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[cinnamonandgravy]

used to think built-in was the premium option
but it sucks waiting for a controller to charge in the middle of a gaming session

having a ton of eneloops on standby is better

 

[Emedan]

I bought Eneloops in 2008 for use in my 360 controllers. I use the same batteries to this day in my Series S/X controllers for gaming on PC. They still give me about 15-25 hours of battery life which is really good I think after 16 years of long service life. Don’t know how many times I’ve recharged them from empty but it is well over 500 for sure. Haven’t spent a dime on disposables.

What magic is this?

 

[rofif]

Sure batteries deteriorates, they all do
But there is reason why lithium batteries from 10 years ago don't work and ones from 20 years ago do.
Same reason why a identical phones bought at the same time have different battery life 10 years later
Doesn't mean you apply the logic across the board based on the 10 year old dead lithium battery because the reason behind it being dead now isn't taken into account.
The only physics and facts are being ignored.
But draining a battery dead continuously before recharge will shorten the life and this applies to all batteries.
In my case, maybe because I docked my controller for charging after every gaming session contributed to it lasting longer.
Nothing is black & white.
But people making out you have to replace a whole controller because the battery dyes within the consoles lifespan is nonsense unless you you severely bleeding that controller dry with every use.

these controllers land in drawers for years at a time. nobody takes them out for recharging.
It is what it is. It's not the end of the world. i am sure we can open dualsense in 20 years and find some replacement. Just a waste

 

[Puscifer]

yes absolutely.
Get some rechargables from ikea + chargers. it's cheap and your controller will never die.
drained, you can swap and continue playing.
controller is 20-30 years old? no problem. Look at all the ps3 controllers barely holding a charge now.
You can easily get inside dualsense but good luck finding good, not crappy batt that fits in 10-20 years

Majority of those batteries are the same, though. Nearly every wireless gaming mouse uses the same sensors and batteries.

But when you think about it, replacing that battery would be the same as 4 eneloop batteries. Huh...

 

[Fbh]

To be honest I've usually replaced my controllers before the battery became an issue (either because a new console with a new controller has come out, or because the controller developed some other issue like stick drift or failing buttons/triggers).
I keep a phone charger with a long USB-C cable behind my couch so if the controller is running low on battery I just plug it in and keep playing with it while it charges.

But I still support the idea of replaceable batteries on all devices.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

easy, use a wired controller

 

[Rambone]

Build in capability to charge rechargeable AA/AAA’s while they’re inside the controller.

Having the ability for the controller to charge up random AA/AAA batteries while inside the unit would be a bonus, although, I'd still be happy with a solution like what Xbox has now with their rechargeable battery pack that can charge up while inside the controller.

 

[Hudo]

It is common knowledge that every electronic consumer device manufacturer is looking at what the Hitachi Magic Wand is doing and imitates that.

 

[Radical_3d]

Plus Hall Effect sticks as I seem to get stick drift before the internal battery gets worn out

ITT: people upgrading from a 4090 to a 5090 just for laughs can’t afford 80$ controllers.

 

[HYDE]

Nah…i like our current timeline

 

[TGO]

these controllers land in drawers for years at a time. nobody takes them out for recharging.
It is what it is. It's not the end of the world. i am sure we can open dualsense in 20 years and find some replacement. Just a waste

I'm sorry but you think rechargable AA batteries survive being abandoned for years?
They would be dead before a built-in battery would.
But the benefits of replaceable batteries is being able to swap them for more advanced batteries of today, but you can do that with built in ones too.

 

[rofif]

I'm sorry but you think rechargable AA batteries survive being abandoned for years?
They would be dead before a built-in battery would.
But the benefits of replaceable batteries is being able to swap them for more advanced batteries of today, but you can do that with built in ones too.

of course but I presume that you will always be able to get new AA/AAA rechargables and custom batteries not so much

 

[FoxMcChief]

My eneloops died last night while playing RE4 Remake. I swapped the batteries with charged ones in my sofa console and put the old ones on the battery charger, along with my daughters keyboard batteries.

No cords while playing. Who does that? What year is it?

I usually pass out in my chair, so I can’t remember to always plug in the stupid ps5 controller.

Opinions and all that, but maybe the poor people can’t afford a few good set of rechargeable batteries. I’ve got 3 daughters and tons of electronics in the house. I probably have 40+ AA and 30+ AAA rechargeable batteries.

 

[PaintTinJr]

I won’t use knock off batteries due to safety concerns.

But they are made in the same factories and to specification and are likely made by Sony or Panasonic, anyway.

Your alternative solution recommendation is using below voltage rechargeable AA batteries - as all rechargeable batteries of disposables are lower spec -that in 90% of manuals for devices taking standard AAs advise against using rechargeable batteries in them. So a unbranded lithium ion battery made by a handful of battery manufacturers is surely the lesser issue, no?

 

[adamsapple]

easy, use a wired controller

 

[Markio128]

This thread comes to you courtesy of Duracell.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

 

[DoubleClutch]

What magic is this?

No magic at all. Just good old, reliable Eneloops.

