I guess I never had a problem changing the batteries even though they are "screwed". It just seems ridiculous to say that one AA battery is "friendly" and the others are not. I also agree that they "should" be easily replaceable.
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I don’t understand the argument that a controller with a built in battery is superior to a controller that uses AA batteries.
- Thread starter TCG276
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I guess I never had a problem changing the batteries even though they are "screwed". It just seems ridiculous to say that one AA battery is "friendly" and the others are not. I also agree that they "should" be easily replaceable.
I prefer built in batteries, but only if they're decent. DS4 charge times are a joke. Even after so many years, my DS3 batteries hold for many times longer. I just wish they still made DS3s so I could buy a new one, my buttons and sticks aren't great anymore.
Hopefully the PS5 controller will be better.
Hopefully the PS5 controller will be better.
OP
OP
I see the environmental argument far too much and completely agree with what you said.
Yep you can use AA batteries.
I don't use batteries but I like have the option when the interna battery dies.
This is fantastic and the best of both worlds. This should be standard, no exceptions.
I'd happily trade water proofing, size, and weight reductions for removable batteries on my electronics again. Whatever I have to give up so I never have to take a wedge around the edges of phones or laptops again trying not to break plastic tabs. Controllers aren't so bad except for the ribbon cables and trigger springs. Screws are easy to strip too.
You can change you battery for one with higher capacity. I did this with my dualshock 3 7 years ago.
Fine. My Dualshocks4 hold charge just fine after 6 years, and my Move controllers after two years.
Meanwhile, I've bought a shit load of AA batteries for my Xbox One controllers. I'll let you do your own math on what is more convenient.
Not sure where you got 4 years from. My 12 year old PS3 controllers are just fine
Sounds like a "you" problem. You should buy rechargable AAs instead.
I prefer a built in battery simply because of the price and convenience, don't have to go shop to buy new batteries when they die/ran out, I had an xbox one for a brief period and after a few months I realised I was buying batteries almost every week or so, so I just stuck to wired for the rest of the time I had it.
With built in it is true the charge does dies down, but my PS4 controllers after almost 5 years can still hold like a couple hours of charge, I just plug in and play for half hour if need and it's back to full. No need to buy or replace anything, I buy the controller and that's it, if I'm getting multiple controllers like I do every gen for local co-op then it's more money spent that I don't need to with a built in battery.
With built in it is true the charge does dies down, but my PS4 controllers after almost 5 years can still hold like a couple hours of charge, I just plug in and play for half hour if need and it's back to full. No need to buy or replace anything, I buy the controller and that's it, if I'm getting multiple controllers like I do every gen for local co-op then it's more money spent that I don't need to with a built in battery.
How can you be for built in knowing this? Wouldn't it be easier to just be able to buy your own and not hope for someone else to make that decision for you?
I just have the charge kit for my Xbox controller and its now basically a built in battery. I had to spend so much more buying that charge kit though.
I never had any battery problems with my DS4 so having a charge kit is basically the same.
Now I have wireless keyboards and mouse that needs batteries, it's such a damn hassle I have to get batteries every few months. Sure I can get rechargeable batteries (not even sure if that is easily available where I am) but if I had to just plug in these peripherals each time they're drained would make me worry about it less.
I never had any battery problems with my DS4 so having a charge kit is basically the same.
Now I have wireless keyboards and mouse that needs batteries, it's such a damn hassle I have to get batteries every few months. Sure I can get rechargeable batteries (not even sure if that is easily available where I am) but if I had to just plug in these peripherals each time they're drained would make me worry about it less.
I do not understand your over-the-top hostility in this thread about batteries
You should stop telling me what I should do, friendo.
And yup, I'm sure buying a charger for power cells literally no other device in my household uses is super convenient and the galaxy brain solution.
I've had the same PS4 controller from launch and it still charges just fine. Is this another case of people not taking care of their controllers again?
I remember a thread about people having their DS4s die on them or the rubber peeling off while I've had none of that.
Had an Xbox 360 last gen, batteries were just annoying and inconvenient.
I remember a thread about people having their DS4s die on them or the rubber peeling off while I've had none of that.
Had an Xbox 360 last gen, batteries were just annoying and inconvenient.
