to convince my friend that he bought the fake one. Heavily used for sport games and still solid for 3 years. Really surprising for me...
To be fair, I don’t have a problem with off-brand controllers, and some have pretty good build quality, I’m just not a fan of dishonest companies trying to sell off-branded controllers as OEM. Glad your friend got one that lasted a while at least!
Great video!, Is there any chance that the pads on your original controller had been replaced? Because on the PS2 controllers i remember that the original pads don't have the black conductive graphite dots, since the membrane gets pressed against graphite dots that are placed in the white plastic skeleton of the controller (That's how the pressure sensitive buttons work). Another thing is that some original controllers will have the sticker style of the third controller. But the letters on the fake are much taller and look kinda skinny compared to an original that has a more centered and consistent text.
It’s hard to say with that particular controller, but I have seen a number of different styles for the d-pad/button membranes, usually with the different revisions of the controller.
You’re right about the sticker, some of them are really close to the original!
Just bought a modded ps3. Came with two fake controllers but guy was just trying to make a living so I didnt want to nag him how I couldn't get what I wanted. So here I am. All I want is to get AUTHENTIC ps3 controllers made from sony.
It’s so sad, they’re literally everywhere right now. I’ve got bitten a couple of times in lots that I’ve bought, but like yours, I don’t think they were in there knowingly, but it sucks either way.
I have DS3 controller with the blue battery. Battery is glued. But it doesn't look at the same that on the video..
I’ve seen so many variations on the fakes, I could do a 3 hour video on them! I picked ones for the video that I’ve seen most often, and you can usually tell just by looking at the board they used. Sony won’t glue anything in place, or have any black epoxy on the board, though I have seen a couple of older official controllers with heat shrink wrapped batteries, but they’re few and far between. Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
I think what is frustrating is the real ones are definitely harder to find. I think one of the things I realized if its a fake. I played Metal Gear Solid 2 VR recently. The main way you could probably tell if its a fake. Is the pressure sensitive buttons. I don't have an official one on me, but I'm pretty sure only the official one will have the pressure sensitive buttons. Because at least the one I got, is pretty bad. I mean I was having as much trouble with slightly pressing the buttons on the one I have compared to the Hyperkin controller I have. Which people were telling me that DualShock 3 controllers have pressure sensitive buttons(this includes the triggers, face buttons, I think even the analog sticks as well). If that isn't present I think its safe to say that its not a real one. I realized for the most part it isn't a huge deal if a controller has the pressure sensitive buttons, but at least in the case of MGS2 VR it was kind of necessary. At least the game became very frustrating without the pressure sensitive buttons for a particular part of the game.
That's a really good point, and something I don't ever really think about to be honest, the pressure sensitive face buttons can play an integral part in the overall experience of a game, and it's definitely important that they work correctly. I think I've been using them for so long now, it's just "normal." Good call!
@@HalfCircleForward Yeah, while not all buttons are pressure sensitive on the PS5 dualsense controller(from what I've been told anyways) the controller being able to have some part of the game play seems to be something consistent with the Playstation controllers. Going back to even the DualShock 2 controller where the pressure sensitive buttons were started apparently. Not so much now, but its interesting to notice how Sony has always done something interesting to controllers in that way.
Hey! Thank u for ur video. I am looking for a controller (yes in oct 22) and I want to know if I am buying good (original) stuff. One thing I can't verify is if Sony made the models which number ends with a tiny A1 or A2 letters. First models were CECHZCU (no small letters at the end). Anyway. Thanks again!
You’re very welcome, I’m glad you found the video helpful! The A1 and A2 markings were part of the later releases of the controllers, and I believe denote the master board revision. Hope that helps!
Funny I have the second model, but it has the original screws and battery!
LOL These things are all over the place any more! 😆 I've seen a bunch of variations recently, especially with the battery, some have the hard shells, but most still have the heat-shrinked version. It's pretty uncommon to see them with the machine screws though, most of the ones I've had still have the self-tapping screws!
The only way to know you're getting a real, brand new controller is to buy the ones that come in the blister packaging similar to the dualshock 2 packaging. That's the originally packaging they came in until they changed to the cardboard packaging. Unfortunately, they go for about $150-200 right now
Thank you so much for this! I didn't think to look up more than model numbers but after I received a supposed new in box dualshock 3 from Ebay I could tell as soon as I held it something was off. After finding your video I started taking it apart, and sure enough the screws were self tapping, the triggers were attached to the bottom shell, and the whole thing barely held itself together at all, but it gets worse! IT ONLY HAD ONE RUMBLE MOTOR! I mean talk about cheap garbage... I'm currently in the process of getting a refund.
