Best Controller For M4 iMac?? Any Controller For M4 iMac??

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Emmett_1944 Author

Level 1

28 points

Best Controller For M4 iMac?? Any Controller For M4 iMac??

I have a new M4 iMac and wanted to try downloading some games from the Mac App Store and playing them. I really am completely unfamiliar with video games. The last video game I ever played was probably something like Pac Man at an arcade. I looked around the Mac App store and I definitely am not interested in these violent shooting games and I don't like sports. I did some reading and it seems the games I might want to play are 2D, or puzzle, or platform games. On the Mac App Store there is a small section that says something like "play with a controller" but it doesn't say which controller. On almost all the games it doesn't say anything about a controller. I checked the Apple Store and they sell the CRKD NEO S Controller and the Sony PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller. I know Sony is big in game consoles and it was much more money than I wanted to spend, and I have no idea what I am doing or what I need, but I figured if Apple is selling it it must be compatible with the iMac and with games in the App Store so I went to a local Apple Store and asked the sales associate about it and surprisingly he said he would not recommend either of these controllers for an iMac and he thought I should go on Amazon and get an Xbox controller. So somewhat surprised I left the store without buying anything. I asked a friend who plays video games and he suggested I try an 8BitDo Zero 2 Mini controller on Amazon for $20. He said I should see if I like it and if I want I can get the Sony later. 8BitDo says on their website that some of their controllers are compatible with MacOS but Apple's website doesn't say that as far as I can find. Some reviews I read said the Zero 2 was good for 2D, retro, or puzzle games. If it actually works how can I go wrong for $20? So at this point I am totally lost. A Sony controller for $80 that seems to do everything but someone at Apple told me don't buy? A $20 mini controller that (hopefully) is compatible with the iMac? I have done some reading about controllers and a lot of it made things more confusing. For example the 8BitDo website says their "Lite 2" controller, similar to the Zero 2 but larger, has joysticks, more buttons, and is only $35, is compatible with MacOS but on Amazon it says it isn't. Some questions:

Can ANY game on the Mac App Store be played without a controller? It seems like some of the more advanced games would be difficult to play using the keyboard, trackpad, or mouse.
Does ANY controller work with a Mac? Does it have to say it works with MacOS or be officially supported by Apple? Can a controller work with MacOS but not be officially supported by Apple? What does this mean as far as compatibility?
Are all controllers wired or bluetooth, are there any real advantages or disadvantages to either?
Does ANY controller work with ANY and all games? The Sony has many more buttons and 2 joysticks I would guess it would be more compatible with more games. Does that mean the Zero 2 with just a few buttons won't work with some games?
When you purchase a game the people who created the game don't know what controller you have so when you go to play the game how do you know what the buttons do? For example of you hit the "A" button does that make the character jump up, or crouch down, or jump backward or whatever? What if the game requires an "R2" button and your controller doesn't have one?

I know this is a lot of questions but as I have looked into this it has become more confusing the more I learned. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

iMac (M4)

Posted on Apr 27, 2025 3:03 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Tesserax

Level 10

158,718 points

Apr 27, 2025 4:02 PM in response to Emmett_1944

Let me see if I can answer some of your questions:

Can ANY game on the Mac App Store be played without a controller?

Many Mac App Store games do not require a controller. Lots of puzzle, 2D, and point-and-click games are designed around the keyboard, mouse, or trackpad. However, some games — especially action-heavy platformers or 3D games — will be much more comfortable (and sometimes only practical) with a controller. Very few Mac App Store games require a controller, but having one can make the experience way better for certain titles. Think of the controller as optional but sometimes strongly recommended depending on the game.

Does ANY controller work with a Mac? Do they have to be officially supported?

No, not every controller works automatically with a Mac. Some controllers are "plug and play" (like Sony’s DualSense or Xbox controllers) because macOS has built-in drivers for them.

