The Xbox Series is nice and all, but you have to admit, the lack of rechargeable batteries on Microsoft’s controller makes it feel like that part of the console is trapped in the last gen. As such, we’ve seen a number of solutions to seamlessly use the Xbox gamepad with rechargeable cells. Among those we’ve seen, the 8BitDo Charging Dock for Xbox Wireless Controllers offers one of the best combinations of sleek design and affordability.
Designed to spare you from having to swap out batteries on the daily (or every few days, if you play sparingly), the system lets you put a proper rechargeable battery on the gamepad that you can replenish by simply putting the controller on the dock. No need to continually charge AA spares for uninterrupted gaming – just place it on the dock anytime the controller is not in use and you should replenish it back up again, ready for later.
The 8BitDo Charging Dock for Xbox Wireless Controllers consists of a rechargeable battery, a charging dock that you plug into a wall outlet, and replacement battery doors for the controller. Basically, you take out your AA cells, put in the rechargeable battery, and slide on the included battery door in place of the original one. The new battery door comes with charging contact points, so the battery inside can be charged without having to take it out, while built-in magnets allow it to snap securely to the dock in a way that the charging points automatically line up.
The included battery has an 1100mAh capacity, although there’s no listed rating as to how long it will last during standard gameplay. Hopefully, it can go to 30 hours, which some people claim they’re able to do when using good battery brands with the Xbox Series controllers. Most we got with the cheaper batteries we use are 15 hours. According to the outfit, you can charge the battery fully on the dock in just three hours.
The 8BitDo Charging Dock for Xbox Wireless Controllers doesn’t just work for Series X and S controllers, as it’s also compatible with Xbox One gamepads. As such, the battery also fits in the last-gen controller’s battery slot, while a second included battery door should fit in flush with the older gamepad. When you place a controller on the dock, the built-in LED glows in an amber color to let you know it’s charging, then turns to white afterwards once it’s finished charging. You can also use the dock as an ambient lighting source, by the way, with the option to adjust the brightness by using a button at the rear.
Truth be told, this is quite the beautiful wireless charger for the Xbox controller. It’s quite affordable, too, retailing at a more affordable price compared to many similar products in the market. According to the outfit, the device has full charging overload protections, so you should be able to use it without any worries, wit the device automatically turning off any time it detects any sort of charging issues.
The 8BitDo Charging Dock for Xbox Wireless Controllers is available now.