From what I've read, another obvious tell is the little reset button on the back. The fakes will just have a hole where the button should be.
I know my 5 ps3 dualshock3 sixaxis controller are original because I bought them in 2007 and are still in mint condition. But i love playing my ps3 slim console games with the Wingman XE2 adapter and ps5 dualsense controller. The best way to play.
Are the shells interchangeable or the real internals only work with real shell?
Thanks man, this video helped me identify my fake I just paid $45 bucks for from my local game store. I’m taking it back today. It was having trouble holding a charge . The ps logo is blurry and the sticker on the back is way different. Can’t believe I didn’t notice in the store. It just felt and looked so brand new I guess
I’m really glad you found the video helpful and were able to identify the fake!
I check if the battery is 500mA as the first filter before buying. No sure if all dualshock 3 revisions share the same battery but If it's less than that I don't even risk
That’s a great tip, thanks for sharing!
I don't think this is true. I have an early model DS3 that came with my phat Ps3 and the back says 300ma. I haven't opened it to see what the battery actually is but it's def a legit controller. The later models used 500mah.
I have 3 original ps3 controllers and all of them have 4pin analog potentiometers, so I'm wondering if the 4pin analog potentiometer is definitely a sign of original controller? Is there originals with 3pin analog potentiometer as well?
Mostly I just look look for the Toshiba chipset behind the battery, that alone should tell it's real.
I think it's easy, Fake one is lighter than original because I believe the fake ones don't have like a heavy battery for Bluetooth
Where can I buy a original ps 3 controller
Your best bet would likely be eBay at this point, I would think. Try to look for a good quality used on or a refurbished one and make sure it’s listed as an official controller, that way, you’ll be covered if it does show up and it’s a knock-off. Hope that helps!
Second time I've picked up a fake from ebay. Thumbsticks were horrendous. I didn't want to buy an expensive and unreliable controller, but I may have to now. I guess there won't be any brand new DS3s around anymore. I still like them!
Official controllers are definitely getting harder to come by. I’d recommend liking for “refurbished” controllers on eBay. If you go with refurbished, as long as the seller is good and they actually did a full tear down on the controller, you can be pretty confident that they’re official. If it turn out that it’s listed as official and it’s not, at least you have the eBay buyer protection to cover you. Hope that helps and good luck! 😊
@@HalfCircleForward I have been tempted by the Elite series 2, but the amount of complaints they have is staggering. I am swaying towards the Wolverine Ultimate now. The DS3 controllers were reliable and comfortable for me and I've been using them since the PS1 days. The ebay seller had 100% feedback score of over 1000! He'd better be very sorry or he's gonna lose his rating for it. I believe he knew it was fake.
I don't stray too far from the beaten path when it comes to my controllers, usually sticking with OEM, but the Wolverine does look nice, I just wish it were wireless! Hopefully the seller of your DS3 takes care of you, worst case scenario, you could open a case, eBay will look after you!
Hi, does anyone know the logic behind the controller serial numbers? For example if two controllers that have the exact same model number and same color, one serial number may start with letters like "ZR..." and the other serial number may start with numbers like "93...".
Actually Sony's own method of making contact between the transparent circuitry film and the PCB is a flawed design that is prone to causing serious issues after heavy use. The contact site being right underneath the left analog stick, after a year or 2 of heavy use, pushing the left analog stick in, in order to, for instance, run in a CoD game, will cause the contact joints to cross-touch, causing the controller to send random button presses with every L-stick press.
You’re absolutely right, and I’ve had way too many controllers fail because of this one design flaw. I still can’t believe that was determined to be the best design, though it probably comes down to cost, and if they’ve built a controller that will fail, they’ll end up selling more.. I’ll take off my conspiracy theorist’s hat now!
at least we can save the controller, its not like it becomes E-waste, but still it sucks that every original controller its doomed to fail by a flawed design even if you don't use it. in case someone is wondering how, i fixed my dualshock 3 using a piece of paper fondled as many times as i could to press the pcb against the circuity film and no longer goes crazy every time i press L2 or l3 or r3 ;D
Thats why the L2 button stop working correctly make ps3 turn on always or doing something like push and push continuosly make me I want to crush this controller...
To be honest, some OEM controllers have those issues, one of mine did, so I know how infuriating it can be!
So how do i fix a fake ps3 controller which keeps on pressing random buttons?