If a controller says it's "MacOS compatible," that's ideal.
Even if Apple doesn’t officially sell it, if 8BitDo says it's Mac-compatible, it usually will work because 8BitDo is really good about supporting a lot of platforms.
Official Apple support just means Apple guarantees it works; unsupported just means you're relying on the controller's own drivers (which usually are fine these days, especially for simple games).

Are controllers wired or Bluetooth, and what’s better?

Most modern controllers support Bluetooth.

Bluetooth Pros: Wireless, clean desk, no cable to deal with.
Bluetooth Cons: Occasional connection hiccups, slightly more battery management. That is, you will occasionally need to replace their batteries. This is where have rechargeable ones make more sense.
Wired Pros: Instant connection, zero lag, no worrying about battery.
Wired Cons: Annoying cables everywhere.

Does ANY controller work with ANY game?

No — controllers vary a lot.

A basic controller like the 8BitDo Zero 2 will work fine for simple 2D, puzzle, or retro games.
If a game expects analog sticks (for slow movement control) or lots of extra buttons (for combos, camera movement, etc.), a small controller like the Zero 2 may struggle.
The Sony DualSense or an Xbox controller is more "universal" and will handle everything, including complex games if you decide to branch out later.

How do you know what button does what?

Games usually show a little diagram or pop-up during the tutorial or pause menu showing what button does what.

If your controller has the expected buttons (like A, B, X, Y, R1, R2, etc.), the game will usually just map things automatically.
If your controller is missing buttons, you might need to guess a bit or check the game settings to manually reassign controls.

Based on what you provided in your post, I would suggest that you consider the following:

If you're just dipping your toes in, buy the 8BitDo Zero 2 for $20. It’s a cheap, low-risk way to start and should work perfectly for 2D, puzzle, and retro games.
If later you want to play bigger, fancier games, you can invest in a Sony DualSense or a modern Xbox controller (which, yes, many Mac users actually prefer because macOS natively supports Xbox controllers really well).
Stay Bluetooth for now — it's convenient, and your iMac can handle it beautifully.

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Answer 2

Emmett_1944 Author

Level 1

28 points

Apr 27, 2025 5:45 PM in response to Tesserax

Thanks for that really informative answer. So if I understand if a controller is officially Apple supported that means it is almost certain to work with your apple device and will very likely work with any games at the Mac App Store. If a controller is made for MacOS but not officially supported then depending on the dependability of the company it will work with most apple devices and Mac App Store games.

The more expensive a controller is and the more buttons it has (like the Sony) the more likely it is to work with any game and since the Sony PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller is officially supported by Apple it is a good choice if I want to spend the money. The person at the store may have been giving me his personal opinion when he suggested I not buy it. The idea of "plug and play" sounds very appealing.

The 8BitDo Zero 2 would be a good way to try a controller for $20 and will probably work with the games I seem interested in puzzles, retro, 2D, etc. For $20 I am going to give that some serious thought.

I have one more important question if you don't mind. The 8BitDo Lite 2 on the 8BitDo website says it is a more fully featured controller than the 8BitDo Lite which is geared toward consumers with mobility impairments. The 8BitDo Lite 2, on the 8BitDo website says it is officially supported by Apple and is compatible with MacOS 13.2+. The 8BitDo Lite 2 page on Amazon says it is NOT compatible with MacOS. If the 8Bitdo Lite 2, at $30, were Mac OS compatible and officially supported by Apple it would be my perfect solution. Can you make sense of this? Is the 8BitDo Lite 2 officially supported by Apple and compatible with MacOS, or not compatible with Mac OS at all?

Also, with this "rumble" feature in a lot of these controllers, can it be turned off, as I would find it distracting to have the controller vibrating in my hands.

I spend a lot of time on the computer and, even if I play the more simpler games I would still like to be able to sit back and enjoy some casual games without having my hands on the keyboard and trackpad. Thanks again.