Exactly. I've never have had to replace a controller because the battery died, and no one i know has had such a problem.
however the cost of a charger and rechargeable batteries which usually don't last much, was a bad experience using my 360 and Wii.
The better solution would be rechargeable battery that can be swapped by an adapter that can use AA batteries, that could be sold separately. Not the other way round.
It is so convenient to my controller to the console and next session is 100% again
I see this more of a problem on portable consoles, like vita or switch, since it is more probable that you reach the cicles that a battery can be recharged much sooner than with a standard controller
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My PS3 controllers are useless, they don't hold a charge and the only mini usb cables I have are too short.
Knowing that the previous controller had better battery life, while still being built in? I don't see the relation.
Convenience, value proposition, modernisation.
The funny thing is, internal lithium ion batteries can actually be replaced at roughly the same price as a set of Eneloops, and can be done so in a matter of minutes, so the whole if my battery dies my controller dies thing is not and has not ever been true.
I think the early revision DS4's gave internal batteries a bit of a bad rep because they had such poor battery life, but you can get internal batteries that have excellent battery life too, see Switch Pro, Xbox Elite controller etc. Hell, the second gen DS4 isn't too bad either.
The funny thing is, internal lithium ion batteries can actually be replaced at roughly the same price as a set of Eneloops, and can be done so in a matter of minutes, so the whole if my battery dies my controller dies thing is not and has not ever been true.
I think the early revision DS4's gave internal batteries a bit of a bad rep because they had such poor battery life, but you can get internal batteries that have excellent battery life too, see Switch Pro, Xbox Elite controller etc. Hell, the second gen DS4 isn't too bad either.
The best solution would be for all controllers to use the standard AA battery interface (as the Xbox controllers do), but come standard with rechargeable battery packs a la Microsoft's Play-and-Charge Kit.
This way, once the battery degrades and doesn't hold its charge well anymore, you can easily swap in a new rechargeable battery pack without having to buy a new controller or take the whole thing apart.
This freedom of choice is why Microsoft's decision to stick with the standard AA battery interface for the next-gen Xbox controller is the right one. Unlike with Sony controllers, which force you to use their crappy internal batteries, Microsoft gives you the choice of either using AA batteries, their own rechargeable battery pack they sell, or any of the cheap and widely available rechargeable AA batteries you can find on Amazon.
This way, once the battery degrades and doesn't hold its charge well anymore, you can easily swap in a new rechargeable battery pack without having to buy a new controller or take the whole thing apart.
This freedom of choice is why Microsoft's decision to stick with the standard AA battery interface for the next-gen Xbox controller is the right one. Unlike with Sony controllers, which force you to use their crappy internal batteries, Microsoft gives you the choice of either using AA batteries, their own rechargeable battery pack they sell, or any of the cheap and widely available rechargeable AA batteries you can find on Amazon.
These are
A) Less than "shit loads" of batteries on amazon
B) fit into the AA battery slot on the controller
C) charge via the Xbox controller's USB port, the exact same port you are using to charge your PS4 controllers with
I mean, you just told me you are spending "shit loads" on AA batteries for your controller, but when I tell you how to spend your money smarter, you're all "Don't tell me what to do"
keep wasting your money then, I guess.
I don't either; I wanted to play my 360 a few months back and all I needed to do was pop in my Eneloops I use for my Xbox One controller and I was good to go. Meanwhile I had to replace my DS3, and my DS4's battery is holding less and less of a charge. Sure I can order the tool needed to open it as well as a compatible battery, but surely you can understand how much more of a process that is than popping in some fucking AA's and being done with it.
The only reason I can think of for you buying shit loads of AA batteries would be if you aren't aware of the existence of rechargeable AAs. Eneloops are branded to hold 70% charge after 10 years and even if you think that's a very optimistic projection, that would still equate to having to replace a pair after a couple of years, certainly nowhere close to a shit load.
Disparity in quality between the two controllers screams for choice even more.
Nothing in your house uses these?
Or these?
Nothing you own would benefit from being able to be topped up by one of these?
These are
A) Less than "hundreds of batteries" on amazon
B) fit into the AA battery slot on the controller
C) charge via the Xbox controller's USB port, the exact same port you are using to charge your PS4 controllers with
I mean, you just told me you are spending "shit loads" on AA batteries for your controller, but when I tell you how to spend your money smarter, you're all "Don't tell me what to do"
keep wasting your money then, I guess.