That’s a great question! For the most part, the official controllers and the fakes use a similar conductive film which make up the circuit within the controller. If you’re having issues with ghost button presses, most of the time it’s caused by this film not getting a good connection to the circuit board. All you need to do is open up the controller and look for where the film is wrapped over the top of the PCB (you’ll see a piece of foam behind it), then clean the connections with a little rubbing alcohol. You can also put a small piece of paper behind it where the foam is, so when you put it back together the film makes a better connection to the PCB, and that should do the trick. I hope that helps, that was pretty complicated to try and explain! 😊
@@HalfCircleForward i dont really understand how to do but imma try and see wether i works or not. What is PCB btw.
No worries! The PCB is the main circuit board, so when you open up the controller, you’ll want to look for the connection points that the conductive film presses onto to make the connection. The only issue you may run into is if the conductive film is connected directly to the PCB, which I’ve seen just a handful of times.
@@HalfCircleForward thanks man. Ill inform you later when it works. Hope so😁.
@@HalfCircleForward dude the random button problem is solved. But now only x button i cant press.. 😅
crimson omen tat 👍🏻
You a real Gear
I do love the Gears series, that’s for sure! 🙂
All controllers then have more screws two stickers and last lee three stickers
*WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET AFFORDABLE CONTROLLERS WITH ANALOG SHOULDER BUTTONS???!?!*
Leave me feedback on generic controllers with analog shoulder buttons. Please. My old old old afterglow controller is shorting out and I can't enjoy the new video card because of it. All who read this.
Are you looking for controllers for the PC? I’ve always had really good luck with Logitech’s controllers. They’re sturdy and pretty reasonably priced. Let me know and I’ll see what I can come up with!
Looking at some off brand eBay switch and PS4 Xbox controllers but as always the postings show very little of the shoulder buttons.
And yes, PC ready controllers.
Okay, let me see what I can come up with! :)
I've been doing a bit of research to see what options are out there, but I'll be honest, I'm not having too much luck. The feedback I'm seeing on a lot of the cheaper off-brand controllers is really hit-or-miss, so I couldn't say confidently which ones would be solid or not. Logitech does have a few different controllers that support analog triggers, but they're all around the $40 mark. I've got Logitech controllers for both my PS2 and original Xbox, which are still going strong, so I can certainly say they'll last (mine are pushing 18 years old), so if you're willing to spend a little more, it'll probably be a solid investment. I'll keep digging to see if I can come up with some cheaper options though!
I got blue one but after I got it some time later all the ink rub off. Like the words Sony Start Select are all again. I don't why or how it happen.
I’ve seen that happen on OEM controllers, but it’s not very common. On the fakes it happens more regularly. Sadly it’s just part of wear and tear and the quality of paint they use for the text.
@@HalfCircleForward Thanks for replying, it's not really a big deal I know what buttons they are but it just bugs that it rub off like that
@@BigDavey oh, for sure, it would drive my OCD through the roof! 🙃
I bought a used PS3 slim in 2017 and it came with some really cheap third party controller. It didn't even vibrate. So I went looking for PS3 controllers and found out about the issue with fakes. I just bought two used controllers. All the new ones are fake though you could get a fake one used as well. But buying one used is the only way to get real PS3 controller. It might be better to just get a PS4 controller because I have heard they will work as well. I know they work with RPCS3.
You’re right about buying used/refurbished, the chances are a lot smaller that you’ll get a fake. I’ve seen some new old stock controllers kicking around online from reputable sellers, but they are EXPENSIVE! The ~$20 “new” controllers are pretty much guaranteed to be knock-offs at this point, unless you get really, really lucky!
@@HalfCircleForward I went to ebay back then and it was flooded with fake PS3 controllers. They weren't all selling for $20 either. I saw some going for $50 or $60. I decided I would just buy a used one and hope for the best. If it was fake, I could at least get the store I ordered it from to take it back and send me a real one.
@@wulfone5961 That’s a smart move! At least you’ve got some back-up with seller protection, it’s just a shame that we all have to rely on that just to get a legitimate controller!
Now i understand why this second hand controller i just bought won't connect to my PC XD
Only good video with teardown to spot fake controller. But, why you don't remove joystick pat from top of digital and show us 6 axis controller. People say, original have 6 axis. Last night a remove and replace digital control at same like that last one with my old H series from PS2 and make improvement. Old start to creaks.
That’s a good call-out! When I was putting this together I didn’t think to point out the Sixaxis sensor, though you can see it between the analog sticks on the official controller, and obviously this is missing on the fakes. Great catch!
You are wrong about the self tapping screws, my real dual shock3 controller has self tapping screws.
