Buying guide for Best Xbox One rechargeable battery packs
The Xbox One is a great gaming console. From crisp graphics to high-tech hardware, more than 59 million gamers enjoy hours and hours of high-definition gameplay. If you’re a part of the Xbox One family (or considering joining), then you know that the wireless controllers are powered by AA batteries. But constantly purchasing batteries can grow tiresome and quickly start to put a dent in your wallet. If you’re looking to extend the gameplay life of your controller, or if you’re tired of constantly replacing batteries, an Xbox One rechargeable battery pack is the way to go.
Simple rechargeable battery packs can offer a great solution to any basic controller power needs. More advanced solutions like docking stations can provide even more functionally by giving users a way to charge and store their entire Xbox controller.
Options will vary depending on your gaming setup, the number of controllers, and, as always, your budget.
Key considerations
Power
Milliampere hours (mAh) measure electric power over time. The higher the milliampere hours, the longer the battery life. Rechargeable battery packs for the Xbox One controller range from 1,000 mAh to 2,500 mAh, and prices tend to increase with the milliampere hours.
Space and setup
Some charging stations require that you dock your controller. Other stations charge just the battery itself. Charging the controller is usually more convenient because most stations act as storage centers for the controller when it isn’t in use. These charging stations tend to cost more than simple battery chargers.
Even simpler and less expensive are rechargeable battery packs that can recharge while attached to the controller and plugged in, essentially charging while you play. These give you unlimited battery life but obviously restrict your wireless capabilities.
Controllers
There are some (albeit very few) controllers that aren’t compatible with certain battery packs right out of the box. If you want to avoid any confusion, but sure to check the battery pack specifications or review online user reviews to get a sense of what battery packs work best with the controller you have.
The Xbox One supports up to four controllers on one system. Most charging docks can only charge two controllers at a time, but there are three USB ports located on the Xbox One. If you have more than two controllers, you’ll have to decide on the approach that will work best for you: two charging stations, rechargeable batteries, or a combination.
Color
The two main Xbox One colors are white and black, although there are special Xbox editions whose colors may vary. Furthermore, if you decide to buy additional controllers, there are even more color options to choose from. Note that most battery packs are white or black.
Did you know?
You can always check the status of your controller’s battery life by pressing the Xbox Home button in the center of the controller. The battery icon at the top of the screen displays how much juice the controller has left.
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Xbox One rechargeable battery pack features
Replaceable battery packs
A replaceable battery pack allows you to switch out your controller’s AA battery compartment for a rechargeable battery made specifically for Xbox One. Replaceable battery packs can be charged via USB while attached to the controller or charged by placing them on their own charger (which will likely need to be plugged into the wall). These battery packs tend to be less expensive. They work well because you can easily plug in and charge the batteries while continuing to play. Some battery packs last longer than others, depending on the overall battery quality and listed milliampere hours.
Docking stations
With a docking station, you can securely charge your controller and its replaceable battery when you’re not playing. These reliable stations help to organize your gaming setup because you can keep all your controllers in one place while charging. And you can be sure your controllers are fully charged if left docked overnight. Docking stations work especially well if you have two or more controllers because one controller can be charging while you play.
Xbox One rechargeable battery pack prices
Replaceable battery packs are generally the most affordable and cost between $15 and $20. Battery packs that include or need a charging station cost $25 to $30. Durability, fit, and milliampere hours all affect the price. Keep in mind that some products offer more than one battery, so be sure to take advantage of such deals if you need battery power for more than one controller.
Tips
It’s frustrating to run out of battery power while playing your favorite game. Some games automatically pause when your controller runs out of juice, but not if you’re playing online. Online games won’t pause for one player, so you’re clearly at a disadvantage if your controller dies or you’re repeatedly being prompted to replace your battery. Even if you’ve invested in a quality battery pack, here are a few tips to make sure you never run out of power again.
Shut off the controller when you’re done playing. Even though the Xbox One controller automatically powers off after 15 minutes of idle time, those extra minutes of battery usage still add up. If you want to get the most out of your battery life, manually shut off the controller.
Disable certain controller features. Though disabling some features may take away from fully immersing yourself in certain games, it’s a great way to preserve battery life if you find yourself in a jam. Turning off the controller’s vibration feature and unpairing any audio headsets will save a bit more energy.
Keep the controller plugged in. If you don’t need to play wirelessly, leave your controller plugged in via USB. That way, the controller will be fully charged the next time you want to play wirelessly.
Purchase more than one controller. Even if you play mostly by yourself, keep another Xbox One controller on hand if you can. That way, you can keep one controller charged while you wirelessly play with the other.
- Update your controllers for optimal functionality. Many people don’t know that you can update your Xbox One controller software. Many times this is done automatically through system updates, but sometimes it’s necessary to update manually. The update option can be found in the device settings of the Xbox home screen.
FAQ
Q. Do all rechargeable battery packs allow you to play and charge at the same time?
A. No. While this is a useful feature, not all battery packs allow it. Make sure to check the specifications.
Q. Do battery packs add a lot of extra weight to the controller?
A. Battery pack size differs depending on the product, but, in general, users don’t complain about packs adding weight, and many users don’t notice much difference.
Q. How long do Xbox One rechargeable batteries last?
A. According to Microsoft, an Xbox One rechargeable battery should last about 30 hours on a 3-hour charge. Some products claim to get up to 35 to 40 hours of battery life before needing to recharge.