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Answer 3

Emmett_1944 Author

Level 1

28 points

May 4, 2025 3:08 PM in response to Tesserax

If anyone is interested here is what I found out. I am not really computer literate so this is a layman's opinion. I bought an M4 iMac and upgraded the memory and storage. I did not buy it primarily to play games but I was thinking I would like to try a few video games. And like most people I thought I would buy a controller since for most games whether they are simple or complex most people want to be able to sit back, take your hands of the keyboard/trackpad/mouse and take a break from work. So I read that a Sony Dualsense controller was officially supported by Apple and Sony says the controller is made to work with MacOS. So I went out to the Apple Store and bought the controller for $80. When I opened it the directions say absolutely nothing about compatibility with MacOS. So I looked on Sony's website and they did have instruction for how to pair the controller with the iMac via Bluetooth which I did with no problems. I then downloaded a simple game from the Mac App Store and it worked fine with the trackpad, but when I connected the controller it did absolutely nothing. So I thought there must be something in MacOS, like maybe an app or setting that I need to fool with to get the controller to work but I could find nothing. There is something called Gamecenter but that does not appear to have anything to do with controllers. So I went back to the MacApp store and I noticed a section under "Play" called "Play with a controller" so I clicked on "See all" and it showed me 36 games that presumably work with a controller. So of course I wondered "Does this mean these are the ONLY the games that work with a controller and the other games won't?" So I called Apple and asked and the first person said, carefully, "Well, for a game to work with a controller not only does MacOS have to be compatible and the controller has to be compatible, but the people who create the game have to build into the game support for MacOS and that specific controller". And then there was an awkward silence and the person said nothing more. So I called back later and got a guy on the phone and he was, to be blunt, more honest, and when I asked him if 36 games were all that you could play with a controller, he basically repeated what the other person told me but then added that it was very very unlikely that any of the other games on the MacApp store would support any controller because it costs the creator of the game time and money to do that and almost none of them are willing to put that much effort into making their games compatible with Mac games. This latter person though was more helpful and showed me this website called "Steam" where they apparently have a lot more games that are compatible with MacOS and a Sony controller, but it seemed a little complicated but he said if I wanted to do that Steam's tech help line would talk me through the process.

I don't regret buying the computer but I am disappointed with this situation and I think Apple is really stretching the truth. If you think you are going to buy an Apple computer, a game controller, connect them with a cable and have all these great games at your disposal that just is not happening, as far as I can tell. The controller was $80 and many of these games are $20-$60. So if I keep the controller, even if I bought a couple of games, we are now talking about half the price of a new iPad that has many more games available and doesn't need a controller. I will think about it but most likely the controller is going back to the store for a full refund and I'll save my money until I can afford an iPad or even a dedicated game console.

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

158,718 points

Apr 28, 2025 9:56 PM in response to Emmett_1944

Emmett_1944 wrote:

2. I was doing more reading this morning and I read (not on this forum) that if you get the wrong controller for your computer you can damage your computer. This is nonsense, isn't it?? The worst that can happen is the controller doesn't work at all or only works for some games.

Yes, on both.

If I get the Sony PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller do you know if I can charge it using the cable that came with the iMac and plug it into the back of the iMac?

Sony does not include a cable with this controller. They expect that you would use the same cable that comes with the PS5 PlayStation.

According to Apple: The Sony DualSense wireless controller charges via a standard USB Type-C® input (cable not included). It requires a USB Battery Charging 1.2-compatible wall charger to charge, or standard USB 2.0 or 3.0 compatible port found on a PS5 console, Mac, or PC computer.

With that said, you should be able to charge this controller using the cable that came with your iMac — with a couple of small caveats:

The DualSense controller charges via USB-C, and newer iMacs (like yours) come with a USB-C to USB-C cable for the keyboard or for general use. You can plug that cable directly into one of the USB-C ports on the back of the iMac and connect it to the controller — it should charge just fine.
While the controller will charge, macOS doesn’t give you any kind of battery status indicator for it out of the box.