That’s definitely unusual, I’ve opened up about a hundred DS3 over the past couple of years and they’ve all had the same type of screws, but Sony was constantly revising them, so there may be a variation I’ve not seen. Thanks for sharing the info!
Does 'Dual shock' on this video sound like 'Door stop' to you. It does to me.
I can see it, my accent definitely has its moments! 😂
I had a MOC white one, with 1:1 branding. You could easily tell its fake because the red Player light ("1-4") shine through the white plastic 🤣.plus some sharp edges and a weird stain spot
For some reason I see fake white controllers a lot more that I do any other color, but you’re right, the quality of the plastic is usually a big giveaway!
The light shining through doesn't always indicate a fake, I have a legitimate last-revision controller with the narrow circuit board where the light faintly shines through the red plastic since it seems sony thinned the casing on the newest ones. The sharp edges/stain though, yeah that's not right.
Thanks for Need Video!
You’re more than welcome! Hope you found it helpful!
Great video
Thanks for the feedback, I’m glad you enjoyed it! 😊
I have a question I'm real iffy on buying this controller it's suppose to be a ps3 dual shock wireless controller but it says on the box double shock ps111 that's how it's printed on the box exactly and it doesn't say sony anywhere on it Its "unbranded" whatever that means and the buttons are red yellow green and blue something in my gut is telling me it's fake but i thought id see what you guys think. Please can someone let me know if it's fake i don't want to spend 20 bucks if it's not real.
It’s definitely not an official OEM Sony controller, but it doesn’t sound like they’re trying to pass it off as one, so essentially, it’s just a third-party controller. As to what the quality will be, it’s hard to say, but some third party controller are actually pretty good! Hope that helps, give me a shout if you have any more questions.
@@HalfCircleForward thank you for responding i appritiate it. The guy selling it to me is really nice i already purchased a ps3 and a ps4 console from him. My debt card wouldn't let me purchase a ps3 controller on amazon or anywhere else but ebay and all the ones i saw looked fake to me so this guy was nice enough to purchase one from amazon and put it for sale on his page on ebay for me to buy. I would've asked him about this but i don't think you're suppose to do stuff like that and i didn't want to get him in trouble since he's being so nice doing this when he didn't have to. It doesn't say sony anywhere on it so i got concerned and it said double shock not dual shock wich I've never heard of. Ty again for being so helpful. If i have anymore questions I'll know who to ask. Thanks again for your help. It does say sixaxs on it if that means anything
You’re welcome! As long as they’re not trying to sell you a controller as a Sony branded product, they’re not doing anything wrong. The issue arises when the listing says that it’s an official controller and it’s not, or has Sony branding, and it’s not a controller manufactured by Sony, that’s when they’re fake.
@@HalfCircleForward ok thank you so much. I feel much better now. No he's not doing anything wrong i knew that. I just thought maybe he got scammed and i would've felt terrible since he went out of his way to do this for me i didn't even ask him to he offered. I never saw ps3 controllers with colored buttons either so that threw me off as well. All i can do now is purchase it and hope for the best. Ty again for being so helpful. Have a good rest of your day/night.
Thanks for this video! Helped a lot because I don't have a PS3 controller yet some games require them and I know I have a better chance to find a PS3 controller. I want to make sure I get a legit one though.
Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it and I'm glad you found the video helpful!
Has anyone ever seen an official dualshock 3 controller that doesn't require soldering for the analog sticks? Because I actually have two of them and my other two offical ones they have to be soldered. 😁
Quick tip of you're looking for controllers online. Search for an actual serial number version of a controller you want to buy, make sure the seller shows pictures of the back label. And if its a sixaxis controller, make sure the seller confirms the sixaxis works. 👌
That's an awesome tip, thanks for sharing! :)
My fake DS3 doesn't even have "SONY" at the top of the controller
I've seen a few that didn't have the branding, and a few "P3" on the PS button, they're certainly not officially licensed, but at least they're a little more noticeable than the ones that are obviously trying to pass themselves off as official.
I have to say I was pretty impressed with the quality of the board and engineering on some of the copies I looked at. Those were similar but didn't have a ps logo on them and so on but still for the price you get them for second hand it's a steal :p I got one for 2 bucks and it works very well. It also won't have the issues the plastic pcb's has so that's a plus.
That’s true, if you’re only spending a couple of bucks, it’s not a bad deal, it’s more a concern for when they’re trying to pass them off as original and charge a pretty penny for them.
i think the other give a way is how fake one die faster than the original
Very true!
thank you
You’re very welcome! 🙂
Fake controllers don't have motion sensors... A few games out there like heavy rain require a genuine controller in order to be played.
