PS4 vs Xbox One is a heavyweight matchup in the gaming ring that we’ll be seeing for quite some time. It seems almost daily that one console maker uploads information to the internet intended to edge out the competition, but the other publishes something the next morning to regain ground. So with so many lucrative features and advantageous specs, how is a humble gamer expected to choose between the two? It could come down to the hands on experience.

Literally, hands on. We’re talking controllers here.

For your gaming pleasure, here’s an extensive comparison weighing the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller to Xbox One’s Kinect.

Design

The DualShock 4 controller takes cues from its preceding DualShock 3, but was further built to achieve optimum gaming experience through user feedback. As you’ll see, Microsoft’s Xbox One Kinect controller was built with gamer comfort and control in mind while the DualShock 4 is all about functionality. A mere finger’s stretch away are buttons to control operations which enable social sharing, player tracking, and motion sensing.

The Kinect controller was designed the way many Apple products were during Steve Jobs days at the helm, with user’s engagement and a sense of seamlessness in mind. A recent video starring Major Nelson and general manager Zulfi Alam describes how the controller is built specifically for comfort by losing the likes of tiny screws in the back holding all of the techie blood and guts inside. That leads to the seamless feel as there are no visible bumps with the only grooves being those connecting multiple pieces of plastic.

Features

The DualShock 4 includes a touchpad, share button, lightbar and headphone jack. The six-axis motion sensing system will allow for the PS4 console to recognize the specific player with controller in hand, allowing the active switching of player profiles between gamers by simply handing off the DualShock 4 to their friend. The lightbar is able to convey critical messages to the user, for example if the DualShock 4 battery is running low using a variety of color, while also syncing with a camera on the PS4 that allows the console to track the depth similar to the Wii.

The Kinect’s thumbsticks are now made of soft rubber and are slightly smaller to better detect even the slightest deviations in angle. Similarly, the D-pad protrudes slightly higher but underneath is connected closer to the motherboard in order to cut down any delayed response from the controller to the console. The triggers feature smaller rumble motors but instead of them being situated just below the triggers on the back of the controller, they are located directly underneath to give a better handle of the controller and rumble pack. Even more exciting, though, is that the motor is able to differentiate between different types of vibrations to emit based on what’s happening during live gameplay.

Buttons

The new button options include a Share button which affords the user the opportunity to stop, record, and share certain gaming aspects, maps, campaigns, etc. to their favorite social media platforms with the help of the Start and Select buttons.

The signature on/off Xbox button in the center of the controller is a piece of art in and of itself. Sitting underneath a layer of aluminum and another layer of transparent aluminum lies an IR LED light that communicates directly with the console’s Kinect sensor in order to bolster recognition commands like the One’s ability to distinguish between gamers based solely on which person is holding the controller.

Availability & Price

The DualShock 4 controller is available for pre-order now, for those looking for an extra for only one is included with the PS4 console. The good news it, it’ll only cost gamers an affordable $59.99.

The wireless Kinect controller goes for the exact same price, but Xbox loyalists could be swayed to pay the extra $15 for the a Play and Charge Kit, an expense that some may consider worth breaking the bank for. The console will also come with one controller but is also compatible with regular Xbox 360 controllers of old.

Both consoles are looking at a November release with the Xbox One costing a total of $499 and the PS4 $399.