-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
-
We have made minor adjustments to how the search bar works on ResetEra. You can read about the changes here.
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
- Start date
On top of that, the real secret is that the xbox rechargable battery pack is really just a pair of eneloops in a fancy case with the charger built in. As people have mentioned, 8-bitdo does the same thing.
This is exactly how controllers should work going forward. It's the best of both worlds, it is also great for preservation.
That comes with the charger and the batteries last 2100 charges. Even if you charged them once a week they're going to last you a LONG time.
This is a perfect solution except it costs 30 dollars. A 10ft USB cable costs 3.wrong
This works identically to how people are describing the DS4, with the added bonus that I don't have to disassemble the controller to replace the battery when it no longer holds a charge, and I can switch to standard batteries in the future when they stop outright producing the proprietary batteries inside controllers like the HTC Vive controller or DS4.
The battery in my PS4 pad that I got 6 years ago is still fine.
the battery in my PS3 pad from 11 years ago is still fine.
I have no doubt the battery in my Elite Series pad and Switch Pro controller will also last a very long time.
Last edited:
It's not even perfect because the play and charge kit I got for my 360 stopped working.
With PS4 controllers, I just put the controller on a charger each night, super easy. The controllers I've had for years still work fine.
With Xbox controllers, I have to remove physically remove the low batteries, grab the battery charger with the good batteries in it, swap them, plug it back in somewhere, put the good batteries in the controller, then store away the other ones when they finish charging. Not nearly as convenient.
For record, I bought a 3rd party battery pack and charger kit for my Xbox controllers, so I don't have to go through the battery swapping anymore.
So in a way, it's still better to have a controller use AA batteries, as long as battery packs are an option for those who prefer it.
With Xbox controllers, I have to remove physically remove the low batteries, grab the battery charger with the good batteries in it, swap them, plug it back in somewhere, put the good batteries in the controller, then store away the other ones when they finish charging. Not nearly as convenient.
For record, I bought a 3rd party battery pack and charger kit for my Xbox controllers, so I don't have to go through the battery swapping anymore.
So in a way, it's still better to have a controller use AA batteries, as long as battery packs are an option for those who prefer it.
Last edited:
Batteries degrade based on recharge cycles. All of them. Swappable or not . The only problem here is the difficulty or how expensive is changing them because the design of a piece of hardware, be it a phone or a pad or a portable device. You don't have to replace it, you can get your battery replaced. But many don't like to pay 100€ for a battery and instead want a fancy new phone. I still have my note 4 which i will replace its battery when dies ( used by my daughter to play).
I don't know how much is replacing a battery in a controller, I've never had such an issue, which is the debate here, but if out of warranty (2 years) is not much more expensive than a charger and 4 rechargeable batteries.
Oh, and if you have kids, chances are high that you have more than one controller, so cycles are halved in the long run, unless you always use the same pad, which makes no sense.
I don't understand why it has to be a black and white thing. There are pros and cons to both and people have their preferences about what works best for them.
you don't have the option for a lighter controller where you never have to replace the batteries.
There's a reason Nintendo, Sony, and MS on their high end controller, all use internal batteries.
My controllers will break (analog stick drift, trigger sticks when pressed in, button doesn't always register, etc) YEARS before their batteries can't hold a charge, so I really don't get why this is an issue for some people. Even if I don't use the controller enough to wear it down, it stills takes a hell of a long time for the batteries to go. Like my PS3's Dual Shock 3, which I bought in 2011 and still holds a charge for ~5 hours. Sure, it'll become a problem eventually but by then there's a good chance my PS3 will be sitting in my closet and I'll never use it anyway.
OP
OP
This made me laugh! I think everyone can relate to this. Thank god everything is moving to USB C!
No preferences here. I have 3rd party battery packs for my 360 and Xbox One controllers and they basically function like built in ones. But if i would have to use AAs, that would be annoying.
Also, replacing the built in battery on dualshocks and nintendo controllers takes at most 2-3 minutes and should be doable even by someone who never used a screwdriver before, so i don't see it as an issue.
Also, replacing the built in battery on dualshocks and nintendo controllers takes at most 2-3 minutes and should be doable even by someone who never used a screwdriver before, so i don't see it as an issue.
Realistically all that has to change for the AA battery solution to be outright better is a price drop on the game pad so that the rechargeable battery packs (the plug and charge kits) plus the game pad is the exact same price as the competitors controller.
I've had my PS4 since 2014 and this year was the first time I've ever had to buy a new controller because battery was lasting about 1~2 hours only. I've been using the DS4 that came with my PS4 exclusively before then.
I don't know, I think built-in batteries are fine.
I don't know, I think built-in batteries are fine.
I find it really, really hard to believe that you can't see why people argue that a controller with a built in battery is better. It's pretty obvious.
trying to replace the internal batteries in current gen controllers isnt as easy as ps360 era controllers. you risk breaking really small parts or clips that leave the controllers no longer functioning the same
You can charge it while you play. All you need is a USB cord and a power adapater.
Good, better price. 2100 cycles is a bit misleading imo though. Varies on what kind of battery, i guess, but always have seen that the usual number of cycles for majority of batteries is around 400, then they start losing capacity
You're going to have 2 dualshocks anyways if you play local multiplayer at all.