You’re correct! Someone else mentioned that too and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t mention it in the video! Great catch!
Thank you!
I recommend the wired easySMX, it has no dead spots on the joysticks and it is also compatible for pc.
The best decision I made and I don't regret it
Greetings.
I’ll have to check that out, thanks for the recommendation!
Personally don't mind fake controllers, but their analog sticks often make it hard to play
PS4 controllers work on PS3. Wouldn't that be a better option than a fake PS3 controller?
I got the 2nd controller
They're actually the build that I've seen the least of! I think they're a newer version that's being produced, since most of the ones I've seen have the dodgy blue battery pack in them. It's be interesting to see which versions other folks have seen recently too!
you can easily tell a controlle if its fake or not is by just using a USB charger, original ps3 controller will not charge on any standard USB charger, while the fake ones will charge regardless where you plug it.
fake controller : it charge on every USB charger you can put on it
original controller : you can only charge it using a PS3, a PC, a USB port on your Router, another game console with USB port etc.... as long as its not a standalone USB charger/power bank that you use to charge your phone.
That’s a great piece of information I honestly didn’t think about when I was putting the video together, thanks for sharing that! 😊
Thank you
You’re more than welcome! Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
Hi
Hey Carl! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!
I bought a white DS3 with internals like the one with the blue battery you have. Bought it from a legit official online store that sells consoles, video games, other electronics, TVs etc. I filed a claim with them but the owner himself swore it was legit!! The DS3 doesn't have pressure-sensitive buttons and pairs to the PS3 slower than normal. Is it fake? Who knows... It could be that the last of the DS3 that sony made were simply crap... Windows 10 reads it as Official controller...
I’ve seen a bunch of knock-off white controllers out there recently, even more so than the black ones. It definitely sounds a bit fishy and I feel that the seller you got yours from may have picked them up genuinely not knowing. Hard to say though!
nice vid
Man I wish they still produced real Sony ps3 controllers...
It would certainly make life easier! PS4 controllers will be next on the block.. stock up while you can! 😊
@@HalfCircleForward good to know
I just got burned. I got a fake one from ebay. It's my own fault for not seeing the problems.
Oh man, that’s not cool at all! I’m so sorry to hear that! Did you try and return it? You should be covered by the buyer protection at the very least, and should easily be able to open a case if the seller gives you any static.
@@HalfCircleForward I already submitted the request. I'm waiting for a response. I have already had a look inside and compared to my legitimate controller. The thing that made me suspicious is that the 6axis function doesn't work.
Thanks for responding though.
@@shanweeboy That’s good, I’m sure eBay will take care of you. It’s such a headache dealing with these things though!
@@HalfCircleForward Oh they gave me my money back earlier today. They didn't even ask for it back. Kinda sus.
@@shanweeboy Excellent, glad it worked out!
Thank yoy
Another sign: Brand new in package 18.99 free shipping. Ebay supports counterfeit china crap..
You're not wrong! Some of the packaging that these controllers use are way off too. In these situations, the old adage "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" definitely comes into play!
Ugh, I had bought the 3rd fake. Smh
That’s not great 😌 To be fair, a lot of the ones I’ve seen really look the part, so on face value it’s difficult to tell.
@@HalfCircleForward Thank you very much for the info on this video, cheers!
You’re more than welcome! Glad you found it helpful! 😊
You’re more than welcome! Glad you found it helpful! 😊
I have 3 and its all fake
The fake ones are really convincing and it’s pretty tough to spot some of the good ones. The saving grace is that for the most part, the controllers actually work, but I hate the feeling that I got burned by picking up a knock-off. Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate the support!
@@HalfCircleForward I have 3 controllers: 1 is genuine for sure, the other 2 are fakes :/ I realised that they have way bigger thumb sticks deadzone and are less precise than original ds3. I have when you buy "original" and get crap like this...
@@qbs2k609 it’s insanely frustrating, especially now they’ve gotten to the point that they look almost identical. I’ve worked on hundreds of these, and I can spot a knock-off pretty easily, but I’ve been caught off a couple of times recently too. Thanks for stopping by the channel, I appreciate it!
For me too1 second. Top one is real. The others are fake
Who cares? Does it work or not? That's all I want to know.
I for one would definitely be interested in seeing a breakdown of an official oem PS4 controller and a fake one at some point in the foreseeable future. 🎮🪛✅❌
You know, I might just have to do that! I'll have to take a look and see if I can find a knock-off somewhere!