If you charge them today, they will have 70% battery life after 10 years on the shelf (very low self-discharge). Degradation is probably minimal to none.

They are guaranteed for 500 full cycles at least, and are quite cheap coming in at $2-4/battery.

Everything you need to know:

https://www.panasonic.com/global/energy/products/eneloop/en/faq.html

 

[bitbydeath]

Pay for batteries vs having a controller that lasts the entire gen without issues or further payments required, and no need to open it up to get it working again.

Hmmm this is a tricky one.

 

[DoubleClutch]

But they are made in the same factories and to specification and are likely made by Sony or Panasonic, anyway.

Your alternative solution recommendation is using below voltage rechargeable AA batteries - as all rechargeable batteries of disposables are lower spec -that in 90% of manuals for devices taking standard AAs advise against using rechargeable batteries in them. So a unbranded lithium ion battery made by a handful of battery manufacturers is surely the lesser issue, no?

This is completely disingenuous.

Why Are Rechargeable Batteries 1.2V and Not 1.5V? Answered – Recharge My Battery

You can learn more about 1.2V rechargeable vs 1.5V alkaline there. There is a very good reason for it and there is nothing wrong it.

By the way, at 50%, your alkaline battery has already dropped to 1.2V. If your device can’t regulate the voltage, you have far bigger problems.

 

[DoubleClutch]

Pay for batteries vs having a controller that lasts the entire gen without issues or further payments required, and no need to open it up to get it working again.

Hmmm this is a tricky one.

You pay for it either way. Xbox controllers are much cheaper for a reason. The battery isn’t free, you’re just choosing what to pay for.

 

[Three]

I don’t see why everyone wouldn’t just use $2/battery rechargeables. It’s more environmentally friendly, it’s cheaper,

NiMH are not more environmentally friendly than Li-ion.

 

[adamsapple]

Pay for batteries vs having a controller that lasts the entire gen without issues or further payments required, and no need to open it up to get it working again.

Hmmm this is a tricky one.

Who continuously pays for disposable batteries? I would really like to know.

 

[DoubleClutch]

NiMH are not more environmentally friendly than Li-ion.

Based on what??

Go look up which has less toxic metals inside, which one is far easier to recycle, and which one has a much longer lifespan.

Spoiler alert: it’s not Li-Ion.

 

[PaintTinJr]

This is completely disingenuous.

Why Are Rechargeable Batteries 1.2V and Not 1.5V? Answered – Recharge My Battery

You can learn more about 1.2V rechargeable vs 1.5V alkaline there. There is a very good reason for it and there is nothing wrong it.

By the way, at 50%, your alkaline battery has already dropped to 1.2V. If your device can’t regulate the voltage, you have far bigger problems.

And yet anyone with £5 test meter can check that is typically false and that brand new branded disposables have a higher voltage even after 4hours of use, and is still backed by the 90% device manuals advising against using rechargeable batteries, so even if they work, and they do, below spec voltages in digital circuits cause instability in edge cases. I wouldn't hand a friend a below voltage out of spec powered pad for some competitive PES/eFootball, or virtua fighter/tekken/SF, or Mario Kart Double Dash if we were playing on original hardware with Wavebrids.

I've experienced that in many a competitive Double dash 4 player on rechargeable batteries(fully charged) in a wavebird where momentarily the pad loses connection from the shear level of MTs and just locks out for 2 seconds.

 

[Techies]

People who think playstation's 5 cheap internal battery that dies 3 times faster than two easily replaceable rechargeable AA batteries in an Xbox remote is delusional.

They should offer both though.
Internal for idiots, and batteries for smart people.

 

[TGO]

of course but I presume that you will always be able to get new AA/AAA rechargables and custom batteries not so much

And how much is it for a replacement Dualshock 3 battery?
I'm seeing about a tenner and they're not that hard to find and will probably last until your daughter gets into college.
My point is there's not much difference other than putting the controller on charge or using a cable while charging vs swapping the batteries out when it dies.
It just a preference and neither is better then the other.
Other then the popping the back open and grabbing the spare set to swap the battery is less convenient then plugging in a USB cable.

 

[bitbydeath]

Who continuously pays for disposable batteries? I would really like to know.

I didn’t use the word continuously.

 

[rofif]

And how much is it for a replacement Dualshock 3 battery?
I'm seeing about a tenner and they're not that hard to find and will probably last until your daughter gets into college.
My point is there's not much difference other than putting the controller on charge or using a cable while charging vs swapping the batteries out when it dies.
It just a preference and neither is better then the other.
Other then the popping the back open and grabbing the spare set to swap the battery is less convenient then plugging in a USB cable.

... searching for 3rd party batteries and seeing which ones are actually not trash is a pain.
ps3 controller is very popular though so that helps

 

[El Muerto]

I'll stick to AAs. Battery replacements will always exist. If my battery dies i can just swap out my eneloops and recharge them. Only available batteries for PS controllers in the future will be cheap chinese knockoffs on Amazon.

