Just got back from buying a new controller, but I was looking to get a newer one, like the ones that come with a pro. Figured at this point that's all Walmart would have.

Lo and behold, when I get home, it's an old one.

Is there any way to tell if it's a new or old controller before opening the box?

EU boxes have the model number on the bottom, next to the barcode. It should be the same where you are?

Original DS4 pads are CUH-ZCT1 and then an additional letter is region - U for USA, J for Japan, E for Europe, etc. Newer "version 2" DS4 pads are CUH-ZCT2

@thisisacooltag Ah, I totally didn't think about model numbers. Sure enough this one says "ZCT1U". Thanks, I'll look for that when I return this one.

Check to see if it has a model number on the box, it should be "CUH-ZCT2" for the new model, the 2 at the end is the thing you are really looking for. The other sign, besides the obvious light bar, is that the finish on the plastic around buttons is a matte/textured finish, like the rest of the top half of the controller, rather then a glossy/shiny finish of the old controller.

Edit: beaten while browsing the web.

Is the new controller an improvement in any way?

@sinusoidal: Other then being able to connect and communicate directly over USB rather then Bluetooth, there is no functional difference, only cosmetic. Being able to see the light bar helps out a little when you have a group of people playing and you need to know who is what color, but that's it really.

@lego_my_eggo: I was under the impression they improved the rubbers on the stick too?

@ivdamke: Yes, but i assume that was fixed even before the new model DS4 came out. I have the controller from my near launch PS4, an old model DS4 that i bought later, and the new model DS4. The launch one the rubber is falling apart, but the other two have an obviously different and thicker layer of rubber on them, and will hopefully hold up better.

@sinusoidal: The sticks definitely feel better than the controller I was using. But this isn't actually for a PlayStation. The headphone jack on new PS4 controllers work on PC when connected over USB.