Have yet to have a problem with ds3/4 battery life. The 360 battery packs were hot garbage though. Can't speak on One battery pack since it's a recent purchase. I used to have eneloops but it was a hassle organizing what was charged and what wasn't and things that required 3 batteries or AAA. I also misplaced a bunch moving multiple times.
how many games these days even have local multiplayer? besides some racing games and most fighters
I think that the best solution is the one on xbox one where you can either use batteries, or a play and charge kit if you want to recharge your batteries while playing. Now, I think that the other great solution is the pro controller on the swtch where the battery lasts a good time
Sony needs to improve the battery life with the dualshock though, I feel that in one week I recharged that controller the same amount of times than I do with the other 2 for 1 month
Sony needs to improve the battery life with the dualshock though, I feel that in one week I recharged that controller the same amount of times than I do with the other 2 for 1 month
It's very convenient to plug our Switch into the USB-C cord from my Elite Series 2 dock, when the Switch is down in the living room.
maybe the Switch should run on AAs, tho.
wrong
This works identically to how people are describing the DS4, with the added bonus that I don't have to disassemble the controller to replace the battery when it no longer holds a charge, and I can switch to standard batteries in the future when they stop outright producing the proprietary batteries inside controllers like the HTC Vive controller or DS4.
If every controller came with this pre-packaged I think it'd be no contest that it's the best option. Buying extra peripherals or having to go out to a grocery store to buy AAs suck.
OP
OP
I definitely agree that built in internal batteries have allowed companies to build sexier products, however, it is at the cost of more devices being pitched out sooner than past products with user replaceable parts like batteries, so if I truly think about that impact on the environment, I don't think it's worth it.
Indie games are where its at for local MP these days. Ultimate Chicken Horse, Towerfall , Nighogg the list goes on.
That would be the best solution imo. Replaceable, but not AA ones that aren't exactly reliable imo
Probably to make it marginally cheaper to produce while also being slightly easier to make slim.
I have ADD, controllers with built in batteries are Satan's spawn 🤣.
I hate the DS4. I can't use it unless it's wired when I forget to plug it in. I have to have like a 15 foot USB cable across the room if I forget.
It's a stupid design it you consider all scenarios.
Controllers with both standard battery AND rechargable docking/plug in options, like Xbox, is 1000% the best way to make controllers.
It gives you multiple options. Options are always better than no options, always.
I hate the DS4. I can't use it unless it's wired when I forget to plug it in. I have to have like a 15 foot USB cable across the room if I forget.
It's a stupid design it you consider all scenarios.
Controllers with both standard battery AND rechargable docking/plug in options, like Xbox, is 1000% the best way to make controllers.
It gives you multiple options. Options are always better than no options, always.
Second one to say this but ignorant that you don't need to use AA's.
Reality:
AA batteries: Oh no my controllers running out of charge!" > plugs in USB cables, continues playing > swaps out batteries when its convenient to do so.
This rarely happens though because you've got 20hrs+ of playtime.
This but batteries degrade over time. That said by the time they do we'll be on to the next one. But with Xbox controllers being forwards compatible it makes sense to use replaceable batteries.
AA batteries and investing in rechargeable batteries is the way to go. Slight inconvenience for something that is easy to replace when they die is well worth it
Never had a PS4 controller lose its battery life. I get the same disappointing 6 hours now that I was getting 6 years ago. No judgement, but how frequent and for how long are people's gaming sessions that they're losing DS4 battery life in a few years?
Also OP it's a little silly to say you don't understand why people think built-in batteries are better and then first thing you do is make the topic strictly about the DS4. Getting 40 hours out of a Switch Pro Controller is incredible.
Also OP it's a little silly to say you don't understand why people think built-in batteries are better and then first thing you do is make the topic strictly about the DS4. Getting 40 hours out of a Switch Pro Controller is incredible.
It is also fun that people always have AA batteries fully charged just in case, but always forget to plug a USB cable after long sessions with their DS4. Seems a bit odd, especially those that seem so upset about battery life... Seems not very logical that if you are so aware and vocal about this issue you always forget to charge it. Makes no sense
It also doesn't make sense almost no one mentioning Switch, which is way more complicated than replacing a controller, lol.
It also doesn't make sense almost no one mentioning Switch, which is way more complicated than replacing a controller, lol.
I have no issue with people who have different preferences than me but I cannot fathom that I would ever prefer a sealed internal battery over cheap, commonly available AA batteries.
Especially when the sealed internal battery has notoriously low capacity and there is no official replacement available on stores.
Especially when the sealed internal battery has notoriously low capacity and there is no official replacement available on stores.
i hate having to route cables in weird ways to hide my controllers when charging. I would much rather have a single place to charge a bunch of AAs and be able to throw all my controllers in a drawer and never worry about charging them individually.
you only need one more set of eneloops than controllers. it's simple.
You are correct that in the longterm it is preferable to be able to replace the batteries. However, you aren't going to notice battery degradation until years later (and that is only if you are frequently gaming). For the most part, built-in batteries are just way more convenient. It would be nice if it was easy to remove them though (without having to undo any screws) so that we could have the best of both worlds.
Funny thing about the cost argument is that while yes there is an added cost to using rechargeable AA batteries and a charger, many PS4 owners I know have gone out and purchased a charging station for their controllers, defeating the cost argument. In fact, in my circle of friends and family that own a PS4 (about 10), I think I am the only one that still sticks to using a long USB cable.