New PS5 DualSense Controller with TMR Sticks – Is It Worth Buying?

If you are buying a new PS5 controller anyway, there is another option besides waiting for the original analogue sticks to wear and upgrading them later: start with a brand-new genuine Sony DualSense that has already been professionally converted to GuliKit TMR magnetic sticks.

That is different from buying an aftermarket controller. The base controller is still a genuine Sony DualSense with its normal adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, touchpad, speaker, microphones and wireless functions. The change is focused on the two analogue-stick modules, which are replaced, calibrated and tested before the controller is dispatched.

Can you buy a new PS5 DualSense with TMR sticks already installed?

Yes, but it is important to understand what you are buying. A standard retail DualSense leaves Sony with its original analogue-stick modules. A TMR-upgraded DualSense starts as a new, unused genuine Sony controller, then a specialist opens it to replace both factory joystick modules with aftermarket TMR modules.

At FrameRate Builds, the conversion uses genuine GuliKit TMR modules. Both analogue sticks are replaced as a pair, the controller is electronically calibrated after installation and the complete controller is function-tested before dispatch.

Because the controller must be opened for the work, a professionally upgraded controller should not be described as factory sealed after modification. It is new and unused before the conversion, but the upgrade itself necessarily involves disassembly, soldering, calibration and testing.

What actually changes in a TMR-upgraded DualSense?

The main change is inside the two analogue sticks. Conventional joystick modules use contact-based potentiometer tracks to measure position. Those resistive tracks can wear or become contaminated over time, which is one of the common mechanisms behind stick drift.

TMR, or Tunnel Magnetoresistance, is a magnetic sensing technology. In a GuliKit TMR conversion, the original left and right joystick modules are removed and replaced with magnetic TMR modules that do not rely on the same resistive position tracks.

The rest of the DualSense remains the genuine Sony controller. A proper conversion should not remove the features people buy a DualSense for in the first place.

Why choose TMR when buying a new controller?

Most people first look into Hall-effect or TMR sticks after a controller has already developed drift. If you are buying an additional or replacement DualSense, however, it can make sense to choose the upgraded stick technology from the beginning.

The main attraction is removing the conventional carbon-track wear mechanism from both analogue sticks before it becomes a problem. That does not mean a controller becomes immune from every possible future fault. Thumb-stick mechanisms can still be physically damaged, contamination can cause issues elsewhere, and any electronic device can fail. TMR is better viewed as a targeted upgrade to the position-sensing technology rather than a promise that the whole controller can never develop a fault.

If you are researching an existing drifting controller rather than buying new, our separate PS5 controller stick-drift repair guide explains the common causes and the differences between standard, Hall-effect and TMR repair options.

Does a TMR-upgraded DualSense keep the normal PS5 controller features?

It should. The TMR conversion concerns the analogue-stick modules, not the core DualSense feature set. After a FrameRate Builds conversion we test the controller rather than assuming that successful stick movement means the job is finished.

Our final functional test includes the analogue sticks, D-pad, face buttons, L1 and R1, L2 and R2 including adaptive-trigger operation, L3 and R3, touchpad, haptics, USB connection and charging, wireless functions, built-in speaker and controller microphones.

That matters because a new upgraded controller should arrive ready to use as a complete DualSense, not simply as a controller in which two new joystick modules happen to have been soldered.

Why calibration matters after TMR installation

Magnetic sensing does not remove the need for calibration. New joystick modules still have installation tolerances, so after soldering they need to be checked for centre position, full directional range, return to centre and sensible circularity.

A module can be high quality and still perform poorly if it has not been installed and calibrated correctly. That is why the conversion process matters as much as the name on the component.

We cover this in more detail in PS5 DualSense stick calibration and circularity – what good repair testing looks like.

New TMR controller or upgrade the DualSense you already own?

There is no point buying another controller purely for the sake of the TMR conversion if your current DualSense is otherwise in good condition. In that case, upgrading the controller you already own is usually the more economical route.

FrameRate Builds offers a mail-in GuliKit TMR upgrade for an existing DualSense, currently priced at £44.99. Both sticks are replaced, calibrated and tested before the controller is returned.

The complete new-controller option is aimed at a different customer: someone who needs another DualSense anyway, wants to replace a lost or damaged controller, is adding a second controller, or simply wants to start with TMR sticks from day one.

What do you receive with a FrameRate Builds new TMR DualSense?

• A brand-new, unused genuine Sony PS5 DualSense in your selected colour before conversion
• Both original analogue-stick modules replaced with genuine GuliKit TMR modules
• Professional desoldering, installation, board inspection and reassembly
• Electronic centre, range and circularity calibration
• Full controller functionality testing before dispatch
• Secure packaging and tracked UK delivery
• 12-month FrameRate Builds warranty covering the installed TMR parts and our workmanship

The controllers are built to order in our UK workshop. Typical dispatch is within 2–3 working days, subject to availability of the selected genuine Sony colour.

Which DualSense colours are available?

Our launch range concentrates on core colours that are normally readily available from major UK retailers at standard pricing. Current choices are White, Midnight Black, Cosmic Red, Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, Galactic Purple and Grey Camouflage.

Keeping the range focused also avoids advertising unusual or limited colours that may suddenly become difficult or disproportionately expensive to source. If supplier availability changes unexpectedly after an order, we contact the customer rather than silently substituting a different colour.

Important warranty and manufacturer information

The base controller is a genuine Sony DualSense, but the GuliKit TMR joystick modules are aftermarket upgrade components and are not manufactured or endorsed by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

The controller is opened by FrameRate Builds to perform the modification and testing, and that modification may affect Sony's original manufacturer warranty. FrameRate Builds provides its own 12-month warranty on the installed TMR parts and our workmanship.

Is a new PS5 DualSense with TMR sticks worth buying?

If you already need a new controller and you specifically want magnetic analogue-stick sensing, it is a sensible way to avoid buying a standard DualSense now and paying to have it converted later. You receive the genuine DualSense platform and features, but with both analogue-stick modules upgraded before the controller enters normal use.

If your existing controller is healthy, the mail-in upgrade remains better value. If you need a new DualSense anyway, the ready-upgraded option is the cleaner route.

View the new PS5 DualSense with GuliKit TMR sticks – £109.99 →

Frequently asked questions

Are TMR sticks completely drift-proof?

No. TMR removes the resistive contact-track wear mechanism responsible for many conventional drift faults, but no complete controller can be guaranteed against every mechanical, contamination or electronic problem.

Are both analogue sticks replaced?

Yes. The new-controller conversion replaces both the left and right factory joystick modules with genuine GuliKit TMR units.

Is the controller itself genuine Sony?

Yes. The base controller is a genuine Sony DualSense. The GuliKit TMR joystick modules fitted inside it are aftermarket upgrade components.

Is it still brand new if it has been opened?

The controller is sourced brand new and unused, but it must be opened for the TMR conversion, calibration and full testing. It therefore is not factory sealed after the upgrade.

How long does a new TMR DualSense take to dispatch?

Typical dispatch is within 2–3 working days because each controller is sourced in the selected colour and upgraded to order. Unusual supplier shortages can occasionally extend this.

Can I send in a controller I already own instead?

Yes. If you already have a DualSense, the mail-in GuliKit TMR upgrade service is the lower-cost option.