 

[xrnzaaas]

We should have more options. I really don't know why Sony and MS build one main controller type (not counting the elite models). There should be models with different charging and also covering various sizes for people with really small and really big hands.

 

[adamsapple]

I'll stick to AAs. Battery replacements will always exist. If my battery dies i can just swap out my eneloops and recharge them. Only available batteries for PS controllers in the future will be cheap chinese knockoffs on Amazon.

In my experience, a pair of charged eneloops last around 20~25 hours or so before I need to replace them, I've finished entire games in a single battery, lol.

 

[Kings Field]

Bought Eneloops in 2016 and they still go strong to this day. I retired them to the TV remotes so they can have an easy life.

 

[64bitmodels]

No cords while playing. Who does that? What year is it?

I feel like gaffers should know better than anyone that just because something's been around for long time doesn't necessarily make it bad

 

[bitbydeath]

People who think playstation's 5 cheap internal battery that dies 3 times faster than two easily replaceable rechargeable AA batteries in an Xbox remote is delusional.

They should offer both though.
Internal for idiots, and batteries for smart people.

Even if one lasts just 8hrs vs another at 24hrs you, are you really playing non-stop for more than 8hrs?

Even 8hrs is extreme IMO.

 

[Oppoi]

So we're expecting the new Xbox controllers to rock those AA's huh?

 

[PaintTinJr]

And how much is it for a replacement Dualshock 3 battery?
I'm seeing about a tenner and they're not that hard to find and will probably last until your daughter gets into college.
My point is there's not much difference other than putting the controller on charge or using a cable while charging vs swapping the batteries out when it dies.
It just a preference and neither is better then the other.
Other then the popping the back open and grabbing the spare set to swap the battery is less convenient then plugging in a USB cable.

Well there is a slight difference.

More AA and AAA batteries slip the net and make it into landfill purely as a result of their size and because of how devices with integrated batteries get processed compared to ones with battery trays - where the expectation is that the consumer recycles the batteries separately, which not everyone does. Also because the lithium-ion batteries are bigger the recycle is more effective per battery in recovering reusable components inside..

 

[RagnarokIV]

Agree 100%

AA + Hall effect would cut down on so much waste.

 

[Oppoi]

In my experience, a pair of charged eneloops last around 20~25 hours or so before I need to replace them, I've finished entire games in a single battery, lol.

I'ts a wonder why everyone doesn't own an Xbox./s

 

[JayK47]

I agree. My old PS controllers are basically nonfunctional because of built in batteries. If I play the older systems, I need to keep them plugged in old school.

 

[NeonDelta]

Get 2 controllers. Charge one while you use the other. Do people not do this?

 

[Oppoi]

Wall chargers for AA batteries are so 2025. Just google "wall charger" and see how many AA batteries show up.

 

[PaintTinJr]

So we're expecting the new Xbox controllers to rock those AA's huh?

Microsoft probably signed licensing for Mountain Dew, Duracell and music by Linkin Park for life figuring they were doing a power move to lock PlayStation out of that trifecta and are now stuck peddling two of those three every gen, even when it is so backward .

 

[Oppoi]

Microsoft probably signed licensing for Mountain Dew, Duracell and music by Linkin Park for life figuring they were doing a power move to lock PlayStation out of that trifecta and are now stuck peddling two of those three every gen, even when it is so backward .

I'm pretty sure MS signed with energizer or something like that for an eternity and that's why they're stuck in the 1990's trying desperately to peddle wall chargers as a positive forced add-on 2025.

 

[Zug]

Since manufacturers can't be reasonable and will always force programmed obsolescence on customers, there should be a tax on items with non-removable/replaceable batteries, as these are basically all garbage worthy after 5 years of use in average.
Also there should be a standard for replaceable Li-Ion batteries because why not ?

 

[Zero_Karisma]

I haven’t thought about replaceable batteries for game controllers in almost 20 years. I also don’t play on older consoles so I haven’t had the inconvenience of older controllers batteries going on me.

 

[PaintTinJr]

Since manufacturers can't be reasonable and will always force programmed obsolescence on customers, there should be a tax on items with non-removable/replaceable batteries, as these are basically all garbage worthy after 5 years of use in average.
Also there should be a standard for replaceable Li-Ion batteries because why not ?

right to repair laws in EU/UK require items to be repairable and with spare parts available for 10years, so that isn't an issue for that timescale.

 

[tr1p1ex]

used to think that. I had and still have plenty of eneloops. But they don't hold charge as well as they once did. Never were quite as good as akalines either.

And managing a bunch of rechargeables, in practice, doesn't live up to its perfect family image.

Meanwhile the lithium battery is superior to akaline even and the Nintendo Pro controller (at least) has enough of a battery for a nice long battery life.

 

[Unknown?]

It would be enough to not be absolute assholes and do non-replaceable batteries but with some luck EU is going to kick some asses on this front

Hopefully they also do this to phones.

 

[LordCBH]

I wouldn’t care either way if they just made the built in batteries easy to replace. No reason other than greed to not have a door on the back. Looking at you Sony and Nintendo.