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Answer 5

Tesserax

Level 10

158,718 points

Apr 27, 2025 6:27 PM in response to Emmett_1944

First, about official Apple support and Mac compatibility:

You explained it almost perfectly in your recap:

Officially Apple-supported controllers (like Sony DualSense and Xbox controllers) are recognized by macOS natively — no apps, drivers, or setup needed.
Controllers designed to work with macOS (like 8BitDo) should work well, especially from reputable companies, but you're trusting their software quality.

Now, about the 8BitDo Lite 2 confusion:

8BitDo's official website says the Lite 2 works with macOS 13.2+
Amazon listings are often wrong or outdated about compatibility. Sellers or Amazon staff may not fully update the product description when firmware changes or Mac support improves.

However — and this is a small thing — "Apple official support" is different than “8BitDo says it works.”

8BitDo says it works = good, usually reliable for casual gaming, but no guarantee from Apple if something glitches.
Apple officially supports = Apple’s engineers test and make sure it works.

Finally, about rumble/vibration features ("haptics"):

Yes, absolutely — you can turn off rumble on almost every modern controller.

Some games let you disable vibration in the settings menu.
Some controllers themselves (like many 8BitDo models) can have rumble disabled through their companion app or firmware settings.

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Answer 6

Emmett_1944 Author

Level 1

28 points

Apr 30, 2025 2:13 PM in response to Tesserax

I just tried using the Sony PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller with my iMac but it was a complete failure. I am not sure in what sense Apple or Sony claim this controller is compatible with a Mac. I opened the box and read all the instructions. There is not a word in there about Apple or Macs. I went to the Sony website and searched around and found instructions for connecting the controller to the iMac via bluetooth. I was able to get it connected. I went to the Mac App Store and downloaded this game called Jelly Juice. It seemed like it would be a simple game to pass some time. The game works fine with the trackpad. But moving the sticks or pressing any buttons on the controller does absolutely nothing.

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Answer 7

Emmett_1944 Author

Level 1

28 points

Apr 28, 2025 5:46 PM in response to Tesserax

Thanks. I think right now, all things considered, I will take the plunge and go for the Sony PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller. It is officially supported by Apple and Sony makes it to work with a Mac so it seems I have the best chance of it working. Plus plug-and-play seems like it would be good for me. And as you say if I want to branch out later and play more complex games I have a controller that can do it. Since I am buying it at the Apple Store if I have any questions or problems I might be able to call Apple Care.

Forgive me for the constant "One more question...." but:

As far as the 8BitDo Lite 2 maybe what they are selling on Amazon is old stock. Strangely the Turquoise is sold by "8BitDo Official US" which when clicked on brings you to the real 8BitDo website, yet the Pink is sold by "VirVentures" which when clicked on brings you to an Amazon third party seller page. The thing that is surprising is the 8BitDo website I linked to says in big letters "Officially supported by Apple" and when I Google it I find a lot of evidence it is true but if I search the Apple website I find nothing including in the Newsroom.
I was doing more reading this morning and I read (not on this forum) that if you get the wrong controller for your computer you can damage your computer. This is nonsense, isn't it?? The worst that can happen is the controller doesn't work at all or only works for some games.
If I get the Sony PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller do you know if I can charge it using the cable that came with the iMac and plug it into the back of the iMac?

Thanks.

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Answer 8

Emmett_1944 Author

Level 1

28 points

Apr 29, 2025 7:45 AM in response to Tesserax

Thanks. I figured the idea of a controller damaging your computer sounded unlikely.