So, basically, I should spend some more money to buy a thing that enables the same functionality on Xbox controller as I have on the PS controller out of the box?
Cool.
Plug an Xbox controller in to the console with a USB cable and it just acts like a wired controller. It literally shuts down the radio transmitter in it and it connects through the wire so it's a perfectly latency free wired controller. You don't need to stop playing when your AA batteries run out, just like with a DualShock. You can take the batteries out and still use it just fine wired in.
OP, you don't have to stress either way. There are obviously pros and cons of both rechargeable and non rechargeable controllers but you don't need to worry about the battery dying in a hurry and having to replace it or anything. I've had three DualShock 4s and haven't had any battery issues with any of them that have required messing with replacements. The battery life is super short, but apparently they've looked into that with the DualSense controller so it should be improved on your PS5.
Nothing in your house uses these?
Or these?
Nothing you own would benefit from being able to be topped up by one of these?
Yup. Nothing in my household uses either of those.
Edit: well obviously except for the Xbox gamepads.
Until I got my X i always made fun of Xbox for using replaceable batteries. But after buying a couple of high capacity rechargeable AA batteries , I now firmly believe that it's superior to built in batteries. It lasts much longer than the DS4 and when they run out I just pop in the other pair and I am good to go.
I think having the option to use AA or a charger kit is super to not having any choices.
Either way, it's not a big deal to me.
Either way, it's not a big deal to me.
Its a little bit easier to plug in a usb cable then to replace batteries.
Right now I prefer batteries because they last longer and you can be wireless all the time. I have a cheap Amazon basics charger + 8 eneloops next to my couch, it works great.
If the dualsense has a 2000mah battery (double the ds4) and usbc fast charging in 20mins, that will be ideal.
Right now I prefer batteries because they last longer and you can be wireless all the time. I have a cheap Amazon basics charger + 8 eneloops next to my couch, it works great.
If the dualsense has a 2000mah battery (double the ds4) and usbc fast charging in 20mins, that will be ideal.
Same as Xbox . Best of both worlds
Microsoft just stop being stingy and include one with the console or something
Close thread.
The only reason why this discussion still get some fuel is not because the discussion is about "built in batteries vs AA" but because it becomes another Playstation vs Xbox one.
Because its not superior.
There are pros and cons of both. I prefer the AA way because of rechargeable batteries.
My rechargeable batteries have more capacity than the DS4. 1000 mAh vs 2300, it's no contest. Is that still the size for the DS4? Not sure now.
But...my DS4 is more durable because the back doesn't come off.
Pros n cons of each.
There are pros and cons of both. I prefer the AA way because of rechargeable batteries.
My rechargeable batteries have more capacity than the DS4. 1000 mAh vs 2300, it's no contest. Is that still the size for the DS4? Not sure now.
But...my DS4 is more durable because the back doesn't come off.
Pros n cons of each.
Ugh. I'm not complaining. The question was "why do people prefer a built in battery controller", I'm telling you why.
If you're this belligerent over shit like this, you must be so fun to be around.
I mean, if you're claiming that you've bought a shit load of batteries for your Xbox controllers then it's totally on you for wasting money and not getting rechargables. I've had the same 6 batteries for many years that I swap out between various devices.
So like I said, most people don't give a shit about device longevity, which isn't that big a deal for a less than $50-60 console controller but is a big fucking deal for thousand-dollar-plus smartphones and laptops and couple-hundred-dollar Airpods. But that's not the point of this thread.
I don't like the Xbone controller as such, but Eneloops give it a battery life of around 3-4 months on a few hours charge, you can still play via USB while they're charging in a separate charger, and you don't need the console switched on to charge them. It's wonderful.
compared with the DS4 and its 5 hour battery life/2-3 hour charge.
compared with the DS4 and its 5 hour battery life/2-3 hour charge.
You don't have TV remotes, a wireless mouse, a wireless keyboard, a smoke detector, or a thermostat?
While I do largely agree with this (I'd take my Eneloops over the battery life of my DualShocks any day of the week), the big where it breaks down for me is how long the rechargeable batteries in my Switch Pro controller and my Elite v2 last. They're CRAZY GOOD. So it seems the issue isn't with rechargeable batteries, but with the same battery that's in the DualShock.
