Xbox One controller and rechargeable batteries

xantoo

Honorable
Jan 22, 2015
31
0
10,530
How do you deal with Xbox One rechargeable batteries? I have it paired through bluetooth to PC and using eneloop batteries but how do you recharge them painlessly? As far as I understand, Xbox usb cable only recharges original Xbox battery? So basically the only way is to charge them through some third party battery charger?
Thanks.
 
Solution
A bunch of companies make 3rd party charging cradles, easily found on Amazon. Usually they come with their own battery packs that fit into your controller, and the cradle charges it. That's about the least painful way to recharge them. Just place the controller onto the cradle when you're finishing playing; then it's ready the next time you play.

That being said, after buying a cradle for my older 360, now I just switch out Eneloop batteries. It's not that hard, and the Eneloops are awesome for retaining their charge over time.
A bunch of companies make 3rd party charging cradles, easily found on Amazon. Usually they come with their own battery packs that fit into your controller, and the cradle charges it. That's about the least painful way to recharge them. Just place the controller onto the cradle when you're finishing playing; then it's ready the next time you play.

That being said, after buying a cradle for my older 360, now I just switch out Eneloop batteries. It's not that hard, and the Eneloops are awesome for retaining their charge over time.
 
Solution

xantoo

Honorable
Jan 22, 2015
31
0
10,530


Yeah, that's probably the easiest and best workaround but still extra hassle to buy cradle. I just don't understand why Xbox usb cable charges only original play-and-charge kit battery, isn't it basically the same as 2 rechargeable batteries just packaged differently?
 


Well, the critical part is that the battery packs coming with a cradle have exposed contact points for recharging without needing to remove the pack. The regular controllers do not have exposed contact points for recharging.

Related, the cradle + battery packs can be purchased on Amazon for $25. So that's pretty cheap. Wish the controllers were designed that way to begin with, but I'm sure it wasn't worth it to add yet another component cost to the overall package.