I'll have to do some more reading about ports, I've always been confused by it. Maybe I will ask a new question on this forum about them. I checked under system report on my iMac and it says I have four "USB4/Thunderbolt" ports. I checked the tech specs for the iMac on Apple's website and it says it has:

Four Thunderbolt 4 ports with support for:

Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s)

USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s)

USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)

DisplayPort

But it also says under "display support":

Thunderbolt 4 digital video output

Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C

I know with some ports there is a different physical shape and size so you can't always just plug one type into another. But then speed is a separate issue. I know the 4 ports are all the same so I don't know why they are called "USB C" and also "USB 4" and also "Thunderbolt".

But with the Sony controller being made to work with Apple and Apple officially supporting the Sony controller I can't go too far wrong.

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Answer 9

Tesserax

Level 10

158,718 points

Apr 29, 2025 9:25 AM in response to Emmett_1944

Emmett_1944 wrote:

I know with some ports there is a different physical shape and size so you can't always just plug one type into another. But then speed is a separate issue. I know the 4 ports are all the same so I don't know why they are called "USB C" and also "USB 4" and also "Thunderbolt".

To try to help clear things up:

USB 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. are versions of the USB protocol standard. Similiarly, Thunderbolt 1, 2, etc. are versions of the Thunderbolt protocal standard. These standards define both the data rates and electrical characteristics that are supported.
USB A, B, C, etc. designates the physical shape of the port.
Thunderbolt 1 & 2, use the physical mini-Display port, where as, since Thunderbolt 3, they use the USB-C physical port.
All USB standards can use any USB physical port shape, but current world-standards are pushing to make USB-C the universal port type.
DisplayPort is a video/audio standard. It is also the name of the physical port. Apple, AFAIK, developed the mini-DisplayPort and have included them with older Apple devices.

Four Thunderbolt 4 ports with support for:

Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s)

USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s)

USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)

DisplayPort

Here Apple is telling you that your Mac has four USB-C physical ports, that can support the Thunderbolt 4, USB 4, USB 3.1, and DisplayPort standards. Since they can support Thunderbolt 4, Apple appears to have elected to naming them Thunderbolt 4 ports. The significant difference between USB & Thunderbolt, is that the latter allows you do "daisy-chain" devices connected to the port. You can think of Thunderbolt as an "internal" hub on your Mac.

But it also says under "display support":

Thunderbolt 4 digital video output

Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C

... and here Apple is telling you what type of video standards can be supported with these ports when you connect an external display to them. As I'm sure your are aware, your M4 Mac mini can support multiple external displays attached to it.

Hopefully, that cleared things up for you.

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Answer 10

Emmett_1944 Author

Level 1

28 points

Apr 29, 2025 10:46 AM in response to Tesserax

I think I am starting to get it. So USB 1, 2, 3, 4 refers to the standard for what kind of code is used to transfer the data, the data speed, and how much power the port can supply (or need) for things like charging or powering a device.

USB A, B, C refers to the physical shape of the port/plug. Obviously they would have to match in order to fit or you would need to get an adaptor.

I always thought Thunderbolt was something created by Apple but I just read it was created by Intel. Thunderbolt is the same physical shape and size as USB C. But it works at the same speed as USB 4?

So all Thunderbolt ports are USB C and work at USB 4 speeds. But not all USB C shaped ports work at USB 4 speeds?

So the Apple specs for the iMac are saying it has 4 Thunderbolt ports, which means it works at USB 4 speeds (40 Gb/s), and supplies the power of USB 4 - 100W (5A / 20V). I can also plug in a device that works at USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gb/s) and whatever power that needs.

Now what about backwards compatibility? From what I read USB 1 and 2 use Unicode so I could not plug any USB 1 or 2 device into my iMac? Can I plug into my iMac ONLY USB 4 and USB 3.1 (Gen 2)?

Are the older standards sort of "outdated", for example I will never go to Best Buy and find a device that works on USB 2 or has a USB A plug?

It seems these Thunderbolt ports are the current all around best. So if I plug something that requires only 50 watts to charge and Thunderbolt provides 100 watts does it automatically know to only supply 50 watts?

This is changing the topic somewhat but on my old MacBook I would sometimes plug into it a camera (to download photos) or a USB flash drive and the computer knew what I was plugging in. Like if I plugged in the camera Photos would open and ask me if I wanted to download the photos that were on the camera. Or if I plugged in the USB flash drive I would open a finder window and there was the icon and name of the flash drive. Is there something in the hardware of the flash drive that is telling the computer "I am a USB flash drive"?

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Answer 11

Tesserax

Level 10

158,718 points

Apr 29, 2025 1:01 PM in response to Emmett_1944

Emmett_1944 wrote:

I think I am starting to get it. So USB 1, 2, 3, 4 refers to the standard for what kind of code is used to transfer the data, the data speed, and how much power the port can supply (or need) for things like charging or powering a device.

USB A, B, C refers to the physical shape of the port/plug. Obviously they would have to match in order to fit or you would need to get an adaptor.

Yes, both of these statements are correct.

Thunderbolt is the same physical shape and size as USB C. But it works at the same speed as USB 4?

To be exact, only Thunderbolt 3 or 4 require using the USB-C type ports. Again, Thunderbolt 1 or 2 used the DisplayPort type ports. It would only work at which Thunderbolt standard was implemented on that port. For your mini, they all support Thunderbolt 4.

So all Thunderbolt ports are USB C and work at USB 4 speeds. But not all USB C shaped ports work at USB 4 speeds?

All Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports use USB-C type ports ... but, again, what speed they support is defined by the computer manufacturer. Similar for USB, what the USB-C port will support is defined by the manufacturer. As noted earlier, Apple provided support up to USB 4 for these ports.

So the Apple specs for the iMac are saying it has 4 Thunderbolt ports, which means it works at USB 4 speeds (40 Gb/s), and supplies the power of USB 4 - 100W (5A / 20V). I can also plug in a device that works at USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gb/s) and whatever power that needs.

Yes. However, that device will still only work at USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds. Just plugging it into a USB-C port, that supports USB 4, does not change that.

Now what about backwards compatibility? From what I read USB 1 and 2 use Unicode so I could not plug any USB 1 or 2 device into my iMac? Can I plug into my iMac ONLY USB 4 and USB 3.1 (Gen 2)?

By the standards, a USB protocola are backwards compatible to their earlier standards. That is, a USB-C port that supports USB 4, also supports USB 1-3.

Are the older standards sort of "outdated", for example I will never go to Best Buy and find a device that works on USB 2 or has a USB A plug?

Yes, and no. You can still find older inventory of devices that only support the eariler protocols or port types. For example, we occasionally see posts here where the user has an early model Mac that has Thunderbolt 1 or 2 ports. They then want to connect a newer device and ask us for suggestions/recommendations for doing so.

It seems these Thunderbolt ports are the current all around best. So if I plug something that requires only 50 watts to charge and Thunderbolt provides 100 watts does it automatically know to only supply 50 watts?

Not necessarily the best; it would depend on your requirements for the device(s) that you want to connect to it. As far as charging, the port itself does not control the charging level. That is controlled by both the device and the Mac.

Let's use the iPhone as an example. There is a trifecta of things that control charging. They are:

The iPhone's built-in charger,
The charging cable's IC chip, and
The power source, being that a power adapter or by using a Mac.

All three of this things, when working properly, will not allow the phone to be overcharged. So, if the phone can only handle 15W, even if the power adapter/Mac can deliver more, it won't.

This is changing the topic somewhat but on my old MacBook I would sometimes plug into it a camera (to download photos) or a USB flash drive and the computer knew what I was plugging in. Like if I plugged in the camera Photos would open and ask me if I wanted to download the photos that were on the camera. Or if I plugged in the USB flash drive I would open a finder window and there was the icon and name of the flash drive. Is there something in the hardware of the flash drive that is telling the computer "I am a USB flash drive"?

Yes, this would be considered a different topic and it would be best if you started a new post so that it gets the attention it deserves. We have many subject matter experts here that can address this, otherwise, you will only get one person's viewpoint and unnecessarily extend the original post topic to render it a bit useless for someone else who keys in on the post's title.

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Answer 12

Emmett_1944 Author

Level 1

28 points

Apr 29, 2025 5:22 PM in response to Tesserax

Great. I just went to the Apple Store and bought the Sony Controller. I won't have time to set it up until tomorrow afternoon.

All Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports use USB-C type ports ... but, again, what speed they support is defined by the computer manufacturer. Similar for USB, what the USB-C port will support is defined by the manufacturer. As noted earlier, Apple provided support up to USB 4 for these ports.

I thought Thunderbolt 4 meant USB C and USB 4 speeds (40 Gb/s)? If "Thunderbolt" works at whatever speeds the manufacturer makes, in what sense is it "Thunderbolt"? Is that just an advertising slogan?

Yes. However, that device will still only work at USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds. Just plugging it into a USB-C port, that supports USB 4, does not change that.

Right. Just because my iMac works at USB 4 speed and power it won't make a device work at that speed if it is USB 3.1 Gen 2

By the standards, a USB protocola are backwards compatible to their earlier standards. That is, a USB-C port that supports USB 4, also supports USB 1-3.

Wow. So, My iMac works at up to USB 4, but if I can find the right cable or adapters I can plus a USB 1 device into it?

Let's use the iPhone as an example. There is a trifecta of things that control charging. They are:

1. The iPhone's built-in charger,

2. The charging cable's IC chip, and

3. The power source, being that a power adapter or by using a Mac.

All three of this things, when working properly, will not allow the phone to be overcharged. So, if the phone can only handle 15W, even if the power adapter/Mac can deliver more, it won't.

What is a "Charging cables IC chip"? The cable that came with my iMac doesn't seem to have any chip unless it is hidden in the tiny ends.

So getting directly to my new Sony controller. My iMac has USB C ports. The controller has a USB C port. And the cable that came with the iMac has USB C plugs on both ends. All good there.

According to Apple tech specs my iMac can do USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s and 100 watts) or USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s and don't know the power). According to Apple's website the Sony controller needs "The Sony DualSense wireless controller charges via a standard USB Type-C® input (cable not included). It requires a USB Battery Charging 1.2-compatible wall charger to charge, or standard USB 2.0 or 3.0 compatible port found on a PS5 console, Mac, or PC computer."

I have no idea what a " It requires a USB Battery Charging 1.2-compatible wall charger to charge" means.

But also says "or standard USB 2.0 or 3.0 compatible port found on a PS5 console, Mac, or PC computer." My iMac has "USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s and 100 watts) and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)" Since USB 4 is obviously greater than USB 3.1 and as you say all USB 1, 2, 3, 4 are all backwards compatible it should be no problem. My USB 4 iMac power provides up to 100 watts and should adjust itself to whatever power the controller can take. Do I have that right?

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Answer 13

Tesserax

Level 10

158,718 points

Apr 29, 2025 6:04 PM in response to Emmett_1944

Emmett_1944 wrote:

I thought Thunderbolt 4 meant USB C and USB 4 speeds (40 Gb/s)? If "Thunderbolt" works at whatever speeds the manufacturer makes, in what sense is it "Thunderbolt"? Is that just an advertising slogan?

No, a Thunderbolt 4 "port" means that the port is a USB-C type port and support Thunderbolt 4 speeds. As you know, Apple has already told you that it can support other protocol standards as well. This is done by using microchips on the ports that enable those protocols. This is where the manufacturer "contols" what type of port it is.

Wow. So, My iMac works at up to USB 4, but if I can find the right cable or adapters I can plus a USB 1 device into it?

If you will only connect devices that support the USB 4 protocol, then you would only need a USB cable. On the other hand, if you want to connect a Thunderbolt device, especially if you want to connect multiple ones in series, you would then need a more expensive Thunderbolt cable. For USB devices that only support USB 1, the same USB cable that can be used with USB 4 devices can be used to connect it.

What is a "Charging cables IC chip"? The cable that came with my iMac doesn't seem to have any chip unless it is hidden in the tiny ends.

There are only data cables and there are both data/charging cables. What makes them different is the number of wires inside. Most cables you can get from Apple are the latter type. The IC chips typically reside inside either end of the cable that you plug into either the device or the power adapter ... so yes, they are hidden in the tiny end(s).

I have no idea what a " It requires a USB Battery Charging 1.2-compatible wall charger to charge" means

What that typically means is this device is expected to be "charged" by using an external power adapter that plugs into an electrical socket. Alternately, you should be able to charge it by using any one of your Mac's USB-C ports. What I don't know is the recommended wattage or amperage that Sony says is required to charge the controller ... but, I'm pretty sure your Mac will have enough to do the job.

My USB 4 iMac power provides up to 100 watts and should adjust itself to whatever power the controller can take. Do I have that right?

Again, both the controller and your Mac will control the charging process. 100W should be more than enough and I doubt that the controller will require much more than 5-10W for charging ... so, yes, you have that right.

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Answer 14

Emmett_1944 Author

Level 1

28 points

Apr 30, 2025 6:32 AM in response to Tesserax

No, a Thunderbolt 4 "port" means that the port is a USB-C type port and support Thunderbolt 4 speeds. As you know, Apple has already told you that it can support other protocol standards as well. This is done by using microchips on the ports that enable those protocols. This is where the manufacturer "contols" what type of port it is.

Right. So "thunderbolt" means UP TO USB 4 speeds. But there is no such thing as a Thunderbolt port that works up to a maximum of 20 GB/s. Right?

If you will only connect devices that support the USB 4 protocol, then you would only need a USB cable. On the other hand, if you want to connect a Thunderbolt device, especially if you want to connect multiple ones in series, you would then need a more expensive Thunderbolt cable. For USB devices that only support USB 1, the same USB cable that can be used with USB 4 devices can be used to connect it.

I was not aware of this. So the cable is just as important as the ports? Cables have maximum "speed limits"? I have heard of USB cables but I just thought that meant "connects USB ports. Is there such a thing as USB 1 cable, USB 2 cable etc? So if I had 2 USB 4 ports and I connected them with a USB 1 cable it would only work at USB 1 speeds?

I am under the impression that Thunderbolt ports and USB 4 ports both work at a maximum of 40 Gb/s. Is that incorrect? I guess I am somewhat confused. I just googled "What maximum speed does a thunderbolt port work at" and it said 40 Gb/s. Then I googled "What maximum speed does a USB 4 port work at" and it said 40 Gb/s. But if I google "Is thunderbolt faster than USB 4" it says "Yes. Thunderbolt 4 is designed to offer faster data transfer speeds than USB 4". It also said some other things like Thunderbolt can support dual displays and has better charging capabilities.

Hopefully I will get the new Sony controller up and running this afternoon and try out a game. I watched some Youtube videos last night and it looks pretty easy. Do you have any idea if the controller comes with some charge or do I have to charge it before using it? Thanks.

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Answer 15

Tesserax

Level 10

158,718 points

Apr 30, 2025 3:02 PM in response to Emmett_1944

Sorry, but I have no way to test this for you as I don't have this controller. However, I do know somewhere hiding in my garage is a new controller that is supposed to be Mac ready, so when I get a chance I will see if it will work with my M2 Pro Mac mini and let you know. I typically don't play games on my Mac that require a controller. That why I have a dedicated game console for that.

Have you tried contacting Sony Support to see if they can assist you with using their controller with your Mac yet? That's what I recommend you try next ... of course, that's assuming you haven't returned this controller to Apple ... which you have 14 days, from the purchase date, to do so for a full refund.

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